Justin instantly sensed something was about to spiral. He rushed forward and tried to defuse the tension. “Mr. Hopkins, please calm down. We’re all just here to have a nice dinner–no need for this.”
Archie clutched his swollen cheek, his face twisted with rage. “Calm down? Get out of my face! If you say another word, I’ll end you too!”
Justin flinched and quickly backed off, no longer daring to speak. However, as he glanced toward the Rhodes family, his eyes burned with resentment. He cursed them for being foolish. Despite knowing they could not go up against the Hopkins, they still had to throw punches. He could not help but think they were just asking for it.
Lauren’s voice rang out cold and firm. “Mr. Hopkins, what are you trying to do? Start a war?”
Archie bellowed with laughter. “Big mouth on you, you little bitch! With your trashy Rhodes family, you’re not even qualified to go to war with the Hopkins!” He sneered, eyes gleaming. “But don’t worry–I’m not just gonna take your mom. I’ll take you too. A mother–daughter combo? Now that’s what I call fun, haha!”
The commotion drew a crowd. Guests who had been dining inside now poured out to spectate, curious about the chaos. As soon as they saw who was involved, the onlookers began shouting.
“Mr. Rhodes, are you insane? Who do you think you are picking a fight with Archie Hopkins?”
Another chimed in, “The Rhodes family just barely made a name for themselves in Blumedale. Now you’re picking a fight with Archie? You must have a death wish!”
“Whoa, Mr. Hopkins actually got slapped? Twice? That’s like stealing from a lion’s den! What is the Rhodes family thinking? Are they trying to get wiped off the map?”
Hearing the crowd cheer him on, Archie grinned triumphantly. He turned back to Tiana and Jameson, smugness oozing from every pore. “Tiana, Jameson–you hear that? This city knows what’s what. Now, I’m feeling generous, so I’ll give you both a choice. Jameson, you get on your knees and beg me for forgiveness. And Tiana? Strip down and spend one wild night with me.”
His crude demands sent the crowd into another fit of laughter. To them, the Rhodes family had officially become a joke. A once respectable household was now completely humiliated by Archie. It was a disgrace.
Lauren and Cecelia were trembling with rage. Lauren’s hand slipped into her purse–she was ready to draw a gun.
However, Tiana calmly raised her hand and said to her family, “There’s no need to get riled up.” Then, she turned her eyes to Andrew. “Andy, step up and help your poor in-laws get some justice.”
Andrew froze, thinking, ‘Wait, what? Did she seriously just drop this flaming mess into my lap?‘
Jameson frowned and stepped forward. “Tiana, don’t drag Andy into this. This is our problem. I’ll handle it.” He pulled out his phone, clearly ready to rally the Rhodes family for a proper showdown, but Tiana waved him off.
“No need to bother. He can handle this,” she said breezily. “For him, this kind of thing is child’s play.”
Lauren gave Andrew a baffled look, as if silently asking, “Andrew, when did my mom start thinking you were some sort of superhero?”
Tiana smiled slyly, eyes locked on Andrew. “Come on, Andy. Some scumbag is out here harassing your mother-in-law and even threatening to sleep with her. Are you really just going to stand there and do nothing?”
Andrew let out a long sigh. He finally realized why she was acting so brazenly–because she knew he was here, and she felt untouchable.
“Alright, Mrs. Rhodes. You win,” he muttered.
Grinding his jaw, Andrew finally stepped forward and positioned himself between the Rhodes and the incoming threat.
Archie squinted at him, voice dripping with venom. “You little bastard. Stay the hell outta this. Unless you want to die, back the fuck off.”