Chapter 21 All the Righteous Clowns Are Afraid of Blood


    Half a cup of milk tea mmed onto Lily’s head. The cheap stic cup split open, and the sticky drink poured down over her, blurring her vision.


    Rotten eggs followed–one after another, hitting her squarely on the shoulders, back, and chest.


    Someone even spat on her.


    The crowd’s scolding and physical assault made the chill in Lily’s body cut deeper.


    She hugged herself tightly as she felt the stinking garbage thudding against her skin. For a moment, it was like she’d been transported back to over four years ago–to that dark time when she was bullied.


    Back then, she was helpless, isted, and terrified. No matter how hard she fought, she couldn’t save herself.


    But even if she couldn’t crush the mountains pressing down on her, she had vowed one thing: as long as she could still breathe, she would never bow to the cruelty and injustice of this world.


    “I am not a homewrecker!”


    Seeing the long–faced girl who had thrown trash at her lift another rotten egg, Lily struck.


    She snatched the girl’s tote bag and upended it–dumping every bit of trash it held right over the girl’s head.


    “Elsa is the real homewrecker! You have no right to lecture me!”


    The girl had felt righteous tossing things at Lily.


    But the moment Lily retaliated, she screamed like a banshee. “You bitch! How dare you throw garbage at me?! I’ll kill you!”


    “You started it, slut. Why wouldn’t I dare?”


    Lily wasn’t fazed by her empty threats.


    As fate would have it, the girl’s tote bag contained a folding fruit knife:


    Lily spotted it instantly–and grabbed it.


    She flicked it open in one fluid motion, her tone calm butced with steel. “Didn’t you say you were going to kill me? Go on–try. Let’s see who kills who first.”


    “You’ll pay for this!”


    The girl’s face twisted with rage.


    But people like her were always bullies at heart–brave when others cowered, but pathetic when faced with


    resistance.


    Had Lily kept taking their abuse without a word, they’d only have gotten bolder, throwing more, screaming louder.


    But now? With a knife in her hand, ring murderously, daring them toe closer?


    The girl’s arrogance melted into fear. When Lily took a step forward, knife firm in her grip, the girl stumbled back in panic.


    Others hesitated too. Nobody dared throw anything else.


    “You all think there’s safety in numbers. That ganging up on me means no one will face consequences, right?”


    Lily sneered, waving the de just enough to glint in the light. “Well, try it. If someone dies today, let’s see how thew deals with that.”


    “Thew doesn’t punish the crowd.”


    That’s what they all counted on. That even if they assaulted her, the worst they’d get was a p on the wrist. That she’d just have to swallow her shame.


    But now she held <i>a </i>knife.


    And if someone bled–or died–there’d be no w doesn’t punish the crowd.” There’d be names. Charges. Prison.


    People love ying judge when it’s safe. Love the high of bullying others under the banner of righteousness.


    But the second their own safety is at risk–they shrink back.


    Now they were afraid Lily might snap. That they’d be stabbed. That they’d go to jail. Or worse.


    “Lily! You psycho! Put that knife down right now!”


    The long–faced girl shouted again, backing away, trying to keep her voice steady.


    Lily grinned. “Can you read minds? How do you know I’m not actually insane? What happens if a diagnosed lunatic kills you? Will I go to prison–or walk free?”


    “You’re seriously mentally ill?”


    Terror crept into the girl’s voice.


    “You’re insane! Stay away from me!”


    Lily’s face was stained with filth, but her smile was radiant–almost dazzling.


    She’d been pushed to this miserable state and still… sheughed.


    The others started to doubt. What if she really was mentally unstable?


    Chapter <b>21 </b>All the Righteous Clowns Are Afraid of Blood


    <b>If </b>a mental patient killed someone, they wouldn’t be held responsible. They’d walk free.


    If Lily really snapped and stabbed someone–those people might die for nothing.


    “Run! She’s a psycho! She’s gonna kill someone!”


    Someone in the crowd shouted in panic.


    Chaos exploded.


    People scattered like startled birds.


    The long–faced girl’s legs buckled beneath her–she fell hard.


    When she looked up and saw Lily still smiling darkly, she screamed, then scrambled away on all fours, crawling to safety.


    Watching the self–proimed “righteous” scurry like rats, Lily’s smirk deepened into something colder.


    So. These people who imed to stand for justice… were all just scared clowns in the end.


    Once the crowd had cleared, Lily finally pulled out her phone and unlocked it.


    She needed to know what the hell had happened today.


    She quickly searched the relevant keywords.


    News headlines flooded her screen–all sensational, all nearly identical.


    Someone had taken a photo of her leaving the marital home that morning and uploaded it.


    And just like that, the inte had branded her a homewrecker.


    They all said she was disgusting.


    That she had shamelessly offered herself to John despite knowing how much he loved Elsa–desperately trying to climb into his bed.