Corporate Villainy: Trample Protagonists as a Minor Villain's Dad

(Beta- Something elders call children when they refer to them. I used it for the feel. Do tell me if you think I should change it.)

The Next Day

The Mehra family's modest kitchen had never hosted anyone quite like Vincent Cornelius.

He stood beside Rina's mother at the narrow counter, his expensive suit jacket draped over a chair, sleeves rolled up with practiced ease. The knife in his hands moved with surgical precision as he julienned carrots into perfect matchsticks, each cut measured and deliberate.

"Arrey, you're really very skilled," Rina's mother said, watching in amazement as he segmented an onion without shedding a tear. "Where did you learn to cook like this?"

Vincent's smile carried a hint of old sadness. "An old neighbor taught me when I was young. She used to say that a man who can't feed himself properly has no business trying to feed his ambitions." He paused, the knife still for a moment. "I think of her every time I cook this food. She would have liked meeting your family. You both are quiet similar."

The warmth in his voice was genuine—carefully calculated, but genuine nonetheless. Rina's mother beamed, already charmed by this mysterious benefactor who spoke of humble beginnings despite his obvious wealth.

"She sounds like a wise woman," her father said from where he sat sorting through the new library cataloging supplies Vincent's investment had made possible. "You must miss her."

"Every day," Vincent replied softly, then brightened. "But good memories should be shared, not hoarded. Speaking of which..." He set down the knife and turned to face them both, expression growing wistful. "I have a young friend who would love to meet you both properly. A student, actually." He paused, his gaze drifting momentarily, as if recalling a fond memory. "I haven't seen him in too long, and I know he'd be delighted to share a meal here. He's the one who spoke so highly of your family when I made the investment."

Rina's parents exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up with sudden understanding. The young man who'd recommended their library—of course!

Her mother leaned toward Rina, whispering urgently under her breath, "Beta, call that Liam boy right now. Let's give them both a surprise!"

Rina, who had been quietly setting the table, looked up from arranging the plates. She noticed the torn rabbit plushie sitting on the side table—a reminder of the terrifying ordeal she'd barely escaped yesterday day, thanks to this kind stranger who'd saved her from false drug charges. "You want me to invite him? But won't that ruin the surprise for your friend(She thinks it's Liam)?" she asked Vincent.

Vincent's eyes twinkled with what appeared to be delighted anticipation. "Actually, that sounds wonderful. I haven't told him I was coming here tonight—he'll be so surprised to see me. And I'm curious to finally meet this young man who thinks so highly of your family."

"Of course you must call her for my plan to finally start." Vincent thought.

"Perfect!" Rina's mother clapped her hands together. "Call him now, beta. Tell him to come for dinner but don't mention our guest. It will be such a lovely surprise for him!"

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Twenty-five minutes later, Liam arrived at the Mehra household, his usual confident swagger intact. He has been feeling increasingly agitated and even the food his mother (Helena) cooked for him tasted so bland compared to mess food. When he got Rina's call he finally understood what was wrong. He was just love sick. He'd spent the short journey mentally preparing for another evening of basking in the family's gratitude and Rina's increased affection. He will completely win over Rina today.

"Sorry I'm a bit late," he said, stepping through the door with a charming smile. "The transport was—"

He froze mid-sentence.

Vincent Cornelius sat comfortably at their modest dining table, looking perfectly at ease as he chatted with Rina's father about library preservation techniques. At the sound of Liam's voice, Vincent looked up with an expression of polite curiosity.

"Oh, you must be the young friend," Vincent said pleasantly, rising from his seat with fluid grace. "I was just telling the Mehras about you. Though I have to say, you look quite shocked to see me here."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Liam's face had gone pale, his eyes darting to the torn plushie on the side table, then back to Vincent's knowing smile.

"V-Vincent, What... what are you doing here?" Liam managed, his voice strangled.

"Having dinner with the family you recommended so highly," Vincent replied smoothly. "Though I'm curious—when exactly did you mention the Mehra library to me? My memory seems to be failing me."

