CHAPTER 457: CHAPTER 457: INFIGHTING

Tyler Aldrin panted heavily, like a frenzied wild boar, pacing the room erratically, unsure of what he might do next. The room was filled with a heavy stench of smoke and alcohol, and remnants of vomit fermented by gastric acid were faintly visible on the carpet, making it difficult to breathe.

He heard Azure Hollis’s whimpering cries for help, suddenly turned and strode quickly to where his vision was blocked by the bed. There, Azure was crouching by the bedside, pleading for help on the phone, not even knowing who she was talking to.

"Help you? You worthless thing, aren’t you embarrassed enough by me, Tyler Aldrin?" His gaze was fixed as he raised a bear-paw-like slap, sending a cold wind across Azure’s face, knocking her to the ground and her phone out of her hand.

Azure screamed, clutching her head, curled up on the floor and shouting hoarsely, "Don’t hit me, don’t hit me!"

Tyler seemed completely oblivious to her words, grabbing her hair forcefully to make her face him, "Did you just call the police?"

"No, I didn’t!" Azure pressed her scalp, her scattered eyes filled with fear and apprehension.

Tyler sneered, gently patting her face with his other hand, "You’re nothing but a useless bitch who can only ruin things. If it weren’t for your grudge against Ruby Sullivan, Ethan Sterling wouldn’t be targeting me like this. Now your dad won’t shell out money, does he want to watch The Aldrin Clan get acquired by The Sterling Group and be happy about it?" He dug deeper into his self-concocted conspiracy theory as he spoke.

"I know your dad has always looked down on me. This time, are you and Ethan Sterling working together to screw me over? Didn’t you have a good relationship with that Rhonda Sullivan? That bitch, did she sell the news to me for Ethan Sterling, huh?"

Tyler’s sudden glare made Azure fear he might slap her again, her heart almost stopping in terror. The foul breath wafted onto her face, making her shiver, and she instinctively closed her eyes.

"I don’t know, I don’t know..."

"Don’t know?" Tyler hiccupped, seemingly eager to clear the fog in his mind, but the alcohol dulled it further, making him more confused.

Azure felt the grip on her hair loosen. She glanced at his expression, and seizing the moment of distraction, she suddenly got up, pulled away from his hold, and bumped her head against his chin.

Tyler let out an "Ah" as his huge body staggered backward.

Azure rushed out of the room and quickly locked the door.

Listening to Tyler’s frantic knocking inside, her heart shook again, and her knees weakened, collapsing onto the ground.

Suddenly, someone rang the doorbell, and the maid, who had been missing, came out to open the door. Seeing the uniformed visitor, she was stunned, "Who are you?"

"We’re the police. We just received a call for help and need your assistance in investigating." The officers showed their credentials and entered the room.

Upon hearing this, Azure hurried down from upstairs. She no longer cared about keeping family troubles private as she rushed to them. This was her first encounter with domestic violence, and she definitely didn’t want a second time.

"Officer!" It was as if she had met a family member, tears bursting out as she spoke, "I’ve been a victim of domestic abuse."

*

After Rhonda Sullivan called the police, she still felt uneasy. She estimated some time had passed and dialed Azure’s phone again. It took a while to connect, but it wasn’t Azure who answered; it was Tyler Aldrin.

"You bitch, did you deliberately help Ethan Sterling set me up? Just wait, if I die, all of you are coming down with me!"

Startled, she quickly hung up the phone, her body shaking uncontrollably like a sieve, haunted by scenes she’d desperately buried in her mind.

Those were the days at The Finn Family, with endless beatings and humiliations, making her wish for death rather than facing any hope.

Everyone noticed Rhonda’s unusual demeanor. Her dazed look wasn’t just worrying about someone; it was like prey surrounded by a predator, trembling, wanting to survive but seeing no hope.

"Are you okay?" Someone came over and asked.

Rhonda snapped back to reality with a jolt, as if breaking free from a spell, beads of cold sweat forming on her face. She awkwardly pulled at her lips, "No, I’m fine. I was just worried about Azure. I think she’s having a fight with her husband."

Everyone scoffed at this. Tyler Aldrin’s reputation was rather terrible; although Azure seemed glamorous in public, living with such a man, happiness was questionable.

Rhonda exhaled deeply, "Alright, alright, let’s not let her spoil the mood. I’ve prepared a big surprise for you all!" She finished speaking and made a call, after which ten strikingly handsome men, each carrying a tray of champagne, entered. Each one had an outstanding physique and good looks.

The men lined up after entering, greeting, "Good evening, Queens!"

All the women screamed excitedly, and the once awkward room became lively. Only Gwen Yates observed everything coldly, frowning slightly.

Seeing Rhonda head out to the balcony, Gwen refused the services of the men and quickly followed.

Rhonda was smoking on the balcony, an air of weary relief from surviving a calamity about her. Gwen hadn’t mistaken it; Rhonda had indeed been frightened earlier.

Gwen wasn’t curious about this woman’s past at all, yet something inexplicable drew her in, "Rhonda, are you alright?"

"Of course!" Rhonda hastily put on a brilliant smile, fearing her expression might reveal her unease to others. "Why aren’t you joining the fun? I picked them out meticulously." She leaned over and whispered, "One of them looks seven-tenths like Ethan Sterling, really high quality. You should give him a try."

"I’m not interested in men right now," Gwen replied with a smile, not hiding her gloom. She understood Rhonda, as this woman loved seeing others in distress, as if others’ misfortune could bring her happiness.

"Why not?"

"I hate Ethan Sterling and Ruby Sullivan. They ruined my life, yet now and possibly forever, I have no chance for revenge." She smiled bitterly.

Rhonda took a deep drag, squinting at the line of car lights forming a bright dragon on the loop, murmuring, "Actually, I still have a big piece of dirt on them, but the risk is too great. I... don’t really want to use it."

Gwen cautiously asked, "What dirt?"

"Evidence of Ruby Sullivan’s infidelity."

Gwen didn’t believe such a thing existed, skeptical that Rhonda had kept it this long without releasing it, "Ruby, really cheated?"

Rhonda snorted disdainfully, sneering, "What do you think got her to become L’s personal apprentice?" She extinguished her cigarette, "Forget it, I don’t want to think about it anymore. I just want to focus on getting married now. I realize nothing else matters." She glanced at Gwen’s puzzled look and laughed, "Women still need to find their own love, that’s what matters." Suddenly, she wanted to leave this dull bachelorette party and return to Jack’s side right away.

She led Gwen back inside to continue the merry-making. After Azure finished recording her statement, she returned to her pre-marital apartment to tidy up, and then headed straight for Rhonda Sullivan’s bachelorette party.