Chapter 3
Eric and Leon both stared, eyes wide in disbelief.
They never imagined that the girl who looked so sweet and innocent would have a tattoo like that.
Lily snatched up a coat and wrapped it tightly around herself, desperate to cover up.
Her eyes were red at the corners, lips quivering, and then—just like that—a tear dropped, loud and clear.
"I... I have no idea why Vivian would get someone to tattoo that on my lower back..." Lily stammered, her voice shaky with confusion and fear.
"What?" Eric blurted out, his voice sharp with disbelief.
He grabbed her by the shoulders, his grip tight.
"Are you saying Vivian had this tattoo put on you?" he demanded, his eyes wide with shock.
Lily just kept biting her lip, her eyes red and teary, refusing to say a word.
Leon slapped me out of nowhere, his hand trembling with fury.
"Wait... I remember now. You and Lily went to the same college—she was your underclassman!" Leon accused, his voice sharp.
"I don't even know her!" I roared, my anger echoing through the room.
Eric's expression suddenly shifted—he'd just remembered something, and his face turned grim.
"Lily, you said you were bullied back in college. Was it Vivian who did it?" Eric pressed.
Instead of answering, Lily only cried harder, her sobs echoing through the room.
"You bitch!" Leon snarled, his voice shaking with rage.
He yanked me by the collar and slapped me hard, not holding back at all.
My forehead crashed into the wall, leaving a bloody stain behind.
Before I could even say a word, he kicked me hard in the gut.
I hit the floor, curling up in agony, coughing up blood that splattered onto his shoe and smeared across my dress with every savage kick.
"I swore I'd make anyone who picked on Lily pay for it!
"Never thought the real culprit would be you!
"Did you live up to what Mom taught us? Do you think she'd be proud of you? Are you even worthy of carrying on her mantle?" Leon shouted, his voice trembling with rage.
I was struggling to breathe, weak and sprawled on the floor, teeth gritted in pain.
"I... I swear, it wasn't me!" I gasped, barely able to get the words out.
But Leon, eyes blazing, whipped around and yelled at the bodyguards.
"What are you standing around for? Prove your loyalty—she's your ticket in!" he roared.
These bodyguards were old hands in the world of the rich and powerful. Now that they'd switched sides, they had to show the new boss they were loyal.
They didn't hold back, all of them rushing in and kicking me wherever they could—my stomach, my sides, anywhere they could land a blow.
All I could do was curl up, clutching the dress like it was my lifeline, but I could only watch as the rest got ripped away.
I couldn't help but scream in despair, "Stop! Don't... don't touch the dress Mom made for me!"
My tears mixed with blood, soaking the floor as the dress was shredded. I looked up at Leon, begging him for help.
Leon's brow furrowed, his eyes cold. "Hurts now, doesn't it?
"This is just payback for what you did to Lily.
"And honestly? It's not even a drop compared to what you put her through."
I clenched my jaw so hard I thought my teeth would break, blood seeping from my lips. "I didn't do it!" I screamed, desperate.
Eric looked down at me, all high and mighty, then raised a hand to stop the lead bodyguard.
"Alright, Mr. Quinn, that's enough," Eric said.
Leon gave him a sharp look. "So, you're just gonna stand there and watch her cry?"
Caught off guard, Eric froze for a moment.
As he turned around, Lily's tear-streaked face suddenly came into view.
The sight of Lily, with her half-exposed shoulders and a look of heart-rending sobs, made Eric's heart skip a beat.
Eventually, he let the bodyguard off.
Lily's tears began to fall freely. "Vivian is so lucky. Back then, I got beaten up and then stripped and chucked out on the street..."
"You're bullshitting... Ah!" I retorted.
Leon delivered a hard kick to my chest.
Then, glaring at the bodyguards, he barked, "Get her in the car and haul her away!"
"What are you trying to do? Stop!" I screamed, fighting desperately.
But the bodyguards, eager to prove themselves, manhandled me into the car.
Night had long since fallen when Eric pulled over on a desolate street.
Leon sneered, saying, "You're getting off easy. Not many folks around here. Let's teach you a little lesson right here."
"No way! I don't want this!" My clothes were ripped to shreds without hesitation.
I clung to Eric's arm. "Eric, if you still give a damn about how I've helped you, help me out this once!"
Eric hesitated, a troubled look flickering across his face.
All those lonely nights, we swore we'd be each other's ride or die, no matter what.
But Lily started sobbing again.
He glanced back at her, then, ignoring my teary-eyed plea, pried my fingers off his arm one by one. "You owe this to her."
With a thud, I was dumped out of the car, completely naked.
Before I could pick myself up, the car sped off.
From a nearby dumpster came a rustling noise.
The moment those homeless guys saw me, their eyes went hungry and predatory.
"Is she free? Damn, check out that body!" One of them leered.
"No!" I screamed, panic surging through me.
I shoved away his filthy, stinking hand, but he slapped me hard across the face in return.
"Bitch! All naked and still acting coy? You think you can tease me?"
I landed in a stinking pile of garbage. My fingers closed around a slimy brick.
The homeless guy had already unzipped his pants.