Will Definitely Protect Her

Hannah Lee trudged forward with difficulty. She knew that by saving Belle this time, she had ruined her second uncle and father's plans. Going home, she’d surely be beaten to death. But just now, when Mrs. Silver came looking for her and said Doggie Lee wanted to take Lily Evans to the county office, and that Lily would be beheaded and her family thrown in prison, Hannah panicked. She was terrified that she’d drag Lily Evans and Jill Evans down with her, so she steeled herself and ran out.

Doggie Lee’s face twisted with rage when he saw Hannah Lee. If his leg weren’t injured, he’d have kicked her to death on the spot.

Mrs. Warren glared at Hannah Lee and cursed, “What are you dawdling for? Get over here! How long do you think Lily Evans can protect you? You ungrateful little wretch, hurry up and get over here!”

Hannah Lee wiped her tears and trembled as she moved forward, but as she passed by Lily Evans, Lily grabbed her and pulled her into an embrace.

“Lily, let me go home. I’m really fine.” Hannah Lee looked up at Lily Evans and forced a smile uglier than crying, tears streaming down her face. “I’m used to being beaten by my parents. I’m tough, it’s nothing.”

“No way, I won’t let you go back! I said I’d protect you this time, and I will!” Lily Evans yanked Hannah Lee behind her and started walking towards home.

Mrs. Silver hurried forward, grabbing Lily Evans’s sleeve to stop her. “Madam, look, Hannah wants to go home! Why won’t you let her? It’s her own choice, she said she’s fine. Why meddle in other people’s business? Doggie Lee beating his daughter is a family affair, it’s none of ours.”

Lily Evans shot Mrs. Silver a cold look and spat out, “Get lost!”

Mrs. Silver had never seen Lily Evans so fierce before. She shuddered in fright, and in the blink of an eye, Lily had already taken Hannah Lee and Lucky into the courtyard.

Mrs. Warren yelled angrily from behind, “Lily Evans, just you wait! I won’t let this go! If I don’t ruin you, my surname isn’t Warren!”

Mrs. Silver hurried over to Mrs. Warren, bowing and nodding. “Don’t be angry, my lady—my mistress just lost her temper for a moment. I’ll talk her down, and once she’s calm, she’ll send Hannah Lee out. Please, don’t go to the county office!”

Mrs. Warren eyed Mrs. Silver, her gaze sharp. This old woman was easy to scare—just a little threat and she’d cave. Mrs. Warren said, “You really think you can talk Lily Evans around?”

“Of course I can! My mistress always listens to me!” Mrs. Silver, terrified of a lawsuit, quickly promised, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure my mistress sends Hannah Lee out—and we’ll pay you fifty taels. Just don’t go to the county office!”

Mrs. Warren and Doggie Lee exchanged glances—the fifty taels were their real goal. As for Hannah Lee, she was a Lee family daughter; no matter where she ran, she couldn’t escape forever. Sooner or later, she’d be beaten to death.

“Fine, go talk to her. We’ll come by again tomorrow.” Mrs. Warren helped Doggie Lee home, while Mrs. Silver sent them off with polite words, wiping her brow and muttering, “Oh, why is my mistress so stubborn? I have to talk her out of this before she gets us all in trouble with the law.”

At that moment, Lily Evans was in Eugene Evans’s room, her face dark as thunder. She slammed her palm on the table. “Doggie Lee and Ernie Lee have gone too far! I haven’t even settled the score for Belle yet, and now they’re here demanding people! Uncle Eugene, we have to teach those Lee family brutes a lesson!”

Eugene Evans fumed, “Those scoundrels—I wanted to deal with them even before you said anything! Lily, tell me, what do you want to do? Your uncle will back you up.”

Lily Evans’s eyes sparkled. She leaned in close to Eugene Evans and whispered her plan. Eugene’s eyes lit up and he slapped his leg, exclaiming, “Brilliant idea, niece! I’ll get everything ready!”