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Novel Catalog
Chapter 6
Bonnie began to shadowbox with awe-inspiring precision and fluidity, moving with such grace and speed that it left the onlookers speechless. She executed each strike with perfect form, flowing from one move to the next as though she were a professional.
Then, as if to demonstrate her skill, she ended by punching a thick tree branch with force. With a sharp crack, the branch snapped in half without disturbing the leaves around it. The entire group stood in stunned silence.
Scott’s jaw dropped open, his eyes wide in disbelief.
The others stared at her as if they had just witnessed a miracle—or something much more extraordinary. To them, Bonnie seemed less like a young woman and more like a force of nature.
“Did you get a good look?” Bonnie asked coolly, turning to face Orson, who was still staring at her in awe.
The elderly man nodded slowly, his voice full of admiration. “Your moves were perfect! You must be a kickboxing expert.”
Scott cleared his throat, feeling a bit embarrassed. He stepped forward, blushing slightly as he spoke. “Young lady—uh, ma’am, I’m sorry if I offended you.”
Bonnie chuckled lightly, a small smile curving her lips. “I’m not an expert. I just learned kickboxing to stay healthy.”
The group of elderly men, eager to learn from someone who had just shown such incredible skill, gathered around her. “Can you teach me some of your moves?” one of them asked.
“I’d like to learn too!” another piped up.
Bonnie was quickly surrounded by the enthusiastic men, all eager to become her students. But just as the situation seemed to settle into a peaceful, friendly atmosphere, a new voice interrupted.
“She’s just a phony.”
Bonnie turned toward the source of the voice, spotting a young woman walking over, looking to be around 18 or 19 years old. The woman was of average height, with sharp features, and was followed by a burly man who looked to be nearly two meters tall—her bodyguard, no doubt.
The woman’s eyes narrowed as she looked Bonnie up and down, her tone dripping with disdain. “She’s just trying to impress you old men so she can swindle you!”
Orson’s face immediately darkened. “Mind your manners, Kay!” he chided, though there was a hint of worry in his voice.
But Kay wasn’t deterred. She stepped between Bonnie and Orson, her glare fixed firmly on the young woman. “She’s a scammer. I bet she only knows a few basic moves. She’s pretending to be an expert to get money from you!”
Orson frowned, clearly troubled by her accusations. “Are you sure about that, Kay?”
Scott, clearly agreeing with Kay, shook his head and muttered angrily, “Kay is right! How could someone so young be so good at kickboxing? She must be a phony!”
The elderly men around Bonnie began to whisper among themselves, their expressions shifting from admiration to skepticism. The atmosphere quickly grew tense.
Bonnie’s patience wore thin. She took a deep breath and then spoke, her voice calm but firm. “Do you have proof that I’m a scammer? Have I taken anyone’s money?”
Kay didn’t answer right away. Instead, she stammered, trying to come up with something convincing. “Well, if I weren’t here, you would have done it, wouldn’t you?”
Bonnie raised an eyebrow. “So you have no proof? Do you think the cops would believe you?”
“I—” Kay’s words faltered.
Bonnie didn’t let up. “And I can sue you for defamation, you know.”
“Sue me?” Kay scoffed, her eyes widening in disbelief. “You think I’m going to believe you? You’re just a swindler.”
Bonnie stood her ground, her expression unwavering. “So you’re saying I’m a phony? How about this: we spar. If I can beat your bodyguard, you apologize to me. If I lose, I’ll walk away quietly.”
Kay’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “You want to spar with Milo? Sure, but if you lose, you’ll apologize to me, to my grandpa, and to everyone else here. And you’ll do it live online, so everyone can see you’re a goddamn phony.”
The group looked between Bonnie and Kay, the tension mounting in the air.
Orson stepped forward, his face serious. “Just let her go, Kay. There’s no need to make a scene.”
But Kay wasn’t listening. “We can’t, grandpa! She might be targeting you because you’re a famous painter!”
A famous painter? Bonnie’s mind raced as she processed the information. She recognized the name now—Orson Steele. Her grandmother was a huge fan, and her grandfather would often praise his work.
Realization hit her. So the old man wasn’t just a random bystander—he was a well-known figure, an artist with a legacy. That explained Kay’s protective nature.
“Just leave her alone,” Orson said again, his voice softer this time. “She’s not worth the trouble.”
But Kay wasn’t backing down. “I won’t let her swindle you, grandpa. She’s not going to get away with this.”
Bonnie sighed, rolling her eyes. “I need to go to school soon. Are we doing this or not?”
Kay couldn’t believe Bonnie was still acting so confident. “Spar with her, Milo. Don’t hold back, okay?”
The burly man, Milo, cracked his knuckles, his expression hardening. He was massive, his muscles rippling beneath his shirt as he moved into position. He towered over Bonnie, his fierce gaze making it clear he wasn’t going easy on her.
Bonnie just frowned, unimpressed. “I’m in a hurry, okay? Just get on with it.”
Milo raised an eyebrow, almost mocking her. “Don’t you want to warm up first?”
Bonnie shook her head, her voice flat. “Not if you’re my opponent.”
Milo’s temper flared. “How dare you!”
Without another word, Milo lunged at her, throwing a massive punch toward Bonnie’s face. The impact was fierce—his fist seemed to be moving in slow motion as it closed in on her.
But Bonnie wasn’t intimidated. She took a small step to the side, her body moving with quick, practiced ease as she avoided the strike. With an almost lazy motion, she shifted, delivering a precise jab to Milo’s side.
The force was enough to knock the wind out of him. He staggered back, his eyes wide in surprise.
Bonnie was still as calm as ever. “You were saying?” she asked, a smirk tugging at her lips.