Chapter 4 Confrontation at Home

Quinn let out a startled scream. After confirming she hadn't entered the wrong apartment, she tightly held Bianca's hand and forced a smile at Felicia. "Mrs. Brook, what's going on here?" "Where's that man? Why didn't he come back with you? He dared to beat me like this!" "Twenty grand for my medical bills—not a penny less!" Felicia barked, full of confidence. It shocked Quinn to hear Felicia's demand. To her, that was an astronomical sum. She shook her head quickly. "Mrs. Brook, what man do you mean? I don't know what you're talking about." Felicia stood up abruptly, narrowing her eyes and sneering. "You don't know him? If you don't know him, why would he beat me up for that little bastard of yours?" "Fine, if you don't know him, then you'll pay the 20 grand yourself!" Felicia jabbed her finger at Quinn as her voice rose. At that moment, a cold voice came from the doorway. "You aren't getting a single cent. Do you have a problem with that?" Howard entered the apartment. He had been following Quinn and Bianca but hadn't revealed himself. Hearing Quinn's frightened scream earlier, he'd come upstairs, only to overhear Felicia's outrageous demand. "You've got guts, kid!" Felicia stood up again, her face flushed with anger as she pointed at Howard. "I've been in this market for ten years, and you're the first one bold enough to lay a hand on me!" Quinn instinctively pulled Bianca closer to her and retreated toward the wall. She knew Felicia was notorious in the market, feared because her husband was a well-known local gang leader. Howard stepped in front of Quinn and stared down Felicia and the hooligans around her. His voice was icy. "I'll give you ten seconds to get out of my sight, or you'll regret stepping through this door." Quinn was stunned, unable to believe the man standing protectively in front of her. Felicia was enraged. Waving her hand, she shouted, "Beat him as much as you can!" The four hooligans charged at Howard. Two of them drew hollow metal pipes from their backs, while the other two clenched their fists. Howard stepped forward, raising an arm to block the first pipe. The second pipe landed squarely on his shoulder with a heavy thud, causing him to stagger slightly. He made no attempt to fight back and instead covered his head, allowing the hooligans to pummel him freely. Quinn's eyes widened as she watched Howard being beaten to the ground. The sinister grins of the hooligans and Felicia's mocking laughter made her panic. What is wrong with this man? Saying the harshest words and taking the worst beating? Wasn't he incredibly strong before? Seeing Howard being beaten, Quinn suddenly let go of Bianca's hand and rushed to Felicia. Crying, she pleaded, "Mrs. Brook, please stop! They'll kill him!" "I'll pay you! I'll pay you 20 grand, okay? Just tell them to stop. Please!" Hearing Quinn agree to pay, Felicia burst into laughter and waved her hand. "All right, that's enough. Stop." She then turned to Quinn with a sneer. "Even with a ruined face, you're still so cheap. Can't bear to see your lover get beaten?" The hooligans, panting heavily, stepped back. Howard lifted his head, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He stood up and walked to Quinn. "You're still as kind-hearted as ever. You won't have to pay a thing," he said with a smile. "This pretty boy sure knows how to act tough!" Felicia laughed, looking incredulous. "Beaten to a pulp and still whispering sweet nothings to this widow?" Quinn was equally baffled, unsure of what Howard was planning. "You should leave. You can't beat them," she urged, her voice anxious. Before she could finish, Howard turned abruptly. In a flash, he reached out, his hand darting toward Felicia's throat. With a swift motion, his fingers clamped around her neck, and with a surge of strength, he lifted her 250-pound frame off the ground. The beating earlier had merely been a test to see Quinn's reaction. To Howard, those attacks were little more than a tickle. The hooligans, seeing Felicia in his grasp, lunged at Howard again. With three rapid kicks, Howard sent three of them flying backward. The last one charged, only to be struck square in the face by Howard's fist. His nose shattered, blood streaming down as he crouched on the ground, wailing in agony. Felicia, now struggling to breathe, turned red as terror filled her eyes. She stared at Howard, who looked like an unstoppable force. "She's not a widow. I'll say it only once," Howard growled, his gaze piercing. Felicia nodded frantically, her fear unmistakable. Without changing his expression, Howard tightened his grip and carried Felicia toward the balcony. A piercing scream echoed, followed by a dull thud. Silence fell over the surroundings. Howard walked back inside, glaring at the hooligans. His voice was as cold as death. "If you don't take that fat woman to the hospital right now, she'll die." Terrified, the hooligans scrambled to their feet and bolted out the door, tripping over one another in their haste.