Chooses Madness 171

Chapter 171 

What kept Payton going through the agony was sheer willpower. He clamped his left hand around James‘ wrist, then drove his right fist into the guy’s face before kicking him square in the gut. 

With a deafening bam, James went flying back, slamming into the ground as the knife skittered away. 

Payton pressed his advantage, stomping a foot down on James‘ chest to pin him there, helpless. 

“How… How dare you!” Payton sputtered, fury twisting his features. 

He actually hurt Kayla,‘ Payton thought, fury burning through him. “This bastard deserves worse than this. 

James struggled to breathe, glaring up at Payton like he wanted to say something threatening. But the second he saw the cold look in Payton’s eyes, the words died in his throat. He shut up fast. 

Kayla stood behind Payton, staring at his arm. It was torn up and bleeding everywhere. Her heart clenched. “Are you insane? Why would you block it with your hand? Do you have any idea how bad this is? You could lose use of your hand!” she said, her voice shaky. 

Payton turned and looked at her worried face. He forced out a smile. “It’s nothing. Just a scratch. As long as you’re okay, I’m good.” His smile was tight and strained from the pain. He’d promised her he’d help. That he’d be there. 

Thank goodness I used my hand,‘ Payton thought, relief flooding through him despite the pain. If he’d kicked instead, the thug wouldn’t have hurt him at all. 

And I wouldn’t have gotten to see her this worried about me,‘ Payton thought, something warm flickering in his chest beneath the pain. His lashes lowered, hiding whatever showed in his eyes before Kayla could notice. 

Kayla stared at Payton’s arm, which was still bleeding badly. Panic rose in her chest. She didn’t even think- she just grabbed a silk scarf from her bag and wrapped it around his wound, trying desperately to stop the bleeding. “We need to get you to the hospital. Now,” she said urgently. 

Kayla carefully tried to support him, but she was so afraid of touching his wound that her movements were clumsy and awkward. 

Payton caught sight of her expression and couldn’t help the slight smile that tugged at his lips. 

They’d barely made it a few steps when rapid footsteps echoed from behind, getting closer by the second. 

Kayla and Payton locked eyes, both tensing up. ‘What if it’s that thug’s backup?‘ they thought simultaneously. 

One quick glance and they were on the same page. They ducked into a narrow alley and pressed against the wall, barely daring to breathe. 

A moment later, Davon showed up right where the fight had gone down, looking both pissed and worried. 

Davon glanced around, taking in the blood on the ground and the thug sprawled out. His expression darkened. “Where the hell are they? The plan was to rough her up a little so I could play hero when I got here. How did you idiots screw this up so bad?” 

Laune out of nowhere and beat the crap out of us. 

Davon’s face turned ice–cold as he glared at the thug. “Useless! You can’t even handle one simple job? Screw it up and you’re not getting paid!” 

The thugs flared up at that. “Bullshit! We did our part–you’re the one who showed up late. Try stiffing us, and I’ll tell that girl all about the stunt you pulled two years ago. 

“Think the Sexton princess will let you off easy when she finds out you set her up back then?” 

Davon’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his cool. “Go ahead and try. I’m still a minor, so I won’t be the one going to jail.” 

James and the other thugs went pale. ‘Damn, this kid’s seriously twisted, they thought. 

Davon didn’t want to push them too far, so he forced a smile. “Fine. You didn’t finish the job, but you put in some effort. I’ll give you half. Take it and don’t make trouble. Maybe I’ll hire you again next time.” 

Hiding in the shadows, Kayla heard every single word. The revelation hit her like lightning. She thought back to middle school, when those thugs had cornered her. What she’d thought were random attacks suddenly connected, turning into one massive conspiracy. 

Davon–the guy she’d worshipped as her hero, the one who’d always swooped in to save her–had been the mastermind all along. 

This whole thing was a setup. Every single moment planned by Davon. But why?‘ Kayla’s mind raced. Then it clicked. Back then, everyone found out Davon was a love child. Irene discovered him and his mom, stormed into their home, and even hurt Miranda. After that, Irene cut off all their money. 

Davon had nothing left, like a stray dog with nowhere to go. 

Sure, they’d grown up together, but that didn’t mean the Sexton family owed his family anything or should bail them out. 

