I could only curl up and protect my head, choking on broken sobs.

No one tried to stop it. Someone even stepped on the back of my hand just to get a better camera angle.

They shouted excitedly into their phones, “Guys! This is the rapist! Get a good look at his face!”

“The top gifter is going crazy! Ten rockets if you break a leg! Nelson, did you hear that? Break his leg!”

“Beat him to death! Trash like this shouldn't be left to live!”

Aileen stood in the middle of the crowd with her arms crossed. She didn't try to stop them. Instead, she was fanning the flames.

“Nelson! Break his hands! Those filthy hands touched me. Cripple them!”

“Kick him in the crotch! Make sure he can never be a man again!”

The sharp crack of bones breaking made my scalp go numb. The pain exploded, my vision went black, and a metallic sweetness surged up my throat.

I spat out a mouthful of blood and foam, clinging to the last shred of consciousness as I stared at Aileen’s hypocritical face. My voice came out hoarse.

“Aileen… you’ll pay for this.”

She looked at me with nothing but contempt. “Pay for it? Please. Casey, didn't you think about the consequences when you raped me? Go to hell. Just seeing someone like you alive makes me sick.”

Finally, sirens wailed in the distance.

As Nelson was dragged away, he kept thrashing and spat a thick wad of phlegm straight onto my face.

“Pfft! This is disgusting. He got my hands dirty!”

Meanwhile, I was hauled into the ambulance like a dead dog.

Just before I sank into complete darkness, I saw Aileen’s face twist into an instant mask of fragile innocence.

“I’m sorry for wasting public resources… My boyfriend just acted out of impulse. He was only trying to protect me… I want to be kind too… but what about me, the real victim?”

…

I spent three days in the hospital.

Three broken ribs, a pulverized left hand, and a major concussion.

Aileen became the ‘Most Beautiful Anti-Assault Advocate,’ raking in hundreds of thousands from three days of livestream sales. Countless people hailed her as an icon.

On the contrary, I became the universally hated rapist, pervert, and scum. My phone was flooded with messages wishing me dead.

Even the nurse changing my bandages looked at me with open hostility. She ripped off the gauze that had fused to my flesh, completely ignoring my trembling.

“Ouch…” I sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.

She shot me a cold glance. Disgust was written all over her face. “What are you whining about? That hurts?”

She deliberately pressed harder on my wound. “When you ruined that woman, it hurt her a hundred times more than this!”

I wanted to explain, but no words came out.

…

Not long after, Aileen came to visit me.

She didn't bring Nelson along. She brought two assistants and a phone. She was livestreaming.

The moment she entered the ward, she dropped to her knees beside my bed, sobbing dramatically.

“Casey, even though you hurt me, I’m a kind person. I don’t want to push things too far. If you agree to one condition, I’ll write a letter of forgiveness so that you won’t go to prison.”

I watched her coldly, seeing straight through the act.

The live chat exploded:

[She’s too kind!]

[Why give trash like him a chance?]

[Our queen’s got a heart of gold!]

Aileen wiped her tears and finally stated her condition, “Nelson was arrested for beating you and has to pay for your medical bills. And I broke up with him because he claimed I’d lost my innocence.”

“My reputation is ruined. I’ve lost my boyfriend. I’ve lost my job. You owe me.”

I whispered, barely able to get the words out, “Owe you… how?”

A sharp glint flashed through Aileen’s eyes. She turned to the camera and announced loudly, “I want you to marry me! Since you ruined me, you’ll be responsible for me for the rest of my life!

“And you’re signing all your assets over to me—as a wedding gift! That’s what you owe me!”

I almost laughed from sheer anger. Aileen did not just want to destroy me; she also wanted to drain me dry.

Unbelievably, the live chat erupted in applause:

[Perfect punishment! Make him grind for the rest of his life to pay for it!]

[Aileen is savage! That’s exactly how men like this should be dealt with!]

[Say yes! If you don’t, let him rot in prison!]

Aileen stepped closer and lowered her voice, “If you don’t agree, I’ll make sure your parents get hit by a car the moment they step outside. I know where your family lives. I even know you’ve got a younger sister still in elementary school.”

My pupils shrank. Family was the boundary I would never allow to be breached, and she had just crossed the line.

A rage I had never felt before ignited in my chest. She wanted to play? Fine, I would play along.

I took a deep breath, turned to the camera, and forced a weak smile.

“Okay. I’ll marry you. I’ll get discharged from the hospital right now. We’ll go get our marriage certificate.”

Aileen froze for a moment, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily. Then, ecstasy flooded her face. I ripped out the IV, bit back the pain, and swung my legs off the bed.

“Let’s go. To the city hall.”

I wanted to see what her expression would look like when we got there.

Aileen was afraid that I would back out, so she warned me, “Let’s see how long you can keep pretending when we get there! Use your real identity when you register!”

She kept livestreaming the whole time, hauling me to the city hall like I was some kind of criminal.

On the way there, she chatted cheerfully with her viewers.

“Yes, we’re going to get married right now. He’s a piece of trash, but for the sake of my reputation, I’ll just have to suffer a little.

“Thank you, top gifter, for the Porsche! I’ll make him work to pay off our debts after the wedding!”

When we arrived at the city hall, the lobby was packed. Crowds had gathered because of the online controversy. Some were even reporters who had caught wind of it.

Aileen slammed her identification documents onto the counter with her chin raised high.

“We’re here to get married.”

I placed my ID and registry beside hers.

The clerk was a middle-aged woman with glasses. Her gaze flicked from Aileen to me, analyzing us both. Her expression turned strange.

“Are you two certain you want to register for marriage?"

“Yes! Absolutely!” Aileen snapped. “Hurry up, the whole internet is watching!”

She shoved her phone toward the clerk. “Ma’am, please move faster. Let’s not miss the auspicious timing.”

The clerk shook her head helplessly. She picked up my ID and swiped it through the reader. Then, she looked up, slid the card back across the counter, and said flatly to Aileen, “This can’t be processed.”

Aileen’s smile froze. “Why not? Is the system down? Does he have a criminal record? I don’t mind!”

The clerk pointed at my ID, then at Aileen.

“According to the marriage law, marriage requires one man and one woman. You’re both female. This marriage can't be registered.”