Kyson pouted. "I'm an adult now. Why can't I watch? I want to learn!"
Lara shot me a cold glance. As if punishing me, she deliberately called off the two thugs. Making sure I was watching, she smiled warmly at Kyson.
"My little genius with the near-perfect SAT score, if you want to learn that, you'll have to make me your teacher."
She took Kyson's hand and led him into the car.
Through the window, Kyson looked back at me with undisguised triumph.
When he stepped back out of the car a while later, the waistband of his pants hung low enough to reveal fresh fingernail marks on his waist.
Lara casually pulled his waistband back into place. "Kids get cold easily. Don't catch a chill."
By then, my heart had gone completely numb. I stopped struggling or reacting.
Seeing how quiet I'd become, Lara looked strangely pleased. "Nolan has never been this obedient in our seven years of marriage. Kyson, you're much smarter than he is."
Then she looked back at me. "Consider this your lesson for today. Stay out here in the cold and clear your head. I'll send someone to pick you up first thing tomorrow morning."
With an arm around Kyson, Lara drove away without looking back once.
…
Inside the car, Kyson asked cautiously, "Mr. Taylor's already... damaged. Are you really going to stay with him?"
Lara fell silent for a full minute. Then she leaned back against her seat, subtly putting some distance between herself and Kyson.
"Kyson, you've crossed a line. My husband will only ever be Nolan."
If I'd heard those words before, I probably would have been moved. Now they only made me sick.
I gathered every ounce of strength I had left and fought back, seriously injuring both thugs.
While they writhed on the ground in pain, I stole the other vehicle and drove straight to the police station to file a report and have my injuries documented.
Then, I spent two days in the hospital under observation.
After I was discharged, I returned to the house to collect my identification and other documents.
Kyson had an arm around Lara, who was dressed in revealing loungewear. The moment he saw me, he jolted upright from the couch.
The nausea surged back into my throat. This time, I actually ran to the bathroom and vomited until there was nothing left.
Lara hurried in after me, anxiously rubbing my back. "Honey, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Should we go to the hospital?"
Kyson walked in barefoot, pretending to sound concerned. "He's throwing up this badly. Do you think that injury is hurting him that much?"
"Where does it hurt?" Lara's face filled with worry. "Then we're going to the hospital right now."
"No!" Kyson hurriedly grabbed the corner of her shirt. "Lara, Mr. Taylor's only hurting because of those two guys a few days ago. If you get him treated now, how's he ever going to learn his lesson?"
As I rinsed my mouth at the sink, I caught Lara's doubtful expression in the mirror. She looked at me with painful hesitation.
"Nolan, I know this is my fault. I caused... that part of your body to be injured. But Kyson has a point. You need to remember this lesson."
I slowly dried the water from my face and looked calmly at the woman who had become a complete stranger to me.
A few nights earlier, those two thugs had never succeeded. The only reason I was throwing up was that my stomach was upset.
Hearing Lara's words, I swallowed my anger and walked past her without another glance.
Kyson looked close to tears as he clung to Lara's arm and shook it.
"See? Mr. Taylor doesn't listen to you at all! He's almost thirty years old. You need to teach him a lesson before he starts walking all over you!
"Lara, when you gave me 'Adult Privilege,' you said I could help make the big decisions for this family! So here's my decision. Education is important, but Mr. Taylor's health comes first. You need to take him to the hospital for surgery immediately!"
Lara pressed her lips together. Little by little, her expression hardened with resolve.
"This is for your own good, honey."
- Akhir Chapter -