Chapter 3

Carolina quickly pulled her blouse to cover the embarrassing kiss marks on her chest.

Mrs. Verance also stared momentarily, then slowly stood up, a mocking smile forming at the corner of her eyes.

“I thought you were so pure and innocent, but I never expected you to be so promiscuous,” Mrs. Verance taunted.

Carolina tightly gripped her collar, remaining silent, enduring the hurtful words.

“You’re just like your mother, a filthy old whore. And now you’ve become a little whore too,” Mrs. Verance’s words became increasingly offensive.

Carolina slowly raised her head, glaring at Mrs. Verance. “You can insult me all you want. After all, you are my ‘stepmother,’ so I’ll respect you. But you cannot insult my mother.” She emphasized the word “stepmother” deliberately.

Mrs. Verance became infuriated. “How dare you speak to me like that!”

“Do you think you’re so pure and innocent? Before my mother passed away, don’t you think I didn’t know how you seduced my father?” Carolina challenged. She could endure anything thrown at her but never allowed anyone to insult her mother.

“That’s enough!” Mr. Loretta slammed the glass in his hand onto the table, causing the warm liquid to splatter. He quickly walked up to Carolina, raising his hand.

A cold slap echoed, leaving a clear handprint on Carolina’s fair face. Her head tilted to one side, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. She clenched her teeth, the excruciating pain preventing her from shedding even a tear in front of these people.

Mrs. Verance quickly pulled her husband’s arm, “Darling, this girl is so disgusting. It would be best if you disciplined her properly. Haven’t you noticed the marks left by men on her body? Tsk tsk… If this matter gets out, won’t our entire family lose face because of her?”

Carolina raised her head, her defiant gaze locked onto her father as she growled each word: “Give me the money! My brother is sick.”

Mr. Loretta seemed enraged. He pointed to the door, “Get out! There’s no money.”

“Ryan is your son. How can you do this?” Carolina couldn’t believe the angry face of her father.

“He’s not my son. Get out of here right now. I don’t want to see you two. I’ll transfer the living expenses to your card, and from now on, don’t come here anymore.”

Looking at her father’s cold and distant expression, Carolina felt like a stranger demanding a meal. The past gentleness had long vanished.

Mrs. Verance stood beside him, adding salt to the wound, “Didn’t you say that after your internship in the final year, you wouldn’t come home to ask for money? If I remember correctly, you swore such words. Now, it’s already your final year. Do you still need us to support you?”

Carolina stared at Mrs. Verance, then turned her head to look at her father. “If anything happens to my brother, I won’t spare you.” With those words, she turned around and left, wishing to escape this wretched place immediately.

Outside, the rain poured heavily, a bitter taste lingering on her lips. She didn’t know if the water on her face was rain or tears. Returning to the old, dilapidated room, she discovered that Ryan’s bed was empty.

It was already late, and with the heavy rain and strong wind outside, where could Ryan have gone?

Suddenly, she felt like her world was crumbling. She couldn’t find anyone to help her, not even her two caring besties. But Carolina knew that there were certain things in life that one had to face alone.

Despite the heavy rain and strong wind, she rushed outside. Usually, her brother rarely left the house. He only knew one route, a path from home to the seaside. But with the current weather, the sea must have risen, so would Ryan still go there?

Carolina felt extremely worried, a sense of unease creeping in. ‘Ryan, you can’t have anything happen to you. You mean everything to me…’ As she approached the seaside, the wind grew stronger.

This was the largest port in the city, located on the eastern coast of Taiwan. It was an important maritime route for transporting goods from the south to the Americas and Europe and a crucial import and export trade port. Therefore, it was also one of the routes for smuggling into Mainland China.

Carolina, trembling from the heavy rain and gusts of cold wind, held herself tightly and ran along the coastline in a frenzy. She was a petite figure, as if the wind could blow her away at any moment.

As she approached the shoreline, she suddenly heard voices coming from up ahead. Raising her head, she saw a group of people standing not far from the beach. Judging by their attire, they were not ordinary people. Her whole body trembled as she hid behind a truck, silently peering out to observe the people standing nearby.

Her gaze was immediately drawn to one man among them… a very distinctive man. He wore a leather jacket and stood in front of a row of luxurious cars. His bodyguards were divided into two groups, shielding him from the sea wind, revealing a handsome and cold face that sent chills down the spines of those who looked at him.

This man… Carolina seemed to have encountered him somewhere before. Calmly standing strong amidst the raging storm, the man seemed like an ancient statue that would never fall.

“Mr. Nathan, these expensive cars have been stripped of their paint. I can’t deliver them to the buyers. Who do you think should take responsibility for this?” the man opened his mouth to speak, his voice deep and masculine.

Despite the howling sea wind, his voice exuded confidence. His voice sounded familiar to Carolina, but she couldn’t quite place it.

The man standing a few meters away from him, a middle-aged bald Taiwanese man, replied: “Mr. Red, these cars were stripped of their paint within your territory. I believe you should be held responsible…”

Before Mr. Nathan could finish speaking, Mr. Red’s sharp gaze swept over him, and a faint smirk appeared.

“In that case, I can refuse to accept this shipment.”