“The room was specially soundproofed. Our men tested it out. We couldn’t hear anything from outside, not even a grown man’s shouts,” Joseph explained, shooting Yuna and James a withering glare.
Ashton rested his chin on his hand and ran a finger over his lips. Unsmiling and grave, it seemed as if he had returned to his former merciless self.
Meanwhile, James and Yuna clutched each other tightly and trembled in fear. Although we were in an air-conditioned room, they were drenched in sweat.
Emery was enjoying the unexpected turn of events. Fanning the flames, she said coldly, “They’re just wolves in sheep’s clothing. How despicable.”
The suffocating atmosphere soon became too overwhelming for the couple. James grabbed Yuna’s arm, and they fell onto their knees with a thud. At that moment, they wished that a hole would open up in the ground and swallow them whole.
In that silent court of justice, they had already been nailed to the cross to bear their sins.
Everyone held their breaths as they waited for Ashton to speak. Nonetheless, he merely gazed at the couple expressionlessly, sitting still and silent. After a long, awkward pause, he finally turned around and beckoned at Audrey. “Come here.”
Still teary-eyed, Audrey was momentarily stunned. She raised her hand to wipe the tears from her face before walking over to Ashton calmly and stood before him. Only her pouting lips showed that she was still angry.
Look at her blinking her large eyes without a shadow of fear. It really shows that John brought her up.
Ashton reached out and pulled Audrey nearer to him. Rubbing his palm over her small, chubby hand, he looked straight into her eyes with a gentle gaze and asked, “Are you scared?”
Audrey glanced at James and Yuna before turning back to Ashton and shaking her head blankly. “No.”
Ashton nodded slightly. After pondering for a moment, he asked, “What if I told you that this couple inflicted those injuries on Shaun? Do you think I should give them a chance to turn over a new leaf?”
I could not help but frown when I heard those words. How can he involve a child in that decision? Isn’t that taking it a little too far? The decision to give them a chance or not will drastically impact their lives! But in Audrey’s eyes, it’s probably no different from playing house. How can she possibly understand the implications of her answer?
As I worried over what to do, Audrey’s voice rang out loudly. “No way!”
Her answer was firm and clear as if she had already known what to say for a long time. When she spoke, she seemed calm beyond her years.
Audrey continued, “Uncle John said that we can only give second chances to those closest to us. We can’t simply forgive strangers. Otherwise, it could hurt our family and friends. They’re bad people. I don’t like them, so I don’t want to forgive them!”
With John’s character, it’s indeed likely that he would’ve said something like that. After escaping from the jaws of death so many times, he has already lost all hope in humanity. Apart from those closest to him, he won’t allow anyone to hurt him. He’s a clear-headed yet heartless man.
Almost as soon as Audrey spoke, Ashton narrowed his eyes slightly. His eyes gleamed, and he calmly turned toward Joseph with a slight smile. “Did you hear what she said?”
“I did,” Joseph replied with a respectful bow. When he straightened up, he shot a glance at the men outside the ward. Several bodyguards in suits came in immediately and forcibly escorted the couple, who were struggling to hold back their sobs, out of the room.
As soon as they left the room, blood-curdling cries filled the hospital’s hallways. Gradually, the cries moved further away and grew fainter.
Why did they have to do all that? Moreover, they’re highly educated people. For someone of Ashton’s age to have tens of billions to his name, it’s clear that he’s no saint. It doesn’t take much to know that. To err is human. It’s not a crime for one to possess some peculiar fetish. What’s despicable is when one imposes it onto others. After all, there are differences between humans and beasts. Humans should know the limits of their actions. What goes around comes around, so one can’t blame the heavens.
