Chapter 76 Let Go
At the gates of Jennings Manor, hundreds of people stood in dark masses. They were all dressed in black clothing and pants. Standing in formation, they had Jennings Manor completely surrounded.
Outside the gates, many guests coming to pay their respects were blocked from entering. Inside, those wanting to leave were also trapped—no one could get out. This was Quinley's first time witnessing such a scene, and it made her stomach churn with unease.
"Ms. Elikin, thank you for this. Please help talk David down—if he keeps this up, something terrible will happen," Alicia urged.
Quinley said nothing as she opened the car door and stepped out. The crowd was so dense she couldn't find any gaps, so she had to push her way forward desperately.
In front of Jennings Manor's gates, David sat regally in a high-backed chair, dressed entirely in black, his legs crossed as he blocked the entrance completely.
"Mr. Brown, we have no quarrel with you. What's this about?" In front of him, a crowd of people who'd finished paying their respects were trying to leave. These were all influential figures in Rosewood City, most with business ties to Jennings Manor. Being blocked here for no reason had them all grumbling complaints.
David squinted his wickedly charming eyes and pointed a single finger at the estate behind them. "What I'm doing? Do I need to explain myself to you? If you want out, tell that bastard Zachary to come face me."
Zachary was nowhere to be seen inside Jennings Manor—only Emily, crying hesitantly. She shuffled forward tremblingly, trying to placate David with kind words. "Mr. Brown, today is William's funeral. For the sake of how he watched you grow up since childhood, please stop this, okay?"
"No." David raised his voice, his predatory gaze sweeping coldly over Emily. "I said I want to see Zachary. Tell that bastard to get his ass out here!"
Emily shrank back in fear, shouting continuously at Joe. "What are you standing there for? Go find Zach! If he caused this mess, let him solve it himself!"
Joe hung his head, looking troubled. "He's running a high fever and unconscious. The doctor just put him on an IV drip, so I'm afraid..."
Hearing this, Quinley's heart clenched tight. "He's just faking it," Emily continued her angry tirade. "Get a couple people to carry him out here if you have to. Mr. Brown wants him, not the rest of us to pay for his mistakes!"
Quinley couldn't listen anymore. She quickly pushed through to David. "Mr. Brown, please stop this, okay?"
"What are you doing here?" David looked at Quinley suspiciously. But with just one glance, he understood her purpose. "Did Zachary send you? Ha, what a coward. Too scared to face me himself, so he sends a woman to help him." David rolled his eyes.
"I came on my own," Quinley explained.
"Really?" David didn't believe her. To convince him, Quinley threw caution to the wind. She stepped forward and grabbed David's arm, speaking gently, "I was wrong last time. Today, I came specifically to apologize to you. I know a place that makes really good seafood—shall we go together?"
Quinley's proactive gesture pleased David immensely. He pushed his luck, pulling Quinley into his arms.
"Sure, let's go together." A smile tugged at his lips, but the wickedness in his eyes only grew more intense.
Before Quinley could react, she heard him give orders to the hundreds behind him. "Since that grandson Zachary wants to be a coward, charge in there and smash everything!"
With his command, those people surged forward like a flood of beasts, shouting as they poured out. The vast Jennings Manor was suddenly black with bodies. They seemed to have gone mad, rushing into William's memorial hall. The sounds of smashing, screaming, crying, and shouting filled the air endlessly.
Quinley knew David was crazy, but she hadn't expected him to be this insane.
"David, make them stop!" she shouted. But David wouldn't listen. He gripped Quinley's arm, speaking word by word in her ear, "Does it hurt to watch? If it hurts, tell him to come out and grovel before me. Maybe I'll spare him for your sake."
"Why are you doing this?"
David seemed possessed by a demon, laughing maniacally with bewitching evil. "Why? You ask why? Brown Group was shut down, my father was arrested—he destroyed my entire family. What's wrong with making him pay a little price?"
Yes, Zachary had once said that if David continued to harass Quinley, he would make the entire Brown family pay. Now, everything he'd said had come true. Who else would David settle accounts with if not him?
But Quinley didn't believe it. Zachary wasn't the type to act so recklessly. "There must be some misunderstanding, Mr. Brown. I guarantee you, Zachary wouldn't do something like this."
"Guarantee? What gives you the right to guarantee anything?" David acted as if he'd heard the biggest joke ever. He gripped Quinley's hand, tightening his hold bit by bit, his blood-red eyes shooting out bone-deep, heart-gnawing flames.
"What is Zachary anyway? What gives him the right to have his cake and eat it too? He won't let me pursue you, but I'm going to anyway. I don't believe he can defy heaven itself!"
David ranted like a madman. Quinley winced in pain, trying to shake him off, but he wouldn't let go.
"Let her go."
Suddenly, a cold, deep voice rang out from the crowd.
Quinley looked over to see Lucas supporting Zachary as they appeared. He walked from inside to outside, radiating an intimidating aura that made the people surrounding him involuntarily step back. His handsome face was cold and haggard from staying up all night, his eyes completely bloodshot. Perhaps because he was too ill, his steps were somewhat unsteady.
"Ha, looks like I really had to force your hand before you'd stop being a coward," David said, not loosening his grip but pulling Quinley even tighter.
Zachary's sharp gaze fell on the hand David had around Quinley, and he shouted again, "Let her go!"
"She's my woman. I'll hold her however I want—it's none of your business," David taunted brazenly, emboldened by his numbers.
Zachary's fists clenched tight, his jaw locked. "If you have a problem, come at me!" Zachary raised his voice, forcibly suppressing his cough as veins bulged on his forehead.
The air was thick with explosive tension. Two men, four eyes, all shooting sparks of fury. Suddenly, David struck. He swung his fist at Zachary. Lucas reacted quickly, trying to block for Zachary, but there wasn't enough time. Those people surged forward, quickly separating him from Zachary.
A dull thud rang out as Zachary took David's punch squarely. His body swayed, nearly falling to the ground.
"You want me to come at you? Fine! You think I'm afraid of you?" David's eyes turned red with rage as his fist swung toward Zachary again. Zachary was already sick and had just taken a punch—he was no match for David now.
In that critical moment, Quinley didn't think. She rushed forward, using her slender back to shield Zachary. The punch landed with full force, all of it hitting Quinley.
"Quinley." Zachary caught her in his arms. He hadn't expected Quinley to be so foolish, to use her own body to protect him. Quinley's delicate frame slid downward, but she endured the pain, forcing a smile. "Mr. Jennings, I'm fine."
David was stunned too. He'd meant to beat up Zachary to vent his anger, but his fist had landed on Quinley instead. He knew exactly how much force he'd used. "Quinny, why are you so foolish?"
He rushed over, trying to pull Quinley from Zachary's arms. Zachary wouldn't let go, but Quinley pried his fingers apart.
"Mr. Jennings, please let me go." She smiled at him, her eyes ringed with red.
Then she spread her arms toward David, acting coquettish. "Mr. Brown, it really hurts. Will you take me to the hospital?"