Lydia Was Shot

Tim didn't hesitate as he said, "Of course, my mother is the most beautiful woman in the world, and beauty is just the least noteworthy of her virtues." His eyes warmed up, making his words seem sincere. Lydia sneered, but the meaning behind it was unclear. However, Tim knew what she was laughing at. He said, "No need for such a reaction. My father's love for my mother has nothing to do with her appearance or anything else. Even if my mother were not beautiful, not outstanding, my father would still love her." Lydia retorted, "I really don't believe that." "Indeed, beauty is a bonus, but once it is past its prime, it's nothing. The soul is eternal." "Your mother manages to maintain her beauty now. Come talk to me about these things in ten or twenty years." She glanced at Tim, "I guess your father has a ton of illegitimate children out there." "My mother passed away twenty years ago, and my father has kept his chastity for her until now, never betraying her." Lydia was taken aback, but still didn’t believe him, "Maybe you just don't know." "With your distorted perception of love, seeing everyone as purely physical couples, how can you find true love?" Lydia grew annoyed, "I said I don’t have that! If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll rip your mouth apart." Tim completely disregarded her threat. He said, "I have a friend, you've met her, the girl who saved me in Yurinam last time. "She had a misfortune recently and fell off a cliff into the deep sea. Her boyfriend, note the emphasis, only her boyfriend, followed and jumped into the sea after her without hesitation." "And then?" Lydia looked at him. "She now lies in bed, diagnosed as a vegetative patient. Her boyfriend is always by her side, aiding her unrelentingly every single day." Lydia fell silent. Tim said, "If I were there at the time, I would have jumped down to save her too, even if what lays below is a deep sea that gulps down humans." Lydia turned her gaze to him, "Do you also love her?" Tim responded, "I just wanted to tell you that in this world, there is more than just romantic love. There are also friendships and familial love that transcend all earthly matters. "If it had been me who fell at that time, my friends would have undoubtedly jumped down to save me as well. I never once doubted the bond we shared." Lydia asked, "What about you? Would you be like your father and love only one woman in your entire life?" Her eyes were fixed on him, "Even if she is not beautiful or outstanding, would you remain faithful to her for an entire lifetime? Never betraying her?" Tim replied, "Being faithful to a loved one is the most basic. "As long as she is the one I love, it wouldn't matter if she's not beautiful or outstanding. Even if she had a mental disorder or if she's a beggar who scrounges scraps from the street sides, I would love her. Whatever enslaves me will always only be the soul, not the mundane outer shell." Lydia fell silent once again. After he finished speaking yesterday, Lydia seemed more normal, just a bit quieter, of course. Tim was able to have a good sleep last night, a rare occurrence. While Lydia was lost in thought, Tim approached her. As she shifted back to reality, she looked at his harmless smile. Tim leaned towards her, "Your world is really filthy. Love, family, friendship, all are filled with pathology." Lydia's face turned a bit pale. "Your psyche and thought patterns are all distorted. You're a classic case of antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder. "You need therapy. "I'm a lawyer, and also a psychiatrist. Do you need psychological counseling, Miss Callahan?" His voice was gentle and slow. It should have been comforting, but it was more akin to being pricked by a needle, making her feel uncomfortable all over, fingertip tingling, wanting to ask him for help, but also fearfully wanting to avoid him. His eyes carry no hint of a medical practitioner's benevolence. Instead, he resembled one who had captured an interesting prey, wanting to domesticate, toy with, and even torment it. His inner darkness was far more than that, he hid it well, rarely revealing his abnormality, especially in front of strangers. But in front of trusted friends and likeminded individuals, he often liked to let his other side loose, venting without reckoning the consequences. "No, thanks!" Tim's lips lifted in a regretful pout, "What a shame, it's been quite a while since I've encountered a patient with a condition as severe as yours." Lydia retorted angrily, "You're the one who is sick!" Tim spoke to himself, "Although you have given up on becoming a normal person, I will still pray for God's blessings upon you." Tim took out his phone, continuing to pour oil on the fire from behind the scenes. Meanwhile, the Callahan Clan was still persistently searching for him and Lydia's whereabouts, with two groups of people - Lucas and Enzo, Lydia's father. Tim received the news that the Callahan Clan was searching for them. He decided to take Lydia and leave the small hotel to avoid the search. The night was slowly swallowing the land. Lydia stood with her hands in front of her body, two loops of rope tied around her wrists. With one large hand, Tim easily grasped her wrists. This gesture conveniently concealed the rope. The two of them walked down the street like this, to the outside world, they appeared as lovers walking hand in hand. Up ahead, a group of men approached. The sharp-witted Tim pulled Lydia to one side to hide. Lydia sneered and told him, "That's my father's best henchman. You're done for." Tim laughed and retorted, "Too bad he's already been bought over by Lucas." The smile faded from Lydia's face. Tim continued, "Do you think he's here to kill me, or you?" Before Lydia could respond, Tim flashed a malicious grin, "Let's find out." The next second, he boldly stepped into the open, pulling Lydia along with him into the line of sight of those people. Gunshots sounded. Tim, dragging Lydia with one hand and holding a gun in the other, returned fire. Bullets whizzed past their ears as Tim fought back while retreating with Lydia. Lydia's gaze locked onto her father's most powerful henchman. He should have come to her rescue the moment he saw her, but he didn't. He hid behind others, slowly raising his gun. The muzzle was unexpectedly aimed at her before he pulled the trigger. Two shots in succession. Having nowhere to hide, Lydia was pierced by the second bullet through her shoulder. Blood splattered out, quickly staining her clothes red. Looking at the large patch of blood on her shoulder, Tim uttered internally, 'This has gone too far.' The people from the Babbitt family arrived just in time. Tim immediately picked up the unconscious Lydia and left the place. They couldn't go to any hospitals or clinics in this area because Lucas wanted Lydia dead and wanted to capture him alive. There was sure to be an ambush waiting for them. Tim could only take her to a hotel. Lydia had already passed out. Unbinding the ropes from her wrists, and as he rolled up her sleeve, he saw an ugly knife scar on her arm, left by the "three knifes, six holes" punishment.