Chapter 5: The Billionaire’s Mask

I suddenly opened my eyes and laughed at myself. Come on, get real. Dylan’s personality was too soft. Maybe I was just interested for now, but I might get bored after a while. After all, I’d always admired men who dared to fight rivals, not weak boys who hid behind me for help.

No one else in the room knew what I was thinking. I let out a quiet sigh. Madison sat beside me, watching Dylan massage my shoulders, muttering, “Auntie, I’m so jealous of you. This is the life of a goddess.”

I raised my eyebrow, accepting her envy.

Suddenly, Madison jumped in front of me. “Auntie, can you lend him to me for a day? I want to take him to a party. If he can serve tea, change shoes, and give massages like this, I’ll be the envy of everyone!”

Dylan paused, even his breathing slowed, quietly waiting for my answer. I caught his gaze, searching for a clue.

After a while, I smiled, sipped my tea, and said to the eager girl in front of me, “Maddie, even though I’m the ‘patron,’ I don’t treat people as objects. What you’re asking is a bit demeaning.”

It was a refusal, but Madison didn’t get it. She pouted, “Objects care about rights? Since he took the money, he should give up his humanity and obey his superior. Besides, I see him serving you like a dog—maybe he likes being bossed around. Born with a cheap bone.”

Ha, so spoiled. My uncle’s family only had sons, and only my second cousin had a daughter. She was spoiled from birth. So Madison turned out like this—brainless and arrogant, with insults always ready.

I was too lazy to argue, about to say something, but Dylan interrupted from behind me.

“Miss Maddie, since you, the superior, have spoken, I’ll go with you.”

His voice was soft, emotionless. But if you looked closely, you’d see a storm brewing in his eyes, like an angry wolf ready to bite. I felt a chill run down my spine.

I couldn’t believe my ears. This kid was undermining me?

I turned, about to scold him, but the boy cut me off. “Ma’am, I just don’t want you to hurt your relationship because of me.”

Damn you. Such a soft personality. I let out a sigh.

Since he said so, I had no reason to refuse Madison. Annoyed, I waved her away. “Go if you’re going.”

“Hehe, thanks auntie! You—carry my bag. Tonight, pour drinks when I tell you, wipe shoes when I tell you…”

The voices faded away. I rubbed my brow, feeling a bad premonition. Something was bound to go wrong tonight.

Sure enough, late that night, I was woken by a phone call. As soon as I answered, Madison’s panicked scream came through:

“Aunt! Come quick, Dylan… Dylan, he… ah! Help!”

I sat up, yanked on my clothes, and grabbed my keys while asking for the address. On the way, I sped, arriving at the party mansion in less than half an hour. Even though I was prepared, I was still shocked by what I saw.

The huge mansion’s first floor was littered with beer bottles and pizza boxes. Tables and chairs were overturned everywhere, like a tornado had hit. A few guys were fighting in the distance, two already knocked out on the floor. The girls huddled in the corner, shaking like leaves. It was a mess.

I rushed to Madison, grabbed her collar. “What happened!” My heart hammered in my chest.

Madison was so scared she stammered the story. Turns out, after she brought Dylan, she bragged to her friends that he was her kept pretty boy, someone she could boss around. Birds of a feather flock together; her friends were all trust fund kids. They got interested, demanding Dylan lick shoes, bark like a dog, strip…

At that, Dylan laughed. He really took off his shirt. I blinked, caught off guard. But he only took off the jacket I’d bought him, folded it neatly and set it aside. Then he grabbed the loudest guy and threw him over his shoulder.

The guys were caught off guard, but quickly ganged up on Dylan. Outnumbered, he still knocked out several. The rest would be down soon, too. Only one was still resisting. Dylan was a trained fighter. He couldn’t beat the monster from the ring, but dealing with spoiled rich kids was easy. I had to admit, watching him work was kind of satisfying.

At that moment, his face was blank, but every punch poured out violent energy. He muttered, “Order me? Who the hell do you think you are?”

It wouldn’t be long before the last one was down.

“Dylan.”

Dylan paused, turned sharply. “Ma’am, why are you here?”

“If I didn’t come, how would I know you could be so fierce?”

Dylan, face bruised, stared at me silently, looking pitiful. I felt a pang of something—pride? Worry?

“Had enough?”

He hesitated, then nodded.

I snorted. “If you’re done, get up. Let’s go home.”

---

On the way back, I drove in silence. The boy sat in the passenger seat, nervously clutching his seatbelt.

“Ma’am, are you mad at me?”

Mad at him? Not really. I let out a breath. They ganged up on him and lost—it was their own fault. Morally and legally, Dylan did nothing wrong. But after this, no one in Silver Hollow would dare be friends with Madison. Her friends’ anger would be enough for her to handle. Who told her to brag that Dylan was hers?

I sighed. “I just didn’t know the boy I kept could be so fierce, so vengeful. Pretending to be weak in front of me for so long—aren’t you tired?”

The moment I got Madison’s call, I understood—Dylan had already guessed what would happen at the party. He went to get back at Madison.

I used to think he was weak. Turns out, he was only weak in front of me—tough in front of others.

Dylan got anxious, his split lip bleeding again as he argued, “I wasn’t pretending, ma’am. I wasn’t.” His voice trembled.

“Enough, I’m not blaming you. If you can keep pretending in front of me, that’s fine. After all, a wolfdog that’s obedient inside and fierce outside…”

I paused, then chuckled. “Is pretty charming.” My heart skipped a beat.

...

“These useless things—what is this crap?”