Divorce, Please: The Young Master Does Not Love Me

Far from shutting up, Shirley Lockwood burst into tears, trembling with fear as she clung to Eleanor Bishop’s arm. "Pretty lady, save me! You have to save me! My dad is a really bad person. He’s always yelling at me and hitting me. Domestic abuse is a regular thing for him. Look at me! Look how skinny he’s made me! Pretty lady, I’m telling you, you have to stay far, far away from my dad, so he doesn’t abuse you too after you marry him!"

"I abuse you? Shirley Lockwood, you dare say that to me again?"

"You do abuse me! Look, my face is all swollen from you hitting me!" As she spoke, Shirley Lockwood, with great drama, pointed to her own little cheeks, her eyes red and her expression indignant.

Eleanor Bishop looked at Rory’s cheeks, puffed out with anger, and furrowed her brow deeply.

’Even though Rory’s cheeks were puffed out from anger,’ she thought, ’I can’t help but wonder if Archie Lockwood really does abuse her. Otherwise, why would Rory have run away from home?’

’If she remembered correctly, Louise Jordan had said something at the hotel...’

The moment he saw the accusing look in Eleanor Bishop’s eyes, Archie Lockwood knew she completely believed Rory’s words—that he abused his own daughter. He was absolutely furious!!

He glared at Shirley Lockwood, grinding his teeth, and said with a dangerous sneer, "Heh. Shirley Lockwood, since you’re so insistent that I abuse you, then I’d be doing myself a disservice if I *didn’t* follow through today, wouldn’t I!"

With a ferocious snarl, Archie Lockwood closed the distance in a single long stride, reaching out to yank Shirley Lockwood away from Eleanor Bishop.

"AHHH!!! HELP!!! PRETTY LADY, SAVE ME! AHHH!!!!" Archie Lockwood grabbed Shirley Lockwood’s small arm. Her eyes darted around for a moment, and a cunning smile touched her lips as she lowered her head. The next second, her face turned deathly pale, and she began flailing and screaming in panic.

Eleanor Bishop had no idea Shirley Lockwood was acting. She was terrified, never imagining that Archie Lockwood would actually try to hit Rory right in front of her.

Forgetting her own condition, she shoved Archie Lockwood away, shot to her feet, and pulled Shirley Lockwood protectively behind her. Her eyes red with fury, she yelled, "Archie Lockwood, even if you’re unhappy with me, there’s no need to take your anger out on a child!"

"Move aside..." Seeing Eleanor Bishop protecting Rory only fueled Archie Lockwood’s anger. His face darkened as he snarled.

"Archie Lockwood, if you dare to touch Rory today, I’ll fight you!" ’Even if I can’t win,’ she thought, ’I’ll fight him to the bitter end!’

’It was one thing for her to be oppressed by Archie Lockwood, but she absolutely could not let Rory suffer the same treatment from this tyrant...’

Seeing Eleanor Bishop’s fierce determination, looking as if she were ready to fight him to the death, Archie Lockwood’s tone couldn’t help but soften. "I didn’t hit her!" he explained in a low voice.

"—" Eleanor Bishop didn’t believe a word he said.

She refused to back down, continuing to shield Rory behind her.

At this, Archie Lockwood’s expression grew even darker. "You believe this brat over me?"

"—" ’Of course I don’t believe you,’ she thought. ’A man with your character can’t be trusted.’

His handsome face grim, Archie Lockwood glared at the small figure hiding behind Eleanor Bishop. "Shirley Lockwood, you tell her the truth right now. Have I, or have I not, ever hit you!"

"—" Shirley Lockwood just pouted, refusing to say a word.

’Still,’ she thought, ’this pretty lady is a real surprise. I never would have imagined she’d dare to talk to my dad like that for my sake...’