Chapter 164: Chapter 164: He’s So Punchable
At that moment, Yvonne Sutton saw Mr. Pace. He was also in the crowd, but he wasn’t holding a weapon. He saw her as well and rushed over to her.
"Dr. Sutton, get back inside the compound and bolt the gate. Be careful, if a fight breaks out, you could get hurt."
Seeing the villagers’ righteous fury, Yvonne Sutton asked Mr. Pace what was going on.
"Someone from your compound beat up Deuce Ward from our village."
"Deuce Ward?"
"Sigh... you’ve met him. He’s not a good person, that’s for sure, but he’s still one of our own. He got beaten up by an outsider in his own village. How can we just let that go? Besides, he was beaten badly. He’s covered in injuries, especially his head—it was bleeding. He was already unconscious when they found him."
A thought occurred to Yvonne Sutton, and she quickly asked, "When did this happen?"
"Just this afternoon."
"Where was he found?"
"On that mountain path outside the village. He was found lying in a dirt ditch."
It all clicked for Yvonne Sutton. She quickly looked toward the compound.
At the villagers’ shouting, Wyatt Shaw emerged from inside, yawning.
"I’m the one who beat him up. If you want to settle the score, deal with me."
The culprit had revealed himself, and with such a punchable attitude. The villagers immediately roared, wanting to beat him up. The village chief raised a hand, signaling for everyone to calm down.
"So, you’re the one named Shaw?"
Wyatt Shaw nodded. "That’s me."
"Are you aware that this is Veridia Village? You beat up one of our villagers. We’re not unreasonable people, so first, tell us why you hit him."
"I didn’t like the look of him."
The moment he said that, a tall, sturdy man next to the village chief raised his shovel and swung it at Wyatt Shaw.
Wyatt Shaw wasn’t one to take a hit. He sidestepped the blow and grabbed the shovel. The man was strong, but Wyatt Shaw’s sudden move caught him off guard, and he wrenched the shovel from his grasp.
Seeing him dare to fight back, the other villagers surged forward.
The director, terrified, quickly bowed and apologized, spouting placating words. Wyatt Shaw, however, was perfectly calm. With everyone glaring at him like tigers eyeing their prey, he actually had the audacity to take out a cigarette and light it.
"Everyone else, get back! We won’t hurt the innocent!" the village chief shouted at the film crew.
There weren’t many people in the film crew—only about ten or so—and they were all the scholarly, non-violent type, already pale with fear. So when the chief yelled, they instinctively backed away.
The man next to the chief, whose shovel had been snatched by Wyatt Shaw, was fuming. The moment the chief finished speaking, he was about to lunge at Wyatt Shaw again.
"The roads in your village are terrible," Wyatt Shaw said suddenly. "Especially this mountain path to town. It’s all pits and potholes."
The village chief quickly stopped the man beside him. "What do you mean by that?"
"If this mountain road were repaired, it would benefit every villager, right?"
"Of course it would."
"And what if I paid to have it repaired for you?"
Hearing this, the village chief’s eyes widened.
"What did you say?"
"All the way to town. How does that sound?"
"But that would cost over a million."
"Oh, is that all?"
With the cigarette dangling from his lips, Wyatt Shaw’s face was a mask of arrogance. He looked like he was begging for a punch. But the villagers began to lower their makeshift weapons. He had said he would build them a road.
Veridia Village was covered in fruit orchards, but because the road was so poor, merchants were unwilling to come and purchase the fruit. It was just as difficult to transport the harvest out, which meant ripe fruit would often rot on the trees, unsold.
They were in desperate need of a wide, smooth, concrete road. If they had one, it would be a massive benefit to every single person in the village.
The village chief thought for a moment, then said to Wyatt Shaw, "Mr. Shaw, let’s talk over here."
The chief’s attitude did a complete one-eighty. He politely invited Mr. Shaw into the compound to speak privately.
It’s unknown what the two discussed, but a short while later, the village chief emerged.
