Chapter 8: Can You Bear It?_1

Emily Taylor's motives were straightforward.

She wanted to push Ethan Smith into the center of attention in River City—and let Sylvia Johnson know that Ethan was absolutely not a useless loser!

Of course, if Ethan couldn't handle the pressure, Emily would naturally give up on him.

...

By evening, Ethan was carrying a pile of herbs, preparing to head home.

As he reached the entrance of the neighborhood, Ethan was startled to find Emily Taylor standing there.

She was wearing a white dress, her long hair fluttering in the breeze. Anyone walking by would have to take another look.

Seeing her, Ethan quickly jogged over.

"Miss Emily, what are you doing here?" Ethan asked.

Emily rolled her eyes and said, "Obviously, I came to see you."

This left Ethan somewhat flattered and a little unsure of how to respond as he scratched his head.

"What's that in your hands?" Emily's gaze shifted to the herbs Ethan was holding.

"Oh, just some Chinese medicinal herbs I bought," Ethan replied.

Emily reached out and took the herbs from Ethan's hands, jokingly saying, "Oh, so Doctor Ethan is out treating diseases now, huh?"

Ethan scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. "Not exactly. I don't know how to explain it to you..."

Emily sniffed the herbs and teased, "These herbs seem useless now, don't they? Why did you even buy them?"

Ethan opened his mouth but couldn't find the words to explain.

"No money to buy better ones?" Emily blinked as though she could see right through Ethan's embarrassment.

Ethan nodded, looking visibly awkward.

Emily burst into laughter, then casually tossed the pile of herbs into the nearby trash can.

"I'll get you some good ones next time," Emily said with a smile.

Ethan quickly shook his head and said, "No, no, Miss Emily, I already owe you too much..."

Emily rolled her eyes and said, "You can just pay me back when you strike it rich someday."

Ethan smiled bitterly and replied, "What if I never make it big?"

"Don't say stuff like that." Emily lightly tapped Ethan on the head.

"I think you're definitely going to be extraordinary someday." Emily's bright and sincere eyes locked onto Ethan's, radiating genuine warmth.

*Ethan's eyes instantly welled up, and he almost shed tears.*

*Growing up, nearly everyone around him firmly believed he was a useless nobody. Never had anyone spoken to him with such conviction.*

*Hearing Emily's words now filled Ethan with heartfelt gratitude.*

"Miss Emily, thank you," Ethan said, eyes moist with emotion, as he rubbed them in an attempt to conceal his feelings.

Emily joked, "Hey, men shouldn't cry so easily!"

"Got it!" Ethan nodded firmly.

At that moment, in the near distance, a van suddenly sped by!

The vehicle came to a halt directly in front of Ethan. Soon after, more than ten burly men armed with clubs jumped out!

Their leader was a bald, middle-aged man with a distinctive scar running across his face.

This man was none other than the infamous Ray Walters of River City—better known as "Ray"!

"Miss Emily, you should go back," Ethan quickly turned to Emily, urging her.

Emily gazed at the group but displayed not a trace of fear.

"Are these people here for you?" Emily asked with curiosity glimmering in her eyes.

Ethan, panicked, replied, "Miss Emily, I'll explain later. Please just leave!"

Emily chuckled and said, "Come on, I'm just a woman. They wouldn't dare do anything to me."

*Deeply anxious, Ethan instinctively moved to shield Emily behind him.*

*Emily felt a spark of warmth at his protective gesture, her opinion of Ethan elevating yet again.*

She hid behind Ethan, observing the group discreetly.

Ray Walters soon approached Ethan, flanked by his men.

Holding a bat, Ray eyed Ethan from head to toe and said, "So, you're the one who hit Gary Brown?"

Ethan took a deep breath, striving to maintain his composure as he said, "He provoked me first."

Ray scoffed impatiently and said, "Cut the crap! If he hit you, you deserved it. You ought to just suck it up!"

Ethan replied coldly, "That's not how things work!"

"Hahahahaha!" Ray and his cronies burst into loud laughter at Ethan's words.

"Boss, is this guy nuts? 'Fairness'? What kind of bullshit is that?"

"Exactly. Our Ray Walters here *is* the rules!"

Ray patted Ethan on the shoulder mockingly and sneered, "Listen, kid, the one with the bigger fist makes the rules!"

*Ethan's expression darkened with anger, but facing more than a dozen men, he was utterly outmatched.*

Ray studied Ethan with amusement and sneered, "Here's the deal: get on your knees and bow to me, and I might consider letting you off the hook. How's that sound?"

Ethan glared at Ray with fiery determination and snapped, "In your dreams!"

"Dreams, huh?" Ray's demeanor instantly turned icy.

He gestured with his hand, prompting his crew to step forward.

"I'll break your legs and make sure you're on your knees for the rest of your life!" Ray barked ferociously!

"You think he's worthy of kneeling to you?"

At that moment, a girl's voice rang out from behind Ethan.

Emily Taylor stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Ray Walters with playful disdain.

Ethan's face paled with alarm as he exclaimed hurriedly, "Ray Walters, this is all on me—she has nothing to do with it!"

"Miss Emily, you have to leave now!" Ethan pleaded frantically.

Emily shook her head, standing firm as she glared coldly at Ray Walters.

Ray Walters stared at Emily, blinking hard. When he got a clear view of her face, his expression immediately shifted. His complexion turned pale, and his body trembled violently!