Silence Is My Revenge

Our company arranged a work retreat to India. My girlfriend's idol, Thomason, insisted on bringing the models, dressed in mini-skirts, to ride a shady local bus.

He had no idea how rampant sexual assault was in India.

And watching them actively courting disaster, I didn't say a single word.

It was only because in my previous life, for everyone's safety, I reported this to our boss, Mr. Harrison.

That day, Mr. Harrison gave everyone a severe dressing-down, forcing my girlfriend and her model friends to cancel their plans to travel around India.

But later, because Thomason insisted on going out, he was robbed on a shady local bus and tragically killed.

My girlfriend, Leah, shifted the blame entirely to me, kidnapped me, and burned me alive.

She even paid off the models to create an alibi for her.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Thomason invited the models to wear mini-skirts for a photoshoot on the bus.

"Julian, stop being such a fearmonger!"

"India is a country with an ancient civilization; it's not the kind of place you describe, crawling with rapists!"

"You're always using those alarmist rumors to scare everyone, aren't you just trying to ruin our plans to travel around India?"

"I think you're just jealous of Leah and Thomason's good relationship, that's why you're trying to scare us with rapists!"

Watching them put on their mini-skirts and pose, I didn't utter a single word in retort.

India has one of the highest rates of sexual assault in the world.

On average, a girl is assaulted every five minutes.

In a country where even ancient, sacred stones aren't safe, going out dressed like thatthe outcome was painfully obvious.

After they finished changing, Leah, my girlfriend, walked in.

When Thomason saw Leah, his eyes were glued to her.

"Leah, you're so sexy."

"You're easily the most beautiful girl in the world!"

"What? In your eyes, is only Leah beautiful? Are we not pretty?"

The other model girls indignantly confronted Thomason.

Surrounded by the models, Thomason quickly pleaded with them, "Beautiful! You're all beautiful! Simply goddesses!"

His expression was full of enjoyment.

"Leah, let me ask you, between Julian and Thomason, who's hotter?" Ruth chimed in, teasingly.

When I was mentioned, Leah's expression instantly turned to disgust.

"Julian is such a clingy, annoying guy! He's constantly trying to compete with Thomason for my attention."

"If you don't want to come with us, then just get lost!"

Since you've chosen to court disaster, I might as well give you a little push.

"Mini-skirts are so boring. Bikinis are the real way to show off a woman's charm."

"Only girls with truly great figures have the courage to wear bikinis in public."

"You think I wouldn't dare?"

Goaded on by me, Leah, not one to back down, immediately changed into a bikini.

The other girls, confident their figures were just as good as Leah's, also started picking out suitable sizes.

Watching them excitedly choose their bikinis, I smiled coldly to myself.

Let's see if you can still laugh like that when those creeps in India get their hands on you and brutalize you.

Amidst the chatter, Mr. Harrison knocked and came in.

Seeing everyone's attire, his blood boiled.

"This is India, not back home! Women covered head to toe are still at risk, and you dare to dress like this!"

"Change your clothes, now!"

Leah was startled at first, then ran over to Mr. Harrison, sweetly buttering him up.

"Mr. Harrison, you've misunderstood. We just thought since we rarely get to travel, we wanted to take some promotional photos here at the hotel. Don't worry, we absolutely won't leave the hotel."

"Don't you believe me? Ask them!"

The rest of them all chimed in.

"That's right, Mr. Harrison, this way, we can even help promote the company's paid international vacations!"

Thomason sneered.

"See how much Leah considers our company? Unlike some people, who only think of themselves and hinder others from contributing to the company."

Hearing that everyone claimed to be acting for the company's benefit, Mr. Harrison's face finally softened.

He relaxed, but before leaving, he reiterated his warning.

"I'll say it again, you absolutely must not leave the hotel. Otherwise, whatever happens, I won't be held responsible."

With that, he pulled me aside.

"Julian, you're always reliable. Keep an eye on them."

No sooner had Mr. Harrison walked out than the girls erupted in groans.

"Everyone knows Julian is just the boss's lapdog. How can we go out with him around?"

"I was planning to post vlogs and become a huge influencer."

Someone, unwilling to give up, tugged on Thomason's arm.

"Leah, isn't Julian your boyfriend? Go talk to him; he'll definitely let us go."

Thomason suddenly raised his voice.

"Think about it, everyone. How did Mr. Harrison show up so coincidentally? Could someone have snitched?"