"I just spoke with Mr. Shaw. It turns out that Deuce Ward... well, he ran his mouth off. He insulted Mr. Shaw, and that’s why Mr. Shaw laid a hand on him. Besides, we all know what kind of guy he is. All I can say is, he had it coming."
’Beaten up just for insulting someone?’
’Beaten nearly to death?’
’Well, I guess that explains it.’
The villagers exchanged glances, their attitudes shifting as well.
"Deuce Ward is always stirring up trouble. A good beating might teach him a lesson and make him behave."
"Exactly. I didn’t even want to come over here. He cornered my daughter-in-law on the street just the other day."
"You think that’s bad? He’s even cornered my wife before! If you ask me, the fact he wasn’t beaten to death just shows that heaven isn’t paying attention."
After this exchange, the crowd noisily dispersed.
Seeing that the trouble was over, Mr. Pace said to Yvonne Sutton, "You’re leaving early tomorrow morning, right? We won’t see you off, then, so we don’t hold you up. Be careful on the road, and give us a call when you get home."
Yvonne Sutton nodded repeatedly. Faced with the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Pace, she felt so guilty that she decided the first thing she’d do upon returning to the city was beat up Stewart Pace.
After seeing Mr. Pace off, Yvonne Sutton hesitated for a moment before walking over to where Wyatt Shaw was.
The village chief was confirming the details of the road donation. "Mr. Shaw, a million is no small sum. Are you sure..."
"Just give me an account number. I’ll wire the money tomorrow," Wyatt Shaw said nonchalantly.
"So it’s settled, then?"
"Mhm."
This finally put the village chief’s mind at ease, and he thanked him profusely.
"Don’t you worry about Deuce Ward. I’ll make sure he doesn’t cause you any trouble."
"What trouble could he possibly cause me?" Wyatt Shaw scoffed.
After the chief left, Wyatt Shaw turned to head back into the compound.
"You followed me this afternoon?"
Wyatt Shaw turned his head and saw Yvonne Sutton. He noted her cold expression, and after her words sank in, he felt a surge of irritation. She wasn’t acknowledging that he’d stood up for her, but was instead accusing him of following her.
"I did not," he denied, but the words lacked conviction.
"Wyatt Shaw, I hope you truly understood what I told you."
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"We are completely, irrevocably over. There are no ties between us. We can be total strangers. That’s what I meant. Do you understand?"
"I’m not an idiot!" he roared at her.
After roaring, he sniffled, looking incredibly wronged.
Just then, Candice Yates walked out, and Wyatt Shaw’s expression instantly changed.
"Don’t you fucking flatter yourself," he spat. "I beat up Deuce Ward simply because he insulted me. Who the hell do you think you are? Stop thinking everything is about you."
With that, he strode past Yvonne, went to Candice Yates’s side, threw an arm around her, and guided her toward her room.
Yvonne Sutton stuffed her hands in her pockets and let out a long sigh.
’The most fickle being in the world isn’t necessarily a woman; it could also be Wyatt Shaw.’
「Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened.」
Yvonne Sutton placed her packed luggage in the car. Just as she was about to get in, a beam of light from a flashlight landed on her.
She quickly shielded her eyes with a hand. Only when the light moved away slightly did she open them to see who it was.
It was Stewart Pace, his head wrapped in gauze, standing a few steps away and grinning foolishly at her.
"Boss! It’s been so long! I missed you so much!"
With that, Stewart Pace came running over. Yvonne realized what he was about to do and tried to dodge, but she wasn’t quick enough, and he wrapped her in a hug.
"Boss, your employee has been humiliated! You have to stand up for your employee!"
Yvonne Sutton kicked Stewart Pace in the shin but didn’t push him away.
"Let go of me first!"
"Not until you grant me one request!"
"Stewart Pace!"
"Boss, do you have any idea how much I respect you?"
’He’d switched to being so formal. That just showed how serious this was, which meant there was no way she could agree.’
Just then, she felt a pair of eyes on her. She looked up and saw Wyatt Shaw standing on the terrace, watching them. His gaze was exceptionally cold and fierce.
