Taken By My Fiancé's Uncle - Chapter 105: Chapter 105

Lorraine was truly aback. She wondered if the Shaws would be grounded in public. Just as the question crossed Lorraine's mind, she heard a dull thud—the sound of knees hitting the pavement.
When Lorraine glanced down, she saw Zackery had already dropped to his knees. Raquel quickly followed, dragging Elsie down and forcibly holding her in place, preventing her from getting up.
Zackery looked up with an ingratiating smile, his voice trembling with humility as he pleaded, "Mr. Moore, if we crawl a full circle on our knees, will you spare us?"
"Do it," Eugene said coolly, quietly taking Lorraine's small hand in his and wiping the sweat from her clammy palm.
Elsie looked up, her eyes filled with jealousy and hatred as she watched the scene unfold. Digging her nails into the stone pavement, she gritted her teeth in silent fury.
As night fell, Antiquity Lane grew busier. Some people were out for an evening stroll to enjoy the cool air, others were browsing shops, and still others were looking for a bite to eat.
The trio from the Shaw family instantly became the center of attention, with onlookers discreetly pulling out their phones to capture the humiliating scene.
Zackery desperately wanted to pull his clothes over his head and hide. But under Eugene's piercing gaze, he dared not move a muscle.
Gritting his teeth, Zackery forced himself to lead the way, shuffling forward on his knees. The rough gravel dug into his skin, sending sharp jolts of pain through his body.
Every step was a struggle, but Zackery had no choice—he had to swallow his pride and endure this humiliation. Only then could he hope to save his factory and finally appease Eugene.
Raquel kept her head bowed so low she was practically hunched like a crescent moon, clinging close behind Zackery, desperately hoping his figure might shield her from the disdainful stares of onlookers.
Her knees and shins were killing her. Years of living in luxury had left Raquel with delicate skin that couldn't bear such hardship. Thankfully, she'd worn a thin jumpsuit when she left home—at least the fabric kept the dirt and grime from touching her skin.
Elsie had it the worst. Elsie, always one to care about her looks, had dressed especially provocatively at her mother's suggestion for her meeting with Eugene—her outfit was strikingly revealing.
Elsie wore a pink crop top with a micro miniskirt that showcased her thighs—which made the sight of her being grounded more humiliating. The moment her knees hit the ground, the rough gravel bit into her skin, sending jolts of pain through her legs.
Every attempt to move was pure agony, making each inch forward feel like torture. A crowd quickly gathered. People stopped to stare, whisper, and point at the humiliating spectacle behind her.
Elsie desperately lowered her head, loosening her long curly hair so it tumbled forward like a shield—hiding her face, and with it, the burning resentment and unwillingness in her eyes.
Elsie dug her nails deep into her palms, fighting the urge to curse out loud. She shuffled forward behind Raquel. But as the pain in her knees became unbearable, her pace slowed to a crawl.
Lorraine watched their reactions, feeling both vindicated and sorrowful. Technically, they were her flesh and blood, but they treated her rather badly.
Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but nothing came out. The image of Lorraine's fragile, heartbroken expression from yesterday flashed through my mind. Remembering the humiliation, she pressed her lips tightly together.
Antiquity Lane stretched endlessly—even walking its full length would take half an hour. Lorraine stood at the entrance of the palatial stone manor, watching as their figures vanished from sight. A tumult of emotions churned within her.
It was an hour and a half later when they finally made their way back. They had arrived dressed to the nines, but after crawling a full lap on their knees, they returned disheveled and filthy, their knees torn to shreds and covered in blood.
Zackery was the first to stagger onto his knees before Eugene and Lorraine. Seeing his disheveled and pathetic state, Lorraine instinctively recoiled a step.
Only when her back pressed against Eugene's solid, warm chest did Lorraine finally feel a bit more at ease. She pressed her lips together and remained silent.
She saw that the knees of Raquel's jumpsuit were shredded, while Elsie's bare knees were lacerated by the gravel, oozing streaks of crimson blood. It was a gruesome sight that made one's stomach turn.
Most chilling of all was the venomous glare that flashed from Elsie's eyes through her disheveled hair—a look so full of hatred it sent chills down everyone's spine.
"M-Mr. Moore, we've finished crawling on our knees. Could you please show us mercy and forgive us now?"
Zackery's words came out labored—not from physical exertion, but because the sheer humiliation had reduced his voice to a hoarse rasp.
Raquel and Elsie looked up at Eugene, their faces full of anticipation. But after what felt like an eternity, Eugene still remained silent. The three of them stayed frozen on their knees before him, not daring to rise even as their knees ached.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally heard Eugene speak—though his words weren't directed at them at all. "Had enough? Let's go inside and get some rest," Eugene said gently.
Then, without so much as a backward glance, Eugene wrapped his arm around Lorraine's shoulders and strode into the palatial stone manor, casually closing the door behind them.
"Is it really okay to just leave them like that?" Lorraine murmured, sitting in the dining room and staring at the long-cold soup in front of her.
Eugene handed her a cup of warm milk and sat down beside her. "What's wrong with that? When they humiliated you yesterday, they didn't give a damn about family bonds. What I did is nothing compared to that. I'll never let them off the hook."
