In the bustling streets of Camphrian City, a sense of disbelief filled the air as the latest news dominated every screen and broadcast.

:: Breaking News: Raphael Group Disowns Heir Amid Kidnapping Scandal! Family Claims Abandonment Occurred Last Week ::

The headlines flashed across every news channel as anchors delivered the shocking announcement.

:: In a stunning move, the Raphael family has officially disowned Damien Raphael, distancing themselves from his recent kidnapping ordeal. Sources confirm that the family had severed ties with Damien last week, though this was kept private until now. ::

Crowds gathered, voices overlapping in disbelief.

"Did you hear? They disowned him before the kidnapping. Now they're just trying to protect their reputation," someone murmured, shaking their head.

"Cold move," another chimed in. "He gets kidnapped, and instead of helping him, they just wipe their hands clean."

The city buzzed with speculation and gossip as the Raphael Group's strategic distancing from Damien dominated the morning's conversations. While some had sympathy for him, others who had interacted with him held a different opinion.

"Honestly, it's not surprising," one man said, shaking his head. "Damien always had a terrible reputation. People say he was trash—never treated anyone with respect."

"Yeah, I've heard he was just a spoiled brat," another added. "Always getting into trouble and pushing people around. The family probably had enough of his behavior."

A woman nearby nodded in agreement. "I heard he was always using his position to intimidate others. Guess they finally decided he wasn't worth the trouble."

In a café, looking through the glass window and then turning towards a television, a man seated looked in front of him towards the screen, where he had just seen the news of Damien's banishment.

'No, no, NO! That bastard!' A man wearing a uniform belonging to one of the news agencies felt his whole world crumble as he gritted his teeth, anger clouding his mind as he remembered how he had just been tasked by Damien to spread fake news about a police officer named Lin Wanruo and to portray him as a hero.

"What should we do now?" Seated beside him, another man gripped the table with clenched fists. He, too, had been tasked with the same assignment as a reporter and felt deceived by Damien, who had guaranteed him a hefty sum of cash.

"He is nowhere to be seen too," another member of the group of five chimed in as he rubbed his forehead, feeling completely trapped given that they most likely had offended the Lin family due to Damien and spread the fake news, leaving them with no option but to flee.

It may have appeared that everything went well, but now things had turned the other way. Now that Damien had been abandoned, there was no family background to support him. Making the first ones to be cursed those who had offended Lin Wanruo or Amelia Crimwell.

All five of these reporters had been promised a large sum of money, and given that the one offering it belonged to the Raphael family, they had trusted him, knowing well that even if something happened, the Raphael family would handle the Lin family and the Crimwell family both.

Tring~

'?!'

"Damn it, have they already caught up to us?!" One of the five reporters felt sweat break out as he saw their female colleague's phone ring, causing all of them to look towards her in fear as she also nodded before taking out her phone, where an unknown number was flashing, and picked it up.

"H-hello, wh-who?" Her voice stammered as she inquired about the identity of the caller.

:: You can't even recognize your employer? ::

"D-Damien!" Out of nowhere, the woman froze at the sound of the voice, instantly identifying it. She stood clutching her phone, while her colleagues, upon hearing her exclaim, tightened their fists in recognition; the caller was none other than Damien Raphael.

"Ask him where he is..." One of them, covering his face to not let his voice be heard on the phone, whispered, trying to inquire about Damien's location.

"Yes, a-and what about our money?" Another one whispered, knowing that even if Damien was thrown out of his family, he likely still had a well amount of money on him, which they could at least use to leave this city.

:: No need to exclaim; do you think I would lie to all of you? ::

"N-no, Sir Damien, we were just..." The woman, slowly taking her seat, started to talk, her words slowly becoming normal. Knowing that right now they needed to at least get their money, and even though Damien was banished from his family, in the end, he was still from the Raphael family.

:: Listen well, I will pay all of you twice the amount I initially said, but under one condition. ::

"C-condition? Th-that's..." The woman glanced towards her colleagues, who heard the twice amount as their eyes widened, knowing they would be able to receive so much money, making them fall into a daze for a moment. One of them nodded and gestured for the woman, who then replied, "What is it, Sir?"

:: I will message you the address and pay in cash; you will not reveal the police about my location, do you understand? ::

"Huh?

Yes, yes, no problem, please send me the address." Hearing about the condition, the tense mood of all of them instantly broke as they would have never contacted the police since they would be the first ones to die under the sword of the Lin family, making them feel relaxed that they would at least get the money, and in cash, so there would not be any hassle of having a bank account transfer or taxes.

All these conditions were in favor of them, making all five of them smile as they looked towards each other, feeling proud, as the call got cut.

"Finally! I told you, Damien is a man of his word!" One of the journalists picked up the cold drink and took a sip. Reaching out his hand, he encouraged the others to join him, and they all shouted in unison, "CHEERS!"