Chapter 8 A Hint Of Tenderness

• Frank sneered. “You wench, did you think I wouldn't be able to find your crazy mom if you hid her? Your husband told us everything.”
• That sc*mbag Cary again!
• “Let go of my mom. I have your money.” I showed him the cheque that Julien had given to me.
• Frank snatched the cheque and took a picture of it. “Five hundred thousand? Is this fake?”
• “Of course not. My mom only owes you a hundred thousand, so I won't give you the whole cheque. Give me the cheque. I'll bank it in tomorrow and withdraw everything that my mom owes you, interest included.”
• Frank began appraising me thoughtfully, and a sense of foreboding crawled up my spine. “I'm keeping the cheque as insurance. Give me the money tomorrow, and I'll return the cheque to you.”
• “How can I return you the money without the cheque? Give it back to me!” I was about to cry from my anxiety.
• Frank slapped me so hard that I spun. A few kicks later, I was sprawled on the ground in pain.
• Blood was flowing out of a split in my lip, and I struggled to catch my breath as my whole body throbbed with pain.
• “You're quite pretty. I think I'll have a go at you.” With that, Frank launched himself at me and began tearing at my clothes.
• Frank's actions seemed to flip a switch in my mom. She turned lucid and bit down hard on one of her captors in her bid to escape and rush to my aid. Alas, the bitten captor merely kicked her to the ground and stepped on her head, preventing her from moving.
• The sight had my heart clenching in pain. I struggled with all my might, yet my efforts were in vain as I found myself left in my undergarments.
• I had never felt as hopeless as I did then. My mom would sooner die than live with the memory of witnessing my misfortune.
• Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.
• Just as I was about to lose all hope of escape, Julien suddenly came up to the rooftop with a crowbar in hand.
• I had not expected him to follow me at all.
• I felt a faint glimmer of hope at his appearance, and I pleaded, “Mr. Starck, please save my mom. Please, I'm begging you.”
• Frank was as surprised as I was at Julien's arrival, and he immediately shouted, “I don't care who the h*ll you are. Stay out of my business.”
• Instead of gratifying him with a reply, Julien raised the crowbar in his hand and slammed it down on Frank's head.
• Frank could barely lift a hand to defend himself before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
• The two men who had been restraining my mom charged at Julien with knives in hand, and I quickly shouted a warning at him.
• My concern turned out to be unnecessary. Two minutes later, Frank and his lackeys lay in a bloody heap on the ground.
• I knew Julien had done time, but I had never imagined the extent and his brutality.
• Quickly, I grabbed the cheque from Frank and stuffed it in my purse.
• “You care more about your money than your life.”
• Though Julien's tone had not lost its signature coldness, it was now laced with an unfamiliar emotion. I twisted around and met his bright gaze under the sole illumination of the faraway street lamps. Dimly, I thought I saw a foreign expression in his eyes.
• “Why aren't you leaving?” he asked. I finally pinpointed the expression in his eyes, and it was the slightest hint of tenderness.
• Slowly, I helped my mom to her feet, and we staggered downstairs.
• Julien walked in front of us, and I stared at his back gratefully. He had appeared in my hour of despair and saved me. I shuddered to think of how I might have died if he had not come after me.
• “Thank you,” I whispered softly.
• He did not even turn around as he said, “How can a woman come to such a deserted place alone? How naive!”