Don't Hurt Him

- Gu Residence -

Katrina chewed on her chapped lips, peeling dead skin off her lips until it bled. She sucked the iron taste into her mouth before continuing cutting her lips with her sharp teeth. Her body trembled as she pressed the heat up cellphone screen against her ears.

"Are you fucking listening to my words? I said your son provoked me during the dinner party and humiliated me! I'm telling you right now. I won't let him off. I'll teach him a lesson he won't ever forget!" Shirley's voice vibrated into her ears; deafening her.

"I.. Shirley..Don't be angry. I'll talk to Bryan. Please forgive him. I won't let him get near you anymore. He doesn't know anything and is still looking for Selina. I'll go look for him and scold him. I'll lecture him for you. I'll make him listen, so please don't do anything to him." She stuttered vigorously as adrenaline rushed through her bloodstream.

"Hah, didn't you say this the last time? And then what happened? He disrespected me in front of everyone at the party. Not only that! Now, even Peter misunderstood me! Did you expect me to keep my temper from exploding? What am I? Buddha?" Shirley ridiculed her words while rolling her eyes.

"Sorry! I'll apologize on his behalf. Don't hurt him. You can't hurt him!"

"Because of your words, I will prove you wrong. I will hurt him, so you'll pain even more. You guys are the darkest stain in my life. Better tell your son to be careful. Besides, I should be thanking you for helping me wire his phone. I can track him anytime and listen to his conversations to know his whereabouts. Shouldn't you be thankful that you're pushing another child to death road?"

Katrina's eyes widened as flashbacks of her actions rewind in his mind. For Bryan's birthday, she had gifted him a new cellphone under Shirley's instructions. Her fingers subconsciously gripped the phone tightly as she gritted her teeth. "Shirley, you..you didn't really want to eavesdrop on Selina, and Bryan's conversations about Peter, did you? You had an ulterior motive..."

"Hah, you've finally become smarter for once. I only wanted to find the right time and place to destroy all that you value. I've said to myself before. I will make your life a living hell hole. How does it feel seeing the daughter you've raised for all your life reach heartbreak and suicidal point? It was all because of you that she jumped."

"Ah, I have a video of her expression before she jumped. Her eyes were lifeless. She looked at you with hopelessness and despair. You're a failure as a mother. As for your son? He never believed in your words. How does it feel to have nobody by your side? Does it hurt? You deserve all this."

Shirley thriller laughter echoed through the phone call before a beep disconnected the call. Hearing the last seconds of laughter, Katrina's fingers loosened around her cellphone and let it drop to the floor. "No...No.." She muttered and shook her head.

Meanwhile, Bryan was in the middle of doing research for upcoming business interactions when he received an unknown phone call. As he clicked into an email about an upcoming auction, he started scrolling through various artworks put up for bidding.

"Hello?" He answered the call without looking at the caller ID. Since this was his private number, only Katrina and Selina would call him usually.

Screeechh

Holding the phone a few inches away from his ears, he squinted and rubbed his ear. "Arghh..What the heck.."

A male voice was heard from the other end. " Hello, we have been trying to reach you about your automobile insurance. According to our records, your insurance has expired. To renew it, please provide your....."

Without another thought, Bryan hung up the call. "A scammer? The hell is with their system? Ugh. Whatever." Turning his focus back to the screen, his eyes widened. His fingers brushed against his laptop screen and wiped it a few times before confirming what he was seeing.

"Alfred!!" He screamed on top of lungs. In a matter of seconds, Alfred barged into the room with shampoo in his hair. Above the towel around his waist, was his lean muscles glistening with water droplets; exposing his well-built body.

"What happened?" He was in the middle of a hot shower when he heard Bryan's voice roaring down the hall. Immediately, he rushed out to see what was wrong.

Bryan pointed to the screen and said, "Look at this!!"

Alfred read the subject line before lowering his gaze to one of the artworks displayed. He gasped in astonishment, "Isn't this Selina's work?" Selina only mentioned it to them about her personal signature within the painting. If anyone connects the small gaps in the painting, it will become her initials.

"The level of creativity and signature definitely belongs to her. But why is it here?" Bryan wondered as he read the description attached. From the email alone, it seemed like a regular hidden bid where the seller is anonymous. If they wanted to know who it is, they must win her painting.

"Are you thinking of going?" Alfred saw the spark of excitement in his eyes and took a wild guess on his thoughts.

Bryan rubbed his chin and nodded. "There's a chance it could be Selina. Even if it's not her, she's the original artist of this piece. I need to collect it."

Alfred stared at the bright screen and memorized the email address. "I'll check on that email first. " Few minutes later, he walked back to the bathroom to finish his shower. As water drained away, Alfred closed his eyes and whispered, "If it's her..how great would it be?" An inexplicable feeling of hope and sorrow overwhelmed him.

In the meantime, Bryan also looked into the auction, host and any details that could provide him more certainty on how legitimate this event is. If there is any chances of it being a trap, then that painting might not actually show up that day.

It was another sleepless night for Alfred and Bryan.