Chapter 35 The Line You Should Never Cross
Roman held Richard's hand tight, crushing it with relentless pressure. A dark, menacing aura emanated from him, his intense eyes locked on Richard in a deadly stare.
Richard couldn't even grasp the features of the person crushing his hand—the pain was too overwhelming. He trembled, his body instantly drenched in cold sweat as the pain consumed him.
"AHHHH!!" he screamed again when he felt his hand being twisted further. He could no longer breathe properly, his vision blacking out from the excruciating pain.
That piercing scream woke everyone from their shocked state.
Evelyn turned to look at the person who had unexpectedly saved her from her father's violence. She could feel Roman's cold, dark aura radiating from him, and she could sense that he was genuinely furious. She had never seen him in this state before—he'd always appeared so calm, gentle, and controlled. Seeing him like this stunned her more than her father's agonized screaming.
Claire, who had been watching from the side, quickly ran toward them. She didn't dare get too close to Roman due to his terrifying aura, instead stopping several feet away and screaming.
"What are you doing?! You're going to kill him! Let go!"
Roman didn't even bother to look at her. "Don't worry, he won't die from just having his wrist broken." With a cold, cruel smirk, he finished by twisting the hand backward with forceful grip.
An ear-shattering roar spread through the open space. "AHHHHH!!!"
"NO!" Claire screamed in disbelief. She couldn't believe Roman wouldn't even give them face as Evelyn's parents.
Evelyn gasped at the brutal sight she'd just witnessed. She desperately wanted to stop Roman—after all, he was still her father, and she couldn't bear to witness such violence.
But as she stepped closer, Leo moved in front of her. "Madam, I suggest you stay out of this. The young master is in a very bad mood right now, and no one can stop him until he vents his anger. For your own safety, please don't interfere."
Evelyn swallowed hard, trying to get a glimpse of Roman over Leo's shoulder. It was like seeing a completely different person from the man she'd married.
"Roman, we're Evelyn's parents! Is this how you treat us?! Let go of your father-in-law this minute, or your grandfather will hear about this ill treatment!" Claire shouted, attempting to gain the upper hand through threats.
But Roman didn't even flinch. He maintained his grip as Richard teetered on the verge of unconsciousness from pain. If not for Roman's hold, he would have collapsed to the ground by now.
"Now tell me," Roman said with deadly calm, "who does she belong to?"
Richard looked at him with hazy, pain-filled eyes.
"ANSWER ME!" Roman thundered, his voice echoing across the estate grounds as he applied more pressure.
Seeing her husband about to collapse and Roman showing no mercy, Claire turned desperately to Evelyn.
"Evelyn, this is your father! Will you let him do this to your own father?! He'll kill him!"
"Rom—" Evelyn began, attempting to get closer.
"I SAID WHO DOES SHE BELONG TO!" Roman repeated through gritted teeth.
"No... no one," Richard managed to say with great difficulty, struggling to breathe.
"Good." Roman released him with obvious irritation.
Richard immediately crumpled to the ground, wailing in agony. Claire rushed to his side, weeping dramatically.
Roman stretched his hand out to Leo without looking.
Leo, already knowing what his boss wanted, quickly approached with a clean handkerchief.
Roman took it and disdainfully wiped his hands, as if he'd touched something extremely filthy.
"Leo, take your madam inside. I have something to discuss with these people, and I think she needs to rest."
Leo nodded immediately and returned to Evelyn's side. "Madam, please. After you," he said politely, gesturing for Evelyn to follow him inside.
Evelyn didn't want to leave, but Leo looked at her with pleading eyes.
Not wanting to make things difficult for him, she followed reluctantly, though she couldn't help glancing back. Her heart raced at the turn of events, leaving her speechless. Among all her emotions, she felt little to no sympathy for the man who called himself her father. She was simply shocked by this dangerous side of Roman she'd never seen before.
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As soon as Evelyn disappeared inside, Roman bent down to gaze at Richard, who was half-kneeling on the ground with Claire supporting him.
"Do you know why your company is going bankrupt?" Roman asked with a dangerous smile.
Richard quickly raised his head like a fish starved for air, desperate to know the answer.
"You touched her before, didn't you? And you did it again today." He paused, his smile becoming more chilling. “If you ever lay your hands on her again—even by accident” Roman said softly, “you’ll lose the limbs you used.” He stood up, spitting contemptuously.
"She's not yours to own, and certainly not anyone else's to own. But me... I am her husband. And you crossed a line you were never allowed to touch. Should I call you stupid?" he said, laughing slightly.
But his smile only sent chills down Richard and Claire's spines as they stared at him in horror, as if he were some kind of psychopath.
Roman turned and walked toward the house, his voice echoing back to them. "I won't be seeing you out."
Richard couldn't stop shivering from the trauma he'd just endured, his body drenched in cold sweat. Never in his life had he been reduced to nothing in someone's eyes like this. He stared at his mangled hand in excruciating pain.
Claire immediately helped him up. She couldn't even bring herself to badmouth Evelyn like she usually did. She still feels the chills of those cold, piercing eyes.
Claire helped Richard to their car, taking over as driver since his hand was useless. They hadn't brought a chauffeur—they'd had to let their driver go due to their financial troubles.
Richard moaned as his wife drove slowly. "Hurry up and take me to the hospital!"
Claire shot back, "You know I can't drive fast—I'm still learning! I told you it was wrong to confront her at that house, but you didn't listen."
"Are you seriously trying to blame me right n—hisss" Richard hissed in pain.
“Just be quiet!” she said, still trembling slightly by the whole situation.
"I'll deal with this situation later," he said with a grimace.
"Have you tried contacting that man? He's the only one who can help us now, because it seems the Sinclairs are pushing us to the point of no return," Richard suddenly said in a hushed tone.
Claire looked at him. "I've told you—I lost all contact with him years ago. It's as if everyone I knew, including that man, just disappeared into thin air," she said with a frown, focusing back on driving.
Richard gritted his teeth and hissed. "If I had known Evelyn would cause my downfall, I would have agreed to his request years ago."
Claire looked at him and scoffed. "I told you that bitch is no good, just like her mother. We could have been far greater than this, but no, you decided to keep your promise to that stupid Cath—"
"HOOOONK!"
"CLAIRE, LOOK OUT!"