The school's forum had been bustling with Nate's ridicule. Videos of him walking through the campus while his pictures were being pulled down were numerous.
And the cherry on top for Rick was when a video of him suffocating one of the students in the parking lot went viral too.
The nasty comments under the video were numerous and as Rick read through, his lips curled in delight.
He sat in his living room in his apartment while laughing out loud. At the same time, Gerald and Chris were seated across from him, clutching their arms nervously.
Suddenly, Rick's laughter came to a sudden halt as his eyes zeroed in on Gerald. He dropped his phone to the side and stood up to his feet.
Gerald immediately stood up and didn't dare to look Rick in the eye. And as he bent, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He felt as if his heart was about to burst out of his chest.
After messing up the auction, Rick had beaten him up, leaving him with internal injuries. To make it worse, he had been ordered not to go to the hospital.
And now, he was desperately trying to redeem himself before Rick.
"Is that enough?" He asked. "I made sure he was ridiculed. I don't think he will survive from—"
Pak!
Rick's palm landed on Gerald's face and his body flew onto the couch. A five-finger mark appeared on his face and Chris held himself back from helping him, else he would be the next target.
"Enough?" Rick sneered. "I made sure Nate was ridiculed before the student council and before the entire school."
"And you call the little stunt of you gathering up students to attack him enough?"
Gerald shivered and quickly, he went down on his knees.
"I apologize." His voice was riddled with pain but he wouldn't dare voice his grievances.
"He has not suffered enough. I am going to come up with something else."
"No need." Rick sneered, as he walked back to his couch. His shoulders were raised, as he commanded, "I want something else."
"What?" Gerald asked quickly. Anything, just anything to get out of the devil's sight at this moment.
"I want Nyx. Bring her to me."
The room went silent as Gerald and Chris stared at each other with their faces going pale in fear.
"Rick, you know touching Nyx might make the Knight family go mad."
"So what?" Rick snapped. "If her family wants to go mad, let them. The West family is just as powerful."
"As long as Nate feels the brunt of his actions, I do not care!" He declared.
Gerald could only swallow his words. Of course, he knew how perverted Rick was and he could potentially harm Nyx if he went out of control.
In that case, Rick wouldn't hesitate to push him out and make him take the wrath of the Knight family. Even though his whole life was at stake, he had to do it otherwise Rick would go after his family and every single person that concerned him.
"I will do that." He stood up to his feet and quickly dragged Chris up on his feet.
As they walked out of the house, Aria stepped out. She had been staying at Rick's house for the past few days and not once had he let her step out of the house.
She had been his entertainment, and his sex doll ever since she left Nate.
However, she didn't really mind her situation. As long as she was given money, several gifts and allowed to study, she would willingly stay by his side.
But then, she had heard every single word he had said to Gerald.
"Are you really going to take Nyx? What do you want with her?"
Rick's brows creased, "I don't think that's any of your business."
"It is!" She snapped. "You and I do know you don't want Nyx just to harm Nate. You want her for your lewd actions."
"So what?" Rick became even angrier. "Are you questioning me?"
Aria took a deep breath, trying not to provoke him further. But then, she couldn't control the jealous feeling inside her.
"I am your girlfriend, Rick. You shouldn't dare think of any other girl—"
Pak!
In the blink of an eye, he was up on his feet and his palm collided with her face.
Aria staggered, with her mouth gaping open in shock. The stinging pain that tingled on her cheek caused tears to pool in her eyes.
"You slapped me?"
"Yes." Rick snickered. "Who the hell do you think you are to fucking command me?"
"You are just a poor girl whom I took away from your rotten lifestyle. You have tasted money, just for a few days and you think you can speak?"
"Oh please…" He waved his hand, dismissing her as he sat back down on the couch.
But then, he perked up again, "I want you out of the house this instant."
"Nyx is coming, and don't come back unless I tell you to. You have enough money to keep yourself out there."
Aria shook, her lips parting to speak up for herself but she was riddled with fear.
She finally pleaded, "Can you let me stay just for tonight? It's dark already and—"
"Get the hell out of my house, you bitch!" Rick yelled, glaring at her while his chest heaved heavily.
Aria had no choice but to scramble around, grab her phone, and rush out of the house. As soon as she stepped out, she burst into tears, sinking to the floor.
She stared at her phone for long minutes, scrolling through and hoping she could get someone to take her in for the night.
However, every single person she called turned her down.
At the last moment, her finger hovered over Nate's phone number, as he was her last resort. He wouldn't refuse her, right?
After all, he had loved her so much and even though he was gallivanting around the school with Nyx wrapped around him, it didn't mean he had forgotten someone he had loved so deeply.
The phone rang twice and when the call connected, she heard Nate's sleepy voice on the phone.
"Hello?"
She took a deep breath, with her lips quivering, "Hello, Nate."
"Can you help me?" She cried. "I need a place to stay for the night."