Chapter 193: Chapter Hundred And Ninety Two

They scrambled immediately. With frantic, desperate speed, the largest thug and the skinny thug walked over to Allen. They did not look him in the eye. They kept their heads bowed low.

They gently, and very carefully, placed the shiny gold ring, the silver pocket watch, and the diamond pin back into Allen’s trembling hands. They made sure not to scratch his skin or drop the expensive items in the mud.

Allen stood frozen as the rough men carefully returned his belongings. He took the jewelry, his mind numb with shock.

The thugs quickly stepped back, returning to their kneeling positions for a second before looking up at Camilla.

Camilla looked at the returned jewelry in Allen’s hands. She slowly nodded her head.

"Better," Camilla spoke, her voice flat and cold. "Now get out."

The thugs did not wait for her to change her mind. They turned around and scrammed. They ran out of the dark, narrow alleyway as fast as they possibly could, pushing past the wooden barrels and sprinting out into the busy, crowded marketplace, completely disappearing into the crowds of shoppers.

The narrow alley was suddenly very quiet again. The distant, noisy sounds of the market felt very far away.

Allen stood against the cold brick wall. He looked down at his hands. He saw his gold ring, his pocket watch, and his diamond pin. They were completely clean.

He slowly looked up. He looked at Camilla standing in her silk dress, and then he looked at Zade.

Zade stepped forward. He uncrossed his arms. He lifted his chin proudly, a very wide, satisfied smile on his face. He felt an incredible surge of brotherly pride.

"That’s my sister," Zade said proudly, his voice booming in the quiet alley.

Camilla turned her head and smiled a very sweet, soft, and gentle smile at her younger brother.

Allen finally snapped out of his paralyzed state. He took a slow, careful step forward, his leather shoes squelching slightly in the wet dirt. He walked over to Camilla.

He stopped a few feet away. He lowered his head and bowed very deeply and respectfully from the waist to the young woman.

"Thank you so much, sister-in-law," Allen said. His voice was still a little bit shaky from his close brush with death, but his tone was full of genuine, deep gratitude.

He slowly stood up straight from his bow. He turned his head and looked back at the empty, muddy road where the thugs had just run away in terror. Then, he turned his head back and looked directly into Camilla’s eyes.

"But..." Allen hesitated. He rubbed his bruised cheekbone with his fingers. His eyebrows pulled tightly together in deep confusion.

"Why were they so afraid of you?" Allen asked. He truly wanted to know. "They are ruthless, violent men. But today, they looked like they were facing a demon. They dropped their weapons the moment you spoke. Why?"

Camilla’s heart gave a quick, silent thump. She knew she had to preserve her "weak noblewoman" persona. If Allen went back to the Benson estate and told Damon that his wife had terrified a gang of ruthless kidnappers, Damon’s sharp mind would immediately start investigating her. Her true identity would be completely exposed.

She needed to lie, and she needed a very good believable scapegoat.

Camilla let out a soft, playful chuckle. She reached out her small, pale hand. She grabbed Zade by his shoulder and gently, but firmly, pulled him to the front.

She placed her younger brother directly between herself and the confused Allen.

"They are not afraid of me, Allen," Camilla said cheerfully. She smiled a very sweet, innocent smile.

She pointed a finger at Zade’s broad shoulders.

"They are afraid of Zade," Camilla lied smoothly.

Zade’s eyes instantly widened to their absolute limit. His jaw dropped open. He turned his head slowly to look at his sister, his face filled with shock.

"Me?" Zade asked, his voice squeaking slightly.

Camilla quickly raised her hand. She hit his arm with a hard, sisterly nudge, her fingers squeezing his muscle. It was a very clear, silent warning that said: Shut up and play along with my lie right now!

Zade rubbed his arm where she had hit him. He looked at her strict, warning eyes. He looked at Allen, who was waiting for an explanation.

Zade’s mind quickly realized what she was doing. She was protecting her secret. And since he had promised to help her, he had to tell a ridiculous lie on the spot.

Zade let out a very nervous, clumsy chuckle.

Heh. Heh.

He crossed his arms over his coat again and lifted his chin high in the air, trying to look as tough, confident, and powerful as possible.

"Ah, yes!" Zade said loudly, his voice full of fake pride. "I forgot to tell you, Allen!"

Zade nodded his head firmly.

"Those rough men... they once wanted to steal from me and my sister in the past," Zade lied, weaving a nice story. "It was a few months ago near the outer gates. But I caught them in the act! I gave them a very serious, very painful piece of my mind! I beat them up and taught them a lesson they would never forget!"

Zade patted his own chest proudly.

"Ever since that day," Zade boasted, his voice loud and confident, "they became completely afraid of me. They know that if they ever show their ugly faces near my family again, I will personally break their bones. When they saw me standing behind my sister today, they realized their mistake and begged for mercy."

Allen stood in the middle of the alleyway. He looked at Zade.

Allen knew, with certainty, that Zade’s story was a complete, ridiculous, embarrassing lie.

But Allen was a very polite, highly educated gentleman. He knew that noble families had their secrets, and he did not want to make his cousin’s wife feel uncomfortable.

Allen looked at Camilla’s sweet, innocent face, and then he looked at Zade’s proud, crossed arms.

Allen smiled a polite, gentle smile. He decided to keep his mouth shut and not ask any more questions about the Kennedy family.

"I see," Allen replied smoothly, nodding his head. "You are indeed a very brave, very strong brother, Zade. I am lucky you both were here to save me today."

Zade let out another nervous chuckle, feeling very relieved that the lie had worked. Camilla smiled her sweet, perfect smile, completely pleased with her successful deception.