The surrounding students stared in confusion.
Wasn't he here to slap someone in the face? Why was he the one kneeling?
Emma and Lily stood frozen for several seconds before their minds caught up with reality.
Emma's face turned bright red. She hurried forward, trying to pull Rick up.
"Rick, what are you doing?!"
This wasn't the script she had imagined. She had pictured Jason's expression—regretful, embarrassed, humiliated. Instead, her boyfriend was kneeling in front of everyone.
How was she supposed to face anyone after this?
It made no sense. Jason was "bankrupt," wasn't he? Look at his clothes—simple, no visible luxury brands, no Rolex, no Patek Philippe. Not even a sports car parked nearby.
Meanwhile, Rick's company had a valuation exceeding 300 million dollars and was expanding. Jason should be the one trying to curry favor, not the other way around.
But Rick remained on his knees. He pushed Emma's hand away and straightened his posture, kneeling with proper form.
"Mr Carter," he said, voice trembling, "I didn't know Emma was your ex. If I had known, I would never have dared. It's my fault for not investigating. I was blind. Please be magnanimous."
The words echoed in the night air like a servant begging forgiveness.
The students were stunned. Emma felt as if someone had slapped her in public.
"Rick!" she snapped, trying again to drag him up. "What are you afraid of? He's bankrupt! If anyone should kneel, it should be him kneeling to you!"
The moment those words left her mouth, Rick nearly lost his soul. He shoved her aside in panic.
"Get away from me! I have nothing to do with you!"
His voice cracked. At that moment, he wanted to strangle her.
Was she insane? Yes, he was at fault for not running a background check. But she had dated Jason. She should have known who he was. Why bring him here to show off? Was she trying to drag him into a grave with her?
Rick's mind raced. He didn't even know Jason's attitude toward Emma. If Jason still had lingering feelings, touching her would be another offense.
Emma staggered back, humiliated. Under the strange gazes of classmates, her face burned.
She stomped her foot. "Are you even a man?!" she shouted. "Stand up! You're my boyfriend! Why are you scared of him?"
Lily added fuel to the fire. "Exactly! Your family is rich and powerful! Even if he wasn't bankrupt, it would be fair competition. Now he's almost broke—"
"Shut the hell up!" Rick roared.
His voice was so loud it startled everyone nearby. "Do you think this is your place to talk?"
He felt these two women were digging his grave deeper with every sentence.
Infinity Group. The Carter name. In the current American business landscape, anyone in business had heard of them. The recent restructuring of multiple corporations? Infinity. The business opportunities his father seized? Indirectly enabled by Infinity's market shifts.
And now he had brought Jason Carter's ex-girlfriend to show off in front of him. If Jason wanted to crush them, it would take one phone call. One.
Rick's palms were sweating against the pavement. The students were silent now. The expected "rich heir showdown" had turned into something surreal. They had thought this would be a battle between equals. Instead, one side hadn't even moved, and the other was trembling on his knees.
At a nearby table, Caleb shook his head faintly. Mike suppressed a laugh. Angela looked at Emma with pity.
Jason remained seated. Calm. Unbothered. He hadn't spoken a single word. He simply looked at Rick kneeling before him as if watching an irrelevant performance.
After a few seconds, Jason lifted his glass and took a slow sip. Then he said lightly, "Finished?"
Two simple words, but they felt heavier than a mountain.
Emma felt as if the entire world was staring at her. Being pushed away was humiliating. Being shouted at in public was worse. She wished the ground would split open so she could disappear.
But she refused to accept it. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. She had imagined Jason lowering his head, looking regretful. She had imagined herself walking away in victory.
So why was Rick the one kneeling?
Jason didn't even look at her. He picked up another skewer, took a bite, and sipped his beer as if nothing had happened. That indifference was more painful than any insult.
Rick remained kneeling, drenched in cold sweat. He didn't dare move.
After finishing the skewer, Jason wiped his hands with a napkin. Then he spoke.
"What's there background?"
From a nearby table, Eric—who had been observing—stood up and stepped forward with respect.
"An operations company valued at around three hundred million," Eric reported. "Decent execution capability. Recently handled promotional work for several Infinity subsidiaries—your e-commerce platform, tourism division, and cruise line. There is some cooperation."
The moment Jason asked about the company, Rick nearly collapsed.
"Mr Carter!" he blurted out. "My family's company is small. It's our honor to receive projects from Infinity subsidiaries. We will serve with full dedication in the future. Please be merciful. I didn't know Emma had any past with you. I never intended to offend you. If punishment is necessary, punish me alone. I'm willing to kowtow. I'm willing to compensate—"
His voice trembled. The fate of the Zane family flashed through his mind. The Zane resisted. They disappeared from the upper business circle entirely.
Compared to them, his company wasn't even worthy of carrying their shoes. If Infinity targeted them, it wouldn't even take effort.
Jason looked at him. His gaze was calm, almost bored.
"First," Jason said, "Emma is not my ex. I have never had anything to do with her."
Emma froze.
"Second, since you knelt quickly, I won't make things difficult. Cancel all cooperation between Infinity subsidiaries and your company." He paused. "Now leave. Don't disturb our dinner."
The words were simple, but to Rick, they were a thunderbolt.
Cancel all cooperation? For Infinity, those were minor contracts. For Them, those were their core revenue streams.
Worse—if word spread that Infinity had cut ties with them, other companies would distance themselves. In Los Angeles' current business climate, offending Jason Carter was equivalent to business suicide. Even if Jason's original intention stopped here, the ripple effects could destroy them.
Rick's face turned ashen. Yet after a brief moment, he understood. This was mercy. Compared to being crushed outright, this was survival.
He lowered his head and knocked it against the pavement.
"Thank you for your generosity, Young Master Carter. I won't disturb you further."
He stood up, even taking two steps backward before turning around.
Just as he was about to leave, Jason spoke again.
"Take the people you brought. Don't leave them blocking the way."
Rick's heart skipped. He understood. Jason did not care about Emma at all. Not even a trace. That realization made him even more grateful.
Without another word, he grabbed Emma and Lily. Gone was the earlier gentlemanly act. He shoved them into the Ferrari, slammed the door, and sped away.
They had arrived in arrogance. They left in disgrace.
Inside the car, Emma still refused to believe it.
"Rick, why didn't you listen to us?" she snapped. "We told you he's about to go bankrupt!"
Rick's suppressed fury exploded.
"Bankrupt?!" he roared. "To hell with bankruptcy! Do you know who he is? Do you know how much capital Infinity controls? Even if City Hall collapses, he won't go bankrupt! Are you insane? If you want to die, don't drag me with you!"
Emma went silent. Her mind buzzed. Infinity. Carter. The pieces began to connect.
Back at the food stall, the students remained in stunned silence. What they had witnessed wasn't a showdown between equals. It was a difference in level. A crushing gap.
Jason picked up another bottle of beer. As if nothing worth mentioning had happened at all.
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