M was extremely stunned as her numb palm froze mid-air. That pnded squarely on Asher''s face without any reservation.


    With tears in his eyes, Arnold stared at the man who stood resolutely in front of him. His pounding heart almost shattered in his chest. "Ash... I...”


    "Aunt M, please don''t hit Arnold. Arnold did nothing wrong. It was all my fault."


    The air in the corridor seemed to freeze at that moment.


    Under the overwhelming pressure, Asher''s calmness only made the scene more heartbreaking. "He has been beaten too many times because of me and the Thompson family. From now on, I don''t want Arnold to suffer anymore. I will do everything I can to protect him."


    Everyone was shocked.


    Arnold lowered his head. Besides feeling touched, what pained him even more was the guilt and self-reproach.


    Since he was young, his grandfather and aunt have told him that he was the future hope of the Larson family and that he needed to be a pir of strength. Yet, the reality was that he had only caused endless trouble for his beloved, failing to do anything worthwhile. How could he still call himself a man?


    "Ash... You said Arnold got beaten? What do you mean?!" Be''s heart tightened sharply.


    "Arnold has been in a bad state ever since he escaped from the Larson family."


    Asher''s mind was filled with images of Arnold''s fair skin covered in horrific, swollen scars. He clenched his trembling fist, trying to contain his emotions. "When he heard about Dad''s illness, he did not waste a single moment and forced himself toe here to treat Dad."


    M''s eyes suddenly became tense. "The Larson family... Did they use the family punishment on him?!"


    "Ash, stop talking."


    Arnold tugged at his sleeve and shook his head. His voice was so faint that it was barely audible. "Stop talking. It is all in the past. You do not need to exin anything for me."


    It seemed to be true. M felt her entire body go cold, staggering back a step.


    She had grown up in the Larson family and knew well how terrifying the Larson''s family punishment could be. Now, with Arnold and


    Asher''s rtionship exposed


    Larson family would find out and they might beat him to death!


    Suddenly, the door of the consultation room opened. Wyatt sat in a wheelchair and was pushed out by Quentin.


    Despite just having gone through a dangerous episode and his face still showing weakness, he stubbornly kept his back straight, unwilling to let his children see him in a deste and defeated state. "Dad!" The Thompson children felt a deep sense of anguish and fear.


    Seeing their father appear at this moment, they knew he must have heard about the affair between Asher and Arnold.


    They were afraid their father would


    get angry and be deeply


    disappointed in Asher. But more than that, they feared the added stress would worsen his condition, as his body could no longer endure any additional strain.


    "Dad."N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Asher''s heart tightened, instinctively pulling Arnold behind him.


    This scene greatly shocked Be.


    The love her brother showed for Arnold was no different from the love Justin showed her.


    So what if they were gay? Was that a


    crime? Even if faced with a


    thousand criticisms and a million hostile res, so what? When the whole world stood against them, the Thompson family would always be their safe harbor. That was enough.


    Arnold stood rigidly behind Asher, not daring to look at Wyatt.


    Though Arnold was usually tall and graceful, now he seemed to have shrunk. He hunched over as if he had broken his spine and wished he could disappearpletely into the ground.