Nolan and his family quickly became the target of the entire villagers' anger. Not only were they verbally attacked, but the villagers also demanded they be expelled from Rio Village and removed from the family registry.
At first, it was just words. But soon, people began throwing vegetables and eggs onto the stage. Nolan, however, didn't flinch or dodge, as if he was determined to let them hit him. In no time, his clothes became filthy.
Yet, the truth was, if Nolan had wanted to, he could have easily avoided it. There were even people willing to step in to shield him. But he chose not to, as this was his way of showing Wayne and Melody the truth—that some people simply weren't worth pitying.
Niall used his body to shield Nolan from the barrage of flying vegetables and eggs, and in a voice trembling with rage, he roared, "Do you people have any conscience left?
"Nolan isn't doing this for himself—he's fighting to get justice for you! And this is how you repay him? Are you even human? Granduncle Travis, Uncle Wyatt, Aunt Matilda—Austin, Rhett—we're family! How can you treat us like this?"
Niall's eyes were filled with anger and heartbreak as he shouted at the villagers, desperate to awaken even a shred of their conscience.
But the crowd, their eyes already red with fury, had been thoroughly brainwashed by Ben and Stefan. In their minds, Nolan's revelations would destroy not only Ben and Stefan but also their livelihoods.
Moreover, Ben and Stefan had promised to distribute no less than three million dollars annually as dividends to the villagers. That was no small amount, and this alone was enough to buy the villagers' satisfaction.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The price of betrayal (Jack and Ashley)