Chapter 3

The sound of the ring falling into the trash was swallowed by the noise from the private room.

I turned and left, my steps unsteady.

Driving home, my vision was badly blurred.

Ten years could really be such a joke.

Suddenly, a child rushed out from the roadside.

I jerked the steering wheel and slammed the brakes.

The car spun out of control and crashed into a black Maybach in the adjacent lane.

"Bang--"

After the loud crash, the world went quiet for a second.

My forehead hit the steering wheel with a dull pain.

I wiped my face---it was wet. I couldn't tell if it was tears or sweat.

Pushing the door open, my legs were so weak I nearly collapsed.

I struggled toward the frightened, crying boy.

"Baby, don't be scared." I crouched down, trying to keep my voice steady, wanting to check if he was hurt.

My fingers hadn't even touched the child's clothes.

A dark figure rushed over!

The burly man with a vicious look didn't ask any questions before raising his foot to kick me!

The kick was hard and brutal. I had no time to dodge.

A cry of pain caught in my throat as I fell backward uncontrollably, my elbows and knees slamming hard against the rough concrete.

Searing pain instantly shot through my entire body.

The man wasn't done. He pointed at me, cursing with spit flying.

"Think you're hot shit driving a car?"

"Pay up! My son's traumatized! A hundred thousand or you're not leaving today!"

He raised his foot as if to hit me again.

A figure blocked my path, grabbing the man's wrist and flinging him backward.

"This is a society of laws. Attacking someone in the street---do you want to go to jail?" The cold voice carried undeniable authority.

It was the Maybach's owner.

The man helped me up. His gaze fell on my pale face and the blood at the corner of my mouth, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"Are you alright?"

Using his support to steady myself and trying to calm my breathing, I looked at his car.

"I'm sorry, it's entirely my fault. I'll compensate for your vehicle damages."

The fat man, seeing this, rolled his eyes and immediately changed targets.

"Think you're something 'cause you drive a Maybach! She hit my son---she owes me too! A hundred thousand! Not a penny less!"

I took a deep breath, suppressing the metallic taste in my throat.

I raised my hand and tucked my disheveled hair behind my ear.

When I looked up again, my gaze had turned cold.

"What I owe, I'll pay. Not a penny less." My voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.

"But that kick you just gave me constitutes intentional assault!"

I pulled out my phone and dialed 911 directly.

The screen lit up.

The man's face changed instantly. He suddenly shoved through the onlookers, abandoned the child, and bolted.

The world finally went quiet.

Fighting the increasingly obvious sinking sensation in my abdomen, I walked over to the still-sobbing boy.

"Don't be afraid, I'll take you to the hospital." I reached out to wipe away his tears.

My fingertip had just touched his cold little face when everything went black.

The last thing I felt was my body falling forward beyond my control.