Chapter 210 Confrontation (1/2)

When Kyle went down to the living room, he saw Richard sitting there on the sofa, like some King awaiting his subject. Kyle made a mental eye roll and sat down in front of him, not breaking his stride or eye contact.

Richard watched with narrowed eyes as the kid walked through the door. There was no sense of shame, or fear as he sat down across from him. From what he had dug up about the kid, he was no ordinary rich kid that was empty on the inside, riding on the coattails of his parents' wealth.

He actually had substance.

If it was any other kid, he'd probably be supportive of this whole thing.

However, there were two major problems with the young dynamite in front of him.

One, he was too young.

That didn't just mean that he was a 'protected species', but he was also at the most volatile stage of his life. Rebellious, defiant and would most likely resist any form of authority. Heck, Richard remembered himself when he was growing up. His teen years were rather chaotic and extremely problematic.

Second, Kyle's background.

Being the Smith Heir who's parents were known to be overprotective gave him a headache. Richard didn't think that the Smiths would take it too kindly over the fact that their underaged son had been dancing under the sheets with his daughter.

If he was a normal kid, just having him disappear would have been easy. Bribe him, threaten him or even kill him. Kyle's status, however, gave him immunity to the first two. He already had the money and power. So the only thing he could do was get them to break up ... or he'd just have to use the underworld connections for Kyle to have an 'accident'.

Samantha looked like she was being serious with this one, and worse, it looked like the kid was just as serious. Richard couldn't have that.

He already had plans for Samantha and it certainly did not involve a fresh-faced 'clean' kid like this. He needed to strengthen his empire, not weaken it. If Kyle was older, or even younger - he would have been at an age that Richard could control and influence. As it is, Richard doubted that Kyle would succumb to him.

He could already tell by the way Kyle just looked at him.

The kid wasn't simple.

The both of them just sat there, staring at each other without saying a word.

Kyle was simply waiting for Richard to speak while Richard was busy thinking as he was looking at Kyle. Just when Richard finally opened his mouth to speak, the living room door opened and Samantha walked in.

Richard growled, ”Get back to your room.”

”No,” Samantha said decisively, walking over to Kyle and sitting next to him.

Kyle looked at her with a smile, and she held his hand, intertwining her fingers into his.

”If this involves Kyle, it involves me,” Samantha replied, looking at her father in the eyes.

Richard sighed.

Truth be told, Richard did love his daughter in his own way. To him, providing for her was his show of love. He had given her the best, let her do whatever she wanted and to ensure that her future was protected, he had even gotten her a reliable husband.

One that could take over his empire and more importantly, one that obeyed him.

All of Samantha's lovers had been screened by him and deemed safe. Any guy that was either a mole, or could have been one that Samantha would have fallen in love with - he got rid of.

Richard didn't want Samantha to be tied emotionally to anyone so that when he set up the arranged marriage, she would follow obediently. He knew that she was willful but she was also filial.

Now, however, as he watched the way she held on to Kyle's hand and leaned on him, he knew that his carelessness had resulted in this mess. He now had to get them to break-up.

”What's done is done,” Richard began, ”But it cannot continue.”

”Why not? It's not like it's illegal to have a 14-year-old boyfriend,” Samantha retorted.

”With your reputation?” Richard pointed out, ”Do you honestly think people will believe that it's purely platonic?”

Samantha couldn't argue with that point, but she still stubbornly shook her head, ”This is the first time that I'm in a relationship. I'm not going to hide it.”

”Okay, fine. Then let me be blunt. Samantha, Kyle is still a minor and you, young lady. You've just committed r*pe. You'll go to jail. I won't be able to shield you. Do you get me?” he growled, ”So stop this before it's too late.”

Samantha trembled and Kyle put his arms around her back, hugging her close to him.

”Then we'll keep this relationship a secret,” Kyle said, ”In public, we'll just act normally. Just like how we've been doing all this while. No one will suspect anything and there is no danger of Samantha getting into trouble.”

Samantha's eyes were wet with unshed tears as she looked at Kyle. He squeezed her hand.

”Are you going to keep this a secret even from your own parents? Your sister? Really?” Richard scoffed.

Kyle, keeping a straight face, replied, ”For Samantha, yes. Anything.”