Chapter 133
Chapter 133
Marcus awkwardly scratched the back of his head and forced out a dry laugh.
“Actually… I didn’t mean p>
Before he could finish explaining himself, his phone suddenly vibrated inside his pocket.
Buzz… Buzz…
The ringing instantly cut through the awkward atmosphere between them.
Marcus secretly let out a sigh of relief before pulling out his phone. When he looked at the caller ID, he saw Betty’s name flashing across the screen.
He quickly answered the call. “Hello p>
“Marcus, where are you?” Betty asked from the other end. Her voice sounded slightly hurried. “The company has just assigned us a new field survey. we have to carry out today p>
Marcus glanced at Julia before replying, “Oh, okay. I will be there in a few minutes p>
After ending the call, he slipped the phone back into his pocket and looked at Julia with an apologetic smile.
“I have to go. The company just gave us an assignment, i am sorry p>
Julia smiled gently and nodded. “It’s okay. Work comes first p>
Marcus returned the smile. “We’ll talk later p>
“Okay.” The two stood there for another brief moment before exchanging a silent farewell.
Marcus then walked away.
Julia remained standing where she was, quietly watching the car disappear farther and farther down the road until it was completely out of sight.
Only then did she let out a soft sigh.
A faint smile slowly appeared on her beautiful face.
“I really wish we could always stay like this p>
She lowered her head slightly, her cheeks turning faintly pink as she remembered Marcus’ earlier slip of the
tongue.
“One day…I’ll gather enough courage to tell you how I truly feel p>
After whispering those words to herself, she turned around and headed back toward her own car.
About half an hour later, Marcus arrived at the company.
After signing in, he joined Betty and several other employees who had already gathered in one of the meeting
rooms.
The company was preparing to launch a new product aimed at the lower-income market.
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It was an affordable nutritious malt-and-soy energy drink, specially designed to be inexpensive while still providing vitamins and enough energy for laborers, students, and low-income families.
Before production begins, they need public feedback. Your job today is simple. Visit different neighborhoods, ask residents about the product, record their opinions, preferred pricing, and whether they’d actually buy it.
Marcus and Betty was naturally assigned together.
For the next several hours, the two visited small grocery shops, roadside kiosks, crowded markets, and residential streets. Recording everything down.
By late afternoon, they had already covered most of the neighborhoods assigned to them.
The two walked side by side, chatting casually as they followed the narrow streets toward the final location.
The neighborhood ahead looked much older than the previous ones.
Many of the buildings were decades old, with faded paint peeling from the walls. Small roadside shops lined the streets while children played barefoot near open drainage channels. Although the area looked poor, it was lively, filled with people going about their daily lives.
Just as Marcus and Betty rounded a sharp corner… Both of them suddenly froze.
“What the heck…” Betty muttered in disbelief.
A horrifying scene unfolded before them.
More than twenty muscular men wearing black shirts, dark trousers, and black masks were scattered throughout the neighborhood.
Each of them held thick wooden sticks.
Without showing the slightest mercy, they swung the sticks at the local residents.
Crack! An elderly man screamed as a stick slammed across his back.
A young mother desperately shielded her child while another masked man kicked over a fruit stall, scattering oranges across the dusty road.
Several young men from the neighborhood tried to resist, only to be beaten down within seconds.
The entire street had descended into chaos.
Marcus’ expression immediately darkened.
As his eyes swept across the area, they landed on several large banners lying on the ground, some already trampled by boots.
One banner read boldly:
WE WON’T BE OPPRESSED! LEAVE US ALONE!
Another read:
NO FORCED DEMOLITION! THIS COMMUNITY IS OUR HOME!
A third banner had been torn in half, but the remaining words were still visible.
WE DEMAND FAIR COMPENSATION BEFORE ANY RELOCATION! STOP USING VIOLENCE AGAINST INNOCENT
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+15 8:
RESIDENTS!
Seeing those words, Marcus immediately understood what was happening.
The government-or more likely a private developer-planned to reconstruct the neighborhood.
The residents had refused to leave, probably because they hadn’t been fairly compensated.
Instead of negotiating peacefully… Someone had hired these masked men to force the residents into submission through violence.
Marcus watched as another elderly woman was shoved onto the ground.
His jaw clenched. The beating was becoming increasingly brutal.
At this rate…Someone was going to die.
Beside him, Betty hurriedly took out her phone with trembling hands.
“We have to call the police,” she said anxiously. “If this continues much longer, they’ll kill people p>
Marcus didn’t reply.His eyes remained fixed on the horrifying scene before him.
Then…He slowly stepped forward.
Taking a deep breath, he raised his voice.
“What the heck do you think you’re doing p>
His thunderous shout echoed throughout the entire neighborhood like a clap of thunder.
The masked men instinctively stopped swinging their sticks. Even the frightened residents turned toward the source of the voice.
Marcus stood in the middle of the street, his face cold as ice. His sharp gaze swept across every masked man before he spoke again.
“Do you intend to beat innocent people to death p>
For a brief moment…The entire street fell silent.
Then one after another, the masked men began walking toward him.
Within seconds, nearly twenty of them had surrounded Marcus and Betty from every direction.
One man, clearly their leader, stepped out from the crowd.
Unlike the others, he was taller and broader, and the thick scar running across his exposed neck made him look even more intimidating.
He stared at Marcus for several seconds before speaking in a cold voice.
“Who are you p>
He took another step closer.”Are you from this neighborhood p>
Marcus met his gaze without the slightest hint of fear.
“Well… i am from this area p>
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The leader twisted his neck, producing several loud cracking sounds.
15 Bat
“Let me give you one piece of advice. Turn around and leave, Otherwise…”, A cruel smile appeared beneath his mask. “…we will beat you into a pulp just like the rest p>
Betty immediately stepped forward and pointed her phone toward him. “Let those people go right now!” she shouted angrily. “I’ve already called the police. They’ll be here any minute p>
The leader’s eyes instantly turned cold.
“How dare you interfere with our business p>
He glared at Marcus and Betty before slowly raising his hand toward the men behind him.
“Even if the police arrive…I will make sure the two of you learn a lesson first p>
He waved his hand.
“Teach them some lesson p>
P
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.