Chapter 296: Get Out
THUD!
Everyone gasped in shock, and Melissa even covered her mouth. All eyes were wide, minds blank. Just moments ago, they had seen Derek’s eyes turn red before he grabbed Lola.
"Ahhh!"
The silent air was shattered with a shout of pain echoing through the space. Derek winced, his hand twisted behind his back.
"Ahh!" he shouted again. "Aw—ouch! What the—You’re hurting me!"
Lola gripped his wrist behind him, kicking the back of his foot to make him fall to his knees. Still holding his hand, she stomped on his back until he was lying on his stomach.
"Ahhh!" he shouted, struggling. But his attempts only hurt himself.
"Lola, what are you doing?!" Melissa shouted, darting her eyes between Lola and Derek. "Let him go right now!"
Lola shot her a cold glare but didn’t say a word. Gazing down at Derek, all sympathy she had for him vanished.
"Derek, there are a lot of things I overlooked because of the chairman. However, raise your hand at me again, and I’ll make sure it’ll be the last time you ever use that hand," she warned coldly, then slid her eyes to Melissa. "Next time you tell him something, make sure he doesn’t humiliate himself."
Having said that, Lola twisted Derek’s wrist further before finally letting him go. She dusted her hands off and stepped back.
Everyone stared at Lola, especially Cedrick, with relief. When he saw Derek, Cedrick was the first to step forward, though he remained a little far, ready to protect her. Others, however, were in utter disbelief.
How could Derek raise his hand to Lola—on a woman?
"Derek!" Melissa squatted to help him back to his feet. His eyes burned with bitterness as he glared at Lola.
"You—" he breathed. "How could you—Lola, are you this violent?! Do you think you can get away with this?!"
"You’re the first to raise your hand to her! You should be ashamed!" Silo shouted, running to Lola and pulling her behind him. "Derek Lancaster, if you want to fight now, let’s fight! Don’t pick on someone weaker than you!"
Lola’s brows rose in surprise, looking at Silo. "Weaker? Me?"
"I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but Taz didn’t just slap Melissa for no reason," Cedrick stepped forward, followed by the group with them. In a second, they all surrounded Lola, shoving her slightly back.
Lola almost tripped, finding herself at the back. When she looked ahead, her face scrunched up.
"Hello?"
"That’s right! How could you call yourself a man for raising your hand on a lady!?" someone in the group yelled. "Even if you’re from the Lancaster family, that doesn’t excuse your behavior!"
"Taz only helped Melissa get into her role!" another shouted. "If Melissa were doing her job and didn’t waste everyone’s time, it wouldn’t have happened!"
"We only managed to pass the scene because of Taz’s help!"
"Even Melissa knew that! Why don’t you ask her?" Silo shouted, huffing. "Didn’t she tell you why she got slapped in the first place?"
Cedrick exhaled heavily. "There would be a few scenes where Melissa needed to be slapped. Are you going to hurt anyone else who was supposed to do that too?"
One after another, everyone expressed their dismay at Derek’s behavior. He knitted his brows, taking a step back at the rallying crowd.
"Just go away!" Silo shouted, waving his hand. "Go! Otherwise, I’ll beat you up!"
To emphasize his determination, Silo clasped his fists together and assumed a boxing stance.
"Derek," Melissa called, tugging his arm. "Let’s just go."
Derek clenched his teeth, glaring at her and the group, all of whom were ready for a fight.
*****
"I can’t believe he would actually do something like that!" Silo huffed angrily. "That guy—I should’ve punched him in the face! That guy’s the lowest of the low!"
Cedrick nodded. "Taz, does he always do that?"
"It’s really a good thing you broke off your engagement. He could act like that even when you weren’t together. Imagine if you were married?" Silo shook his head, still fuming at the thought that Derek had actually tried to raise his hand on Lola.
Lola puckered her lips, looking at the two of them in the van. Even the group they were with was fuming, telling her to let them know if she ever needed protection before they separated.
"What?" Silo turned to Lola. "Why aren’t you reacting?"
"Why would I?" Lola crossed her arms. "I’m actually a little... happy."
Silo and Cedrick frowned at her, while she grinned to herself. "I feel... kinda safe."
"This crazy girl," Silo clicked his tongue. Cedrick let out a shallow breath, smiling in relief that Lola wasn’t sulking. After all, he knew Derek was Lola’s ex-fiance, and being treated that way worried him.
"If she’s fine, then that’s more important," Cedrick said, letting out a shallow sigh. He flashed Silo a smile, making the latter frown.
*****
Meanwhile...
"Derek—"
"Don’t talk to me, Melissa." Derek kept his focus on the road, his chest rising and falling heavily. "Just don’t."
Melissa pursed her lips, shrinking back in her seat. For the next minute, they stayed in silence until he spoke again.
"Melissa, was it true?" he asked. "That Lola was only helping with the scene, and that’s why she slapped you?"
She didn’t answer, but the silence spoke volumes.
"You should’ve told me—"
"I told you it was nothing," she replied. "Why did you have to confront her like that?"
"Are you saying it was my fault?"
"No, I’m just saying you should’ve listened when I said it was nothing!"
Derek went quiet, and a moment later, he pulled over to the side. "Get out."
"Derek, what are you—"
"Out!" He turned to her, anger still in his eyes. "Get out, Melissa. I don’t think I can drive you home when I’m this angry."
"Are you serious?" she scoffed, but seeing his unbending expression, she could only hiss. Without a word, Melissa stepped out, hoping he would change his mind.
To her dismay, Derek sped away as soon as she closed the door. Melissa gasped, staring at the car’s rear until it disappeared.
"He really..." she ground her teeth, looking around. She checked to see if he would come back, but he didn’t, leaving her alone to figure out how to get home.
"Did he seriously just leave me here?"