True Love Waits

In the Huo family's villa

Crack! Went the whip! A man was kneeling in the middle of the living room, and a line was drawn across his back. Blood welled in that line. He was being beaten by a whip the thickness of a man's finger. The beating was merciless, the whip striping the man's back with welts and torn flesh.

Crack! Crack! Crack! The clothing the man wore was sliced to bloodstained ribbons.

The beaten man was in his twenties. He was dressed in black casual clothing, and his face had well-defined angles. He clenched his teeth and endured the pain. He didn't beg for mercy at all. The men standing nearby were frightened, shuddering. They squeezed their eyes shut with every stroke.

When the whip was about to land on the man's back again, someone opened the door and peeked in. A girl wearing a light yellow dress darted towards them. "Dad! Don't! Why did you hit him? Stop it!" She rushed to the man kneeling on the floor and spread her arms to protect him.

Whip in hand, Carlos looked at his younger daughter and ordered in a cold voice, "Get up."

Terilynn shook her head. Tears streamed down her red cheeks as she looked at the welts on his back. "Dad, Evelyn said the sex was consensual and she didn't blame that guy. She asked you not to interfere. This had nothing to do with Tayson. What did he do to deserve this?"

The man in her arms had a pale face. Terilynn's protection made his heart flutter.

Carlos, on the other hand, grew angrier when he thought of what had happened to Evelyn. He treated Evelyn like a princess; her every wish was his to grant. But now she was in the hospital, hurt because of another guy. Flames of rage danced in his gaze.

He turned to look at the bodyguards in the room and ordered, "Take her away."

"Yes, Mr. Huo."

Terilynn, however, refused to let go. She held Tayson Jin tightly and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Dad! You can't do this to him. You could kill him! Dad!"

Although Carlos knew her feelings for Tayson Jin, he feigned ignorance and asked, "Terilynn, why are you protecting him?"

She was stunned and lowered her head to avoid looking her father in the eye. "I... I... I'll go to my room," she stammered.

Her dress was now stained with blood, blood that wasn't hers. She got to her feet and shuffled toward the stairs.

and was about to hit Tayson Jin again when Terilynn suddenly turned her head to face her father. "Dad, Tayson saved my life more than once.

The bodyguards were startled.

his eyes and stared

was so irritated by his daughter. "He's our bodyguard. He's supposed to protect you. You don't owe him a

you're wrong." Terilynn walked over to them. "He's Evelyn's bodyguard, not mine. He protects her, not me. You always taught us to seek ways to repay others

took a deep breath, trying to hide his emotions and agony, and

my mind," Terilynn said. At this moment, she

you're asking

raised the whip

"Mr. Huo, no!"

"Mr. Huo, please don't!"

in the room all spoke up, trying to stop

"Mr. Huo, it's my fault. I didn't do my job protecting Miss Evelyn Huo.

raised her head and looked at his resolute face, his determination,

you

her arms and yelled, "Dad, Evelyn's still in a coma and Mom's taking care of her. Hit me if you

her father, and that was to drag

expression on her face. "You should be at

kept us busy so you could punish Tayson. He's worked for us for over ten years. Whenever Evelyn was in danger, he put his life on the line to save her. Besides, it was Evelyn's choice to date that guy. And Tayson did what she told him. You can't blame him for that. Instead of punishing

flooded through Tayson Jin when Terilynn pleaded his

in Carlos' eyes. Finally, he said, "You've got a

truth," Terilynn argued. She knew her father wasn't that angry now, so she got up from

tone, "Fine. We're done here. But you are, too. Evelyn's hurt badly, and you didn't do

respectfully.

"You'll "