Chapter 243

Cynthia wandered around the school. It wasn't a weekend, and although the school was open to the public, there weren't many visitors. The students were all in their regular classes.

After a while, it was noon, so Cynthia went to the student cafeteria for a meal. Even though this was her birthplace and the origin of everything, after twenty years, there was no trace of the old hospital left. Cynthia had come simply to pay her respects. After finishing her meal, she left the school.

Near the school gate, in a small alley, Cynthia saw two students being beaten by a bald man. She hurried over. The students, ordinary middle schoolers in their teens, looked lanky and frail, no match for the tattooed, yellow-haired thug kicking and punching them.

Cynthia quickened her pace and reached the man. Without a word, she grabbed his hand; a sharp crack sounded like breaking bones. The bald man, sweating profusely from the pain, shouted, "Who are you?!"

Ignoring him, Cynthia turned to the boys and asked, "What's going on here?"

One boy, fearfully eyeing the bald man, stammered, "H-He comes every day to collect protection money. If we don't give it to him, he drags us into the woods at night and beats us up."

Cynthia couldn't believe such things still happened in broad daylight. Frowning, she asked, "Does the school know? Do your teachers know?"

The boys shook their heads. "He wouldn't let us. If we told, he'd beat us even worse."

"How long has this been happening?"

"A month…"

The bald man charged, fists clenched. "You bitch, mind your own business!" he growled. Before he finished, Cynthia kicked him in the chest, sending him sprawling.

Turning to the boys, Cynthia said, "Go back to school. I assure you, that man won't bother you again. And remember, if this happens again, tell your teacher or call the police. The more scared you are, the more he'll take advantage. Got it?"

The boys nodded vigorously and hurried off. Cynthia then turned, flexed her fingers, and dragged the bald man deeper into the alley. Soon, a man's agonized cries filled the air.

People outside peeked in. They saw a battered and bruised bald man desperately crawling out, shouting for help and pleading with passersby to call the police. Many locals had been bullied or extorted by him—everyone knew him as Luke, a thug with influential relatives who always escaped trouble quickly. This made people afraid to confront him. Cynthia, however, had hit him hard enough.

Though Luke looked like he'd been through hell, Cynthia was confident that a hospital visit would reveal only minor bruises. She dusted off her hands and said, "Listen. I'll be here every day. Every time I see you bullying people or extorting protection money, I'll beat you. If I catch you, I'll beat you twice."

Cynthia turned to leave. She was confident this lesson would deter Luke. But after a few steps, she heard his venomous voice. "I know who you are. You're the girl Silas brought to the hotel four years ago…"

At the mention of "Silas," Cynthia's blood ran cold. She felt chilled and trembled. Was this Silas Wood, the thug who had conspired with Lilian to assault her? Cynthia had never actually seen Silas. She'd been drugged and assaulted while unconscious. She'd only heard his rough voice in a video on Lilian's phone, a sound that made her sick. His name was an inescapable nightmare, a stain on her life.

Cynthia slowly turned, her eyes wide with shock. Seeing her shock and fear, Luke thought he'd found her weakness.

"Didn't expect me to recognize you, did you? You're the woman Silas toyed with. Either you finish me off today, or when I get better, I'll finish you," he sneered.

The bald man crawled to his feet. He laughed smugly, "Do you know who I am? I'm Luke, the big boss around here."

Cynthia grabbed his neck and, with surprising strength, lifted him with one hand. Luke clawed at her hand, struggling fiercely, but it was useless. His face turned beet red, his lips purple, his eyes bloodshot and bulging. Real fear flashed across his face. He saw not only strength but a wild, unpredictable side in Cynthia.

Luke's air supply rapidly depleted; he felt like he was drowning. Just when he thought he would die, Cynthia released her grip. Luke crumpled to the ground, clutching his throat and coughing violently. Those few minutes felt like hell. When he looked up, his eyes were filled with sheer terror.

Cynthia approached slowly. Luke kicked his legs and scrambled backward. "Stay away! You crazy woman, stay away!"

Cynthia, regaining her composure, spoke with icy clarity. "Tell me everything you know, word for word. Otherwise, you won't be leaving this alley with all your limbs intact."

Luke, genuinely afraid, said, "Actually, I don't really know much. Back then, I was just a lookout for Silas. I saw him bring a woman into the hotel. Her face was so beautiful that it left a strong impression on me. That's why I recognized you today. But that day, you weren't the one who was assaulted."