Chapter 45 No Turning Back

The director nodded repeatedly. “You’re absolutely right. These days everyone worships Western medicine–cut first, thinkter. But for someone Madam Johnson’s age, that’s basically dragging her to the gates of hell. I always wanted to study traditional medicine, but I never found the right teacher.”

He hesitated, then steeled himself and asked awkwardly. “Miss could you teach me a few techniques?”

Worried she’d refuse, he quickly added, “I don’t expect it for free. I’ll serve tea and formally be your student if I bhave /b

Yunice stared at the older man–someone old enough to be her father–and blinked, caughtpletely off guard.

Before she could figure out how to respond, Wyatt had already taken her hand and said to the director, b“/bbJust /bfocus on doing your own job

The director looked longingly at Yunice, but under Wyatt’s warning gaze, he could only grumble and go back to monitoring bMadam /bJohnson.

Wyatt moved forward with his cane.

Yunice looked down at their joined hands. Remembering the way he’d once spoken about her, she felt a wave of difort and tried to pull away

Sensing her reaction. bWyatt /bonly tightened his grip. His steps paused as he looked down at her and said. “In Silverburghb, /byou won’t find a better ally than me.”

Yunice was just babout /bto argue when she caught sight of someone standing at the end of the hallway–Paul.

His eyes zeroed in on their sped hands, and his face twisted with anger as he stormed toward them.

Yunice suddenly understood Wyatt was holding bher /bhand to provoke Paul.

Paul barked at her, “Do you even know what time it is? Do the Saunders family have no shame left?”

After they got engaged, Paul always held the upper hand. Over the years, he’d grown used to controlling Yunice, refusing to tolerate anything he considered inappropriate.

Even with the engagement long broken, Paul still believed Yunice should listen to him.

After all, he’d practically raised her. He was responsible for her safety.

But even now, after everythingb, /bshe still hadn’t let go of Wyatt’s hand.

bPaul’s /bface turned red with fury. He raised his voiceb, /bscolding her again, “Your brother already told you about the marriage arrangement with the Johnsonsb, /band you even spent the night at their ce. Now you’re doing this? Are you trying to let all of Silverburgh know just how shameless you are?”

She spent the night at the Johnsons?

How did Paul know that?

bYunice /bquickly realized Owen and bElsie /bmust’ve told him. And judging by his tone, he clearly thought spending the night meant she had slept with Mr. Johnson.

My own brother. My former fiancé. Eighteen years.. and this is what they think of me

They really believe it was fine for me to sleep with Mr. Johnson, but holding Hyatt’s hand makes me a disgrace.

It’s not that they look down on Iyatt–they just hate that they bcan’t /bco

4:14 PM ch

Chapter 45 No Turning Back

Finished

Paul’s eyes burned with rage. “bYou /bbwant /bto be a bdisgrace/b? Fine. But if you drag bElsie’s /bname into this. I won’t let it slide!”

He reached out and grabbed Yunice’s wrist. “You’reing with me!”

Yunice couldn’t bbreak /bfree. She stumbledb, /byanked off bnce–until Wyatt let go, stepped forward, and shoved Paul hard.

Already fuming. bPaul /bnearly fell. That push was thest spark–his brain exploded with rage, logic and restraintpletely

gone.

He swung a punch at Wyatt. Wyatt braised /bhis arm to block, but with his mobility issues, he couldn’t react fast enough. bPaul /bkicked his cane away

Without support, Wyatt lost his bnce. His left knee mmed into the floor tiles.

bPaul /bwas out of control now. He raised his fist again–aimed straight for Wyatt’s face.

Yunice instinctively stepped forward.

The punchnded squarely on her.

She didn’t make a sound. Her face throbbed with numb, swelling pain, and she curled in on herself, body moving in pure self–defense.

“Yunice?” Wyatt struggled toward her, his voice sharp with concern.

bPaul’s /banger red again. “I was going after him! Why’d you get in the way!”

He raised his fist again, not satisfied until he got in a few more hits.

But he never got the chance. Wyatt’s bodyguards had finally reacted–two of them moved in from behind, grabbed Paul, and mmed him to the ground.

Wyatt knelt beside Yunice, disheveled and aching. Gently, he pried her hands away from her face. His expression darkened instantlyb. /b

He looked up and locked eyes with Paul.

There was ice in his gaze now–pure, calcted fury.

Paul, suddenly uncertain, felt his stomach drop. Would that cripple actuallyy a hand on me?

He got his answer a secondter.

“Hit him,” Wyatt said coldly.

No hesitation. The guards‘ fistsnded bhard/b.

Paul curled into a ball shielding his head. “You’re dead, you hear me! Crippled bastard, I swear I’ll get you for this!”