I Hate You All

Hearing this, shards of long-buried memories—painful and chaotic—surged in Lola's mind like a crashing tide. Her head throbbed as if splitting, and every organ in her body seemed to ache.

It was as if some unbearable gate to the past had been forced open halfway. Lola clutched her head, her face twisted in agony.

Mrs. Penny couldn't see Lola's face, and continued in a frail voice, "The guard rescued that little girl, saw how pitiful and alone she was, so he brought her back to the organization and raised her. He found a mentor to teach her skills and care for her as she grew up. But the girl was so young when tragedy struck, she didn't know what had happened to her. The guard, afraid she'd grow up feeling ashamed, never told her the truth..."

"Enough! Stop talking!" Lola's body trembled violently. She suddenly spun around, roaring at Mrs. Penny, "I don't believe you! Not a word! It's all an excuse—you're just trying to stop me from marrying Neil Zhao, so you made up this story to trick me, didn't you!?"

Mrs. Penny gazed at Lola, eyes brimming with heartbreak. "I wish that story were a lie."

"I don't believe it—it's impossible! I was sold off as a child, don't even remember my parents, I've been all alone... Now, finally, I have a chance at my own family. I can't possibly be this unlucky forever!" Lola's face was nearly collapsing from anguish.

Those shattered fragments in her mind—painful memories she'd so desperately tried to suppress—mixed with Mrs. Penny's words, battering Lola's unguarded heart.

Mrs. Penny gave a bitter smile, staring at Lola's back. "Poor child, Master only wanted to delay your wedding night, afraid Neil Zhao would reject you. At least with time, Master could quietly sound him out, see how he feels. If he doesn't mind, then you can marry. But if he does... then..."

"Don't say anymore! I don't believe anything you say!" Lola suddenly covered her ears and screamed wildly.

Her outburst startled Mrs. Penny—and even more so, it sent Sean Hayes bursting through the doorway.

Sean Hayes rushed in, having been standing guard outside and hearing everything. He shielded Mrs. Penny and snapped at Lola, "Lola! Are you done with your tantrum? Mrs. Penny didn't lie to you. I was the one who rescued you—I remember every detail! All these years, I kept it from you to protect you. Now that you're about to get married, you need to face the truth yourself!"

Sean Hayes's words didn't convince Lola; instead, her emotions grew even more uncontrollable.

Lola had never experienced such intense emotional turmoil. She paced back and forth in the room, her eyes vacant, muttering over and over, "I don't believe it, this can't be true, I don't believe it... this is impossible..."

"Lola!" Sean Hayes called out, his voice heavy, watching her as if she were possessed.

"No, I still don't believe it!" Lola sobbed, covering her face as tears poured down, smearing her makeup until her features were twisted and wild. "I've suffered so much, been unlucky since childhood, and now happiness is finally within reach—yet you come here with this?! I don't believe it! The Red Blossom Pavilion isn't real, I didn't lose my virtue, I didn't! You two are just teaming up to trick me because you can't stand to see me happy! Get out! I hate you both, leave!"

Crying, Lola pushed Sean Hayes away, forcing him out of the room.

Sean Hayes was truly about to explode from Lola's unreasonable behavior. He hugged Mrs. Penny, gritted his teeth, and said fiercely, "Fine, we're all bad people. We'll leave!"