Chapter 16: Elena Ward Cried Out in Pain

"Ah!" Elena Ward cried out in pain, her face instantly turning deathly pale.

Agnes Ward had her granddaughter's arm in a vice-like grip, her nails digging deep into the flesh. The unhealed wound on Elena's arm was torn open again, the waterlogged skin now an even ghastlier shade of white, fresh blood welling up where Agnes's fingers had left deep marks.

"Stop!" Adrian Stone seized Agnes's wrist with such force that she yelped and let go.

Agnes flinched at his sharp command. "W-what's wrong with disciplining my own granddaughter?" she blustered. "This girl has no parents—if it weren't for me and her uncle raising her, she'd have starved to death! Now she's grown wings and refuses to come home. Do you know how much that hurts me—"

Adrian ignored her excuses, tearing open Elena's sleeve. The gathered villagers gasped in horror.

The slender arm was covered in bruises—old wounds layered with fresh ones, mottled purple and blue. The most shocking was the jagged, still-bleeding gash where the skin had split open.

"Mayor!" Adrian's voice was ice-cold.

Martin Reed hurried over, his face darkening when he saw Elena's injuries. "Agnes Ward! Are you trying to kill her?"

"Who doesn't discipline their children?" Agnes retorted stubbornly. "I raised her father the same way—"

"Enough!" Adrian snapped. "Mayor, we must report this. Under Criminal Law Article 260, severe abuse of family members carries a sentence of up to two years in prison."

Agnes's legs buckled, nearly sending her to the ground. Since when was disciplining a child against the law?

Calvin Ward pushed through the crowd, sweating profusely. "A misunderstanding! Just a misunderstanding! My mother is old—she doesn't understand these things..." He turned to Elena with a forced smile. "Elena, come home with Uncle. No one will lay a finger on you again."

Elena shrank behind Adrian, her trembling fingers clutching the hem of his shirt.

"Miss Ward," Adrian said gently, "what do you want to do?"

The girl lifted her tear-filled eyes, her voice barely audible. "I... I just want to go home." She glanced at Agnes's ashen face and added, "Grandma is old... I won't press charges."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. This girl might seem fragile, but she knew exactly where to strike.

"Mayor?" He gave Martin a meaningful look.

"Of course! I'll arrange for her house to be prepared immediately!" Martin wiped his brow.

Calvin wrung his hands. "No need to trouble the soldiers—we'll handle it ourselves—"

"No trouble at all." Adrian cut him off, turning to his cadets. "Men, is helping our fellow citizens part of serving the people?"

"Yes, sir!" The twenty-odd young men answered in unison, startling a flock of sparrows from the trees.

Calvin's face turned green. He had hoped to stall, but these soldiers weren’t giving him an inch.

"Lead the way," Adrian said with a faint smile. "Perfect chance for the cadets to experience rural life."

The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the ground. Elena quietly wiped her tears, the ghost of a smile touching her lips.