Chapter 26 – Bloodline and Pride

After the sky went dark and the sun disappeared beneath the horizon, a black car sped through the streets.

Inside sat Alfred and his group of friends—including Peter Yannier. Music played softly in the background, the atmosphere tense but unspoken.

"Hey, check this out," said a muscular boy with dark skin, grinning as he handed his phone to Alfred, who was at the wheel. "G-Dog just sent some pics. Said I had to show you, man."

Alfred chuckled and reached for the phone. "What did he—"

The moment his eyes landed on the pictures, the smile vanished from his face. His hand tightened around the wheel. Without a word, he handed the phone back and kept his eyes fixed on the road.

"What are you gonna do?" the muscular boy asked cautiously.

Alfred didn't answer.

Peter, who sat in the backseat, snatched the phone and scrolled through the images. His eyes widened slightly. "They all look… happy," he muttered.

Still, Alfred remained silent.

A lanky boy with glasses sitting in the passenger seat leaned forward. His voice was slick and smug. "Alfred, you need to show him the difference between you and that guy. He's nothing without a surname. But you… you're more than just a name. You're the heir of a Novel—the first Novel family."

"Shut up, Glasses!" Peter snapped from the back, glaring at the boy. He turned to Alfred. "You know whose fault it was back then. Why Sasha left you behind…"

That struck a nerve. Alfred finally spoke.

"Shut up. All of you."

The car fell silent, except for the low thump of the music.

Then the road curved into a wide U-turn—and Alfred took it hard, tires screeching as the car drifted into the other lane. His hand spun the volume knob to max.

With a shout that pierced through the music, he roared, "Let's show him who the hell he messed with!"

Peter grabbed onto the seat in front of him, alarmed. "Alfred, this is stupid! Whatever plan you've cooked up—it's not worth it!"

But Alfred didn't respond. His eyes were locked ahead, his jaw tight with fury.

As they pulled into the school's parking lot, Alfred finally spoke.

"There's no way we, the Novel family, will ignore this insult."

Peter sighed and stepped out of the car. "Whatever. Just don't count me in.