Chapter 486: Where Did I Go Wrong?
"Michael! Michael!" Wendy shouted for Michael who was outside the lounge.
Wendy could no longer be sure of what else Todd would do. She was just a woman after all and did not stand much of a chance at resisting if Todd really did something to her. Hence, she had no time to consider if this would further intensify the conflict between Michael and Todd.
Todd held on to her tightly and confined her in his arms. Upon hearing Wendy’s cries for help, Michael immediately dashed into the lounge. When he saw what was happening, he promptly pulled Todd away without thinking.
Todd was no match for Michael. After all, Michael had some combat training. In an instant, he had pulled Todd away from Wendy and gave him a kick in the gut. Then, he reached for Wendy and shielded her with his body.
Todd fell to the ground before he could even react. When he could finally see who his aggressor was, Michael had given him another kick in the stomach, which sent him two steps back before he managed to stabilize himself.
Wendy was still in shock. Seeing that Michael did not care to show any mercy, she was afraid that it would complicate matters and quickly went forward to hold him back, "Michael, that’s enough. Stop fighting."
How would Todd be able to take Michael’s beating? If this situation continued, he would be bound to sustain serious injuries.
"What did he do to you?" Rage pulsed through Michael’s veins. He looked at Todd like he wanted to finish him off there and then.
"Nothing..." Wendy explained quickly, "At least he didn’t succeed." Indeed, he did not succeed.
"Whether he succeeded or not, he must pay the price for pining over someone he shouldn’t have!" Michael said furiously. "Imagine what would have happened if I wasn’t here today?"
"We are leaving tomorrow. If you injure him heavily and aggravate matters, we wouldn’t be able to leave so easily," Wendy reasoned. "Besides, I think he had one too many drinks tonight."
Wendy looked at Todd’s flushed face. He had also reeked of alcohol when they hugged earlier.
"Don’t hold him back. He can beat me up if he wants to. He can even end me if he is capable of it." Todd got up from the ground and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Although he had no means to fight back, he had no intentions to admit defeat at all.
Wendy stopped Michael solely because she did not want the matter to blow up.
Moreover, Todd did help her in many ways in the past, so she could not just turn her back on him. Besides, nothing really happened. She just had to make sure they do not cross paths again.
Todd’s provocative words enraged Michael further.
Wendy saw that Michael wanted to continue with the fight and immediately grabbed his hand. "Let’s go find Leah and Jake. They must be frightened after hearing the commotion."
Michael clenched his fist tightly while staring at Todd’s face. He was trying to hold his anger. Earlier, he had disagreed with Wendy and Todd being in the lounge alone.
As he expected, Todd had tried something after all.
"Michael Lucas, be a man and we’ll fight it out one-on-one." Todd was indeed a little drunk. He said with a smile, "After today, only one of us can live."
"I will grant you your death wish!" Michael pulled away from Wendy and gave Todd’s face a hard punch.
Todd was no match for Michael in a one-on-one fight. Seeing that they have continued with the fight, she shouted for Michael anxiously, "Stop fighting, Michael!
Can we please go!"
...
Unfortunately, it was not possible for Michael to simply stop the beating in the heat of his anger. With yet another few blows, Todd hit the ground again.
"Michael, stop it right now or I won’t leave with you tomorrow!" Wendy threatened.
It might really become a matter of life and death if they continued with the fight. In a fury, Michael exhausted all his strength in every blow that he gave Todd. There was only so much that Todd could take.
Wendy’s threat had worked as Michael retracted his hands.
Looking at Todd who was beaten to the ground, Michael threatened menacingly, "Don’t appear before my eyes in the future, or I will beat you up each time I see you!"
"Ha..." Todd sustained many bodily injuries, but he appeared as if he could not feel them. Mockingly, he said, "Michael Lucas, if you’re so powerful, why didn’t you go settle scores with Clement? I didn’t even kiss Corrine. I merely gave her a hug at best. Clement actually slept with her."
Todd had been really drunk to spew such words. Perhaps it was the pain and regret that had accumulated in his heart over the years ... all of which were vented at this moment. He knew the consequences of his words, but he really wished to close the book on things between Michael and himself.
Wendy would be leaving Rheinsville City tomorrow, leaving Todd’s line of sight. It would be a pipe dream to even see her again in the future. He could no longer let go graciously and wish them the best like he did before. Rather than living in a numb state by himself, perhaps death would be a relief for him.
"You’re seeking death!" His words obviously angered Michael.
Wendy was saddened by Todd’s words as she had not expected that from him.