Lorraine tilted her head, mulling it over. She lowered her gaze, clutching the glass of milk in her hands, her face a picture of dejection. Anyone could see she was in low spirits.
Lorraine had expected to feel triumphant seeing the Shaws be grounded in repentance. But after their punishment, that fleeting satisfaction gave way to an even deeper sense of disappointment and emptiness.
'If Grandma could see us from heaven, she'd be heartbroken to see our family torn apart like this,' Lorraine thought sadly.
Eugene gently took the glass of milk from Lorraine's hands, brought it to her lips himself, and said softly, "Here."
Lorraine turned her head away, her eyes clearly resisting. "I don't want any."
Eugene didn't push her any further. He set the glass of milk down and walked into the study. Lorraine bit her lip, watching his retreating back, then glanced at the untouched milk in front of her.
'Did I upset him?' she wondered, a knot of unease tightening in her chest as her disappointment deepened.
Biting her lip, Lorraine picked up the glass of milk in front of her and forced herself to drink it sip by sip. And then she sank onto the living room sofa, resting her chin in her hand, staring blankly into space.
Within minutes, Lorraine heard the distinct whir of helicopter rotors coming to life on the roof, the sound growing louder by the second. She tilted her head, her bewilderment deepening.
As she stepped toward the doors, she saw four helicopters roaring away into the sky. The courtyard was already blanketed with roses, and crimson petals drifted down like gentle rain, filling the air with an intoxicating fragrance that made everything feel impossibly romantic.
Lorraine's eyes sparkled with delight as she couldn't help but step into the sea of roses. She reached out to catch the drifting petals, and a sweet, genuine smile gradually blossomed across her face.
Eugene stepped into the living room and was greeted by the sight of the courtyard transformed into a passionate display of red roses. His gaze slowly drifted to Lorraine's face, where he caught the faintest hint of a smile playing at her lips.
Eugene thought, 'So this is Isaac's idea of how to cheer up a woman?' But it seemed to work. At least she finally smiled.
A satisfied smile tugged at the corners of Eugene's lips, his eyes shimmering with warmth as he gazed at Lorraine. Without breaking eye contact, he slowly walked toward her.
Lorraine spun around and saw Eugene standing behind her. She beamed at him, her laughter ringing clear as a bell as if all her previous gloom had been swept away in an instant.
"Did you do all this for me?" Lorraine asked, her eyes sparkling with starlight and hope.
"That was Isaac's idea."
"Oh." Lorraine's smile faltered just a little, but her eyes still sparkled. "Thank you. I really love it."
"I just made a call. Can't stand seeing someone moping around in my yard. If you're upset, who's gonna cook for me?"
With just a few offhand remarks, Eugene downplayed the fact that he'd made a special call to Isaac just for Lorraine.
Lorraine lowered her gaze, hiding the disappointment in her eyes. Her hands clutched tightly at the hem of her dress, as a flutter of hopeful thoughts began to blossom in her heart.
Lorraine gathered her skirt and walked over to him, her delicate face upturned as she studied his handsome features, her gaze lingering on his lips.
As dusk settled in and scattered stars began to dot the sky, his chiseled features stood out with striking clarity, captured in the depths of her eyes. She felt like she had known him for years.
After gazing at him for what felt like an eternity, Lorraine finally mustered every ounce of her courage and spoke, "That night you pretended to like me. Then... could I...?"
"What?" Eugene asked evenly.
"Could I... maybe pretend... pretend to like you back?" She finally managed to get the words out, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap right out of her chest.
Clasping her hands together, Lorraine gazed up at him—a sight Eugene found unexpectedly endearing and utterly adorable. "Pretend to like me?" Eugene's dark brows furrowed slightly, and his tone edged with displeasure.
Lorraine's heart skipped a beat. Afraid he might refuse, she didn't wait for his answer. Instead, she quickly reached up, wrapped her arms around Eugene's neck, and stood up straight. On tiptoe, she craned her neck and pressed her lips to his rose-tinted lips.
Eugene had thought she would just give him a quick peck and pull away, but to his surprise, she didn't. He was aback because he'd never seen Lorraine so bold and enthusiastic before.
Lowering his gaze to her fluttering lashes, he savored the sweet softness of her lips. The tip of Lorraine's small, tentative tongue slipped into his mouth, slowly entwining with his.
Seeing how earnest Lorraine was, Eugene stayed perfectly still, letting her take complete control.
But Lorraine was utterly inexperienced. Her tongue fumbled clumsily in his mouth, and she sucked hard on his lips, all awkward eagerness. Such fiery passion, yet so adorably clumsy.
Eugene let out a low chuckle, but Lorraine kissed him even more deeply. She wouldn't let him say no. Her arms coiled around Eugene's neck like clinging vines, her entire body pressed flush against his.
Her eager kisses nearly bruised his lips before Eugene finally managed to gently pry her hands away. Tilting his head back, he put mere inches between their faces.
Eugene pressed his nose against hers, their breaths mingling in the heated space between them. In a low, seductive voice, he murmured, "So, how long are you planning to keep pretending you like me?"