Chapter 166: Denis’s threat

Words : 1261 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Chapter 166: Denis’s threat "Family?" Augustine sneered. "Now you suddenly remember I’m part of this family. Did you ever treat me like a Beaumont when you were pushing me around? Where were you when they shipped me overseas? Why didn’t you speak up against Grandpa? Not once did you call to see how I was doing. You didn’t care if I was dead or alive. But now, because you need something from me, you’re suddenly playing the family card. Don’t you think that’s absurd?" Denis didn’t answer right away. He stared daggers at Augustine, then silently poured himself another drink. He downed it in one swift motion, slammed the glass on the table, and tilted his head, his eyes blazing. "Are you going to help me or not?" he asked, his tone clipped. Augustine didn’t flinch. He remained lounged against the sofa, completely unfazed by Denis’s aggression. The fire in Denis’s eyes met only cool indifference. "Give me a proper reason," Augustine replied smoothly, lifting his glass in a slow, deliberate motion. "Then I’ll think about whether to help you or not." He took a sip, savoring the taste like he had all the time in the world. Denis’s anger darkened further, his features contorting with frustration. "You want a reason?" he growled. "Fine." He gave a curt nod, then pulled out his phone and held it out toward Augustine. "Take a look at this." Augustine’s confident air faltered the moment his eyes landed on the screen. The casual grip on his glass stiffened. The liquid inside trembled slightly. On the screen were photographs of himself in the ring—gritty, raw, unmistakable. Blood on his face. Gloves up. A strike mid-air. Another photo: his back turned, stepping out of the shadows, body bruised, adrenaline surging through the frame. His secret life was exposed. With a jolt, Augustine snatched the phone from Denis’s hand, his fingers almost trembling as he swiped through each image. His heart pounded louder with every shot, disbelief tightening his throat. ’How the hell did he find out?’ The thought raced through his mind, a flicker of unease tightening in his chest. Before returning to the city, Augustine had meticulously erased every link to his time in the underground fight circuit. He knew Denis and Gabriel would be watching, waiting to uncover his past. That’s why he had buried it so carefully. No names, no records, no loose ends. And yet, here it was—laid bare in front of him. How had Denis managed to get his hands on these photographs? "What’s the matter? Shocked?" Denis sneered, his tone dripping with mockery. "You really thought you could bury your past?" He leaned forward, his voice dropping into a dark whisper. "That filthy little tie to the underworld?" Augustine didn’t say a word. His eyes burned, locked onto Denis with barely restrained fury. The phone trembled in his grip, his knuckles paling from the pressure. Denis saw the reaction and pressed harder, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "You are playing the saint now, huh? Putting on a mask for Anne. Acting like some clean-cut gentleman... when you are nothing but a beast in disguise." Augustine’s jaw clenched. A muscle ticked near his temple, but he remained silent, seething. "Tell me," Denis went on, "what do you think she’ll do when she finds out the truth? When she learns that you’ve got blood on your hands—that you’ve danced with criminals and crawled through shadows. Do you think she’ll still love you then?" Augustine’s eyes darkened, a storm gathering behind them. "She won’t stay, Augustine," Denis said with confidence. "Not with a man like you. The moment she sees the real you—the one who fights like an animal in those filthy underground rings—she’ll walk away. She’ll hate you." That was it. With a burst of movement, Augustine hurled the phone aside. In a heartbeat, he was on his feet, fist clenching into Denis’s collar, yanking him forward. Denis didn’t flinch. Instead, he laughed, taunting Augustine. "That’s it. You are dying to hit me, aren’t you?" He tapped his own cheek, daring him. "Go ahead. Do it. Show me that rage. Prove you are nothing but a brute with a pretty face. Just like in the ring. Go on—unleash the monster." Augustine’s fists trembled at his sides as rage pulsed through him like a tidal wave. Every fiber of his being screamed to strike—to wipe the smugness off Denis’s face with one clean blow. But no. That would be too easy. With a guttural growl, he shoved Denis back with a powerful thrust, sending him stumbling a few steps. Without a word, Augustine reached for the bottle of whiskey on the table, yanked off the cap, and raised it to his lips. The sharp burn scorched his throat, but he didn’t stop. He kept drinking, gulp after gulp, until the bottle was drained dry. Denis stood nearby, watching him with a mocking smirk. The flicker of satisfaction in his eyes was unmistakable. He knew he had struck a nerve. This was the reaction he had come for. "Don’t worry," Denis said, his tone falsely comforting. "Your secret is safe with me. After all, you are my cousin. I have no interest in getting involved in your personal affairs... as long as you help me close the deal with the Sphere Group." Augustine slowly turned his head, his eyes gleaming with fury beneath a mask of icy calm. He would never make the mistake of trusting Denis. He knew Denis wouldn’t stay silent forever. It was only a matter of time before he used the information to turn Anne against him. ’I have to tell her myself,’ Augustine thought grimly, ’before he turns this into a weapon. Before he poisons Anne’s heart against me.’ Denis stepped closer, the smugness returning. "So," he said, drawing out the question with a casual smile, "are you going to help me?" Augustine swayed slightly, the liquor clouding his senses, his vision swimming. He blinked hard, trying to steady the dizziness as he gave Denis a half-lidded look. "Like I said... I’m just an employee," he muttered. "All I can do is recommend you. The final call is theirs, not mine." He turned to leave, not sparing Denis another glance. But Denis’s voice came again, calm yet laced with threat. "Your sincerity will determine how safe your secret remains. Remember that... when you talk to your boss." Augustine froze mid-step, jaw tightening. The heat rose in his chest again. He hated every second of this, hated being cornered. But he couldn’t let Denis manipulate Anne. After a moment of deliberation, he said coldly, "The Sphere Group’s next project is a model city on the outskirts. It’s been on hold due to land issues. You’ll get their attention if you can break that deadlock and secure the site. That’s your way in." Without waiting for a reply, he strode out of the room, a bitter smirk curling at the edge of his lips. That land was tangled in the grip of the local mafia. It was getting more and more difficult for him to secure the deal. But Denis had the power and the reach. It wouldn’t be difficult for him to deal with the land mafia. Once the land was secured, Augustine would have other ways to deal with Denis. As he stepped out of the room, he spotted Gustave leaning casually against the wall, his eyes immediately sharpening at the sight of Augustine’s flustered face. "You alright?" Gustave asked, concerned. "Take me home."

Chapter 166: Denis’s threat

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