Chapter 330 Cannot Ruin Her
Septimus pointed at his two subordinates and instructed, “Let’s start with the two of you then.” His subordinates nodded, stepped forward, roughly grabbed Jillian, and unceremoniously shoved her onto the nearby gambling table before pinning her down.
Jillian trembled uncontrollably. Even though she knew it was all an act, she couldn’t help feeling afraid. A thin layer of cold sweat formed on her forehead.
Nathan’s eyes welled with tears as he watched his sister accept her fate without resisting, waiting desolately for the impending nightmare. “No! I can’t let this happen! She’s my sister! My outstanding, strong, and kind sister. Her future holds endless possibilities. She shouldn’t have her life ruined by my mistakes!”
Hence, before Septimus’ subordinates could act, Nathan roared in anger. “Go ahead and chop my hands! You can have both my arms, and if that’s not enough, my legs too. Just promise me you won’t touch my sister. Let her go, and I wouldn’t mind dying right here! She has always excelled in school since childhood. She’s a pure and kind-hearted girl, in the prime of her life… You can’t ruin her like this!”
After roaring, he struggled to approach them. Ignoring the pain and blood on his hands, he charged forward like a bewildered beast. Septimus’ subordinates exerted tremendous strength to restrain him. Septimus smiled at Nathan’s reaction. With a wave of his hand, he signaled for his subordinates to release Jillian.
“Very well. I don’t like bullying girls either. Since you’re so brave, we’ll take your hands and feet,” he said, ordering his subordinates, “Cut off his hands and feet. Make them into specimens and hang them in my casino as a warning to those who think they can get away without paying.” His tone was nonchalant, as if he wasn’t discussing such horrific acts. The other gamblers felt chills run down their spines.
His subordinates marched toward Nathan with a terrifying long machete. “Nathan!” Jillian cried anxiously. Nathan panicked and struggled, but to no avail. One subordinate pinned Nathan’s hands to the ground while another held his body firmly. Another raised the machete high.
Thump! Thump!
As soon as the knife fell, Nathan’s vision darkened, and he fainted. “Nathan!” Jillian cried out, stumbling forward as the man with the machete silently retreated. Madelyn and the others emerged.
“Mr. Septimus, didn’t you promise you wouldn’t harm him?” Madelyn asked, concerned. Septimus chuckled lightly. “Don’t worry. He merely fainted from fright. Since I’ve agreed to help you, I know my limits. This young man is stubborn by nature. Without a lesson, he won’t realize his mistakes.” Following that, he instructed his subordinate, “Go get something to treat this young man’s wounds.” “Yes, sir,” the subordinate replied, withdrawing.
Madelyn looked at Septimus and chuckled. “Mr. Septimus, you sure don’t hold back, do you?” “But it worked, didn’t it?” Septimus smiled. “A brat like him needs a scare, or he’ll only repeat his mistakes. But it’s such a relief. Although he’s addicted, he’s not incorrigible. If his conscience had died, then he’d be hopeless. As for his hand, it’ll be fine after some recuperation.”
Madelyn nodded solemnly. “Mr. Septimus, thank you for your help.” Septimus grinned. “Why the formalities? Just remember you owe me a favor. All right, hurry up and bring him away. I still have a casino business to run here.” Madelyn reciprocated the smile and brought Nathan to the hospital with the others.
Although the wound on his hand was quite deep, his bones and tendons weren’t affected. He was fine after some bandaging. Before long, Nathan woke up. When he opened his eyes, he was startled to find the ceiling and surrounding curtains all white.
At that moment, Jillian stepped forward, asking worriedly, “Nathan, how are you feeling now?” “Me?” Nathan glanced at his hand and felt nothing wrong. A pang of anxiety struck him as he gripped Jillian’s hand, blurting out, “Jillian, did they do something to you?” He was livid, ready to kill those who had harmed his sister. “Those damned bastards! I’m going to kill them!”
Jillian quickly stopped him. “No. They let me go. But they told me I had to pay in installments—repay the forty million debt within five years with interest. If I fail, they threatened to capture me and Mom to repay the debt…” Jillian’s voice trembled with fear. “Nathan, I don’t mind suffering for our family’s peace, but I don’t want Mom to suffer, too. Her life is already so tough… Nathan, what do you think we should do?”
As expected, Nathan was filled with guilt and self-reproach. “Jillian, it’s all my fault. I, as the only man in the household, never contributed anything to the family all these years. Worse still, I’ve made you and Mom penniless! And now, you’re stuck suffering with me for the rest of your lives. I’m such a jerk!” Nathan slapped himself harshly, leaving fingerprints on his cheeks. He was filled with remorse.
Jillian shook her head. “Nathan, stop hurting yourself. Even if you were to beat yourself to death, what good would it do? Forty million is no small sum. Even if we strive our whole lives, we might not be able to earn that much, let alone within five years.” Nathan’s heart ached. But does that mean we should give up? No!
All of a sudden, Nathan declared with determination, “Don’t be sad, Jillian. We still have five years, don’t we? I’ve turned over a new leaf now and I promise to work hard and pay back the money!”