Chapter 387: An Unequal Match is Unacceptable

Amina rushed to the hospital in a panic.

In the hospital room, Mrs. Walton lay on the bed, her arm in a cast and an IV drip running. She looked utterly exhausted.

The butler stood beside her, his expression grim as he spoke on the phone.

Even though she already knew the gist of the situation from the phone call, Amina’s head started spinning the moment she saw Mrs. Walton.

Unsure what expression to show Mrs. Walton, she walked into the room in a daze and stopped by the head of the bed.

"Auntie..."

Before Amina could say another word, Mrs. Walton’s eyes welled up, and tears streamed down her face.

"You’re here..."

’This woman was an elder, the wife of a wealthy man, and Zeke’s mother. To see her beaten like this by her own brothers, now crying...’ Amina was completely at a loss.

She dropped to her knees with a thud before the bed and clasped Mrs. Walton’s uninjured hand.

"I’m so sorry, Auntie. I didn’t know my brothers were here. I had no idea they went to your house to harass you. I’m so, so sorry... Please, don’t cry..."

But Mrs. Walton seemed determined to cry, and she sobbed with abandon.

She spoke between sobs.

"Amina, you’re a sweet girl. Though we haven’t known each other long, I took a liking to you from the very first time we met. I never intended to object to you and Zeke Walton being together, but... why didn’t you two tell me about it sooner? Your brothers showed up at my house, claiming that our Zeke had ruined your reputation and that you’d never be able to get married now. It gave me such a fright."

"I haven’t said a thing about you and Zeke being in a serious relationship, but they acted as if I were some heinous criminal. They called me shameless and demanded we compensate you. They said it wasn’t enough for us to marry you into the family with all the pomp and circumstance; we also had to buy each of them an apartment in the most luxurious district in Veridia, arrange jobs for them, help them find wives, and get them settled here. On top of that, they expect our family to take care of all their future children’s schooling and every other problem."

"And then there are all your assorted relatives, who would supposedly have to move to Veridia so we could support them, or else they’d ’lose face’... Zeke’s father and I have worked so hard all these years. We only have one child, Zeke, and we’ve painstakingly built up this family business..."

"What parent doesn’t want their child to have a good life? But look... I’m afraid our family will never have a day of peace again. Zeke’s father has a short fuse and isn’t in good health. If he finds out I was beaten and threatened like this, won’t it just kill him?"

Her heart pounded in her chest as she listened, her face burning with shame.

’She couldn’t believe her brothers were so audacious, so shameless. To actually go to someone’s home and demand houses, money, and jobs... to demand that the Waltons support them for the rest of their lives.’

’She could have died from the shame.’

’She had failed Zeke. She had failed his entire family.’

"Auntie, please don’t listen to their nonsense. My two brothers are idiots, bastards. You don’t have to pay them any mind! Where are they now? I’ll set them straight. I’m sorry. I’ll make them come apologize to you, and then I’ll make them go back to our hometown. Please, whatever you do, don’t tell Mr. Walton. Don’t make him angry."

Mrs. Walton’s tears started flowing again.

"It’s not that easy. They said if I dared to refuse, they’d go to the television stations, to the press, and expose our family. They’d claim we used our influence to bully them, that we sullied your good name and then abandoned you."

’What? They’d dare to go to the media? To reporters?’

Amina: "..."

Mrs. Walton continued, "They were making such a scene at my house that the butler had no choice but to call the police. They’re at the station now. Mr. Walton just found out and has gone to handle the situation. My injuries were officially assessed as minor, which means, by law, your brothers are facing jail time."

It was too much information to take in at once. Amina’s head swam again, the strength drained from her body, and she crumpled to the floor.

’Jail time...’

’Her brothers were scoundrels, and they were ignorant, but they were still her brothers. What sister would want to see her own flesh and blood go to prison?’

"H-how long... How long will the sentence be?"

"Minimum one year, maximum three. But knowing Mr. Walton’s temper, he might just push to have them put away for ten years or so."

’Amina knew she had no right to beg for them. Her brothers had brought this entirely upon themselves.’

’But... they weren’t young. It was already difficult for them to find wives. If they were locked up for ten years...’

’She couldn’t bear to imagine how devastated her grandmother would be to hear this news.’

"Auntie, I’m so sorry. I’m apologizing on my brothers’ behalf. I’ll kowtow to you. They’re ignorant, they don’t understand the law! Please, can’t you just let it go this once? If you drop the charges, I swear I’ll make them go back home and never, ever come back. They’ll never dare to bother you again! I’m sorry. I’m sure this whole ordeal has taught them a lesson. They know they were wrong now. They won’t dare do it again. Please, be the bigger person, let them off the hook this one time..."

Mrs. Walton finally stopped crying. She looked at Amina, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

"How can you talk about me letting them off the hook? It’s them who need to let *us* off the hook! They’re threatening to go to the media. If they actually destroy our family’s reputation and our business goes under... Putting them away for ten years or so would at least buy us a decade of peace. If they’re released, can you really guarantee they won’t cause more trouble?"

"I promise, I promise."

Still kneeling on the floor, Amina swore as if to the heavens.

"Please, just give me a chance. Let me talk to them. I swear they’ll never dare to do this again."

"And what if they don’t listen to you? What if they promise you one thing now, but the moment they’re released, they go right back to causing trouble?"

Amina: "..."

’She hadn’t thought that far ahead.’

’Her mind was in a total mess. Mrs. Walton’s question left her completely stumped.’

Seeing that Amina was thoroughly intimidated, the butler stepped forward to speak on Mrs. Walton’s behalf.

"Miss Amina, in all my years, I have never seen two families, soon to be joined, come to blows like this. The Walton Family may not be the most illustrious household in Veridia, but we have a reputation to maintain. If word of this gets out, how are the Master, the Madam, and our Young Master supposed to face anyone?"

"Everyone says marriage should be between equals. Think about it. Given your family’s circumstances... with so many needy relatives... if you really were to marry into the Walton Family, and they all came asking for handouts, what should we do? Help them or not? It wouldn’t just be you in an awkward spot. The Master, the Madam, the Young Master—we would all be put in an impossible position."

"If you truly care for our Young Master, you should think from his perspective. You can’t let him become the laughingstock of his social circle for the rest of his life, all because of you, can you? Regarding today’s incident, here is what I believe should be done."

"The Madam, in her magnanimity, is willing to sign a formal statement of forgiveness, allowing them to be released without charge. In return, however, you must provide us with a written guarantee. You must promise to break up with the Young Master, to never appear in Veridia again, and to ensure your family never harasses the Walton Family again. Or else..."

Half an hour later, Amina left the hospital room in a daze.

The butler drove her to the police station. She clutched the signed statement of forgiveness and her own written guarantee in her hand as the butler gave her some final instructions.

"Make sure you explain the stakes clearly to your brothers. The Madam won’t be telling the Young Master about this, and neither should you. You know his temper; there’s no telling what he’d do if he found out. And he must never, ever see these two documents."

"As for the breakup, don’t rush it. You have a week. Think of a good reason, a plausible one that won’t provoke the Young Master’s anger. If you truly care about him, you wouldn’t want to break his heart or see him do something that would make him a laughingstock, now would you?"