Chapter 331
Ellis subconsciously took two steps toward Mary, and then he saw Keera and Lewis rushing into the crowd, which made him pause slightly.

He let out a sneer and continued to look down at the wine glass in his hand.

Keira hadn’t expected Mary to encounter such an incident either; she hurried over upon hearing the commotion and had just gotten close when she heard the crisp sound of a slap.

She immediately pushed through the crowd and charged in, positioning Mary behind herself, and then turned to Chad. “What gives you the right to hit another person?!”

Chad fixed his gaze on her. “On the grounds of the Davis family’s ancestral teachings! I am her elder brother! If she doesn’t respect or love herself, I have every right to teach her a lesson!”

Keira countered. “That’s domestic abuse!”

Chad circumvented her and turned to Mary, “Mary, come and tell us. Did that count as domestic violence?!”

Mary’s face had already begun to swell up.

She was holding her head down, covering her face with her hands.

Keira argued, “Getting pregnant before marriage is her right! Chad, you’re infringing on her personal freedom by doing this!”

Chad was already pointing at her, berating loudly. “Sure, getting pregnant before marriage is her right, but did she ever consider, after getting pregnant, what kind of impact that would have on the women of the Davis family? Did you not just hear what they said? What have the Davis family’s women been reduced to in people’s imaginations? If I don’t discipline her? Who would dare marry any woman from the Davis family in the future?!”

The rumors about the wealthy second-generation were already quite negative.

The five major families valued reputation and honor, hence they manage both sons and daughters quite strictly.

In such matters, it was often the daughters who were at a disadvantage, so they were governed even more strictly.

Under the deliberate suggestion of Christina and Victoria just now, everyone had already formed a bad impression of the Davis family’s women.

Chad’s words were spot on; if this matter passed without clarity, the reputation of the Davis family’s women would suffer, and marrying them off would be difficult—doubt would be cast upon their honor!

Upon hearing this, Keira frowned. She was about to speak when suddenly Mary pushed her arm away from behind. “Keera, this has nothing to do with you.”Ke

Mary emerged from behind and came in front of Chad.

She looked directly at Chad, then turned her head to the crowd. “My personal behavior has nothing to do with the Davis family.”

Chad was about to retort, but Mary looked at him again. “Chad, since I’ve made a mistake, and as a woman of the Davis family, I should accept punishment. Let’s go with the family discipline”

At these words, Chad’s eyes widened in disbelief, “You…”

Mary said, “Let’s carry out the punishment right here, so everyone can see how strict the Davis family rules are! Don’t let my actions tarnish the Davis family’s reputation.”

Even Christina couldn’t help but exclaim, “Family discipline? My god, I’ve heard the Davis family’s punishment is flogging, and their whips have barbs… Those barbs would peel away a layer of skin… Mary hasn’t been chaste, so how many lashes will she get?”

Chad was stumped for a moment and didn’t answer.

Mary answered for him, “Five lashes!”

Christina then exclaimed in shock. “Heavens, after five lashes, won’t her back be left without good skin? Mary, are you sure about this? You could just say who your boyfriend is, and have Uncle Davis advocate for you and arrange an engagement. Why go to such lengths?”

Chad couldn’t bear to whip Mary either and quietly urged her, “Mary, please tell us! Father and I will take care of you! Who on earth is the father of the child? Just tell us who he is, and we can talk about what to do next. There’s no need to resort to flogging!”

Here is the revised version:

The whip was still coated with salt water and chili water, causing unbearable pain when it lashed the skin.

When Chad was a child, his love for play was intense. Once he lied and underwent the family discipline invoked by his father, feeling as if his soul was nearly torn out with each lash.

Therefore, he couldn’t bear to see Mary suffer the same way.

Yet, Mary clenched her fists tightly and kept her mouth firmly closed, adamantly refusing to speak. She couldn’t speak, because even if she did, Ellis would never admit it.

Why should she humiliate herself? Mary lowered her head, saying nothing.

Seeing this, Chad, frustrated with her obstinacy, blurted out, “Mary, why are you so stubborn! Even if the father of your child is a commoner, the Davis family can accept it! Why won’t you speak? Is it true what Christina said, that you don’t know who the father of your child is?!”

His words were met with Mary’s continued silence.

Chad, exasperated, couldn’t help but look around and say, “Is that man here? Look, Mary, he hasn’t come forward to protect you yet. Is he worth all this?”

Mary remained silent.

Chad was on the verge of madness. Seeing no end to the dragging issue, he had no choice but to inform the family head, Ken.

Ken rushed over in haste and, seeing Mary’s condition and the crowd around, along with some journalists who had been specifically invited, he knew that they had to provide some explanation today. Otherwise, tomorrow the scandal would be all over the place, shaming the Davis family.

He turned to Mary. “Mary, I’m giving you one last chance, are you sure you won’t talk?”

Mary shook her head.

Ken took a deep breath and then looked around. “Isn’t there anyone who will come forward to admit it? Nowadays, free love is acceptable. As long as you step forward, the Davis family won’t do anything to you… we could even prepare a generous dowry for Mary!”

Unfortunately, no one in the surrounding crowd spoke.

Keira immediately looked toward Ellis, glaring fiercely at him. Seeing his completely unmoved demeanor filled her with both anger and anxiety, her gaze suddenly shifted to Lewis.

As she was about to say something, Lewis said indifferently, “I won’t help with that kind of favor.”

Keira didn’t know what to say. Asking Lewis to acknowledge the child was indeed asking too much. But she really couldn’t bear to watch Mary suffer like this!

She wanted to rush over, but her arm was held by Lewis, who spoke in a voice that was not loud, yet it carried clearly to Ellis, “For Mary to have done such a thing, it indeed brings shame to the Davis family, and not being disciplined is no way to provide an explanation. Five lashes, considering she is pregnant and can’t take medicine, who knows if the wounds can even heal…”

Keira immediately became even more anxious. “Then what should we do?”

In the midst of the scene, seeing that no one came forward and Mary remained silent, Ken sighed quietly and then said, “Bring me my whip!”