Chapter 97: A Dangerous Figure
To outsiders, Raylee appeared deeply wounded, but within, she felt an unexpected sense of calm. Surviving and escaping from such a hellish place was already a tremendous blessing from God. It was just another injury. She had already faced immense pain and suffering, and after surviving those four grueling years, this was just another challenge she was prepared to endure.
Upon hearing the news, Samuel and Waverly hurried over. All Raylee wanted was a chance to rest. She turned over and closed her eyes. However, her dismissive attitude only fueled Samuel’s anger.
“What’s wrong with you? Wavy and I came here out of kindness, and this is how you treat us? Do we owe you something? It feels like we’re being punished for doing the right thing!”
“Samuel, I think the problem lies with your attitude!” Shanice retorted, stepping in to defend Raylee. “Are you blind? Can’t you see that Ray was deceived by that scoundrel and lured to East Aploth? She barely escaped with her life! She’s already so badly hurt, and instead of comforting her, you’re here throwing insults. Is this how a brother behaves?”
Samuel, clearly annoyed, replied, “I warned her before that Jeremiah was trouble, but she still chose to take the risk. Who else is there to blame?”
“Samuel, Raylee’s hurt. Stop scolding her. I’m sure she realizes her mistakes now,” Waverly interjected gently, trying to calm the situation. Samuel knew his words were harsh, but the thought of Raylee’s defiance reignited his frustration. Despite his sincere advice, she had refused to listen, stubbornly choosing to learn life’s harsh lessons the hard way.
“Would such a vain woman ever realize her mistake? She knew he was no good, yet she still clung to the illusion of climbing the social ladder through him. She deserved to be deceived. Her return is all thanks to God.”
Waverly frowned and continued to reason with him. “Samuel, that’s enough. Just look at her. Normally, she’d argue with you after a comment like that. But today, she hasn’t said a single word. She must be feeling too weak to respond. You know how horrifying East Aploth is. It’s no exaggeration to call it a living hell. Women suffer even worse fates there. I’ve heard they’re often subjected to group sexual assault. What if Raylee…”
The mention of group sexual assault, a brutal punishment inflicted on women by criminals in the region, cast a dark shadow over everyone’s expressions. It was the ultimate insult to a woman.
Samuel’s harsh words were one thing, but when Waverly joined in, her venomous remarks pushed Raylee to her limit. Despite the excruciating pain coursing through her body, she forced herself to sit up in bed. Without a word, she summoned all her strength and delivered a fierce slap across Waverly’s face. The sharp sound echoed through the room. Waverly’s head snapped to the side as she clutched her reddened cheek, her eyes welling with tears.
“Raylee, why did you hit me? What did I do wrong?”
Raylee roared, “I won’t just stop at that. If you keep spewing nonsense, I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
Samuel quickly pulled Waverly behind him, his protective instincts kicking in. “That’s enough! Don’t think I won’t step in just because you’re hurt. If you bully Wavy again, I won’t let it slide!”
“At least make sure she controls her tongue. What’s this nonsense about a group sexual assault? Who even talks like that?”
A faint, sardonic smile flickered on Raylee’s pale face. “Exactly. Everyone else seems to know what’s appropriate and what’s not. Is she a child? Do I have to treat her like one?”
Samuel furrowed his brows, left speechless by the rebuke. Casimir stared at Waverly, his handsome face stern as he said, “Waverly, you’ve crossed the line. All you’re doing right now is adding fuel to the fire. You’ve always been known for your poise and good judgment. How could you say something so tasteless and vulgar? No wonder Raylee is furious!”
Tears streamed down Waverly’s face, her expression one of deep grievance. Between soft sobs, she said, “Raylee, I’m sorry. I misspoke. Please forgive me. Casimir is right. I promise to watch my words from now on and won’t speak recklessly again.”
Raylee paid her no attention. With Shanice’s support, she lay back down on the bed.
Clenching his teeth in frustration, Samuel said, “What’s the matter with you two? Raylee brought this upon herself, so why is everyone suddenly turning on Waverly?”
Casimir, his brows tightly knit and his handsome face tense, countered in a calm but firm tone, “Ray isn’t at fault this time. Jeremiah has always been a dangerous figure. He’s a former convict who served time for murder and was even sentenced to death. On top of that, he’s been running illegal businesses in East Aploth for years. If not for the Lorimer family’s protection, he would have met his end ages ago. It’s hardly surprising that Ray ended up suffering at his hands.”