Chapter 33
Jessica and Denton were stunned when they saw how nervous Preston was.
They thought, What’s going on? Is this really Preston? What’s gotten into him? He’s never been so nervous before!
Seeing how anxious Preston was, Adrian glanced at Roy, saying with his eyes, “See how Preston expresses his concern for Regina? And look at you. What are you doing?”
Roy was a bit speechless, standing still.
Preston had no idea what the others were thinking. He sized up Regina and said, “You’re covered in blue blood, and I can’t see anything. Are you hurt?”
Regina remained silent.
Adrian glared at Roy, feeling a bit disappointed. Then he stepped up and said, “Preston, stay away. She saved our lives. The hospital is right behind you. Take her inside.”
Jessica and Denton said eagerly. “That’s right! Regina can come with us!”
No. Adrian pulled Regina’s arm. “She’ll come with Roy and me.”
Jessica grabbed her other arm. “She’ll come with us!”
Adrian’s eyes darkened as he looked at Jessica, displeased. “She saved my life. She’s coming with Roy and me.”
Jessica pulled a fake smile. “She saved the lives of me and Denton. Of course, she should come with Preston.”
Adrian repeated, “She’ll come with Roy!”
Jessica said firmly. “No! She’ll come with Preston!”
Another woman stepped up. “Excuse me!”
They looked at her.
She smirked. “Regina saved all of us. How about we let the boys take her together?”
The parents were surprised, at first but soon realized her words made sense.
Jessica reacted fast and stuffed Regina’s hand into Preston’s. “Preston, don’t let go!”
Preston blinked, caught off guard.
Seeing this, Adrian pulled a long face and stuffed Regina’s hand into Roy’s. He said in a threatening, stern voice, “Roy, don’t let go. She can’t stand still.”
Roy just stood there, at a loss.
Preston’s eyes landed on the red handprint on Regina’s cheek. “Someone hit you? Who?”
Hugh piped up, “That’d be me”
The teens shot Hugh fierce stares.
Meanwhile, their parents frowned in disgust.
Hugh, still rattled but doubling down, huffed. “She went after my kids, so I slapped her. What’s the big deal?”
Adrian’s face darkened. “Hugh, we all know Regina’s story—how rough she had it out there on her own. And you just haul off and hit her? You’re her dad, man. Act like it.”
Hugh wasn’t buying it. “Oh, I’m her dad, so I’m supposed to just let her wail on Melinda? Clive and Brad can take a few hits, sure, but Melinda’s fragile–she’s not built for that. You should’ve seen how hard she was crying.”
Preston fired back, “Melinda got someone to trash Regina’s books and wreck her pen bag—stuff that meant everything to her. Melinda had it coming!”
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Chapter 33
“Books and a pen bag? That’s nothing!” Hugh snapped, glaring at Regina. “Still stuck in your slum mindset, huh? Can’t drop those beggar habits? You’re not scavenging anymore–get that through your head! Beating up Melinda over some cheap junk? You’re ruthless!”
Roy’s expression tightened. “Melinda trashed Regina’s things and then ran crying to you instead of owning up to it?”
Hugh dug in. “Why should she apologize? It wasn’t even on purpose!”
Roy’s voice dropped, steady and low. “She meant to ruin Regina’s stuff. How’s that not on purpose?”
Hugh barked back. “Like I said, it’s just worthless crap! Who cares if it’s gone? I’ll cover it!”
He took out a stack of cash and was about to throw it at Regina’s face.
Before it could hit, a hand shot out and snatched it midair.
Everyone looked over.
With a sullen look, Steve threw the cash back at Hugh’s face. “Regina has changed her surname to Sherman. She’s now Scarlett’s daughter. You’ve got no right to lay a hand on her!”
Hugh grinned, bitter and pissed. “Oh, you’re all on her team, huh? Great! Then why’s she so quiet? Got nothing to say for herself?”
Steve looked at Regina only to see her face pale.
Her body was wobbly as she tried her best to stand between Roy and Preston. “I…”
Suddenly, she closed her eyes and fell backward.
Roy and Preston held her at once.
Nervous, Steve walked over. “Regina?”
Her coat was pure black, and they could only see blue blood on it.
But clearly, there were two holes in the coat, and red blood was oozing out.
Steve’s expression changed drastically. “Shit! She’s been shot!”
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