Chapter 8: Thanks for Leaving Uriah!

At Adeline Scurr's words, Amara Lyson actually laughed in anger. The more she listened, the more she felt it wasn't worth it for Uriah at all. She couldn't hold it in. "Adeline, listen to yourself. Your first love got himself into trouble, and you want your ex-husband to go clean it up for him. Does that sound appropriate to you? Do you have any shame?" Adeline's face burned. She couldn't find a single sentence to refute it, yet she still fixed her eyes on Uriah. "Uriah, did you hear that?" In her memory, Uriah had always obeyed her without question. He had never refused her. Not once. "I heard you." "Then hurry up and go!" Adeline was terrified that if she waited any longer, Alvin Yale would be humiliated even worse. Uriah lifted his glass, his tone flat. "Sorry. I meant I heard what you said. But I'm drinking. I don't have time to handle your mess." Adeline froze. Her expression turned ugly in an instant. "Uriah, why do you have to target Alvin? I already told you, my divorce from you had nothing to do with him! Why can't you understand that? I never thought you were this selfish and petty!" "Adeline Scurr!" Amara snapped, stepping in. "That's your first love. What does he have to do with Uriah? Why is Uriah obligated to save him? Besides, he wanted to play the hero, but he doesn't have the skills. This is what he gets!" She couldn't stand watching Uriah take blame for something that wasn't his. "Let's go." Uriah shook his head, all interest in drinking gone. Amara hooked her arm through his and started for the exit. Adeline stamped her foot in frustration, disappointment in Uriah deepening by the second. "Adeline… save me…" Alvin's voice trembled. The knife's chill flashed in front of his face. He was terrified. What if these people didn't care about rules and really crippled him? Adeline tried calling everyone she knew, but the moment they heard the name Third Laureate Looske, they all backed out, one after another. For the first time, Adeline felt completely powerless. "Boss, weren't you looking for someone to keep you company? Amara Lyson is top-tier. She's a perfect match for you!" "And it was Uriah Greaves who told me to do it!" Alvin blurted out, desperate. "If nobody had stirred things up, how would I ever dare touch your people, Boss Looske? It's Uriah Greaves who doesn't respect you!" As Uriah and Amara passed by him, Alvin's face twisted. He thrust a finger toward Uriah, determined to drag him down too. If Alvin was going to suffer, Uriah wasn't getting out clean. "Stop them!" Third Laureate Looske ordered. He glanced at Uriah and Amara. Uriah's silhouette and name felt oddly familiar, but he couldn't place where he'd seen him. Yellow hair man stepped forward and threw an arm out, blocking their path. "What do you think you're doing?" Amara's voice turned cold. Yellow hair man looked her up and down, clicking his tongue. "Boss, she really is something. She'd make a fine sister-in-law for us." A wave of jeers and hoots rose at once. Amara's eyes turned icy, but a heartbeat later she softened on purpose. She pressed closer to Uriah, clinging to him as she breathed sweetly, "Uriah, I'm scared…" Uriah looked helpless. He knew exactly what Amara was capable of. She wasn't afraid of a scene like this. "Please, hold on a moment." Third Laureate Looske walked over with a smile. He pointed at Alvin and looked to Uriah. "This guy claims you told him to beat up my man. Is that true?" "No," Uriah replied calmly. "Boss Looske, don't listen to him!" Alvin rushed out, as if he'd grabbed a lifeline. "He's the one who told me to do it! If you don't believe me, ask Adeline Scurr! Adeline and Uriah used to be married!" "Married?" Third Laureate Looske looked from Adeline and Alvin to Uriah and Amara, who were still wrapped around each other in an intimate tangle. What kind of mess was this? Third Laureate Looske turned to Adeline. "President Scurr, Mr. Yale says Mr. Uriah Greaves instructed him. Is that what happened? I'll take your word for it." Adeline instinctively wanted to shake her head, but Alvin was already pleading, voice shaking. "Adeline, don't hide it! Just tell the truth. If you don't, I'll be stuck carrying this blame for Uriah! I don't want my arms