Chapter 5

Cora was terrified. She hurriedly grabbed Timothy, who was about to lash out with tears in her eyes.

"Timothy, listen to me," she said. "Let's talk this out. We can't resort to violence. Exceptional young ladies like her do not come by easily. Please, we can talk this out. I'm begging you…"

Timothy looked at his weeping mother, and his heart began to ache. He forcibly stopped himself.

"Mom…" His voice was hoarse, filled with a torrent of emotions.

He felt as if a knife was stabbed into his heart when he saw Cora behaving so pitifully. It was unbearable!

Meanwhile, Isabelle felt a shiver run down her spine, and a deep-seated fear rose within her. The air Timothy had just given off had scared her. The feeling he gave off and his gaze were both beyond words.

At that moment, she felt like she was a measly ant before a dragon. She had no doubt that from his gaze just now, he meant to kill her.

Isabelle instinctively took two steps back. Her bodyguards immediately stepped in front of her.

They all stared at Timothy icily.

The courtyard was suddenly filled with a murderous tension.

With her bodyguards shielding her, Isabelle regained some courage and looked at Timothy with disdain as if he were an insect.

She jeered, "Hmph! How dare you filthy beggar from a trash-picking family make a move against me? Do you know what the Barton family represents in Lormford City?

"I can make it so that your whole family won't survive in this city. Go ahead and try coming at me again, you worthless piece of trash!"

Timothy closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. This time, his gaze was devoid of any restraint, filled only with overwhelming rage.

He looked at Isabelle and said in a cold, hoarse voice, "Years ago, my mentor made the marriage agreements on my behalf for two reasons.

"Firstly, it was to undo the destined misfortune as seen from my astrological house. Secondly, it was because your families were sincere back then. So, my mentor thought I could protect your family from harm upon my return.

"But now, the situation has changed. You've shown your true colors as a member of the Barton family, and you're nothing but despicable!

"I gave you a chance and showed you leniency, but you not only insulted me but also my parents. You deserve death for all that you've said and done!"

Isabelle smirked derisively. "So what if I insulted you? Who do you think you are to protect my family? We are one of the Six Great Families in Lormford City, and you're just a filthy beggar. I could crush you in an instant, and there's nothing you could do!"

Timothy had a sinister look in his eyes. "You're hilariously clueless, aren't you? The Barton family is nothing to me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Timothy moved like a gust of wind. Everyone only saw an afterimage before realizing he had somehow left the spot he was standing at a moment ago and was now right in front of the bodyguards.

The bodyguards were all thrown back with a loud crash. They landed on the ground with broken limbs and coughed up blood.

Isabelle screamed, shocked by Timothy's terrifying fighting skills. Her face turned pale as she stared at Timothy in horror, like she was seeing a ghost.

Timothy didn't stop. He stretched his neck to loosen his muscles as he walked toward her.

Isabelle stumbled back, her body shivering violently, and fell to the ground. She backed away, supporting herself with her hands. The look on her face showed how terrified she was.

"Y-You… Don't come any closer! If you dare touch me, the Barton family won't let you off!" she yelled fearfully.

Timothy seemed not to hear her as he took steady steps toward her with a faint smile. "The Barton family? What of the Barton family?"

"You—" Before she could finish, Timothy had reached her.

An overwhelming sense of fear and helplessness engulfed her, and before she could react, Timothy gripped her throat and lifted her off the ground! As Isabelle stared into Timothy's bloodthirsty eyes, she was so terrified that she lost control and wet herself.

Timothy slapped her hard across the face.

Isabelle screamed in agony, her hair becoming disheveled, and blood trickled from her mouth. A bright red handprint appeared on one side of her face.

"How dare you hit me…"

"So what if I hit you?"

Timothy gave her another slap. She was slapped so hard that her face seemed to become lopsided. This time, blood streamed from her nose. Her once beautiful face was now unrecognizable.

Just then, Timothy smiled. However, his smile was bone-chilling and glacial. Isabelle closed her eyes in despair, genuinely terrified. Timothy shook his head and delivered one last slap.

With that, Isabelle was sent flying and crashing to the ground.

Cora and Joseph stood where they were, utterly stunned by the scene before them. Their faces became drained of color as realization set in.

Everyone knew the Barton family in Lormford City. Yet, their son had just beaten up the young lady of this prestigious family.

They shook like leaves and were at a loss for words, feeling utterly despaired at the situation.

Timothy looked coldly at Isabelle, who was on the ground. "This engagement can be annulled, but not by you or your family.

"It is I, Timothy Yeager, who canceled the engagement! Your family isn't worthy enough to turn down the marriage. I'm the one who called an end to this. Now, scram!"

His words, filled with unparalleled arrogance, shook everyone to the core.

Isabelle was still on the ground with her hair in disarray. She covered her swollen face and looked at Timothy in terror. "You dare hit me?"

"As I said earlier, so what if I hit you?" Timothy replied coolly.

Isabelle's heart sank as she stared at Timothy's calm expression. She felt an overwhelming wave of disbelief.

What made him so confident? He had dared to hit her. Didn't he know what the Barton family represented in Lormford City?

Upon looking into Timothy's eyes, Isabelle felt a shiver deep in her soul. He looked at her as if she were truly nothing but an ant to him. This was the first time she had felt such terror in her 20 or so years of being alive.

Isabelle cradled her face and wanted to curse at him but ultimately swallowed her words. She stepped back and forced out a chilling statement through gritted teeth.

"So what if you hit me? The engagement will still be canceled! No one will agree to marry you today. Just wait and see!" she spat.

Timothy glanced at Isabelle with a frown. Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard.

Several women entered, their voices cold and resolute as they stated their intentions.

"The Thornton family annuls the engagement with this useless man today!"

"The Shaw family also annuls the engagement!"

"The Reed family annuls the engagement!"

"The Lynde family annuls the engagement today!"

Four annulment requests were thrown at Timothy simultaneously. They fluttered down and fell before his feet.

The courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

Cora and Joseph were so shocked that they sat on the ground, feeling weak.

Timothy was stunned for a moment as he looked at the newcomers. So, they were all here to annul their engagements with him.

His gaze turned icy and terrifying, and there was a chilling coldness in his eyes. They had all come on the same day at the same time to annul their engagements.

Upon seeing the others arrive, Isabelle regained her courage and laughed arrogantly. "See, Timothy? This is how pathetic and insignificant you are! Did you really think I was the only one who thought you were unworthy?

"Think about it, who would want to marry a man like you? With a family background like yours, you're just a joke compared to our families."

Isabelle's laughter echoed in the courtyard. "Timothy, you're nothing but a clown. No one will marry you!"

As her words faded, a voice suddenly came from the courtyard entrance. The voice was calm and noble, carrying a hint of pride. Everyone fell silent instantly.

"Why are you so sure no one will marry him when I haven't shown up yet? Your families are thriving now. But if it weren't for Mr. Franklin's help, you wouldn't enjoy the success you have right now. You're repaying his kindness with betrayal. Aren't you ashamed?

"Even though he may seem lowly, the Jefferson family is not heartless. Since the engagement was made, and if no one else will marry him… Then I, Mavis Jefferson, will marry him!"

The crowd was shocked, and all eyes turned to the woman at the entrance.

Timothy turned to look at her as well. His heart pounded when he laid eyes on her.