Chapter 6
“But I have good hearing and eyesight. I can tell right from wrong.
“The one to apologize shouldn’t be the one having truly loved.”
Seeing the astonishment in my eyes, Triston pressed his lips together and continued softly, “Ms. Lusk, if you don’t mind my physical defect, will you give me a chance?”
He seemed nervous, but his eyes dripped with candor when he looked at
- me.
It turned out my dad had told Triston everything about my love life in the past eight years when he arranged this marriage. He wouldn’t dare to lie to the powerful Hoyt family, who was well–connected with both the police force and the underground world,
My dad was a mercenary businessman. A marital alliance with the Hoyt family would bring enormous benefits to his business. However small the chance of them accepting it was, he decided to give it a try. To his
surprise, Triston accepted it immediately. He not only provided financial aid but had come to pick me up.
In contrast to the rascal–and–aggressive–looking Benson, Triston looked decent and stately.
He lifted his left trouser leg to reveal his mechanic leg.
“Your dad says you liked to be hugged when you were little. Although I only have one leg, I can carry you. You’re thin.”
He said that out of the blue. Tears streamed down my checks immediately.
Busy with their work, my parents hardly came home, let alone hug me, when I was little. Over time, even the babysitter knew I was neglected. She fixed me three meals every day. That was all.
She shoved me into my dark bedroom at 7:30 p.m. every evening,
Tapping my left shoulder with my right hand. I always told myself, “Sweetie Marly, don’t be afraid.
“Be brave, girl. Here’s a hug for you.”
I thought my parents didn’t know this.
It turned out they knew everything.
They just didn’t care.
I’d always yearned for a loving hug. When I was 18, Benson embraced me tightly. I thought I had found happiness.
The unloved me was gullible. Benson was only throwing me a bone, but I was deeply in love with him for it for years.
That day, holding my leg with plaster, I cried and cried. Tears flowed out of my eyes nonstop. I’d never felt so sad before.
When making the rounds of the wards, the doctor saw me like that and snapped at Triston. “She was injured, and you still made her cry. Huh! Is a broken heart the only thing you can give your girlfriend? Then, break it off with her so she can live!”
Yet Benson still wouldn’t leave me alone. He came to my ward on the fifth day after I was hospitalized.
He and Ethel were supposed to get engaged that day.
In fact, he’d been sending me messages since the third day.
“Marlene, enough with your act!
“You pretended to be the victim, but those people were just performers you hired
“Marlene, I was indeed carried away that day, but you started it. How about we both compromise and put this behind us?
“It’s the rehearsal of my engagement banquet tomorrow. I sent you the time and place. Im giving you a chance. Take it!
“Avoiding me again? Good for you! I hope you won’t regret it!
“Marlene, you think I can’t live without you?”
He also sent me photos of him with Ethel. They went to the movies and had romantic dinners together. just as he and I did in the past eight years
The proud Benson wouldn’t compromise first.
But things changed five days later. Benson kept calling me like a madman that evening
I was enjoying the soup Triston made for me. Not wanting to be disturbed, I blacklisted Benson.
Unexpectedly. Ethel came to my ward afterward.
“Marlene, you shameless bitch!!
In an evening dress. Ethel cursed hysterically. She couldn’t be bothered to conceal her hideous expression.
“Aren’t you with someone else? Why are you still trying to steal Benson?
“Why did you ruin my engagement banquet?”
