From Soldier to Savior

Chapter 4

"Yes, arrest him, sentence him..."

What? The Carters, who had been urging the police to make an arrest, were stunned upon hearing Quentin's response.

"What? He's getting an award?"

"Chief, you must be mistaken. He's insane, how could he get a medal of honor?"

"That's right! He's a madman, a thug! You should be arresting him, not giving him an award!" Miranda shouted frantically.

"Hmm?" Quentin frowned, "Are you saying I am wrong and can't tell criminals and civilians apart? Or are you saying the police force is full of useless idiots who can't even issue a medal of honor correctly?"

"Chief, I didn't mean..." Michael tried to explain hurriedly.

The family head, Sam, realized things were taking a turn for the worse. He glared at Michael, showing signs of anger, as he interrupted, "If you can't speak properly, then shut your filthy mouth. Get out of my sight, you fool."

Michael, with a sullen face, retreated to the side.

"Chief, please, take a seat!"

"No need. I'll leave right after presenting the award to Mr. Drake. Bring it up." Two policemen stepped forward, presenting the certificate and a banner.

Quentin smiled, shook hands with Winston, and handed him the certificate with both hands.

Swish.

Quentin and the four policemen saluted simultaneously.

Winston returned the salute, guessing that Griffin had likely arranged it. Griffin was Winston's former adjutant and now served as his special consultant, providing logistical support and smoothing out relations, thus removing unnecessary troubles for Winston after he retired from the military.

Meanwhile, the Carters were even more bewildered. What was going on? Could this lunatic have done something gallant?

Quentin ignored the Carters' reactions and asked with a smile, "Mr. Drake, are you going home? I can give you a ride."

"No way! We don't recognize his gallantry. He hit my son. He must pay the price!" Miranda shouted.

"Hmm?" Quentin frowned again, his voice furious as he called out, "Sam, are your family members always so disrespectful? Hitting her son? I've gathered that her son was the one who was in the wrong!"

Sam's face turned red when he heard this. To preserve the Carters' reputation, he turned and yelled at Miranda, "Get out! Aren't you ashamed enough already?"

"But Grandpa, he..." Miranda tried to say something more.

"Get out!" Sam shouted again, his voice murderous. "I'm sorry for the trouble, Chief. Let me see you out."

Hearing this, Quentin let out a heavy snort before turning to Winston. "Mr. Drake, please."

Winston nodded, took Selena and Yuris by the hand silently and strode away.

The Carters were stunned, watching helplessly as Winston and his family walked away unscathed. They were furious but could do nothing, as the police chief himself had come. They had no choice but to back down.

Moments later, the guests lost interest in continuing the party and gradually left.

***

A few minutes later.

At Riverside Central Hospital, Miranda lay on a hospital bed, receiving medical treatment, her face contorted with rage. She had always trampled on Selena and looked down on her. But today, the tables had turned! She had only slapped Selena once, yet Winston, that lunatic, had beaten her so badly she was hospitalized, suffering several broken bones!

She had just received a painkiller injection, but even so, she couldn't stop trembling. She turned to a man in a suit who looked refined but with extremely sinister eyes and said, "Chester, you always have the best ideas. Help me come up with a plan. We can't let them go unpunished. I want them utterly ruined! We could have dealt with them harshly today, but the police were on their side!"

The man's name was Chester Carter, Michael Carter's eldest son. "Hmph." Chester licked his lips, exuding a sinister aura, "Don't forget that b***h still works at Carter Group. There are plenty of ways to deal with her."

Miranda's eyes lit up, "Yes, fire her! That little bastard already has nothing to eat. Now, I'll make sure their whole family starves. I'll call her right now."

Chester chuckled and shook his head, "What's the point of just firing her? That would be too easy on those scum. Call Mason and let them know their lunatic son-in-law is back... Haha, I think they'll be thrilled."

Mason Carter and Fanny Brooks Carter were Selena's parents. Miranda hesitated for a moment because she recalled how Mason and Fanny had berated Winston mercilessly six years ago, even though he had only been at the Carter family villa for a single day.

"Right, let them fight each other first and wear themselves out. Then we can step in and finish them off. Chester, your idea is brilliant! It's killing them both physically and emotionally!" Miranda exclaimed, then excitedly took out her phone and called Fanny.

Miranda held a high-ranking position in the company, while Fanny was just an ordinary employee.

The call was answered quickly, and given that Miranda had often harassed them before, Fanny responded in a timid voice, "Miranda, it's so late. Is something wrong?"

"Hmph, what gives you the right to ask me questions? It's because of your bastard granddaughter. Your lunatic son-in-law is back. He injured my son, didn't apologize, and even dared to hit our bodyguards at my son's birthday party before the whole Carters. By the way, I should congratulate you! He was quite impressive; he caused a big scene. Maybe he can support you from now on, and you can cut all ties with the Carters!" Miranda taunted.

"What?" A gasp came from the other end of the line; Fanny trembled as she held the phone. "Miranda, please calm down. There must be some misunderstanding. I'll go talk to Selena and make her apologize to you!"

Being expelled from the family meant losing their only source of income, akin to a slow death for Mason and Fanny.

Miranda's lips curled into a smile. She continued, "Apologize? Do you think an apology is enough? Tell Selena that by ten o'clock tomorrow, she and her family must apologize in front of the whole company and beg for my forgiveness. Otherwise, she doesn't need to come to work, and your whole family will be kicked out! Do you understand?!"

"Okay, Miranda, please calm down. I'll make sure they do as you say," Fanny replied hastily, not daring to refuse.

"Hmph, you're all trash!"

Miranda sneered and hung up the phone, her eyes glinting with a cold, vicious light.

"Selena, Winston... I want your whole family to apologize to me in front of the entire company; I want you to be utterly humiliated!"

"I want you to live the rest of your lives in shame, unable to lift your heads!"

"This is the price of your defiance!"

They passed through the bustling downtown and headed to the Southern Suburb. The Southern Suburb was the old part of Riverside City, dirty and inconvenient, with a mix of different people. But the rent was cheap, and it was the only place Selena's family could afford.

After thanking the police chief, Selena led Yuris to a shabby and dirty apartment building.

Winston followed them, frowning. Had they lived in such a place for six years?

But instead of entering the building, they walked through a dark alley beside it. After about fifteen minutes, Selena crossed the neighborhood and entered a deserted, dark park. She stopped at a public restroom, took out a key from her bag, and opened a small iron door at the back of the restroom. This was the cleaning room for the public restroom, originally a storage for cleaning tools, now used as their home.

The iron door creaked, and several stray dogs foraging nearby scattered instantly. Selena turned on the light, revealing a room less than 100 square feet. It was cluttered with junk, and only a 4-foot iron bed stood in the corner, with a cardboard box holding cups, toothbrushes, and other toiletries at the head of the bed.

A cold wind brought a foul stench into the room, a mix of garbage outside and urine from the restroom. Winston wrinkled his nose, but Selena and Yuris seemed unfazed as if they were used to it.

Winston stood frozen. What had he just seen? He thought living in a shabby neighborhood was hard for Selena and her daughter. After all, the Carters were a prestigious family in Riverside City, owning hundreds of properties. They shouldn't be homeless.

But…they were homeless. They were like those stray dogs, hiding in this filthy, dark corner, left to fend for themselves.

A public restroom?! The Carters were okay with them living in a public restroom?!

Rage surged through Winston, making his head spin as blood trickled from his mouth.