A loud thud sounded, and the next thing Eloise knew, her face was on the coffee table. At that moment, an excruciating pain shot up her wrists and cheeks.
Jim had pinned her down in the most humiliating way. She had never felt such embarrassment. Then, tears welled in her eyes as she looked at her parents. She pleaded with them in a choked-up voice, “Mom! Dad! Help me! I don’t want him to take me away!”
Sharron began to cry when she saw how poorly her daughter was treated. Although the former was frightened, she mustered up the courage to look at Jim and asked, “Don’t you think you should give us a reason for arresting my daughter?
“You army buddies barged into my home and are taking my daughter away for no good reason. If this gets out, it’ll ruin your reputation.”
Chester added, “Master Jim, I know you command massive respect within the army. Still, my daughter didn’t commit any crimes. It’s unreasonable for you to arrest her.”
Jim glanced at Eloise sidelong. “Tell them what you did today, Eloise.”
Something flashed in her mind, but she immediately dismissed it. “I’ve been home all day and did nothing wrong! You might be a part of the army, but you can’t accuse me without evidence! I’ll never admit to something I never did. You won’t intimidate me that easily!”
Jim sneered, “Fine. If you don’t say it, I will. You hired some people to frame Bonnie for something she didn’t do. You’ve committed a serious crime of slander by doing that. I’m exercising my right as the army leader. I’ll make you confess your crime!”
“B-Bonnie?” Eloise was stunned. Suddenly, she remembered the video she had watched earlier. She recalled the army arresting the people she had hired to slander Bonnie.
‘I thought the army would never deploy so many troops and armored vehicles for someone like Bonnie. Now, the army has barged into my home for Bonnie’s sake. Worse, they’re arresting me as well!
‘I thought Bonnie was just a regular student. Even so, the Shepards are an average family among the countless families in Pyralis. Bonnie’s no one special, so why would so many army men help her? Eloise could not understand how Bonnie could possess such a powerful influence. Eloise questioned Bonnie’s background.
“That’s right. It’s Bonnie,” Jim said firmly. Then, he gestured at a nearby soldier. “Take her away.”
“Copy that, sir.” Two soldiers grabbed Eloise on either side before dragging her away.
Chester and Sharron tried to stop them, but Jim stood in their way instead. “Sir, Ma’am, please stop. It’s about your daughter’s actions, so we’re only here for her. However, if you two insist on getting in our way, we’ll consider it an offense. If that’s the case, we must punish your whole family.”
Chester and Sharon froze at the blatant threat. None of them dared to move a muscle. They could only watch as the soldiers dragged their daughter away.
Jim glanced at them coldly before ordering the soldiers around him, “Let’s move.”
“Understood, sir!” The soldiers marched out of the villa, leaving Chester and Sharon in the living room.
