Chapter 226: One Fish. One Entrance. Total Silence.
At first, none of the students paid the man much attention.
They simply assumed he was another rich tourist showing off.
After all, they were only able to come to Lanai Island because Bryce had organized the trip.
Compared to the wealthy visitors vacationing here, they were just ordinary college students.
It wasn’t unusual for someone to try to flaunt their wealth in front of them.
So everyone ignored him and continued fishing.
However…
As time passed, the smile on the man’s face gradually disappeared.
Thirty minutes went by.
Not a single fish.
Meanwhile, several students nearby had already reeled in one or two fish each.
Watching them cheer excitedly every few minutes made his expression grow darker and darker.
“Damn it…”
He gritted his teeth.
“It has to be those broke college kids.”
“They scared all the fish away.”
Naturally, he couldn’t admit he simply wasn’t good at fishing.
Especially not with three beautiful women sitting behind him.
That would’ve been too embarrassing.
He immediately found himself the perfect excuse.
Turning around, he barked,
“Tharok.”
“Go tell those poor students to get lost.”
“They’re ruining my fishing.”
“Yes, brother.”
The man who stood up was none other than Tharok.
The owner of the loan company where Lucas had once stormed in to rescue Debbie.
The arrogant fisherman was his older brother~
Silas.
Everything Tharok had today was thanks to his brother’s backing.
Naturally, he obeyed without hesitation.
Adjusting the thick gold chain around his neck, Tharok swaggered toward the students with an intimidating expression.
He stopped only a few feet away before shouting,
“Hey!”
“You people.”
“Move somewhere else.”
“You’re disturbing my brother while he’s fishing.”
His tone wasn’t a request.
It was an order.
The students looked up one after another.
Seeing the luxury brands covering his body and the thick gold chain hanging around his neck, many instinctively felt intimidated.
He looked less like a tourist…
And more like a gangster.
For a moment…
Nobody spoke.
Then one male student finally stood up.
Wanting to look brave in front of the girls, he answered loudly,
“We were here first!”
“If anyone should move…”
“It should be you!”
“The lake is huge.”
“You’re the ones who came and sat beside us.”
“Now you’re blaming us because you can’t catch fish?”
“Does that even make sense?”
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Tharok’s face darkened.
He never expected some college kid would actually dare talk back to him.
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
Without another word, he rolled up his sleeves and strode forward.
He grabbed the student by the shoulder with one hand.
His grip tightened.
Pain instantly shot through the student’s body.
“I said…”
“Move.”
His voice turned icy.
“If you keep talking…”
“I’ll throw you into the lake myself.”
The student’s face instantly turned pale.
He could feel the terrifying strength in Tharok’s hand.
His earlier confidence disappeared completely.
He stood there trembling, not daring to say another word.
At that moment~
Maya hurried over after hearing the commotion.
“Please…”
“Let go of him.”
Her voice was calm, but firm.
Tharok slowly turned his head.
The moment he saw Maya…
His eyes lit up.
Then a wicked smile spread across his face.
“Well, well…”
“If it isn’t Miss Maya Laurent.”
Maya froze.
“…You know me?”
Tharok chuckled.
“In Slivermont…”
“Who doesn’t know Alexander Laurent?”
“The old man who’s desperately trying to marry off his daughter to save his company.”
“I’ve seen you a few times at business banquets.”
He slowly looked Maya up and down without trying to hide it.
His gaze lingered openly over her figure.
Predatory.
Greedy.
It made Maya instinctively wrap her arms around herself.
A chill ran down her spine.
Tharok licked his lips before grinning.
“I have to admit…”
“That useless old man somehow managed to raise a daughter this gorgeous.”
Maya’s expression immediately turned cold.
She took a step back.
“We were here first.”
“If you want to fish…”
“Please find another spot.”
Tharok burst into laughter.
“Another spot?”
He sneered.
“Little girl…”
“You think this lake belongs to your family?”
His expression suddenly hardened.
“I’m telling you to move.”
“So move.”
Seeing Maya being cornered…
Bryce immediately threw down his fishing rod and rushed over.
His eyes lit up.
This is it.
Finally…
A chance to play the hero.
