Caleb wrapped Heidi protectively in his arms, his tone dripping with tenderness.
“Heidi, don’t worry. I won’t let anyone threaten you. I’ll protect you.”
The crowd’s emotions surged even higher.
Someone recognized me and immediately hurled a rotten egg my way.
A bucket of foul-smelling blood splashed down from the top of my head, seeping down my neck and soaking into my clothes. The stench was overwhelming, icy, humiliating.
“She’s a woman too, yet she tried to use someone’s reputation as leverage. Does she even have a conscience!”
“If the judge hadn’t been fair, that poor girl would have been ruined forever!”
“Her father deserved to be crippled! A daughter like that will never meet a good end!”
The curses pierced my ears like arrows.
I bit down on my lip until the taste of blood mixed with the stench filling my throat.
Only then did Caleb finally glance my way, frowning as if he were looking at filth.
“Stop resisting. If you behave, I can still consider our past and live with you peacefully.”
My voice was hoarse, barely holding up.
“Impossible. Even if it costs me everything, I’ll fight you to the end.”
Caleb’s expression darkened.
“Still refusing to repent.”