Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 530: Payback

His mother had worked herself to exhaustion just to raise him and his sister, taking on more than anyone ever should.

He had never wanted to add to her burden, so no matter what he faced, he swallowed it and dealt with it on his own.

That was how it had always been.

Until that day outside the Imperial Examination Hall, when those men crossed a line and dragged his mother and sister into it, mocking them without restraint.

In that moment, a hundred different ways to make them pay flashed through Josh's mind.

But causing trouble right before the court qualification trials would've cost him everything.

So he clenched his teeth and let it go.

For now.

There's always time to settle a score.

Once he earned his place, once he had real standing, he wouldn't need to hold back anymore.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Kaelan had already stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of Josh, anger clear on his face.

"This is the examination grounds. Throwing stones like that, are you out of your minds? If that had hit someone—"

The one leading the group, Albert, let out a lazy laugh.

Seeing Kaelan step in, he toned it down slightly, but the smirk never left his face.

"Relax, Kaelan. We were just having a little fun. Testing his reflexes. Looks like he did just fine."

The men behind him snickered.

"He's used to hard work anyway," Albert added. "A hit like that wouldn't do much. Maybe a bruise at worst."

Kaelan frowned. "A joke? That's your idea of a joke? Apologize. Now."

Albert didn't even react.

Another one stepped in. "Why are you getting worked up over him? Even if he passes, what does he bring to your household? Is he really worth this?"

"Exactly," someone else added. "Look at him. No background, no standing. Who knows what tricks he used to get Edmund's attention. Meanwhile, people who actually deserve it got turned away."

Albert's gaze shifted between the two of them, something uglier creeping into his expression.

"You're awfully protective of him," he said slowly. "Walking out together, carrying his things, sticking this close... makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

His tone turned crude.

"Should we be asking what exactly you two were doing in there? Sharing more than just study notes?"

Laughter broke out again.

Kaelan froze.

His upbringing had shielded him from this kind of filth. Even understanding the implication took him a second too long.

His face flushed, and for a moment, he couldn't find a single word. Josh didn't say anything.

In the middle of the laughter, he lowered Kaelan's chest to the ground. Then he unstrapped his own and set it beside it.

Albert blinked, then burst out laughing harder.

"Look at that, clearing space for his sweetheart. Getting ready to beg, maybe?"

The laughter grew louder.

Josh moved, fast. In two strides, he closed the distance.

Before anyone could react, his hand shot out, grabbing Albert by the shoulder and yanking him forward.

At the same time, his other hand clenched into a fist and drove straight into Albert's face.

A solid, brutal impact.

"That one," Josh said, voice low and steady, "was for Kaelan's name."

His hands were lean but strong, built from years of work and discipline. When he struck, there was nothing soft about it.

Albert, raised in comfort, had never taken a hit like that. His vision went dark for a second, his ears ringing, half his face going numb as he stumbled backward.

But Josh didn't let go.

His grip tightened, pulling him back in. Another punch, harder.

"This one," Josh said through clenched teeth, "is for my mother and my sister."

The second blow hit even heavier. Albert couldn't stay upright this time.

The moment Josh released him, he collapsed to the ground. Pain spread across his face, sharp and burning.

He tried to curse, to shout something back. But the moment he opened his mouth, blood came spilling out instead.