The burly men responded in unison, striding toward Jake Varley.

Jake shrank back in terror, but one of them yanked him up by the collar.

Fists rained down on him like a storm, the dull thuds echoing through the warehouse.

Jenna Roland watched coldly, her nails digging into her palms.

Two minutes later, Jake lay crumpled on the ground, his face swollen beyond recognition. He tried to push himself up but gasped in pain.

"Stop." Stella Laurent suddenly spoke up.

Tristan Ashcroft arched an eyebrow at her.

"He's not worth catching a murder charge over," Stella said through gritted teeth.

Jenna flexed her injured shoulder. "Make him pay."

"Thirty thousand," she added.

Jake nodded frantically like a drowning man clutching at straws. "I'll pay... I'll pay..."

One of the enforcers fished out his phone from his pocket and shoved it into his hand.

"Password is six zeros," Jake coughed up blood. "Payment code is 312765."

Stella suddenly snatched the phone. "How much is in your account?"

Jake's eyes darted nervously.

"Talk!" Tristan stomped on his hand.

"One hundred thousand!" Jake screamed.

Stella's hands trembled. She remembered when her father was hospitalized, Jake had claimed he didn't have a penny to spare.

"Where did this money come from?" Her voice shook.

"You... you gave it to me..." Jake cowered. "I saved it all..."

Stella's vision darkened. She had scrimped and saved every month to send him money, only for him to hoard it all.

Her fingers flew across the screen as she transferred the entire sum.

"Get out." She hurled the phone at Jake's face. "If I ever see you again, I'll report you for fraud."

Jake opened his mouth to protest, but two enforcers dragged him out by his arms.

The warehouse door slammed shut.

Only then did Stella finally break down in tears.