Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
Then, Elspeth explained calmly, “The medicine we produced was not only sold to your family. Many others have taken it without any issues. If you’re the only one encountering a problem, perhaps you should reflect on whether the problem lies with you.”
Obviously, the man wasn’t satisfied with her answer and instantly raged, “What do you mean by that? My mother died after taking your medicine! Shouldn’t there be a problem with your medicine?!” As the man spoke, he became emotionally unstable and started smashing things.
On the other hand, Elspeth carefully observed his expressions. Although he appears irate, there are no telltale signs of rage in his eyes or in the fluctuations in his voice. It seems to me that he is acting. Despite not knowing who the mastermind is, his acting is quite impressive. Then, she queried, “If your mother has passed away, why are you disrespecting her by transporting her body here instead of giving her a proper burial? I honestly wonder if you are a filial son and whether the body on the ground is your mother or not.”
A hint of hesitation appeared in the man’s eyes upon hearing this. “Obviously, she is! Why else would I come here causing trouble if she wasn’t? Do you think I have nothing better to do?”
Elspeth smirked at his reply. “In that case, may I check the body?”
He instantly became upset and stood in front of the body while warning her sternly, “My mother has already passed away, and she passed away after taking your medicine. I won’t allow you to touch her!”
“What can I possibly do to a corpse in front of everyone? Besides, everyone knows I’m a doctor here. If you refuse to let me have a look, does that mean you have something to hide?” Elspeth couldn’t help but glance behind him, and when she did, she saw that the cloth covering the body had been moved ever-so-slightly. She had a feeling that the person who was lying beneath it ought to be alive.
“What are you even talking about? My mother is dead! Shouldn’t you give me an explanation? Rather than fixating on the corpse, why don’t you consider how you can compensate me? Do you think I would deceive you?” While saying this, the man became infuriated and kicked a box near him. “Let me tell you. I’ll keep waiting here until you give me an answer. If anyone dares to touch my mother’s body, I’ll fight them!”
Elspeth frowned, thinking she could handle the man before her, but she hesitated due to her pregnancy. Nonetheless, she had been trying not to provoke him, fearing the uncontrollable consequences that might follow.
At this moment, someone unexpectedly arrived at the scene just as she felt somewhat befuddled and was someone she hadn’t expected.
“A grown man can’t solve his own problems and instead comes here to confront a woman. How interesting.”
When Elspeth looked up at the source of that familiar and comforting voice, she was filled with doubts. “What brings you here, Slevin?”
He smiled as he approached her. “Did you forget our previous agreement? The time has come, so I’m here to discuss our cooperation. I wasn’t expecting to see you in this situation, though. How unfortunate.” After saying this, he lowered his voice and continued, “I think… he’s not genuinely here to seek justice but rather to look for trouble.”
Her lips curled up, and she said, “I know.” She had already realized that the man had impure intentions and disliked her for no apparent reason.
“I know you’re carrying a baby right now, so you’re extra cautious. Why don’t you let me handle this matter instead?” Slevin’s smile grew wider as he looked at Elspeth.
She didn’t even hesitate before rejecting him. “No, thanks. I don’t want to owe you a favor.”
“That’s a coincidence. I intended to make you owe me a favor. Otherwise, how could I get you willingly to cooperate with me?” he replied with a smirk. After saying that, he stopped negotiating with Elspeth and walked directly toward the man.
“Who are you? Are you one of her toy boys?” At the sight of Slevin’s friendly face, the man thought he would be an easy target, so he didn’t hold back with his words.
On the other hand, Slevin burst out laughing upon hearing that. Never before have those three words been used to describe me. Even though he maintained a smile on his face, his aura changed.
The man clicked his tongue in disdain and mocked, “You’re a disgrace among men, embarrassing yourself by constantly following behind a woman like a lapdog.” Once the man was done speaking, he grew even more impatient with Slevin’s intense gaze. “What are you looking at? Haven’t you ever seen -“
Before he could finish his sentence, Slevin threw a punch right into his face!
Meanwhile, the man uttered a cry of disbelief before staggering backward, his eyes widening with astonishment. He had never anticipated that someone as unassuming as Slevin could possess such extraordinary strength. “What are you doing? How dare you attack me! I’ll report you to the police!” the man shouted.
Slevin confidently shook his hand, displaying no trace of fear on his face. “Okay. Go on. Let’s see who the police will arrest later,” he retorted, his voice laced with defiance.
As the man’s face contorted with a range of emotions, he mulled over his options, seeking a way to retaliate for being struck. Then, he swung his fists to unleash his anger and get even with Slevin, intending to physically harm him. To his astonishment, the man’s attempt to strike Slevin was futile, as he could not land a blow. In a swift and decisive move, Slevin responded with a powerful kick, sending the man hurtling through the air.
“Aah!”
The man crashed to the ground, writhing in pain as the agony coursed through his body. He groaned in pain, his words strained with indignation. “How dare you hit me! Don’t you know who I am?”
Slevin’s expression turned cold as he glanced at the shouting man. The once-present smile on his face had vanished and was replaced by a solemn and stern demeanor. After that, he responded to the man’s outburst, “That has nothing to do with me. All you need to know is that if you ever dare start trouble again, I will never let you off this easily.”
Furious, the man scanned his surroundings and noticed the two other men standing nearby, seemingly dazed and unable to offer assistance. He begrudgingly got up and pushed himself slowly off the ground when he realized he had no immediate aid. “In that case, tell me, what is your name?” he demanded.
“Slevin Damazio.”
Nonetheless, the man burst out laughing upon hearing the name. “Does the Damazio Family even have a Slevin? Don’t tell me you’re the son of some mistress, right?”
