Who Knew a Gym Coupon Could End a Marriage?

"Call the police? Go ahead, I'm shaking," Andrew mocked. "Let me tell you something. Even God himself can't save you. My girlfriend has real backing. She's the CEO of Halvea's York Enterprise, Selena York. People like you can't even imagine the kind of world she comes from."

York Enterprise's CEO? That actually was my wife, Selena.

A chill blasted up my spine, turning every drop of blood in my body to ice.

Still, I forced myself to stay calm. My voice was hoarse. "Oh? The CEO of York Enterprise? Are you sure about that? I heard that Ms. York is already married. If you're really her boyfriend, wouldn't that make you her little sugar baby?"

Andrew puffed up proudly. "Sugar baby? You don't get it."

He lowered his voice. "She only married that useless guy because of a marriage of convenience. It's just an act. She's sick of that worthless trash. I'm the one she truly loves. Why else would she hand me a whole gym to run?

"Besides, she already promised me that when the time is right, she'll divorce that loser and marry me. I'm the future owner of York Enterprise!"

"Y-You're disgusting, shameless, and downright filthy!"

Michael's hand shook as he pointed at him.

"Me? Shameless?" Andrew shot back. "You're just jealous because you can't land a rich woman, and I can. I've seen plenty of guys like you."

Before he could finish, he swung a fist toward Michael's face.

"Don't you dare!"

I caught his wrist mid-air. Michael lunged forward, and the two of them started throwing punches at one another.

"How dare you hit me!" Andrew shrieked. "Are you all blind? The boss' boyfriend is being attacked! Get over here and beat these two lunatics to death!"

Four or five huge men rushed us, grabbing our collars and pounding us with fists and kicks. Michael's curses mixed with my guttural growls, and the men's filthy insults closed in around us like a cage.

"Let him go!" I shouted as I tried to shove one of them off Michael, but another coach grabbed me from behind and wrenched my arm painfully.

"Ugh!"

Michael was shoved hard into a machine. His chest slammed against the metal, and he let out a choked groan. His face was drained of color.

My heart dropped.

"Stop! Everyone, stop!" I screamed, losing control. "Do you even know who he is?

"He's the husband of the CEO of Halvea's Pearson Group! He just had major heart surgery and hasn't healed up properly yet! If any of you touch him again, I swear none of you will live to see tomorrow.

"And me! I'm the son of the CEO of Halvea's Carter Group. I'm Romeo Carter. If you lay a hand on us, you're declaring war on the Carters and the Pearsons. Think carefully about whether you're ready for that."

Andrew clutched the cheek Michael had hit and burst into crazed laughter. "Carter Group? Pearson Group? Wow, you two really love to inflate your own worth.

"If you really are who you said you were, would you be here using a 9.90-dollar trial class? Don't make me laugh. Keep beating them. Don't stop until they're begging for mercy!"

I shielded Michael with everything I had. The punches and kicks pounded my back and legs like a storm, and the pain nearly knocked me out. But I couldn't fall.

Michael's heart couldn't take this, and I wasn't going to let anything happen to him!

In the chaos, my hand brushed against something in my bag, the family crest. It was the crest my father, Terence Carter, the CEO of Carter Group, had handed me himself when I came of age.

It was made with pure gold, set with top-grade sapphires, with a unique serial code etched on the back. It was the only symbol of a core member of the Carter family.

I yanked it out and shouted, "Stop! I really am the son of the Carter family. This crest proves it!"