Chapter 811: Feeling Good About Oneself

Jacqueline Spann collapsed on the ground, unable to scrape herself up for a long time. The metallic tang of blood flooded her mouth. Her hearing was gone, replaced by a deafening ringing, and her vision blacked out behind a swarm of exploding stars.

Ethan Hawthorne sneered. Why would his heart ache for Bernice’s niece? He didn’t even care about his own son. If he had been in a good mood today, he might have spent some cash to smooth things over. But as luck would have it, his mood was abysmal. He refused to part with a single cent.

“Daring to commit arson at such a young age—she’ll be murdering people next! Don’t try to stop me. I’m going to beat her to death today!”

Ethan delivered a vicious kick. Jacqueline felt as if her body had been torn apart; agony radiated through every inch of her. A sickeningly sweet metallic taste welled up in her throat. Panicking, she scrambled backward. If she didn’t get away, he really would kill her.

She used to think Ethan was a refined gentleman who always spoke in a measured, unhurried tone. She had no idea he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. No wonder Adrian Hawthorne was so ruthless; he had inherited it from his father.

The bystanders were terrified. Even the stout woman backed down, abandoning her demand for compensation. “Forget it! Consider it my bad luck. Just keep your kid in line from now on!”

The neighbors panicked. They never expected the usually polite Ethan to act like a feral bandit. It was absolutely terrifying.

Within moments, the crowd had scattered.

Jacqueline remained on the dirt, her face etched with terror, unsure if he would strike again.

“Uncle Ethan…” she pleaded, hoping he would show mercy.

Ethan didn’t even glance at her. “I’m not your uncle,” he warned coldly. “Don’t call me that!”

With that, he turned and went back inside, leaving Jacqueline sitting alone on the freezing ground. Her heart ran even colder. His attitude was abundantly clear: he wasn’t going to keep her or her aunt around anymore. The stable, affluent life they had finally secured had vanished overnight.

Fresh out of the shower, Bernice saw Ethan returning from the courtyard. She looked at him with fawning eyes, having carefully prepared her excuses while washing up. However, the sheer disgust in his gaze pierced right through her, and every word she had rehearsed lodged in her throat.

“Ethan… I… I’m the victim here,” she sobbed, throwing herself onto the sofa. Her words were a mix of truth and lies. “Those people knew I was your woman. They wanted to use me to humiliate you. I don’t know who they were… I… I don’t have the face to go on living…”

Ethan stared at her, utterly expressionless. “Where did this happen?”

“I… I don’t know…” Bernice choked out between sobs. “They kidnapped me and dragged me into a pitch-black room. I couldn’t even see their faces…”

“Where did they grab you?” Ethan didn’t suspect her of lying. Things had already escalated to this point; she had no reason to make anything up. Furthermore, he genuinely believed those thugs had targeted her simply to get to him.

Bernice’s heart relaxed a fraction. “Just in the alley up ahead. I wanted to go buy a midnight snack, but… the moment I got there… Ethan… I’m so sorry…”

She covered her face and broke into fresh tears. Her story was fabricated, but her crying was agonizingly real. Bernice was drowning in regret. If she could turn back time, she would never have sought out those despicable thugs in the first place.

Unfortunately, time didn’t flow backward, and her lost dignity was gone forever.

“Ethan… I know I’m dirty now… I know I don’t deserve to be with you anymore, but please don’t drive me away. I’d willingly stay by your side even as a mere servant. I’m begging you… please don’t kick me out…”

Bernice wept and pleaded, lowering herself to the absolute dirt. Ethan’s anger subsided slightly. While he didn’t care for her, it didn’t stop him from enjoying her obsessive devotion to him.

Even so, the woman still repulsed him.

Even as a servant, he couldn’t stomach the sight of her.