CHAPTER 666: CHAPTER 366: INNOCENCE DESTROYED

In those days, no romance could ever unfold openly under the gaze of others.

Because deep down in every person was a stubborn adherence to old traditions.

Some words, if spoken aloud, could turn the budding feelings between two close comrades into bitter hatred.

That year, Grayson Forrest was only eighteen, and there were things he didn’t dare to say easily.

Even though he was a man with convictions, he still had to respect the prevailing customs of the time.

He had never said anything to Matilda about liking her.

But from that day onward, something quietly changed in him—someone who usually avoided conversing with girls suddenly picked up a habit.

Every day, he would help Matilda with her lessons in the courtyard of the village brigade.

During that time, Matilda studied, and he studied too.

To others, they were simply two people engaged in tutoring sessions—nothing more.

Grayson was always curious about whether Matilda had any feelings for him.

But he didn’t dare to ask.

During that period, Grayson suddenly felt a surge of gratitude.

Grateful for his father’s wise decision that led him to become an educated youth.

Grateful that his father secretly bribed the village captain, which allowed him the chance to come to Little Bull Village and meet Matilda.

It felt as though everything had been orchestrated by the unseen hand of fate.

Lives that seemed to belong to two entirely different worlds suddenly found a crossing point.

All in all, as he gradually grew closer to Matilda, he began to think that this was the happiest period of his life.

Just like that, a year of his life as an educated youth passed quietly and uneventfully.

One day, he received study materials sent to him from the city by his mother.

After sorting through them, he planned to deliver them to Matilda.

But as he approached the medical room, he heard the sound of crying coming from the backyard.

He didn’t know what had happened but held onto the materials and hurried into the courtyard.

As soon as he entered, he saw a young man who lived with him—named Yellow Mount—being held at the wall corner by several villagers.

Several burly men surrounded him, while Matilda, like a frightened bird, crouched tightly beneath the apricot tree beside the central courtyard, hugging herself.

Matilda’s younger sister stood beside her, and their mother was holding her while wiping away tears.

Seeing Grayson enter, Matilda bit her lip and lowered her eyes, tears pooling within them.

She hugged herself even tighter.

Grayson walked over to Doctor Xu and asked, "Doctor Xu, what’s going on here?"

Doctor Xu pointed angrily at Yellow Mount in the corner and shouted, "This young man... it’s him... he actually..."

Doctor Xu, overcome with frustration, slapped his thigh and sat on the ground, crying.

This was the first time Grayson had seen such a seemingly helpless display from such a grown man.

Someone shouted, "Second Brother, what are you still talking about with this boy?

He’s an educated youth too—those city boys are all the same, nothing good among them.

Our village’s precious daughter was ruined by him like this.

This matter cannot be brushed aside.

Second Brother, you’d better make a decision."

At this point, even the most clueless person would’ve understood the implications of the words.

Grayson widened his eyes and turned to Yellow Mount, then stormed into the crowd and grabbed him by his shirt collar.

"What do the villagers mean by their words?

What do they mean by ruined? What did you do to her?"

Yellow Mount quickly grabbed Grayson’s wrist. "Grayson, please help me!

I... I didn’t do it on purpose.

I thought Matilda had feelings for me.

I genuinely thought Matilda liked me, so I..."

Grayson’s heart tightened with unease.

From behind him came Matilda’s furious voice: "I didn’t, I absolutely didn’t like you, you bastard."

Grayson raised his hand and punched Yellow Mount square in the face, knocking him to the ground.

He stepped forward, pulled him up again, and punched him once more.

Yellow Mount didn’t even have the strength to fight back.

Grayson beat him relentlessly until his face became barely recognizable.

The surrounding villagers were stunned.

Just as one of them, who had earlier accused Grayson of being no better than Yellow Mount, stepped forward to hold Grayson back, they said, "Alright, young man, if you hit him any more, he’ll die."

Grayson pointed angrily at Yellow Mount. "I want to kill him.

You’re still human, aren’t you?

We’ve left behind everything to come here, leaving our homes behind, and apart from the village captain, the person who’s cared for us most has been Doctor Xu and Matilda.

How could you commit such despicable, inhuman acts!"

"I was given this—I really thought Matilda had given it to me."

He said, trembling, as he pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it over.

Grayson took the paper and glanced at it, his face alternating between pale and flushed.

