Casting off the Deadweight

Leonard started, "Thea, I can explain—"

Thea's hand shook violently from the force she'd used. Blood splattered across the back of her hand, but she didn't even notice. She reached out to press the nurse call button.

"We're done," she said coldly.

Clara rushed over and grabbed her hand. "Thea, stop hurting him. I know you're jealous of me. You can't stand seeing anyone be nice to me. But you can't do this to Leonard. Even if he's going to be a live-in son-in-law, he's still your husband. How could you embarrass him like that?"

A flicker of excitement flashed through her eyes. She pulled Thea's hand and slapped it against her own cheek. "Slap me instead. If you're angry, take it out on me. Just don't hurt Leonard."

Thea could have easily broken free, but as she saw Leonard reaching out to help Clara up, her resolve hardened. She followed Clara's pull and slapped her hard.

Clara let out a sharp scream, and her cheek immediately swelled.

Leonard's features remained taut, yet instead of erupting in anger, he let out a smile. "Thea, this was my fault. Everything happened so fast. You and Clara look so alike, so I mistook her for you. I swear it won't happen again."

That same day, the three of them left the hospital together, but the car suddenly turned into a narrow alley.

More than a dozen motorcycles boxed them in. A man in a black suit, gripping a metal rod, yanked the car door open.

Clara screamed and threw herself into Leonard's arms.

The man in black didn't even glance at her. He grabbed Thea and dragged her out of the car.

"Mr. Falkner sent me to teach you a lesson. Either you take 100 slaps, or I break your fiance's legs."

Several men stepped forward, pretending to restrain Leonard.

Leonard shouted furiously, "Come at me! Don't hurt my fiancee!"

Thea felt hollow inside, yet beneath that emptiness surged a molten fury.

She almost laughed. "Break his legs, then."

Everyone froze.

Clara was the first to scream, "How can you be so cruel? It's just 100 slaps. You won't die! If Leonard's legs are broken, who's going to fix them?"

"Right. What would a person do without their legs?"

Thea's gaze dropped slowly to Leonard's legs. "I wonder if Mr. Falkner has ever had his legs broken. Does he know what it feels like to live without them?"

Leonard's struggle faltered.

The man in black struck Thea hard across the cheek.

In the silent alley, even the crickets had gone quiet. Only the crisp, repetitive sound of slaps remained.

Leonard never stopped the man.

Inside Thea's mind, the system said anxiously, "Stay calm, Thea. I've already called the police. They'll be here in five minutes."

Thea had never felt hatred like this before. She bit down on her lip so hard that blood filled her mouth.

All she had done was slap Clara once, which the latter had asked for. Yet, Leonard was determined to strike her back 100 times over.

Worse still, he continued to play the devoted fiance, as though he would do anything for her.

Thea swore that one day, she would return every bit of this pain.

After 50 slaps, Thea's face was swollen beyond recognition. Her skin looked so thin it seemed it might burst at a mere touch, with fine streaks of blood seeping through the surface.

She looked so wretched that there wasn't a single spot left to strike.

Then, she heard the man in black ask, "Mr. Falkner, should we continue?"

Leonard simply stared at her for a moment. Then, he lifted his left hand and made a subtle gesture.

It was the signal to continue.

Thea shut her eyes tightly.

The man in black raised his hand again, but the slap never came.

Instead, a furious shout tore through the alley. "What are you doing? Is there no law and order anymore?"

Thea looked up.

Blocking the entrance wasn't a police car. It was a luxury sedan.