When That Door Opens - Chapter 70
As she cut her food into small pieces and chewed, the man asked.
“Pardon?”
“You don’t seem familiar with it.”
“Oh…”
Should she try to seem experienced or pretend it was her first time?
“Are you waiting for someone?”
The man, who had been watching her eat, suddenly grabbed her wrist as her plate was half empty.
Julieta, startled, dropped her utensils, but no one paid attention as if it was a common occurrence.
“What is this…?”
“It looks like you came here for something. Don’t waste time; let’s go outside.”
Fear gripped her. This was entirely different from when Verne had grabbed her wrist.
“No, you’ve misunderstood…”
Julieta tried to resist, planting her feet firmly, but it was futile. Whistles and suggestive comments came from all around as people noticed her struggle with the man.
This wasn’t right. Alarm bells rang in her head. Looking around frantically for a way out, her eyes landed on an empty bottle on the table.
Now!
Julieta grabbed the bottle and struck the man’s arm hard.
“Argh, what the hell?”
The bottle didn’t break. This seemed to intensify the man’s pain, and he grimaced fiercely as he let go of her wrist. In that brief moment, Julieta bolted for the door.
Despite the pub’s small size, the distance to the door felt impossibly long. Julieta, tears streaming down her face, finally grasped the doorknob.
“If you’re going to go crazy, do it properly, you lunatic!”
But her escape attempt failed. The man, who looked gentle but was anything but, yanked her back by her hair.
“Ow!”
Julieta clung to the doorknob, trying to resist being dragged back. The force of his pull and her resistance made her scalp feel like it was being torn off.
“Damn, you’re strong,” the man cursed.
No one came to her aid. Was this a common occurrence here? How could such blatant misconduct be happening in public with no intervention?
“Stop looking around. You must not know who you’re messing with, but you’ve picked the wrong person.”
The man spat on the floor. Murmurs filled the room, a mix of concern and mockery. It seemed like he was known as a tough guy from the backstreets.
“If you want to keep all your limbs intact, let go of the doorknob.”
“Please, let me go. I’m sorry.”
“Who said I’d kill you?”
He extended his tongue and licked her cheek. Her entire body shuddered, but not in a good way.
Though she had felt Verne’s tongue on every part of her body, this man’s touch was terrifying and foreign.
Just as Julieta’s hope began to fade, someone forcefully pushed the door from the outside. Both she and the man were knocked backward by the impact.
Thud. A loud crash echoed.
“What the hell?”
The voice was full of irritation, and the silhouette was familiar. It was Verne! Julieta hurriedly crawled on the floor and clung to Verne’s leg.
“Save me! Please, Verne!”
Verne’s expression turned savage. He glanced between Julieta and the man who was dusting himself off and standing up, then smirked.
“So this is where you’ve been, seducing some scumbag?”
Verne was curious about me?
He clicked his tongue and squatted down to meet Julieta’s eyes. He was waiting for an answer. Julieta, her eyes brimming with tears, shook her head. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Or was that scumbag trying to force himself on you?”
R*pe. It hadn’t happened, but if she had been dragged away, it undoubtedly would have. Julieta nodded vigorously.
Verne’s expression grew cold. He glanced at the man with icy eyes and then helped Julieta to her feet.
“Don’t run away, just stay put.”
He whispered as he pinned her against the wall. Verne then turned to shield Julieta with his body, and she felt a sense of relief looking at his broad back.
“I taught you well, and now a thug dares to touch you?”
“Who the hell are you?”
“You probably don’t want to sleep with me, so why are you curious about my name?”
Without warning, Verne threw a punch. The unsuspecting man was sent sprawling backward, overturning tables.
Verne had trained since childhood. He had practiced swordsmanship for years and had led troops in battle. These street thugs were no match for him.
As expected, the man was helpless against Verne. His lips split, and his cheek and eyes swelled.
“Stop it, Verne!”
Julieta wrapped her arms around Verne’s waist. The unconscious man dangled limply in Verne’s grip.
“He’ll die.”
She didn’t want Verne to become a murderer. Moreover, the man was a known gangster. If he sought revenge…
“Please, Verne.”
When Julieta called his name with a voice soaked in tears, Verne threw the man aside. The man crashed into the wall, and his friends or acquaintances rushed towards him.
“Didn’t I teach you to beg only in bed?”
Verne turned and slung Julieta over his shoulder.
“Verne!”
“It seems like you haven’t learned enough. This time, I’ll teach you properly.”
He carried her out of the pub and placed her into the carriage.
