Upstairs at the Dusk Lily Hotel, a certain man sat through a medical examination as a doctor, disguised as a gardener, inspected his legs.
"Your legs are healthier than they were before. I'm surprised you haven't taken a step since. Have you tried to?"
"You're dismissed." Alden Leith mummed dismissively, making no attempt to answer the question.
Outside the door, Sebastian handed the doctor some money and waited until he left before entering.
"What did he diagnose?"
"I'm healing nicely, but it'll be a while before I start walking again. I'm also not supposed to begin walking or I could strain the muscles in my legs." Alden calmly retorted as he helped himself into his wheelchair.
Sebastian was silent for a while before he exhaled heavily, his brows knotting worriedly, "Can we trust him?"
Alden paused to look up at him, "He's a doctor at a prestigious hospital with a very good record. Of course we have to trust him."
Sebastian thinned his lips, then nodded in agreement.
He attempted to push the wheelchair, but Alden waved his hand again and wheeled himself out.
After an ex-convict had once used the hotel as a hideout from the police, the state had required them to change all the elevator routes.
Now, in the fifteen-story building, there were only two elevators and a mandatory one-way stairwell, so no one could go directly to the rooftop in a single trip.
Hence, Alden wheeled himself into the elevator and exited at the eighth floor.
When the door slid open, Sebastian's eyes lit up in surprise at the sight in front of him.
"Isn't that the girl from last night?"
Alden, who was just about to move, paused and followed his line of sight.
"It seems the boys came back for her. Given how there's no security rushing in yet, and people aren't panicking…" Sebastian was saying when the boy with the dog leash waved it around aggressively.
"You're one snotty brat, aren't you? What you did to Sheila last night must've boosted your ego so much you think you can take all of us."
Zoey leaned back on her seat and turned to count how many boys had come to confront her.
Fifteen, sweet.
Then she looked over the boy with the dog leash.
"I say we postpone your beating until I'm done eating. Only then can I beat you to your heart's content. What do you think?"
"My beating? This little skank gets on nerves I didn't even know I had! She dares to look down on us? No more talking, drag her here so I can put the dog leash on her!" He gritted his teeth and yelled at the boys behind him.
Zoey looked around the restaurant.
No smoking.
No outside food or drinks allowed.
But since there was no 'No Fighting' sign—well, then it didn't matter if she fought, did it?
She had just convinced herself of that when the first boy reached out to grab her by the neck.
Abruptly, she picked up a bottle of champagne and slammed it against the side of his neck.
It didn't shatter, but it was strong enough to knock him out cold.
Alden, who was about to ask Sebastian to intervene, paused and tilted his head in surprise.
"Hey, why aren't you getting up? Since when do you have epilepsy?" The boy with the dog leash yelled at the fallen boy.
Zoey, however, crouched beside him and searched for his wallet.
She beamed when she saw three credit cards.
What did she even expect?
Ashbury Heights only accepted the children of wealthy families. Even if they let in someone from a lower class, the parents would work twice as hard to give their child the same pocket money as the rich—so they wouldn't get bullied.
Placing the cards on the table, she picked up the champagne bottle and stood.
"He's just sleeping. Must've had a rough day. But at least he was kind enough to pay for our meal."
They hadn't brought weapons, so when they saw her holding a champagne bottle, the rest of the boys all turned to grab one before attacking her.
Zoey knew better than to let them get close, so she grabbed the cutlery from the table.
After taking down seven of them by disabling them with well-aimed throws, she picked the champagne bottle up again.
When she saw the bottle was about to break, she grabbed the last two by the throat and slammed their faces against her table before tossing them aside.
That left one man still standing—the boy with the dog leash.
"Wh-what… I'll kill you!" He shouted, gritting his teeth in pure rage as he charged at her, the leash swinging from his hand.
Zoey slammed the champagne into his abdomen. When he doubled over from the pain, she grasped the leash and looped it around his neck, yanking it tight.
He choked, his hand flying to his neck. He tried to loosen it, but she swept his feet out from under him, sending him to his knees.
In an instant, the so-called dog owner turned into the dog himself.
At various corners, the staffs watched the scene without a word.
They had long learned not to intervene when wealthy children got into a brawl. Especially those who attended Ashbury Heights.
"Bark." All of a sudden, Zoey ordered sternly.
Still trying to loosen the leash, the boy hissed, "W-what…?"
Cough! Cough!
His face reddened, not from rage, but from the gut-wrenching cough that escaped his lungs when she tightened the leash again.
She frowned. "You're scaring me. What kind of dog talks?"
His eyes turned red—the irony of the situation suddenly dawning on him.
Why did this feel like he was getting… bullied?
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
The place fell silent.
His friends were stunned.
He… actually barked?
Zoey, however, wasn't satisfied and glared hard at him, "I may not have a dog, but a dog your age shouldn't have such a weak bark. Do you need some encouragement to bark better?"
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
This time, the bark was louder and deeper.
But Zoey still wasn't satisfied. She raised her foot, scaring him into thinking she'd hit him.
So he barked again…
"Grrrr… Woof! Woof! Woof!" This time, he even growled.
It was so funny, Zoey didn't even know when she started chuckling.
Then she bent over and patted his head.
"Who's a good boy? Definitely not you, but you're on the way."
Then, reaching into her pocket with her free hand, she pulled out a wad of money and handed it to Austin.
"I think I saw a store selling dog leashes. Please buy 14 of them so we can walk these dogs equally."
Austin nodded fervently, took the money, and slipped into the elevator.
Zoey slid her purse back into her pocket and raised her eyes when she felt someone staring.
Following the gaze, she beamed when she saw Alden.
Waving at him, she tugged her 'dog' toward him. "Wealthy Mister, would you like to walk my dog with me?"