Liam's mouth opened and closed soundlessly. "Was it a trap all along?" he thought. The trap was perfect, inescapable. He had claimed to be Vincent's friend who recommended the library, but Vincent was clearly indicating they'd never discussed it.

"I... we..." Liam stammered, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cool evening air.

Vincent's expression grew more troubled as recognition 'seem' to dawn on him. "Wait a moment. Liam... Darrow, isn't it? From Celestial Academy?"

The name hung in the air like a sword of Damocles.

"You know him?" Rina asked, hope flickering in her voice that this was all some elaborate misunderstanding.

Vincent's face darkened, his previous warmth evaporating like morning mist. "Yes, I know him. He's the boy who broke my son's tooth at the academy. My son was covered in bruises and bleeding all over. But that was not the end, he even, called our family 'measly and trash' and said we should 'know our place.'"

The kitchen fell into stunned silence. Even the shahi paneer on the stove seemed to stop bubbling.

Rina's father slowly set down the cataloging supplies he'd been holding. "This is the boy who insulted your family?"

"The very same," Vincent said quietly, his voice carrying a dangerous edge that made everyone in the room instinctively step back. "I remember quite clearly. He seemed to think that because he is stronger than his peers, it gave him the right to look down on others."

Rina's gaze flicked between Liam and the torn plushie, pieces clicking together in her mind with horrifying clarity. "You... you hurt his son?"

"It wasn't like that!" Liam burst out desperately. "It was your son's fault! And I never said those things—well, not like that—it was taken out of context!"

But Vincent was shaking his head sadly. "There was no context that could justify attacking someone younger than you and then mocking his family's background. My son spent two weeks with his mouth wired shut."

🔔 System Notification

▶ Rina Favorability Toward Liam: -15 (Character Revelation)

▶ Liam LP: -150 (Past Actions Exposed) Vincent LP: +150

▶ Vincent VP: +200 (Moral High Ground Secured)

"But then..." Rina's mother said slowly, the pieces clicking together in her mind, "who was the friend who recommended our library?"

Vincent's expression softened as he looked at her. "There was no friend, Mrs. Mehra. I visited your library myself, spoke with your husband personally. I was impressed by his dedication and your family's warmth. The warmth I could never get in my life." His gaze hardened as it shifted back to Liam. "I certainly never mentioned it to this young man."

The implications crashed down like a house of cards. Rina sank into her chair, her face pale with shock and dawning understanding. Her eyes fell on the torn rabbit plushie again, and a new horror began to dawn.

"So when I thanked you..." she whispered to Liam, "when I thought you had helped my family... you just... let me believe it?"

"And the gift you gave me today," she continued, her voice growing stronger with anger, "the plushie that nearly got me arrested for drug possession—was that part of your plan too?"

The words that left Rina's mouth shocked them all (except Vincent) to the core. Liam was even more dumbfounded. "Drugs? My plan? Wha–" he finally realized that something was very wrong. He needed to get out of this situation. 

Liam's desperate gaze darted around the room, looking for any escape, any explanation that might salvage the situation. "Rina, I can explain—the plushie, someone must have tampered with it—"

"Explain what?" her father's voice was cold as winter steel. "Explain how you let our daughter thank you for a kindness you never showed? Explain how you gave her a toy stuffed with illegal drugs? Explain how you lied to manipulate her feelings?" His was barely holding himself back from slapping the boy to death.

"It wasn't manipulation!" Liam protested, but his voice cracked on the words. "I care about Rina! The drugs—someone else must have put them there! I'm being framed! I was going to tell her about the library eventually, I just—"

"You just what?" Vincent's voice cut through Liam's protests like a blade. "Decided to build a relationship on deception? Let her family's gratitude give you access to their daughter? And when that wasn't enough, you tried to frame her for drug possession?"

The quiet devastation in Vincent's tone was more damning than any shout could have been.