20
“Shut up! I don’t have such a disgraceful daughter!”
Dalena’s father stormed in, his fury causing his beard to tremble. “I left the company in your hands for ten years while I went abroad with your younger brothers to expand our business. And this is how you’ve managed it?”
“As the eldest daughter of the Brown Family, you’ve spent your days groveling over at
“Bring out the family whip!”
Several bodyguards stepped forward, holding a long, coiled wooden cane, encircling Dalena,
Have you no shame?”
“For degrading yourself over an unfaithful man, for having no self–respect, and for violating the Brown Family’s ancestral teachings!”
Crack!
The first strike ripped through Dalena’s dress and knocked her to her knees
“Ten years of marriage, an affair that drove away my perfect son–in–law, and complete disgrace to the Brown Family. Shameless!”
Another lash followed. Dalena braced herself with her hands on the ground, tears streaming down her face as pain seared across her back
“Mom!” Cyril cried out, rushing forward to shield her. He glared fiercely at Dalena’s father. “Don’t hit my mom!”
“Oh! How wonderful!”
Seeing his grandson’s defiance, Dalena’s father let out an angry laugh, almost losing his composure entirely.
“Then this whip is for you.!
“Cyril, a rebellious disgrace to the Brown Family, no respect for elders, no manners–an utter humiliation to our name!”
With his own hand, Dalena’s father delivered a whip to Cyril, making the boy scream and burst into tears,
Dalena’s mother, unable to bear it any longer, rushed forward to intervene. “Stop it! That’s enough!”
But Dalena’s father slapped her across the face without hesitation.
“You dare show your face, you useless woman?
“It Dalena wanted to die over a man, you should have let her. Look at what this family has turned into under your indulgence!!
Dalena’s mother wept bitterly. “I only wanted what was best for my daughter…”
“What’s best for her? Does that give you the right to control someone else’s life? Have you been in power so long that you think you can do as you please?”
Dalena’s father scoffed coldly, “Today, you almost offended the Capet Family from California. If I hadn’t rushed back in time, the entire Brown Family would’ve been ruined by you!
The three of them–Dalena, Cyril, and her mother–were scolded harshly, their tear–streaked faces swollen. Dalena’s body and heart ached deeply, Recalling her father’s words, she slapped herself twice in despair.
“Sir, the matter has been resolved, and the culprit has been caught.”
A subordinate entered the room, dragging Fabio inside.
His hair was disheveled, and his face was pale with terror. “Mr. Brown, please, have mercy. Spare me!”
“You’re the source of all this chaos, you mangy cur?”
Dalena’s father’s voice turned icy, his eyes dark and venomous. “You dare cause trouble after losing a hand? Fitie, I’ll make sure you never
Elsewhere, on a Rainy Autumn Day
The steady drizzle of autumn raiu scerned endless.
The first thing Dinitry did with his earnings was visit the orphanage.
The director‘ souber expression lit up with joy as she saw him and Quin arrive.
“Danitry, Oulan, you’re here!”
“I’ve been hoping you’d visit since last year. I’m so glad to see you both today!”
“Granchina, we’ve been busy with the concert lately, so we couldn’t come earlier,” Dinitry said, holding Quinn’s band.
“This time, I’m planning to donate a million dollars to the orphanage. It’s all money I earned myself.”
“Also, I wanted to talk to you alsout adoption,” Buitry added.
The director looked surprised. “Ole? Are you Lalaking of adopting Qulum?“
sure you never cause trouble
“Yes, I don’t want her to wander alone anymore.”
“Adopting her would be good.”
The director gently stroked Quinn’s sweet, innocent face and sighed. “But you’re a single adult male. You can’t adopt a child on your own. “By law, you must have a wife to adopt her.”
“Get married? Where would I even find a wife?”
Dinitry stared blankly at Quinn, but before he could think further, a voice came from behind him.
“Why not marry me?
Caroline chimed in with a mischievous grin, leaning closer.
“Stopjolang.” Dmitry stammered, flustered, “That that’s impossible,”
