"Alright, alright, I'll be back right away, I'll be back right away."

Yvette said urgently, covering the receiver with her hand.

Dirk Carter realized she was about to finish the call and quickly walked away from the doorway.

As soon as he stood still, Yvette hung up the phone, trying her best to put on a normal expression and said, "Dirk, there's something I need to handle at the store. I have to go back. Next time I'm free, I'll treat you to a meal."

"Alright, Yvette, take care of your business first."

"Yes, we'll have plenty of time to meet since you're working in Sunglow Town."

After chatting briefly, Yvette bid farewell.

Standing by the window, Dirk saw Yvette start jogging as soon as she left the office building, clearly showing she was really anxious.

Once her figure disappeared,

Dirk hurriedly went downstairs,

chasing in the direction Yvette had left.

After walking about thirty to forty meters,

a shop named "Brianna's" appeared before him.

The store wasn't very big,

maybe about thirty square meters or so.

Several shelves inside were filled with a disarray of goods.

It wasn't the kind of city convenience store or supermarket he imagined, just a place selling ordinary daily necessities.

Seeing this store,

Dirk felt a bit sad.

In his memory, Yvette was a stylish city lady.

When she was in her early twenties working as a nurse, she was vibrant and beautiful, surrounded by suitors like stars surrounding the moon. But who would have thought that just seven or eight years later, she'd become a rural woman?

Just as he was about to leave quietly,

suddenly, a loud clattering sound came from inside the shop.

It seemed something had been knocked over.

Then, a man's voice yelled, "Bitch, can't you mind the store properly in broad daylight? Dressed like that to seduce other men, I'll beat you to death."

No sooner were the words spoken,

than a series of smacking sounds followed.

Dirk could tell it was the sound of a stick hitting someone.

He was just about to rush inside,

when he saw a burly man stagger out of the shop. He looked up at Dirk standing at the doorstep, hummed a tune, and walked away.

Dirk had seen this man before.

Although so many years had passed, he still remembered.

It was none other than Yvette's husband, Brianna Quincy.

At that moment,

someone appeared from inside the store.

Dirk quickly moved aside, not wanting Yvette to notice him.

After all, nobody wants to have their embarrassment exposed to the light of day.

She had already changed her clothes, the stylish jacket she wore earlier replaced by an oversized T-shirt with no telling how many years it had been worn.

Perhaps due to Brianna's tugging earlier,

the neckline had been pulled down halfway,

revealing half of a round flesh ball.

She tidied her clothes, then picked up the goods scattered on the floor, placing them back on the shelves one by one.

When she tried to place a basket on the top shelf, she found herself not strong enough.

She tried several times but failed.

"Let me do it."

A man's voice came over.

Yvette turned around abruptly, only to see Dirk taking the basket from her hand and placing it on the shelf.

"Dirk."

Seeing Dirk, Yvette was a little flustered.

"Wait a minute, I'll... I'll go change."

Just as she was about to turn around, Dirk grabbed her hand and said, "Yvette, I saw everything just now."

Yvette was taken aback.

Then her face turned despondent.

She fetched a small stool for him and said, "Have a seat."

"Yvette, is he really that bad to you?"

Dirk asked.

As Yvette tidied up, she sighed and said, "It's been so many years, I don't care anymore. Back then, my parents kept opposing me being with him, but I was stubborn and ended up falling out with them. Now living like this, all I can say is I brought it on myself."

There's more to this story?

Dirk really didn't know.

"Does he hit you often?"

Dirk asked.

Yvette brushed aside her messy bangs, smiled, and said, "I'm used to it. Every time he drinks, he has to act like a madman."

"Come to the police station with me, I'll stand up for you."

Hearing this, Dirk was already raging with anger.

He suddenly stood up and said.

Yvette tapped Dirk's arm and said, "It's no use, it won't solve anything. Come on, don't worry about me. You just arrived in Sunglow Town, don't waste your time on me."

"Yvette, didn't I tell you when I was little that I'd grow up to protect you? What's there you can't tell me?"

Dirk said angrily.

Yvette was stunned for a moment.

She hadn't shed a tear when beaten,

but hearing Dirk's words, she couldn't hold back any longer.

She threw herself into Dirk's arms and burst into tears.

Yvette said marrying Brianna was the biggest mistake of her life.

When Brianna was wealthy, he treated her well, mostly catering to her needs. Back then, Yvette was young, beautiful, and stylish, while Brianna was unremarkable in appearance, and appreciated having such a wife.

The change came a few years ago,

when Brianna's business started to fail.

After going bankrupt, they had no choice but to return to their hometown.

Because of their busy business, they hadn't had any children; after returning home, her in-laws kept pushing them to have a child. They tried for years, but Yvette showed no signs of being pregnant.

From that point on, the family never showed her a nice face again.

They often mocked Yvette as a hen that wouldn't lay eggs, saying she was useless except for eating.

In the countryside, the concept of carrying on the family line is still very strong.

Because Yvette couldn't give birth, she naturally lost her family status.

Over the past year or two, Brianna often didn't come home, and when he did, he either took money or acted drunk around her. She heard from others that he had gotten involved with the Widow Chen from the butcher shop, and they had openly started cohabitating.

She reported this to her in-laws, only to have them ridicule her, saying it was no wonder a man would leave if she couldn't bear children.

Hearing about her tragic experiences,

Dirk felt very upset too.

He clenched his fist and said, "Yvette, let me deal with him."

"No!"

Yvette hugged Dirk tightly.

And said, "Dirk, don't provoke him. He's a madman, capable of anything. His cousin is even a police officer, they won't arrest him, so it's useless, completely useless."

"Yvette, did you forget? I'm the town mayor, I outrank the police chief. What are you afraid of? Don't worry, leave it to me."

Dirk made a move to leave.

Just then, Yvette gasped, staggered, and almost fell to the ground.

Seeing her furrowed brow and pained expression, Dirk quickly asked, "Yvette, what's wrong?"

Yvette clutched her chest and said, "I don't know, just feels so painful."

"Don't move, let me check your pulse."

With that,

Dirk placed his fingers on Yvette's wrist.

After a careful assessment,

he said, "Your body seems normal, nothing unusual."

Despite that,

Yvette's pain showed no signs of subsiding.

Dirk pulled away her hand covering her chest, but through the clothes, he couldn't see anything abnormal.

"Yvette, take off your clothes, let me check."

Dirk, having no concern for propriety, said to Yvette.

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