Amelia didnât even know what had happened, just that she was let go and immediately started running.
Behind her were sounds of fighting, muffled grunts, and half-muted screams.
She didnât care, she just kept running.
But after only a few steps, she was wrapped around her waist and caught again.
Instinctively, she struggled again.
âAmelia, itâs me.â
Amelia stopped, then looked up at the person beside her: âElder Brother.â
William Lane got a scratch on his neck from her nails: âItâs me.â
Amelia immediately grabbed his arm, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably: âI, I, my legs are weak.â
William looked at her swollen half of her face and disheveled hair. He held her waist tightly, making her lean into his embrace, stroking her head and said, âItâs fine now, donât be afraid.â
Amelia leaned in his embrace for a while before suddenly looking up at the not-far-away scene.
The fighting sounds had stopped.
Everyone was on the ground, except for James Lane who was still standing.
Ameliaâs breath was unsteady, and she spoke with a whimpering tone: âThat fat guy⦠heâs the mastermind.â
âJames,â William said, âthat fat guy.â
âYes.â James immediately got to work, focusing on belligerently beating the fat guy.
At first, there were a few yells, but after two punches, there was no sound.
William took off his coat and draped it over Amelia before picking her up horizontally.
Ameliaâs tears fell, but her mind was somewhat clear: âMaybe we shouldnât hit them anymore, we donât want to cause trouble.â
âItâs fine,â William, holding Amelia, walked out.
After taking only a few steps, they heard the manâs muffled voice: âDo you know who I am? Youâ¦beat me like this, youâre in trouble. You wonâtâ¦last in the Imperial Capital⦠past tomorrowâ¦â
Upon hearing this, James gave him an even more ruthless beat down.
William paused, his eyes cold as ice, and his tone colder: âJames, let him go. I want to see whoâs backing him.â
âYes.â James stopped and stood aside.
âIâd like to see if I can make it past tomorrow.â
After saying that, William left with Amelia in his arms.
Once they were in the car, William checked Ameliaâs injuries: âWhere did they hurt you?â
Amelia sniffled: âNo⦠they didnât hurt me.â
William looked at her for a while, sat down next to her, and helped her fix her messy hair.
Ameliaâs hair had just grown past her shoulders.
When she was eighteen, she had worn her hair in a high ponytail and it was very long.
But later, someone offered to buy her hair for five thousand RMB, and she cut it off and sold it.
Since then, her hair hadnât grown too long.
William used his hand to comb through her hair, and a few strands fell out, âDid they pull your hair?â
âYeah,â Amelia replied softly.
William used a hair tie from Ameliaâs wrist to secure her hair into a simple ponytail.
âWhy didnât you scream? There was no one in the woods, but there must have been people outside on the road,â William said.
Although she pressed the shutdown button on her cell phone, he and James could receive SOS messages and immediately trace her. Yet they had still managed to hit her.
âI, I was too afraid, I forgot to yell,â Amelia replied sheepishly.
After her hair was tied, William checked her body again. The swelling on her face had worsened since earlier.
He then peeled back the coat on her shoulder, revealing a torn part of her clothing on one side, and a scraped and reddened shoulder.
Amelia moved aside slightly, adjusting her shirt on her shoulder: âItâs fine. It will heal in a couple of days.â
William pursed his lips and said nothing.
After a while, he knocked on the car window.
James had been outside the whole time, hearing the sound, he immediately opened the car door, sat in the driverâs seat, and started the car.
They didnât speak on the way back to the villa. After returning, Amelia followed William into the Living Room.
She even followed him into the Restroom.
When William stopped, she bumped into him.
William turned to look at her, âWhy are you following me? I need to use the restroom.â
Ameliaâs ears turned red, and she immediately turned to leave. William grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
âI wonât look, I promise,â Amelia quickly said.
William couldnât help but laugh, âYou want to watch? I wonât even let you.â
âIâ¦â
William took her over to the sink, hugging her from behind, âSince youâre in here already, wash your hands.â
âI can do it by myself.â
Not saying a word, William hugged her from behind and helped her wash her hands. After drying them off, he touched her head gently, âGo sit in the living room.â
âOh.â Ameliaâs ears were completely red like an obedient robot; she went to the living room and sat down.
William came out of the restroom, went upstairs, grabbed the medicine box, and then returned to the living room, sitting next to Amelia.
Seeing the medicine box, Amelia said, âI can apply it myself.â
William didnât respond, but instead dabbed some alcohol with a cotton swab and gently disinfected her wound.
After disinfecting, he carefully applied medicine to her injury, âThe swelling will go down by tomorrow.â
Ameliaâs gaze was lowered, not daring to look at him; âWhat about that man? Will he cause you trouble?â
âDo you know him?â
âHeâs the vice principal of the training institution I work at,â Amelia whispered.
âWas this the first time?â William asked as he reached for her coat.
âA week ago, he got drunk at the training institution and dragged me into the restroom.â Amelia clung to her coat as she looked at him, âI can apply the medicine myself.â
âThen what happened?â William didnât move.
âI fought him off in the restroom.â
William raised an eyebrow.
Amelia continued, âI copied the surveillance videos. If he causes trouble, we can report him.â
William rubbed her head, âHe wonât cause any trouble. Tonight, not only will the person supporting him from behind be exposed, but information of his ancestors for 18 generations will appear on my desk.â
Amelia paused for a moment.
William moved her hand away from her coat, putting it on the torn inside clothing, and then took her coat off, âIâll apply the medicine. Why are you always holding on to it? Weâre married now, thereâs no part of you I wonât see.â
Ameliaâs clear eyes widened, and the redness on her ears spread to her neck.
As William applied medicine to her, he couldnât help but smile at her reaction.
After applying the medicine, William placed a blanket over her from the sofa, and then said, âAmelia, tell me about these things in the future.â
âIâm sorry for causing you trouble.â
âYou donât have to apologize. You didnât do anything wrong,â William spoke softly, âI should be the one apologizing for not protecting you well enough. And that man, he shouldnât have bullied you. With one less person like him in the world, thereâs more protection for girls. Lastlyâ¦this isnât trouble, nothing about you is trouble.â
Amelia hadnât expected him to say that and looked up at him.
âWhatâs wrong?â
âYouâre different today,â Amelia said, âYou used to rarely talk to me like this.â
William smiled, âItâs because you were frightened today. Another possibility isâ¦the man in front of you has ulterior motives. He wants to numb you with words, and thenâ¦â
âYou wouldnât,â Amelia said.
âI would,â William replied, âIâm a certified person now, I can do a lot.â
Amelia looked at him and slowly scooted back.
William watched her cower, then stood up, walked over to her, and gently pinched her chin, âYou like to make your own money and be independent with your career. Youâre an independent individual, and I respect and support that. However, when you encounter situations like this, you need to tell me â even if you can handle it yourself. Just treat it as daily sharing. Otherwise, I wonât support you anymore, got it?â
âOh.â