I understood that Aunty Lois was nning to ruin Steven in the same manner as we did


    Michael.


    I took a deep breath and got up from the couch. I wanted to ask Steven about the animal


    abuse.


    However, when I turned around, Steven was already sitting on the stairs. He gazed at me with


    reddened eyes, as if he were deeply aggrieved.


    “Stephie…” Steven said softly, “Don’t settle it in private.”


    “Michael won’t go down so easily. He’ll definitely fight back. In the worst–case scenario, he’ll only be


    detained for 15 days,” I told Steven.


    Despite its significant impact on the Ford Group, this incident wouldn’t result in severe punishment


    for Michael.


    “Detained for 15 days…” Steven seemed rather excited about it.


    As long as Michael faced the music, he would be happy as ark.


    “Do you think the Ford family would just sit back and watch?” I sighed and sat next to Steven. “You


    don’t want to mess with The Ford family, especially Aun-


    “Especially Mrs. Ford. It’s not the 15–day detainment that concerns them, it’s the impact of this


    incident on thepany.”


    Steven wrapped his arms around his legs and hunched over them with a pitiful expression. He


    looked like a huge abandoned dog.


    I stared at him with aplicated gaze before saying, “When you… have an episode, do you abuse


    animals?”


    Steven was startled as he looked back at me in silence. I noticed that his eyes were somewhat


    emotional too.


    Was he aggrieved? Depressed? Or perhaps, upset?


    Was he using me of not trusting him?


    “Then how do you exin this photo?” I showed him the photo that Aunty Lois had sent


    to me.


    Steven nced at the photo and looked up at me. “If I say no, will Stephie believe me?”


    Honestly, it was difficult for me to blindly believe him when the proof was right there in front of me.


    And I was also aware that he was incapable of controlling himself during his episodes.


    “Steve… The Ford family will exploit this to the fullest in their publicity. They will attack you for your


    mental illness and blow it out of proportion…” I lowered my head, dreading how cruel the ensuing


    public opinion could be toward Steven.


    But lucky for him, he seldom checked his phone. Otherwise, he would be in another level of hell.


    Shortly after, Aunty Lois sent me an article. It was a post published the year before, and the title


    was about paying attention to stray animals.


    The article discussed themon urrence of animal abuse among the homeless poption and


    had a picture of Steven holding a kitten covered in blood attached next to


    1. it.


    The article was highly critical, likely written by a journalist, and nearly reduced the homeless


    poption to being utterly worthless.


    The post had received millions of views when it went viral that year.


    I didn’t know how Steven went through it.


    Public opinion sure could be a double–edged sword.


    “Stephie… You don’t trust me, do you?” Steven’s voice was hoarse, as if he was on the verge of


    losing it again.


    He grabbed my arm, searching my eyes for a sense of trust. However, upon finding nothing,


    disappointment washed over him.


    Steven lowered his head as his eyes gradually reddened. Then, with tears streaming down his face,


    he stood up and left.


    “Steve…” Instinctively, I reached out and held his hand, hoping for an exnation.


    But Steven seemed to be very sensitive about the cat abuse incident.


    All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “Steve?” I called again, but he ignored me and ran off to the room.


    This was the first time I had seen him react so emotionally in front of me.


    I rubbed my temples.


    Honestly, anyone would feel suspicious after seeing that article and photo. So, Steven. couldn’t


    me me for doubting him, especially since he refused to exin himself.


    But I was just worried.


    I was worried that he might get hurt by the public opinion the Ford family was about to instigate.


    So, I searched for the incident about a homeless teenager abusing a cat that urred in the


    previous year.


    As expected, there were numerous photos and videos in the search results.


    In one of the videos, the videographer bumped into Steven in the alley and struck Steven with a


    stone and a stick.


    After that, Steven huddled in a corner and was tightly clutching onto something. His forehead and


    body were grimy, and there were traces of blood on him.


    I was aware that Steven had suffered a lot during his days as a homeless person, but I had no idea


    that he had been through this much.


    He could have fought back…


    “Why didn’t you fight back?” I murmured in a hoarse voice.