âIf I were your daughter, how could you ask me to give up everything I have now and fulfill Liliane?â
Billy opened his mouth, but his throat felt constricted, rendering him speechless. He knew that revealing Estherâs true identity could sway her decision, but he couldnât bring himself to do it. He didnât want to be seen as a despicable person in Estherâs eyes.
Estherâs eyes glistened with tears as she declared, âThis is the last time I call you Dad. From now on, weâre strangers.â
âDo you even realize that Liliane has ruined my life? She has destroyed everything. I spent five years in prison because of her. She is responsible for the bloodshed of Grandpa Thomas and Tinkerbell. How can a murderer like her deserve happiness? She doesnât deserve it!â
With cold indifference, Esther turned away. At that moment, Billy took a deep breath and dropped to his knees behind her, a loud thump echoing through the cafe. âEsther, I beg you, please leave Bradley.â
The upscale cafe fell silent, its other patrons glancing over at the commotion.
Esther was taken aback by her fatherâs act of kneeling for Liliane. Tears streamed down her face.
Someone in the crowd criticized her. âHow dare you!? How can you let your father kneel before you?
Arenât you afraid of bad luck?â
âYou seem heartless. Your father is begging you like this, yet you remain unmoved.â Another voice chimed 1.
âI think Iâve seen her before. Wasnât she the murderer from five years ago?â
âNow that you mention it, I remember. Wasnât she imprisoned? When did she get released?â
As Bradley arrived at the scene, he witnessed Esther being verbally attacked by ignorant onlookers in the cafe. Someone even recorded the incident of Billy kneeling before Esther and uploaded it as a short video on the Internet.
Malice formed an invisible net that tightly enveloped Esther, making it hard for her to breathe.
Bradley held Esther tightly in his arms, his handsome face filled with anger. He acted as her protector, shielding her from the torrential malice and attacks.
âShut up!â
Bradleyâs voice was firm and commanding. He gave instructions to the bodyguards, demanding retrieval- of surveillance footage from the cafe and gathering information about the attackers. He wanted their identities, names, and workplaces known. If any video surfaced online, even for a second, he wanted legal action taken within half an hour.
Bradley was worried that these peopleâs actions would trigger Estherâs selective amnesia, causing her to lose her will to fight.
âYes, Mr. Warner,â the bodyguards said promptly.
As the cityâs top taxpayer, Bradley had been featured in financial magazines and had been interviewed by television stations.