Chapter 1

The night Autumn and I got engaged.

She was dragged into the restroom and raped.

I heard everything from the men's room.

Autumn’s cries were utterly desperate.

Her pleas for help were ear-splitting.

After I left the restroom.

I even saw the man who raped her, a satisfied smirk on his face, pull up his pants and walk away.

After that night.

Autumn had a mental breakdown, always talking nonsense.

Half a month later.

The doctors said there was no effective treatment.

And I asked Autumn's family to call off the engagement.

In the hospital room.

Liam, Autumn’s brother, clenched his fist and punched me in the face.

His eyes burned with pure fury, a murderous glint flashing as he grabbed my collar.

“You animal, are you even human?”

“My sister is like this because she was raped.”

“Instead of finding the man who did this to get justice for her.”

“You’re backing out, wanting to call off the engagement and abandon her.”

“Are you even a man?”

…

Liam’s shouts were loud.

His spit landed on my face.

But I didn’t argue back.

It was as if I was silently agreeing.

“My daughter has always been sweet and sensible since she was a child.”

“She chose you out of thousands.”

“How could you let her suffer such a wrong?”

Eleanor, Autumn’s mother, cried uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face as she glared at me.

Especially when she turned around and saw her daughter lying on the bed, staring blankly.

Her inner rage had nowhere to go.

She walked up and slapped me hard, twice.

“Alex, if you’re a man.”

“Then find the bastard who raped my Autumn!”

Watching Eleanor’s tear-streaked face.

I gently shook my head.

“I want to call off the engagement.”

Liam, standing nearby, suddenly lunged, grabbing my throat.

“You piece of trash!”

“You want to abandon my sister?”

Eleanor pointed a trembling finger at me.

“Autumn used to say she was so lucky.”

“She found the man who loved her most, besides her family.”

“Is this how you love her?”

I glanced at Autumn on the hospital bed.

Then, my voice flat, I said, “Eleanor, I’m heartbroken about what happened to Autumn, but since it’s already happened, we have to accept reality.”

“What reality are you talking about?”

“You think my sister is ‘dirty’?”

“So you’re calling off the engagement?”

“Is that it?”

Liam roared at me, his voice like thunder.

The look in his eyes right then.

He wanted to tear me apart and swallow me whole!

Eleanor glared at me intensely.

When I nodded.

She couldn’t hold back anymore and lunged at me, clawing and screaming.

I instinctively tried to dodge.

But Liam had my throat.

I couldn’t move.

Immediately after.

Eleanor scratched at my face like a madwoman.

I felt a stinging, burning pain all over my face.

But compared to the pain on my face.

My heart hurt more!

Eleanor finally stopped when she saw my face covered in blood.

A nurse came in and saw me.

She nervously asked if I wanted to call the police.

Liam snorted, asking, “You animal, are you going to call the police?”

I looked at the nurse and gently shook my head.

“You’re bleeding a lot…”

“None of your damn business!”

Liam scared the nurse away.

Just then.

The hospital room door opened again.

Richard, Autumn’s father, walked in, his face grim.

“Dad, this bastard wants to call off the engagement with Autumn!”

“He thinks she’s dirty; he wants to abandon her!”

Liam immediately tattled to his father.

Richard grabbed a chair and, without a word, slammed it into my back.

I fell to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

“Ah!”

Autumn on the bed suddenly let out a terrified scream.

“Sweetie, don’t be scared.”

Eleanor immediately rushed over and hugged her daughter tightly.

“Mom, he… how is he here?”