and legs broken. These people will do anything!" Tears pooled in his eyes. Adeline's expression softened with pity. She looked toward Uriah. What met her was Uriah's cold, distant gaze. Anger surged up Adeline's chest. Her voice dropped, hardening. "It was Uriah who told Alvin to do it, but he didn't mean any harm…" The moment she said it, regret stabbed through her. She didn't dare meet Uriah's eyes again. "So that's how it is." Third Laureate Looske nodded. "I'm a reasonable man. yellow hair man, give Mr. Yale three slaps, then let him go." "Got it!" the yellow-haired man swaggered over. He swung left and right, cracking three vicious slaps across Alvin's face. Smack, smack, smack! Alvin's head snapped to the side. His cheeks swelled, three bloody finger marks stamped into his skin. He looked utterly pathetic. When it was done, the two thugs holding him finally let go. Alvin ground his teeth, furious but too scared to say a word. He lowered his head and hurried to Adeline, whispering, "Adeline, we can't fight them head-on. Let's leave first. This grudge… I'll pay it back later." "But Uriah-" "What does Uriah have to do with you?" Alvin hissed. "If we don't leave and they change their minds, it'll be too late!" Without another word, he grabbed Adeline and pulled her out. Third Laureate Looske's people didn't stop them. As they passed Uriah, Alvin shot him a venomous glare. "Uriah, just wait. You're dead." Adeline wanted to explain herself, but Uriah treated her like she didn't exist. "Adeline." Suddenly, Amara leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Thanks." Adeline's brows lifted. She stared at Amara's smiling face, confused. "Thanks for what?" "I thought I'd never get the chance to be with Uriah in this lifetime," Amara murmured, her voice low enough for only Adeline to hear. "But your stupidity really surprised me." "Thanks for leaving Uriah. Promise me something. After you divorced him, don't you dare regret it." Heat flared in Adeline's chest. She and Amara had never gotten along. This was Amara, deliberately provoking her. "What I threw away, I'd never regret." Adeline's voice sank into a dark hush. "Amara Lyson, you don't have to cling to Uriah just to get under my skin. It's pathetic." With that, Adeline brushed past Amara and left Nightless Bar with Alvin. But the moment they stepped outside, Alvin spoke again, eyes flashing. "Adeline, let's go back and watch what happens to Uriah." Humiliation churned in his stomach. He couldn't swallow it. If he could just see Uriah get dragged through the dirt, he'd feel better. "Why did you frame Uriah?" Adeline asked, displeased. Alvin hurried to explain. "Adeline, I had no choice. If I didn't say that, they wouldn't have let me go! And Uriah used to run with those underworld types. Maybe he can handle it. Besides, I did it to protect you." "Don't do it again," Adeline said sharply. "I won't. I swear." Alvin nodded hard. "I just haven't established myself in Riverhold yet. Give me time. One day I'll make Third Laureate Looske kneel and apologize to us." As he spoke, they slipped back into Nightless Bar and found a shadowed corner. "I hope you can settle this…" Adeline murmured, her eyes drifting to Uriah with a trace of worry. In Alvin's heart, though, he spat a vicious curse. Better if they broke Uriah's arms and legs and turned him into a cripple. Inside Nightless Bar, Third Laureate Looske faced Uriah. "You had someone beat my man. You owe me an explanation." "What kind of explanation do you want?" Uriah asked. "Broken arms and legs, or…" Third Laureate Looske's smile deepened, threat soaking every word. "The beauty at your side stays and keeps me company for the night." Yellow hair wore a wild, arrogant grin, eyes locked on Amara's curving, seductive figure. "Little beauty, be our sister-in-law." "Sister-in-law!" "Sister-in-law!" The chanting rose again, louder than before. Amara didn't look afraid at all. If anything, she held Uriah tighter, voice soft and clingy. "Uriah, what do we do? I only want to be your woman…" Uriah let out a quiet sigh and pulled her a small step away from him. If he didn't, she would only get bolder. Then he lifted his gaze, voice low and faintly amused. "Buster. Ten years, and your mouth sure got bigger."