Jason wrapped Holly Larson firmly in his arms.
His voice was low, steady, and full of certainty:
"Silly girl… and you didn't call me? Didn't I tell you—my woman does not get bullied?"
The moment she heard that, the dam broke.
The tears Holly had been holding back finally spilled, warm and trembling, down her cheeks.Buried against Jason's chest, she felt a wave of warmth, safety, and something she hadn't felt in years—
unconditional protection.
Holly's voice quivered:
"B-But… the one you really like is that cool, untouchable campus queen, right?When I was getting harassed in that SUV, you appeared like some kind of hero out of nowhere. Then you used your connections to get my dad all those business deals… which made our whole status in the family rise… and now things fell apart again. It feels like I'm always causing trouble."
Her voice cracked.
"If I need you every time something goes wrong… won't I just become a burden?What if you get tired of helping me?What if you stop liking me?"
Jason brushed her hair gently, holding her tighter.
"How could I ever get tired of you?"
"Even men have vulnerable moments. Why can't a girl? Even the 'cool, cold' campus belles fall apart sometimes.Next time anything happens—just tell me.I'll handle it. Always."
Holly sniffed, wiping her tears on his shirt, then nodded against his chest.
"Mm… okay."
The anxiety about her father, the years of being mistreated by the Larson family, the humiliation today—Everything melted away in that moment.
As long as Jason was here, she felt safe.
Holly Larson: Favorability +1
Jason blinked.
Even under these circumstances, her affection for him increased again.
He really needed to thank the Larson cousins later.
He turned toward the group—but to his surprise, they were already staring back…
And then they opened their mouths.
"What are you looking at, pretty boy?""'My woman can't be bullied,' wow, what a show-off.""Holly, you're too much. Renting a villa like this and keeping a pretty boy? Blowing through the Larson family's money much?"
Jason's expression didn't change.
He didn't waste words.He didn't raise his voice.He didn't even acknowledge the insults.
He just calmly took out his phone…
…and tapped a button.
Within seconds, two black-suited bodyguards entered the villa.
Jason pointed lazily toward the Larson cousins.
"Deal with them."
"W-Wait, what are you doing?!""Let go! Ow—what the hell?!""You dare restrain me?!""Do you know who we are?!""I'll sue you! This is illegal! Personal liberty infringement!!"
Their screams echoed.
In less than a minute, all five Larson cousins were tied up neatly, pushed against a wall, and forced to kneel in a line.
Perfectly humbled.
Holly and Emily felt a rush of relief—but a flicker of worry too.
"T-This won't cause trouble… right?" Emily whispered.
After all, tying someone up was illegal.Only police had that authority on paper.
Jason offered a calm, easy smile.
They were still thinking like ordinary people.
First of all—this was his property.They trespassed.He could sue them anytime he wanted.
As for them suing him?
Even if they filed a lawsuit—against him?Against his legal team?
Please.
And second—fairness, justice, and "the law" only worked when the opposing party actually had the guts to pursue it.
Jason guaranteed—
those cousins wouldn't dare utter a single word after today.
If Jason wanted, the Larson family's factory could be bankrupt in three days.
He could make every rare-earth permanent magnet supplier in the state blacklist them.He could freeze every opportunity in South Texas.He could make the entire Larson family irrelevant in the rare-earth industry.
And if he wanted to be cruel?
Money. Influence. Federal connections.
He could crush their entire family line until they were penniless.
This was the difference between Jason Carter and a second-rate regional family like the Larsons.
Jason stepped in front of the tied-up cousins, looking down at them with calm, icy disdain.
"So you want to attend Holly's birthday party so badly?"He smiled faintly."I'm not unreasonable. I'll let you attend."
His eyes sharpened.
"Attend on your knees."
The Larson cousins exploded instantly.
"Pretty boy, do you know who we are?!""We're from the Larson family of Texas—look it up!""You dare treat us like this? My dad will destroy you!"
Jason didn't even blink.
He picked up one of their phones, unlocked it with face ID, dialed a number, and held it out.
"You want to call your parents, right?I'll give you that chance."
The cousins stared, stunned he was so brazen.
The call connected.
On the screen appeared Edward Larson, their patriarch-level elder.
"What happened to you, Evan? Why are you tied up?!" Edward shouted.
"Dad!" Evan began crying dramatically. "We came to find Holly to celebrate her birthday, but she—she let her boyfriend tie us up!"
Edward exploded with fury.
"HOLLY LARSON! What kind of boyfriend did you bring home?! Release Evan immediately or I'm not done with you! From today onward, you're no longer welcome in the Larson family!"
His voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.
Holly flinched instinctively.
That voice had oppressed her for eighteen years.
But this time…
She felt Jason's arm around her.
And the fear dissolved.
As long as he was there, she feared nothing.
Her sense of belonging was no longer with the Larson family—
It was with Jason Carter.
Jason casually let Edward rant.He didn't respond.He didn't explain.
After Evan told him the address, Jason simply hung up.
Was he afraid of the Larsons coming?
Absolutely not.
He wanted them all here.
So he could deal with them in one go.
At the Larson Family Residence
Chaos erupted.
Edward slammed a chair against the floor, grabbed his coat, and stormed toward the door.
He immediately found Graham Larson.
"You raised a wonderful daughter, didn't you?! My son got tied up by her boyfriend! That's illegal—did you hear me? I'll SUE her and throw her in jail!"
Graham froze in shock—but when someone insulted his daughter, he stood firm.
"My daughter is respectful and well-behaved. For her to do something like that, your son must have crossed a line. He must have been outrageous at her birthday, or she'd never tie him up!"
Edward laughed, furious.
"Good. GOOD. Just like father, just like daughter. I'll remember this."
He didn't waste time arguing.
He booked the soonest flight.
Within minutes, the incident spread across the Larson family.
Ronald Larson—the family head—was so enraged he smashed a teacup at Graham.
"You two—father and daughter—have gone too far. If anything happens to Evan, YOU will pay the price."
Finally, Evelyn Larson stood in front of her husband protectively.
For the first time in years, Graham felt warmth from his wife…
But at the same time, something inside him hardened.
He had reached a decision.
No matter what—
He had to leave this toxic family.
If Evelyn chose to come with him, great.If not…His decision would not change.
Evelyn turned to Graham, anxiety rising.
"What is Holly doing? Why would she tie people up?!"
Graham exhaled slowly.
"I don't know the full story. But I know my daughter. She wouldn't do this without a reason. She told me before—if the family stopped making things difficult, she'd get along with them. They must have gone too far today.No matter what, I stand with Holly."
"You stand with her?" Evelyn snapped. "And then what? Can YOU handle the consequences?"
Graham looked at her with a calmness she'd never seen before.
"If I can't handle it, then I can't. But we're tired. Holly and I are tired. We don't want to endure the Larson family's anger anymore."
Evelyn froze.
He had said "your anger."Not "the family's anger."
He was grouping her with them.
For the first time, Evelyn realized—
Her husband had truly lost faith in the Larson family.And in her.
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