?Chapter 796:


    Despite their very different careers—one a rising movie star, the other head of the Johnson Group—they were equally chaotic.


    Neither said a word about the fight as they entered Kiera’s hospital room. Freshly awake, Kiera blinked a few times, then her gaze fell on her brother. rm red in her voice. “Malcolm, what happened to your hand?”


    She turned her head slowly—then froze when she saw who stood behind him. “Louis… What happened to your face?”


    Malcolm stepped forward, casually positioning himself between her and Louis. “It’s nothing serious. I tripped outside and scraped it on the wall,” he said quickly, trying to steer her away from the subject. “Are you feeling okay? Should I call the doctor?”


    “There’s really no need, Malcolm,” Kiera said softly. “You don’t have to bother the doctor. I’m alright. A little rest is all I need.” Avoiding unnecessary attention had always been her nature.


    Suddenly, the hallway outside erupted with noise. “Let us through! Why are you keeping us from seeing her? We’re here to say we’re sorry! My daughter’s still stuck at the police station—she didn’t mean it!”


    Louis furrowed his brows and stepped into the corridor, irritation simmering.


    The moment he appeared, a couple in their forties rushed toward him. “Mr. Harper, we’re begging you, please don’t ruin our daughter’s life. She’s still young. This mistake shouldn’t define her!”


    Louis asked sharply, “And who exactly is your daughter?”


    Hope flickered in the woman’s eyes when she realized Louis hadn’t dismissed them outright. “She’s the girl who shoved your girlfriend. She didn’t mean any harm. She’s just young and reckless. Please—don’t go through with pressing charges.”


    Louis’s expression hardened immediately. “Being young doesn’t give anyone a free pass to hurt others. If you want leniency, take it up with the police, not me.”


    The woman paused, then her tone sharpened with frustration. “You’re seriously making such a big deal over a teenager? You’re a famous celebrity—your girlfriend ended up with a few scrapes, some blood—she’s still alive. And now you want to ruin my daughter’s entire future? That’s nothing short of cruel!”


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    A cruel grin tugged at the corner of Louis’s mouth. “I kept my girl safe. I made sure not a single bruise touched her. And now look at what’s happened. Jail’s too kind for what your daughter did. You better pray she stays in there. If she ever gets out…”


    His words hung in the air, chilling and deliberate. Violence simmered behind his stare as he looked straight at the trembling couple.


    The woman staggered backward, her legs stiffening as if her body refused to take another step under his re. Only when the threat fully sank in did her face contort in panic. “W-What do you mean by that? My daughter is simply young and immature…”


    “She’s old enough to know better,” Louis retorted, his tone thick with scorn.


    Seeing that pity had no ce here, the woman copsed to her knees with a sharp thud. “Please, Mr. Harper, I’m begging you. My daughter is still a child. Don’t let this destroy her.” Her pleas came fast, one tripping over the next.


    A glint of metal shed as her husband reached into his pocket, but instead of pulling anything out, he fell to his knees beside her. “Mr. Harper, you’ve got everything. Wealth, status—everything we never had. We struggled to raise our daughter. If she’s punished like this, we’ll lose everything.”


    The couple leaned into their own suffering, hoping it would crack whatever armor Louis was wearing.


    But Louis didn’t blink. “I’m not the one who wrecked her life. She did that herself. So don’t sit here trying to wring guilt out of me. If you’re looking for someone to me, try the mirror. Your daughter made her choices. Now she gets to live with them.”


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