The Man They Blame

Misunderstanding

“Derek, why did you take so long…” Before Erin could finish, she lost consciousness and fainted.

Derek stared at her coldly. He wasn't sure what he felt seeing Erin in such a dishevelled state. But clearly, the woman’s destruction didn't make him feel okay either; seeing her smooth, beautiful face bruised made him feel sympathetic.

He brushed the scarred man’s hand away roughly, sending the man stumbling back.

From behind, Kitty ran quickly to approach them, standing not far from Derek. She looked at Erin, crying in guilt. “Miss, Miss, please forgive me for being late.” She knelt there in regret.

Kitty was quite sincere toward Erin; Derek knew that. He let out a soft sigh as he watched the woman blame herself for Erin’s madness. He knew Kitty would obey whatever Erin ordered, and it was clear that this situation wasn't her fault. He noticed Kitty’s face and hands were also injured, which only fueled his fury further.

“What exactly did you people do?” Derek asked Kitty coldly.

Kitty looked at Derek, then quickly lowered her gaze, shrinking back as she saw the rage on his face. “Miss was drunk, sir. I… I tried to take her home, but they—”

“It seems this is just a misunderstanding.” Dick cut Kitty off.

He had entered the room more slowly because he needed to compose himself first. Derek’s arrival had ruined his plan, and that made him so furious that for a few moments, he couldn't hide the expression on his face.

Even hearing the man speak, Derek didn't turn around to look at him at all. He took a tissue from the table, moistened it with the water there, and gently wiped the corner of Erin’s bruised lip.

“Like what you see, we were all so drunk we couldn't control ourselves,” Dick explained again. “So there is no need to make an issue of it; things like this happen quite often.”

Hearing that, Kitty looked at him, but she didn't say anything. Because at that exact moment, Erin woke up.

“Derek…” Erin called his name weakly.

The touch on the corner of her lip felt stinging, making her come to her senses. A smile instantly appeared on her face when she realised Derek was taking care of her. She tried to reach for Derek’s hand. “You came because you still care about me, right?”

But Derek pulled his hand away, avoiding Erin’s touch.

“We should all leave this place and forget what happened.” Dick spoke again to defuse the situation.

Derek ignored him. He stood up and turned to the two men from before. “Who hit her?” He asked them in a cold tone.

At first, they remained silent for quite a while, then one answered. “I’m the one who hit her.” The scarred man answered.

He then lifted his face. “I did it because that woman deserved it. Look at her, dressed like a slut and flirting wildly, and then when we got trapped by her seduction, she acted as if we forced her. A cheap woman like her deserves—”

Derek didn't let him finish his sentence; he struck the man’s jaw so hard that he could no longer speak. He might not like Erin anymore, but that didn't mean he would let a woman be insulted and humiliated in his presence.

“Bastard!” The man tried to get up to beat Derek.

But Derek moved faster. He directed his fist toward the man’s solar plexus, successfully sending him reeling into unconsciousness, while his friend tried to join the attack by taking advantage of Derek’s opening.

Derek immediately dodged. He directed his long leg, swinging it powerfully toward the man’s head and kicking him until he finally passed out.

Seeing that, Erin and Kitty shrieked hysterically. They were stunned, while Dick stood frozen and helpless in his place.

Derek left his two victims behind and returned to Erin. Without saying a word, he lifted Erin’s body

and carried her out of there.

Dick didn't try to stop him. He didn't want to end up like the two men when trying to hold Derek back. He wanted to play it clean, so he let Derek go.

But that didn't mean he accepted the situation. When Kitty followed them out, leaving Dick alone in the room, that was when Dick vented his anger by throwing a bottle of alcohol on the table.

“Damn it! He really ruined the plan I had perfectly prepared.” Rage consumed him.

His hands clenched tightly while his mind was in chaos. At the height of his emotions, he came up with a new plan.

Dick took out his phone and contacted someone. “I want you to do something for me. Gather all your men and wait right in the small forest near the underground club. Make sure to bring weapons. I want you to destroy the man named Derek who is heading there.”

A vicious smile appeared on his face. “No need to hold back, destroy him until he’s crippled.”