Emotions aside, she desperately tried to grab hold of Michael. However, Michael was irate at Todd and could not be held back at all.
Todd seemed to have guessed what Michael was planning to do. He got up from the ground again and stood before Michael. With his head raised slightly and a smile on his face, he awaited Michael’s blow.
Michael’s fist struck Todd’s face abruptly. Unable to endure the pain, Todd spat out a mouthful of blood and what appeared to be a tooth that was knocked out.
Todd could not feel the pain from his injuries. Perhaps it was the alcohol that paralyzed his nerves, or his heart had gotten so numb from the pain, so much that he could not feel any sort of pain entirely.
Wendy’s heart beat faster as she saw what happened. She stepped forward and held on to Michael’s arm tightly. "Michael, let’s go. Let’s leave right away. Todd is drunk.
Let’s leave him to sober up by himself."
"I’m not drunk!" Todd shouted. "I’m speaking the truth! Michael Lucas, you’re just a coward, overbearing the weak and quailing before the strong! Your wife was defiled, and you just let it slide! What kind of a man are you!"
Michael was about to raise his fist again.
Wendy did not expect things to turn out like this. She had expected it to be a simple farewell meal. After all, she was indebted to Todd and wanted to take the opportunity to apologize and express her gratitude. The way things turned out had way exceeded her expectations.
"Let’s go, Michael. Let’s go to Leah and Jake. They must be waiting for us. Leah will definitely be anxious if she doesn’t see us soon." Wendy tugged at Michael with all her strength. "Please, can we go? I’m begging you, Michael."
Michael could only suppress his anger as Wendy went to the extent of ’begging’ him.
...
Under Wendy’s tugging and persuading, Michael turned around and left eventually.
Todd suddenly laughed out loud as they made their way out. He shouted at their backs, "The dignified Mr. Lucas is just a coward, browbeating the weak and fearing the strong. You can’t even protect your wife. Not only that, you can’t even track your enemy down!"
Wendy could clearly feel Michael clenching his hands tightly into fists. She enveloped Michael’s fists with her hands. His fist was so big that she could not hold it in one hand. However, the warmth from her hands calmed his anger slightly.
If Wendy had not stopped him today, Michael’s blows would have rendered Todd incapacitated, to say the least.
"Ah...!" Todd suddenly screamed as he watched them leave. "Where did I go wrong?
In what way am I lacking compared to him! Why did the heavens do this to me? All I did was fall in love. Why couldn’t they fulfill this simple wish of mine?
"If we are not destined to be together, why send her my way again and again, giving me hope, then ruthlessly taking it from me! I refuse to accept this. I refuse..."
Wendy felt relieved upon leaving the lounge. She was really afraid that Michael would be unable to control his anger and turn back to fight Todd. However, he was not entirely at fault either. Todd’s words were indeed a little overboard.
Todd’s actions were completely out of the blue tonight. ’Maybe it was because he had one too many drinks,’ Wendy thought.
Michael and Wendy walked side by side without a word, but there was a chilling aura around Michael. It was obvious that his rage had not subsided completely.
Wendy’s footsteps slowed down gradually. She turned to Michael and whispered, "Let’s go to them in a bit."
Michael frowned and was evidently puzzled.
"I’m afraid we’ll scare the children if we go to them in this state." Wendy was mainly referring to Michael, but was tactful to include both of them in her statement.
Upon hearing her explanation, Michael understood that it was indeed inappropriate for him to see the children in the fit of his anger.
Wendy pointed to an empty bench and said, "Let’s go sit there." She continued to hold on tightly to Michael’s hand after sitting down.
After some contemplation, Wendy said, "I didn’t expect Todd to act like this tonight, but I hope you can let this slide. We will not have much contact with him after leaving tomorrow.
"After all, he helped me a great deal in the past. Let’s take tonight as the closing of a Chapter. From tomorrow onward, we owe each other nothing."
This was not the ending that Wendy had wished for. She had always cared for Todd as a friend. In the past, she was bound to defend Todd even if it meant an argument with Michael.
It’s a pity that their friendship had changed. From now on, they could only be strangers to each other. This might be the best outcome for everyone.
Michael remained silent, and Wendy was not sure what was going through his mind.
Sighing, Wendy continued, "I’m sorry, it was careless of me. I should have listened to you and not be in the lounge alone with him."
Her words finally stirred a reaction from Michael. He stretched out his arms and put them on her shoulders. "I don’t blame you. I was just terrified," he said with a sigh.
Until now, cold sweats were still trickling down Michael’s back. If the tragedy involving Clement was to happen again, Michael would not be able to forgive himself.
