Christine's heart was beating fast at the sense of familiarity surrounding her. She removed the hand on her eyes and saw the man glaring at the onlookers in the room, with his eyes filled up with anger and warning.

The world was in silence now.

The woman who was kicked lay and trembled on the ground several meters away from where she used to be.

Being held in his arms, Christine's heart almost stopped out of excitement. Such excitement came from the fact that there was a man who would always protect her against the whole world without asking for anything.

Christine's face crumpled. She held Franklin's neck tightly with her arms and said with a soft and trembled voice, "Hubby, you are here now. These guys are trying to bully me!"

"This man, and that girl! They all want to hurt me."

"They insisted and took me there even I told them I didn't want to. And they forbid me to call you when I have no money!"

Christine's tears were blinding her. And she lifted her hand to show Franklin, which was red and swollen. 

"Hubby, it hurts. They did it."

Franklin stared at her palm and caressed her cheek with his hand.

Franklin held her trembling arm tightly and asked in a serious tone, "How dare you hurt my wife?"

The media hidden were then stunned speechlessly and wondered they were here for adultery instead of public display of affection.

Nobody hit your wife and she was hurt because she slapped others.

Franklin let Christine leave his arms, glanced at Mason, and walked toward Martin while unleashing his sleeves. Franklin did it in an elegant manner which attracted the attention of people around him.

Martin was frightened seeing Franklin walking towards him.

"You seemed to forget my words and need some lessons."

"Mr. Brook...it is a misunderstanding... I didn't... I didn't hurt your wife...", Martin could not stay calm anymore and tried to justify himself.

"A misunderstanding?"

Martin pointed at Larissa, "It's all her fault! She brought Christine here and I didn't know that!"

On hearing his words, Larissa glared at Martin and recriminated, "Martin, if you didn't tell me to do so and that you loved Christine, I wouldn't bring my best friend here to see you!"

"Mr. Brook, you must believe me..."

Larissa cried with her eyes running. However, Franklin didn't glance at her and trampled his foot on Martin's calf with strength. Rang was the sound of bone cracking, and Martin fell in a faint with his eyes wide open.

Never had Christine seen Franklin being so bloodthirsty and harsh. She was stunned for a moment.

Christine opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't. Mason patted on her shoulder and mocked when he saw Christine changed her expression from astonished to heartbroken, "Do you finally find yourself didn't deserve him? Frank always stood by your side and won't let anyone speak ill of you. Christine, if you still had any conscience, you wouldn't have done so much to hurt him!"

Thinking of Franklin, Christine felt her heart ached suddenly and she thought she could not stand there anymore without doing nothing. Then she clenched her fists and turned around to go to the restroom.

Then she hissed.

Christine felt a pang of pain when she was about to move her feet.

She had to stop as someone was holding her wrist. Backward was Christine as she saw that gloomy face when she moved her sight along with the hand holding her.

"You are scared of me?"

Christine shook her head.

"Where are you going?"

"Restroom."

"For what?"

Seeing his seriousness and cautiousness, Christine chuckled while her nose ran.

"For washing face and makeup. And I don't want to touch you with my swollen hand unwashed because it touched someone disgusting before."

Franklin took another hand of her naturally, "You are right."

Mrs. Jones almost fainted before. After hearing their words, she was so angry about the fact she was slapped and regarded disgusting. And she fainted right now.

Arriving at the restroom, Franklin put her hand under the running water.

With water running through her hand, Christine felt the pain deceased. She raised her head and saw Franklin's chin, which was very attractive.

"Frank, let's go shopping later and have dinner. I can pay the bill."

"Really, where did you get the money?"

Before their marriage, Christine shopped with the bank card offered by the Stocks with limited money.

He used to give her money but stopped it when he knew Christine would spend money on others.

But Frank would meet Christine's demands in his way when she was in school.

Christine raised her head, her eyes smiling.

Frank was in a black trench coat. He held Christine in his arms and kissed her ear. 

"I returned all the ugly clothes and got the money when Larissa took me out just now. I didn't wear it. It is a huge amount." Christine put up her hand and blushed, "there are 5 million yuan."

"Well, you used to have bad taste in people and clothes." Franklin held her even more tightly. Seeing her swollen hand seemed to be in better condition, he dried up her hand.

Christine was not angry at his sarcastic comments and laughed with pride and complacence. 

"At least I chose a good husband."

Marrying Franklin was the most satisfying thing in her life. 

And that didn't mean things on the bed.

"What beautiful words! Remember to keep it."

Christine remembered that she had been called Pinocchio because she was good at coaxing her husband.

Franklin took Christine's hand and walked towards outside. Mason blocked their way, "Frank, as your order I gave them some lesson and Martin lost his front tooth. Shall we go back to the company now?" 

Christine wrinkled her brows as she knew Franklin was busy with his company now because it was just started. After a few years, his company would become the tycoon of Country H. Of course, it might be a short time without her.

She decided secretly that she would become a better woman who could stand by Franklin's side instead of a girl under his protection.

Franklin frowned at first. When he saw Christine's upset face, he smiled, " No, I am busy this afternoon. You go to the company first and deal with the employing things. As for the contract, talk to Ben, and I will check it at last."

Mason forced a smile, "Okay."

And he cast a glance to accuse Christine and quickly retreated it. 

What a man who prioritized his wife before friends!Mason wondered.

Christine was a little guilty about that. But she had to let Mason take it as she wanted to stay with Franklin alone. She smiled towards Mason and said, "Oh Mason, Frank will be so thankful to have a hardworking brother like you."

Both Franklin and Mason gave a start as they didn't tell Christine their relationship. And it was weird for Christine to speak it out.

Christine didn't think of lying before Franklin, let alone realizing he sensed something on her casual words.

When Christine and Franklin left the hospital hand by hand, Gloria saw them. She glared at the couple when they left in a car and stomped with her high heels broken. 

Then Gloria saw Larissa walked by. Gloria almost wanted to hit Larissa out of anger after a few questions about what happened inside the hospital.

"Idiot! Stupid! How can you be fooled by Christine! You must give her some drugs and make her insane!" Gloria was on the verge of rage and was determined to let Christine die.

After all, only after Christine's death could she replace Christine and marry Franklin.