"Tomorrow at noon, behind the mountain in the peach grove—don’t be late."

Grayson recognized the handwriting; it was indeed Matilda’s.

Over the past year, he’d been helping her with her lessons, and he could recognize her handwriting without hesitation. If he couldn’t, then all his feelings for her were for naught.

He turned to look at Matilda crouched nearby.

Matilda stared back at him, shaking her head through her tears: "It wasn’t—this wasn’t meant for him, it wasn’t."

She spoke and then abruptly stood, running out in haste.

Matilda’s mother and sister hurried to chase after her.

Grayson’s heart clenched. If it wasn’t meant for him... wasn’t meant for Yellow Mount... then who was it meant for?

Suddenly, Matilda’s earlier look of grievance as she gazed at him revealed something to him.

Could it be...? He lowered his head and glanced at the note again before asking Yellow Mount, "Where did you find this slip of paper?"

"It was on the kang bed where we sleep.

The moment I returned, I found it under my pillow.

I was curious and just wanted to figure out who had given it to me.

Then I went to the peach grove, and to my shock, I saw it was Matilda. And I didn’t even know how I ended up..."

He trailed off, raising his hand to slap himself. "I’m insane."

He choked out as he crawled to kneel before Doctor Xu. "Uncle Xu, I was wrong. I’ve lost my mind today. You can kill me."

"Admitting you’re insane now won’t change anything—what’s done is done.

You’ve destroyed Matilda’s life, and don’t think you’ll have an easy time either."

The voice came from Matilda’s uncle. He stormed forward to grab Yellow Mount by the shirt collar.

"I’ll take you straight to the police station; we’ll press charges against you."

"No, no, Uncle Four! If you take me to the police station, I’ll truly be finished.

I beg you, please don’t do this.

I’ve ruined Matilda because I’m a bastard.

I’m willing to take responsibility—I’ll send a letter to my parents and have them arrange a dowry.

I’m willing to marry Matilda."

Yellow Mount’s words sent a shock through Grayson’s heart.

Yellow Mount wanted to marry Matilda?

A sharp, searing pain sliced through the corner of Grayson’s heart.

For a moment, all the villagers fell silent, their gazes collectively landing on Doctor Xu.

Doctor Xu sighed and walked over to sit by the well, lighting his pipe with a mournful expression.

Matilda’s uncle crouched beside Doctor Xu. "Second Brother, there’s no way to cover this up now.

Matilda’s body has been defiled.

If this continues, who will dare come forward to propose marriage in the future?

If Yellow Mount is willing to marry Matilda, then maybe we should just let her marry him.

I heard the village captain mention that Yellow Mount’s father is a city official.

If Matilda can marry into such a family, it would... well, how should I put it?

I’m not good with words, so don’t take it the wrong way.

It’s just that Matilda shouldn’t end up tarnished in the reputation of our Xu family.

Even if we hand Yellow Mount over to the police station, it won’t change the outcome. What do you think?"

After Matilda’s uncle’s speech, a few villagers began approaching Doctor Xu, each chiming in their own words of persuasion.

Grayson listened, his entire chest filling with anger. He turned and glared at Yellow Mount before striding quickly toward the door.

He needed to find Matilda and get some answers.

He had to know who the slip of paper was really meant for.

If it was for him, then there was no way he’d let Matilda marry Yellow Mount.

He left and wandered around Little Bull Village, eventually finding the sobbing trio near the wheat fields to the north.

Silently, he approached. Matilda looked at him, bit her lip but said nothing.

Matilda’s younger sister shouted, "All of you, leave! I won’t let you hurt my sister!"

"Ella, I’m not here to hurt your sister," Grayson said, then turned to Matilda’s mother. "Auntie, could I have a moment alone with Matilda?"

Matilda’s mother glanced at her daughter, and when Matilda didn’t object, she nodded and stood, taking Ella further away.

After they had gone, Grayson crouched in front of Matilda and held out the slip of paper to her. "I don’t care what happened today between you and Yellow Mount, nor do I care if he truly ruined your purity. I just want to ask you one thing—was this slip of paper meant for me?"

Hearing Grayson’s words, Matilda only cried harder. She raised her hand, covering her mouth as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Seeing her reaction, Grayson immediately understood everything.

He leaned forward and gently embraced her. "Don’t be afraid. I’ll marry you."