When I got caught skipping class to play games at an internet café, my three-year-older brother slapped me across the face and called me uneducated. I immediately picked up a knife, slashed his arm and told him that even though my parents were dead, being "uneducated" was still better than being a bastard like him.
That day, my father tied me up and punished me according to the family rules. He beat me until my body was covered in wounds and then locked me in the basement to "reflect on my behavior."
Once I was on the verge of death, it was Hudson who secretly carried me out. He comforted me, encouraged me and gave me the will to survive.
From that day on, Hudson entered my life and became my only support. My love for him also was not merely romantic affection; it was my sole source of strength.
A long time later, Hudson arrived while supporting Lola.
Facing the police officer's questions, that man looked at me with chilling indifference. "We will not accept mediation. She must be severely punished. She dared to attack people with a knife even when she was a child. If we don't teach her a lesson now, who knows what kind of trouble she'll cause in the future."
Lola also held her head high, her eyes filled with anger.
The police officer looked at me helplessly and called me out. "Miss Herrera, Mr. Lenart is still your fiancé, after all. Just admit your mistake and make amends and this matter will be over."
But when she saw my resolute gaze, she sighed again. "Miss Herrera, if you insist on being stubborn now and they sue you, you could face at least a year in prison. Are you sure you could survive that?"
As I saw the police officer's serious expression, I felt like my heart was being squeezed. Lola Reed, that high-level manipulative woman, was very capable of making that happen.
Expressionless, I followed the officer back into the room with my head down. "I'm sorry, Miss Reed. I acted impulsively. I apologize for what I did. Please forgive me."
Lola looked at me disdainfully and said, "Miss Herrera, it's not that I don't want to forgive you. Someone as narrow-minded and vicious as you, if I don't teach you a lesson, might be able to kill someone in the future."
After a day of torment and stimulation, my stomach began to ache and sweat beads oozed from my face.
Seeing my pained expression, Hudson unexpectedly let me go. "Lola, I'll make her kneel and beg for your forgiveness. Then she'll swear on her mother's soul that if she ever targets you again, she and her mother can rot together in the eighteenth level of hell, burned in oil. Okay?"
He then shouted at me, "Kneel and apologize to Lola until she's satisfied."
The female officer immediately walked up behind me and pushed me hard until I fell to my knees with a thud.
Hudson quickly slammed my head against the floor, once, twice, three times ...
Soon, blood trickled down my forehead into my eyes, blurring my vision.
After countless bows, Lola's disgusted voice cut through the silence. "Enough, Mr. Lenart. I'll let it slide for your sake, but if this happens again, I won't spare her."
Hudson abruptly released me and reached out to support her. "Don't worry, Lola. With me here, I won't let her lay a finger on you again. Let me take you back to the hospital, the doctor said you need more rest. Leave these matters to me."
The two of them finally walked out, while supporting each other.
As they were about to leave, Hudson turned around and said, "Go home and reflect on what you've done. Once you realize your mistake, we'll hold the wedding. I've been working so hard and if you can't help me, at least don't drag me down. Sometimes, you really should learn from Lola's maturity, elegance and wisdom."
I sneered. He'd forgotten that five years ago, I was the one who stood by him through thick and thin, helping Lenart Corporation climb from the bottom to the top.
In those days, I let go of my resentment and begged my father for funding and support, even personally seeking help from my elder brother for an order.
Now, it turns out all of that was just dragging him down.
