That kind of humiliation would undoubtedly deal a devastating blow to Nicolas. But, one could understand where Ashton was coming from if one empathized with the hatred he had been keeping in him.
The man who gave him life had wanted to take it back, but he had luckily managed to escape and survive to this date.
He didn’t owe his life to either Nicolas or Simone. But he would pay them back a hundredfold for all the humiliation, lies, and contempt he had suffered from them.
Soon, the bodyguard filed into the room and untied Nicolas.
Nicolas lay on the ground, immobile, his eyes wide open. They would’ve thought he was dead if it wasn’t for his moving chest.
Simone immediately broke free from the bodyguard’s hold and crawled over to him. “Nicolas, answer me! Say something, Nicolas!”
The room was silent, other than their breathing.
After a short pause, the bodyguards continued to carry them both outside.
Ashton’s car was right behind the van transporting Simone and Nicolas. Once he had reached the bustling street, he pulled the car to a stop at an area with a clear, wide-angle of the square.
It was precisely in the middle of lunch hour. People were moving about everywhere. The majority were white-collars and the elites.
The black van stopped at the most crowded square. Over a dozen bodyguards carried Simone and Nicolas down from the van and to the middle of the square. Without any hesitation, they dropped the two onto the ground. Then they spun around and left.
The people at the square stared as the black van sped away, leaving the worn-looking couple in the middle of the square.
It was lunch break, so crowds of white-collars were moving about hastily, hoping to grab a bite at their favorite restaurant. They were used to the beggars filling every corner of the street, so they didn’t even spare them a glance.
Simone kneeled on the ground and begged every passerby for help, “Please help us call an ambulance.”
“Please give us some water, sir. I know you’re a kind man. I haven’t had any water for three days. I’m going to die soon.”
“Miss. Please help us, miss. I beg you, please…”
“I’m begging you with my knees on the ground. Please help us…”
Finally, a few spectators stopped to look, and slowly a crowd circled them.
Someone recognized Nicolas. “Isn’t this guy Nicolas Hall, the world-class psychology professor who came back from overseas a few years back?”
“That woman is his wife. But how did they get those injuries? Maybe they have done something bad, and the victims’ families took revenge?”
“Should we call the police? We can’t just let them die.”
“Are you crazy? Don’t you watch TV? If anyone was thrown here, someone must be keeping watch around. If you dare help them, you and I will have to face their wrath. Besides, I’ve seen many of these people. Their greed knows no bounds. If they got their hands on you, they would waste your time and you would be late for work.”
And so, those who had wanted to help immediately had that thought crossed out.
Never had Nicolas imagined that these average people he had always looked down upon would decide on his life and death with just a few simple words.
The crowd in the square all fell into silence. Only the sounds of Simone’s cry and the advertisement jingle playing on the huge LED screen could be heard. And soon her hoarse cry for help was swallowed by the loud jingle.
For the white-collars working from nine to five, time was of the essence. It was generous of them to pause and watch. Slowly, the crowd surrounding Simone and Nicolas began to disperse.
They left without even a glance back. They probably wouldn’t even remember seeing Simone and Nicolas in the square.
The people who merely stared on and passed by without any sympathy couldn’t help but focus on their lives more than anything else. They were merely pawns for those who stood at the top of the hierarchy.
