"You kept pursuing my daughter and got rejected every time," Valerie's father snarled. "You must've held a grudge, so you refused to save her!"
He kicked me again.
I hit the ground once more.
This time, Valerie's parents did not stop there. They rushed forward and began punching and kicking me without restraint.
My parents stood by coldly, watching, almost as if they were eager to join in and beat me again themselves.
Lucas laughed when he saw the scene. It seemed even he had not expected his words to work this well.
Dazed and on the verge of losing consciousness, I barely registered what was happening until a female police officer rushed in and dragged me out of the chaos.
"The case hasn't been investigated yet!" she shouted sharply. "Who gave you permission to lay hands on him?!"
"Officer, don't interfere!" my father roared. "I'm his father! He stood by and watched someone suffer. He deserves to be beaten!"
My mother immediately echoed him. "That's right. Anyone who stands by and does nothing deserves to be beaten!"