If he could stand up for Maya in front of everyone…
Maybe she’d finally look at him differently.
Without hesitation, Bryce stepped between Maya and Tharok, puffing out his chest.
“Maya… what’s going on?”
Bryce hurried to Maya’s side, putting on a concerned expression as if he were her protector.
Maya didn’t answer.
Her beautiful eyes remained locked on Tharok, burning with anger.
Bryce followed her gaze and finally recognized the man standing in front of them.
His expression immediately changed.
Without hesitation, he forced a flattering smile onto his face and quickly walked over.
“Mr. Tharok!”
“It’s me~Bryce!”
“My father is Malcolm.”
“We’ve met before at several business banquets.”
He laughed awkwardly.
“There must be some misunderstanding here.”
“Our class president didn’t mean any disrespect.”
“Could you… perhaps let this one go?”
Tharok looked Bryce up and down before letting out a mocking laugh.
“A misunderstanding?”
“There isn’t one.”
“I’ve already made myself perfectly clear.”
He pointed toward the students.
“I want every single one of you gone.”
“You’re disturbing my brother’s fishing.”
Bryce forced another smile.
Since Tharok recognized him…
Maybe there was still room to negotiate.
“Mr. Tharok…”
“Could you do me a favor?”
“My classmates are only here to have fun.”
“We’ll definitely remember your kindness.”
Tharok didn’t even let him finish.
He waved his hand dismissively.
“A favor?”
He sneered.
“What makes you think you deserve one?”
“Who the hell are you?”
“Even if your father were standing here today…”
“I’d tell him the exact same thing.”
Bryce’s smile froze.
Then Tharok casually pointed toward the lakeside.
“See that man over there?”
“That’s my older brother.”
“Silas.”
The moment Bryce heard that name…
His face instantly turned pale.
Silas.
The infamous right-hand man of the Durnik Family.
Everyone in Slivermont knew that whenever the Durnik Family had dirty work they couldn’t do publicly…
Silas handled it.
His reputation was terrifying.
Ruthless.
Violent.
Merciless.
Even many wealthy businessmen avoided provoking him.
Bryce instinctively swallowed.
The confidence he’d built up vanished without a trace.
He hurried back to Maya and tugged gently on her sleeve.
“Maya…”
“Let’s just go.”
“It’s only a fishing spot.”
“The other side of the lake is just as good.”
But Maya didn’t move.
Not even an inch.
She stared directly at Tharok.
“I was here first.”
“I’m not leaving.”
Seeing her refuse so firmly, Tharok’s smile gradually became colder.
“So…”
“You’ve got some backbone.”
He slowly stepped forward.
His greedy eyes shamelessly swept across Maya from head to toe.
Then he smirked.
“Didn’t you just reject Malrik recently?”
“Feeling lonely already?”
“If that’s the case…”
“My brother wouldn’t mind keeping you company.”
“I guarantee you’ll have a much better time with him than with that useless kid.”
His words made every female student nearby feel sick.
Maya’s face turned icy.
Just as Tharok took another step closer~
A figure suddenly darted in front of Maya.
It was Cassandra.
She spread both arms protectively, standing between Maya and Tharok.
“If you take one more step…”
“I’m calling security.”
Tharok burst into laughter.
“Security?”
“This whole island belongs to rich people.”
“Do you really think they’re going to help a bunch of broke college students over us?”
“You girls really don’t know your place~”
SMACK!
A massive bass came flying out of nowhere and slapped Tharok square across the face.
The impact echoed across the lakeside.
Fish scales exploded into the air, and the fish’s tail whipped across his cheek before it dropped to the ground, flopping wildly.
Blood mixed with fish slime streamed down his face.
Everyone froze.
Tharok stood there in complete disbelief, smelling like a fish market.
“…Who the hell throws a fish?!”
Clutching his face, he angrily turned toward the direction the fish had come from.
A lone figure was slowly walking toward them.
His pace was calm.
Unhurried.
His expression was completely indifferent, as though none of the chaos in front of him was worth his attention.
The moment Tharok saw that familiar face…
His eyes widened.
The arrogance on his face disappeared instantly.
His lips trembled uncontrollably.
“L-L… L-Lucas…?”