Chapter 18
This was my first time seeing the Lopez family's punishment tool.
What William brought out was a smooth, slender wooden rod that looked quite old but still very flexible.
Robert held it in his hand, looking at the kneeling Gregory with disappointment: "You bastard, doing something so disgraceful in front of all these people. Today I'm going to discipline you properly on behalf of your father."
He raised the stick high and struck Gregory's back hard with a whooshing sound. Gregory's spine suddenly straightened, and he couldn't help but groan.
Robert didn't seem to feel any sympathy. Several more strikes landed on his back, knocking Gregory, who had been kneeling upright, flat to the ground.
Grace couldn't bear it at first and stepped forward to shield his back: "Dad, stop hitting him. A few strikes are enough. He's an adult, he'll remember."
Robert's eyes widened in anger: "Family discipline is family discipline. Once I start, there's no stopping unless you want me to expel him from the Lopez family."
This was getting serious. Although William was currently managing the company, ever since the near-bankruptcy incident two years ago, when Robert had Gregory ask Oscar for help, he had gradually taken back much of the authority. He was in good health now, and if he really wanted to change the heir, no one could stop him.
William stepped forward and pulled Grace up forcefully: "Enough. Gregory made a mistake and should be punished. If you really can't bear to watch, go back first."
Gregory gritted his teeth and knelt up properly again from the ground: "Grandpa, I did wrong. I admit my mistake and accept the punishment. Please hit me, I'll take it."
Robert raised the stick again, striking his back repeatedly. The sound of the stick hitting flesh made Grace close her eyes in pain, not daring to look anymore.
"Stop hitting him! You haven't even figured out what happened, why are you hitting people right away?" Sophia came back, rushing in and directly shielding Gregory from behind.
She was breathing heavily, apparently having run all the way here. She looked up at Robert with her pretty face full of defiance: "Mr. Robert Lopez, we all know what kind of person Gregory is. But that woman has a suspicious background, and on her first day back, something like this happens. She's the real culprit."
Her finger suddenly pointed at me, her small face full of resentment: "I already said, when Gregory and I first arrived in Solstice, it was her people who injured Gregory. I would never mistake that, and I'm certain she's connected to the gangs over there. This whole thing must be her framing Gregory."
I broke free from Oscar's embrace, my tear-stained face showing confusion. If Sophia could act vulnerable, I could act fragile too: "What are you saying? You're saying I did this to myself and then framed him?"
I suddenly took off the jacket I was wearing, revealing the torn dress and the clear red marks on my neck, then pointed at Gregory: "Or do you think he bit his own lips? On my first day coming home with my fiancé, I'm questioned about my background. What's the point then? Oscar, I'm giving you two choices right now: either you leave with me today, or we break up and never see each other again."
Oscar quickly picked up the jacket and put it back on me, his eyes full of heartache: "Emily, I'm sorry. I failed to protect you. Dad, since this family doesn't welcome us, we should leave first."
Robert got anxious and frowned at Sophia: "Shut up! This is our family matter. What right does an outsider like you have to comment?"
Sophia's eyes filled with tears: "Mr. Robert Lopez, how can you believe someone with a suspicious background over Gregory?"
Hearing her words, I cried even louder than her: "Let's break up. I shouldn't have come back to Lumaria with you."
As I spoke, I struggled to walk out.
Oscar held me tightly in his arms: "Emily, don't do this..."
Robert struck Sophia's back with the rod: "I'm punishing my own grandson. Whoever tries to stop me, I'll hit them too."
The pain made Sophia gasp. After she screamed, she fainted backward.
"Don't bother with her. Fainting twice in three days—she's just being nosy." Robert continued hitting Gregory without hesitation.
Gregory looked at Sophia lying unconscious on the ground, then looked up at me being held in Oscar's arms. His hands clenched into fists as he gritted his teeth and endured dozens of strikes.
After the punishment ended, Sophia slowly came to. Grace was busy finding the family doctor. Robert walked over to us, sighing with guilt: "No one wanted something like this to happen today, but Gregory was wrong. Emily, I apologize to you too. We met in such a rush that I didn't have time to prepare a gift for you. I have a bracelet here that my grandmother gave to my late wife. I'm giving it to you today as a gift for the meeting. I hope you won't mind."
I had seen this wooden box before. Robert had shown it to me once, smiling and saying he'd give it to me as a gift when I married Gregory. But on the wedding day, he couldn't attend due to health reasons. Yet after all the twists and turns, this bracelet ended up in my hands anyway.
I took the wooden box Robert handed me, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Grace's jealous gaze fixed on my hands.
I opened the box. Inside was a vintage bracelet set with sapphires. The circle of gems shone deep and clear like seawater under the light—clearly an old piece with history. I put it on my wrist and, with tears in my eyes, thanked Robert: "Thank you, Mr. Lopez."
Sophia, who was being examined, shot me a venomous look. I followed her gaze and slightly raised the corners of my lips, giving her a provocative smirk. This was just the beginning. I had plenty of time to play with them slowly.
Oscar and I were temporarily arranged in a guest room upstairs.
After closing the door, I wiped away my tears and looked at him with a smile: "You cooperated quite naturally. With such good acting skills, you must have practiced a lot, right?"
Oscar sat lazily on the bed, looking at me casually: "You set this up pretty cleverly. Feeling pretty pleased with yourself today?"
I raised my eyebrows and nodded: "Not bad. Watching him get beaten made me kind of happy. The only bad part was a slip in my performance—I forgot to go up and slap Sophia a few times."
Oscar couldn't help but laugh: "No rush. There might be another chance later. But if there really is a next time, don't be so willing to sacrifice yourself. Just act a little. Where exactly did he kiss you?"
As he spoke, he suddenly leaned toward me, carrying a faint scent of alcohol.
Faced with his face suddenly magnified before my eyes, seeing the desire overflowing in his eyes, my heartbeat involuntarily quickened. My hands instinctively covered my barely concealed chest as I stepped back: "There are cameras everywhere in the hallway. To act convincingly, we have to go all the way. Don't get so close to me. It's hot."
Oscar looked at me with an attractive smile: "Right, we have to act convincingly."
As Oscar spoke, he leaned forward, carrying that faint scent of alcohol. His warm breath fell on my ear as his voice dropped to a magnetic tone: "My dear fiancée, if we're going all the way, I'll cooperate fully with you."
My heartbeat seemed to skip a beat. At his sudden approach, I instinctively kicked out. With a thud, Oscar, completely unprepared, was kicked down just like that.