The man’s mind raced with thoughts, questioning the legitimacy of Slevin’s claim to the Damazio Family name. His knowledge of the Damazios and their widespread fame led him to believe he knew every family member, yet Slevin’s name did not ring a bell. The man concluded that Slevin must not be a legitimate Damazios. He also believed that if Slevin dared to position himself as a hero, then the truth of his identity should be exposed.
On the other hand, the word “mistress” resonated through the air, leading to murmurs and whispers among the crowds.
Suddenly, Slevin’s lips curled into a grin again, but there was an eerie and unsettling quality this time.
The man, feeling an uncomfortable chill run down his spine, couldn’t help but be affected by Slevin’s unsettling grin, so he asked, “Why are you smiling? What is there for you to laugh at?”
“Do you know the price you’ll pay for saying that?”
As the man’s fear became evident through his shrinking back, he attempted to maintain a facade of strength and defiance. “If I say no, what will you do? Will you have someone kill me?”
However, Slevin scoffed and replied, “Death will be letting you off easy. I want you to live a life worse than death.”
When the fear coursed through the man’s veins, he couldn’t shake off the unnerving realization that Slevin’s demeanor and actions held severe consequences. The impact of the blows he received from Slevin further intensified his apprehension. Uncertain about whether Slevin’s presence was good news or bad news for him, the man’s instincts urged him to escape from the situation.
While glancing at the two men who had accompanied him, the man conveyed through gestures that it was time to retreat and leave. Moreover, the presence of the growing crowd added to their desire to disengage and depart swiftly. Hence, they promptly grabbed their stuff and stood up.
“Fine. We’ll end things here today. Since you refuse to give me a proper answer, we’ll be back another day to settle this!”
After saying this, the man turned around to leave, but his path was abruptly blocked by a group of men dressed in black. Their appearance resembled seasoned hired muscle, and the intensity of the hatred emanating from their eyes shocked him, amplifying his fear and making him feel trapped. The man then shouted, “What do you want?”
In the meantime, Elspeth observed the unfolding scene from behind the crowd, her eyes filled with confusion and curiosity. These men are not mine. Could it be Slevin’s? At this thought, she immediately felt a chill run down her spine. As she noted the surprising facts, she realized that her knowledge of Slevin was not as extensive as she had believed.
“Oh, nothing much. We simply wanted to invite you to join us for a casual tea gathering.”
With a casual wave of Slevin’s hand, the group of men in black sprang into action, swiftly closing in on the three unsuspecting men, ready to capture them.
“What are you doing? This is a public venue!”
The man harbored doubts about Slevin’s intentions, as the presence of numerous onlookers made it seem unlikely that he would take any action. However, Slevin’s indifference toward being observed hinted that he didn’t care about the potential witnesses to his actions.
As the realization slowly crept into the man’s mind, he began to understand that even the police might not have the audacity to apprehend Slevin. A wave of true terror surged through his veins, causing him to collapse to his knees with a resounding thud. Witnessing his sudden submission, the two men who accompanied him promptly followed suit, dropping to their knees in sync.
“Please, sir! I’m begging you, kind sir! I’m so sorry, Mr. Damazio. I should not have challenged you. Please have mercy!” The man kowtowed over and over as he begged.
However, Slevin remained unmoved by their pleas, his expression unyielding. “Can you repeat what you just said? I believe I misheard something about being born to a mistress.”
The man on the ground awkwardly smiled while tears shimmered in his eyes. “No, there was no mistress and no child. I was just joking-“
“Joking?”
“Oh, no. It wasn’t a joke. I misspoke. I’m so very sorry.”
Slevin’s smile widened, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Since you know you had misspoken, shouldn’t you be punished for doing something wrong?”
The man trembled, his voice quivering as he asked, “W-What punishment?”
“I don’t know either. Let’s see what I feel like then,” Slevin responded dismissively. His lack of interest in engaging further with the man was evident as he raised his hands, signaling his men to swiftly seize and drag the three men away.
The rapid sequence of events stunned the crowd, struggling to process the unexpected twists and turns. Yet, with a single sidelong glance from Slevin, he effortlessly compelled the onlookers to avert their gaze as if they had witnessed nothing. They pretended to be oblivious to the extraordinary scene unfolding before them. Gradually, the crowd dispersed, leaving behind a quiet aftermath.
Afterward, Slevin returned to Elspeth’s side, his smile radiant and seemingly innocent. “So, how did I do? Did I resolve the problem successfully?” he inquired, seeking validation.
Elspeth sighed and rested a hand on her forehead. “No comment. You brought in a large group of men for support right in front of everyone. Now I’m genuinely concerned that you might get arrested or interrogated.”
He chuckled heartily. “You don’t have to worry about that. Things will be fine as long as the matter is resolved. This had nothing to do with you anyway, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
“Still, no matter what, thank you.”
Slevin nodded, satisfied with her response. “Since you understand that I helped you, should you not properly consider a partnership between us?”
Elspeth solemnly looked at him and asked, “I need to understand why you insist on partnering with me. There are countless things you’re capable of doing on your own. It seems like you don’t even require my assistance.” His demonstrated strength suggests that he could easily defeat the Damazios single- handedly. Even if he is not as strong as others, he does not need a partner.
“That’s because I don’t want to be your enemy, Miss Lynwood.” His reply was heavy with implications.
After carefully pondering Slevin’s response, a sudden realization struck Elspeth like a lightning bolt. “You’re concerned that I might collaborate with the Damazios, right?”
“You truly possess keen insight, Miss Lynwood. You only need a small prompt before you get it,” Slevin said.
“If that is the case, then you don’t have to worry,” Elspeth calmly replied. “I would never work with the Damazios. Azure will always maintain a position of neutrality, and we will never engage in this kind of conflict.”