"Sophie Kennedy! Open the door! I know you’re in there! You damn bastard!"

A furious voice tore through the upper corridor, echoing off the hotel walls and dragging every lingering guest out of their morning haze. Luca Hale frowned, clearly annoyed at the noise, while Sophie stiffened instantly, her shoulders tightening as unease flashed across her face.

"Luca... that’s actually someone from my university," she said quickly. "He’s been chasing me for months. I’ve never agreed to anything with him."

Luca glanced at her, mildly surprised, then relaxed again as a faint smile returned. "Why are you so nervous? You think I’ll misunderstand?"

"You... you’re impossible. Even now you’re still joking," Sophie muttered, though there was no real anger in it.

"Stay inside," Luca said calmly, already turning toward the door. "I’ll take a look."

"No." Sophie grabbed his arm immediately. "I’m coming too. I want to see what kind of mess he’s trying to cause."

She linked her arm through his without waiting for permission, her expression cooling as they walked toward the door together.

The moment it swung open, the hallway outside was already packed. A number of Luca’s old classmates, still groggy from last night’s reunion drinking, had gathered in confused clusters. At the center stood a man in a sharply tailored suit and polished shoes.

He looked ordinary at first glance, but his sunken eyes and pale face carried the unmistakable exhaustion of someone who lived recklessly and slept even worse. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The instant Adrian Vale saw Luca and Sophie step out together, his expression twisted.

"So this is it!" he snapped. "Sophie Kennedy, I thought you were some pure little goddess, but you’re just a cheap—"

He never finished.

Luca moved.

No warning, no hesitation. Just a blur of motion as two sharp slaps landed across Adrian’s face in quick succession, the sound snapping through the corridor like a whip.

"Watch your mouth," Luca said flatly. His tone was calm, almost polite. "Or I’ll make sure you regret every word you say."

Adrian staggered, shock overtaking pain for a split second before rage exploded across his face.

"You bastard! You dare hit me? I’ll kill you!"

He pointed at Sophie next, voice rising. "And you! Acting so innocent while you’re with this guy? I offered you fifty thousand Dollars and you refused just to end up with him? Hypocrite!"

That was enough.

Luca stepped in again.

One clean punch to the abdomen.

The impact folded Adrian instantly. His body lifted off his feet and slammed backward into the carpeted hallway, rolling once before curling up in agony. He gasped, clutching his stomach, unable to even catch his breath.

"Luca, what’s going on here?"

Mason Reid had just rushed over, rubbing sleep from his eyes, drawn in by the noise. He took one look at the scene and immediately frowned.

Luca gave a brief explanation. That was all Mason needed.

"Are you serious?" Mason muttered, his expression darkening.

Without hesitation, he strode forward and kicked Adrian twice while he was still down. Hard, controlled blows meant more to humiliate than injure.

"That’s enough talking nonsense outside our rooms," Mason said coldly.

Adrian wheezed in pain, but his eyes burned with hatred.

"You’re done," he spat. "My father is the General Manager of this hotel. You won’t walk out of here!"

He pulled out his phone with shaking hands and dialed.

"Dad! I’ve been beaten in your hotel! Bring security up here now!"

On the other end, Arthur Vale was already under pressure from the sudden ownership upheaval of the hotel. The moment he heard his son’s voice, his temper snapped completely.

"Did you tell them who I am?"

"I did! They still hit me! Dad, hurry!"

"I’m coming," Arthur barked before ending the call.

Adrian slowly climbed to his feet again, wiping blood from his lip as his confidence returned.

"You’re finished," he sneered.

Mason leaned closer to Luca, voice low. "This doesn’t feel good. We should leave before security arrives. This is their territory."

Several classmates nearby quickly agreed, urging the same thing.

Sophie tightened her grip on Luca’s hand, worry flickering in her eyes.

But Luca didn’t move.

He simply glanced down the corridor, completely calm. "No one needs to panic. Just wait and watch."

He patted Mason’s shoulder lightly. "Tiger, tell me something. You ever think about being a leader?"

Mason blinked. "What? Now?"

"Just answer it."

"...Yeah. Of course."

"Good," Luca said quietly. "Then get ready."

No one understood what he meant.

Except Sophie, whose eyes narrowed slightly as something clicked in her mind about who he really was.

Footsteps echoed from the far end of the corridor.

A powerful voice followed immediately after.

"Who touched my son on my property?!"

Arthur Vale appeared with a full entourage behind him, hotel executives and security personnel filling the corridor like a wave.

Adrian’s face lit up instantly. "Dad!"

Arthur saw his son’s swollen face, the handprints, the disheveled clothes.

His expression darkened with fury.

"Who did this?" he demanded. "Step forward!"

Luca raised a hand slightly.

"It was me."

He stepped out casually, hands in his pockets. "So what are you going to do about it?"

The corridor went silent.

Arthur opened his mouth to roar again, but his words died the moment he saw Luca’s face properly.

His pupils shrank.

The anger drained from his expression in an instant, replaced by something far worse.

Fear.

He knew that face.

So did the executives behind him.

The entire group subtly stepped back without a word, distancing themselves from Arthur as if they had suddenly realized they were standing next to a disaster.

Adrian, still oblivious, laughed loudly.

"Dad, arrest him! He’s the one who hit me!"

Arthur didn’t answer.

Not immediately.

Sweat formed at his temples as he stared at Luca like he had seen a ghost.

"Revenge?" Adrian mocked. "He’s finished, right?"

Luca tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharpening just enough to silence the corridor.

"Go on," he said evenly. "Ask your father again. Does he really dare?"

That was when Adrian finally noticed it.

The shaking hands.

The pale face.

The absolute dread in his father’s eyes.

And in that moment, his confidence collapsed.

For the first time since the confrontation began, Adrian Vale realized with chilling clarity.

He had just picked the worst possible opponent in the entire building.