It all started when those thugs cornered her in that alley. Davon showed up just in time to play hero, and Kayla fell for it. She felt so grateful, so dependent on him. That was why she practically begged Jackson and Bailee to sponsor Davon’s education. 

That one rescue made Kayla see him through rose–colored glasses. She fell for him so hard she lost herself completely. 

Now Kayla could see it for what it was–a setup. It was one big, calculated lie from the very beginning. The realization made her blood run cold. 

I always thought Davon only changed because he fell for Marianna, Kayla thought bitterly. “That he only hurt me because she kept pushing him. 

Turns out he was a fraud from the start. A complete scumbag. I wasted so many years on him. How could I have been so blind?‘ 

James struggled to his feet, spitting blood. “Some punk came out of nowhere and beat the crap out of us. Then he took off with the girl.” 

Davon’s face turned ice–cold as he glared at the thug. “Useless! You can’t even handle one simple job? Screw It up and you’re not getting paid!” 

The thugs flared up at that. “Bullshit! We did our part–you’re the one who showed up late. Try stiffing us, and I’ll tell that girl all about the stunt you pulled two years ago. 

“Think the Sexton princess will let you off easy when she finds out you set her up back then?” 

Davon’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his cool. “Go ahead and try. I’m still a minor, so I won’t be the one going to jail.” 

James and the other thugs went pale. ‘Damn, this kid’s seriously twisted, they thought. 

Davon didn’t want to push them too far, so he forced a smile. “Fine. You didn’t finish the job, but you put in some effort. I’ll give you half. Take it and don’t make trouble. Maybe I’ll hire you again next time.” 

Hiding in the shadows, Kayla heard every single word. The revelation hit her like lightning. She thought back to middle school, when those thugs had cornered her. What she’d thought were random attacks suddenly connected, turning into one massive conspiracy. 

Davon–the guy she’d worshipped as her hero, the one who’d always swooped in to save her–had been the mastermind all along. 

This whole thing was a setup. Every single moment planned by Davon. But why?‘ Kayla’s mind raced. 

Then it clicked. Back then, everyone found out Davon was a love child. Irene discovered him and his mom, stormed into their home, and even hurt Miranda. After that, Irene cut off all their money. 

Davon had nothing left, like a stray dog with nowhere to go. 

Sure, they’d grown up together, but that didn’t mean the Sexton family owed his family anything or should bail them out. 

It all started when those thugs cornered her in that alley. Davon showed up just in time to play hero, and Kayla fell for it. She felt so grateful, so dependent on him. That was why she practically begged Jackson and Bailee to sponsor Davon’s education. 

That one rescue made Kayla see him through rose–colored glasses. She fell for him so hard she lost herself completely. 

Now Kayla could see it for what it was–a setup. It was one big, calculated lie from the very beginning. The realization made her blood run cold. 

I always thought Davon only changed because he fell for Marianna, Kayla thought bitterly. “That he only hurt me because she kept pushing him. 

Turns out he was a fraud from the start. A complete scumbag. I wasted so many years on him. How could I have been so blind?‘ 

1/1 

So now he’s trying the same trick again? Just because I stopped following him around like some loyal puppy. he thinks another fake rescue will put me back under his spell? Kayla thought. Her rage flared hotter. Nice try, Davon. You’ve been scheming against me this whole time. 

Kayla’s face went dark, her eyes burning with pure hatred. She clenched her fists so tight her nails dug into her palms, but she didn’t even feel it. 

“Davon, you keep playing me for a fool. I swear I’m gonna make you pay,” Kayla hissed under her breath. 

Payton saw the cold fury on Kayla’s face, and something tightened in his chest. He reached out to comfort her, but halfway there, he stopped himself and let his hand drop. 

“Hey, don’t let trash like him get to you. He’s not worth it,” Payton said softly. 

Kayla’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and she felt some of the anger drain away. ‘He’s right. Davon’s not worth it, she thought. Her eyes dropped to Payton’s injured arm, and the icy rage melted into worry. 

“You’re hurt pretty bad. We need to get you to a hospital,” Kayla said, her voice urgent. 

Payton quickly pulled his arm back, forcing a sheepish grin. “Nah, it’s nothing. Just a scratch. I’ll clean it up at home. No big deal.” 

Payton had dealt with way worse on his own before. Never saw the point of going to the ER for stuff like this. 

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