His meaningful gaze was fixed on me.

"It has to be Julian!"

Ruth shrieked.

"Last month when we were partying at that bar in Thailand, he was the one who snitched!"

I was speechless. Last month in Thailand, Thomason had a whim and insisted on taking the models to a bar for his birthday. But that place was a notorious hub for human traffickers operating in Southeast Asia.

Local gang leaders had already noticed them.

If I hadn't told Mr. Harrison in time to bring them back, this group would probably have been sold into trafficking.

I never thought they'd see it as me harming them.

Incited by Thomason, they instantly grew furious, glaring at me as if they wanted to devour me.

Thomason strode towards me, raising his hand to slap me.

"So you're the one with the big mouth, always running to the boss, huh?!"

But I caught his incoming arm with one hand.

I looked at him coldly.

In my past life, I was blindly foolish, giving all my kindness to people who didn't deserve it.

If I'd known, I wouldn't have been so good-hearted.

"Get lost!"

Thomason's height and build were no match for mine. With one shove, he stumbled back two steps before falling sprawling on the ground.

"Julian! You're despicable! How dare you bully Thomason!"

Leah shrieked, rushing to shield the fallen Thomason in her arms.

"Julian, I know you've always been jealous of my good relationship with Leah, but we're just good friends. I never intended to interfere with your relationship."

The fallen Thomason leaned into Leah's embrace, speaking tearfully, yet provocatively rubbing his head against her ample chest.

"Julian, I've never seen such a petty man!"

"Someone like you doesn't deserve our Leah!"

Just as the models were lambasting me, Mr. Harrison knocked on the door again.

They quickly shoved me into a corner, then blocked Mr. Harrison's view at the door.

Mr. Harrison frowned, surveyed the room, and warned again.

"I'll say it again: no leaving the hotel."

"The police just reported large crowds parading in the nearby streets. These people are mostly from the impoverished districts, uneducated, essentially like wild animals."

With that, he turned and left.

But Leah hadn't heard a word. She immediately started changing into bikinis with the other models.

Thomason came up to me and challenged me in a low voice.

"See? Leah has always liked me. She's even willing to be my lapdog just to please me!"

"You're just a stepping stone she uses to appease me, something she can kick aside anytime!"

I suddenly found it quite amusing.

The models in our company were all from privileged, wealthy backgrounds.

Many came from powerful and influential families.

I'd like to see how these ungrateful fools would manage if something happened to them in India!

The next morning, before Mr. Harrison woke up,

Leah and Thomason woke everyone up early to do their makeup and change clothes.

Leah finished her makeup, wearing a sexy bikini that showcased her hot figure perfectly.

Thomason held his camera, snapping countless photos of her.

Glancing at me, he deliberately sneered in a sarcastic tone:

"I'm so sorry, I actually wanted to take you along, but you made Leah angry, and she doesn't want you to come."

"So you'll just have to stay here and keep being Mr. Harrison's lapdog."

Everyone laughed.

One of the girls, Chloe, timidly raised her hand.

"Isn't this a bit too much? He's our colleague after all."

"Too much?"

Ruth slapped her across the face.

"Is it not too much that he stole Leah from Thomason?"

"If he hadn't clung to her, would Leah have been forced to be his girlfriend?"

Hearing her idiotic statement, I practically laughed in exasperation!

It was ridiculous. Leah was a girl from a disadvantaged background, with limited education and career prospects.

After joining the company, her performance was poor, she wasn't making enough money, and she couldn't afford food.

I mentored her, teaching her the ropes, which allowed her to find her footing in the company.

To win me over, she stood outside my apartment in a torrential downpour for a day and a night.

Now, I was suddenly the other man?

When Thomason ganged up on me to bully me, as my girlfriend, she didn't even help. She actually enjoyed watching me get picked on by Thomason.

Because she thought her male idol was fighting over her!

Seeing that it was almost time, Leah waved everyone to head out.

"Hurry up and get ready to leave. I can't wait to get some amazing shots. This time, I'm sure a lot of people will like my posts."

Thomason also took out his camera.

"Professional equipment is all ready."

After changing, they all swarmed towards the dilapidated old bus parked outside the door.

This group of hot-figured girls instantly drew the attention of all the men nearby.

Some bolder Indian men even gathered around the bus, clinging to the bus door, peering inside.

But Leah didn't see any danger; instead, she thought it was a testament to her immense charm.

"I told you, India has a long and rich civilization."

"The people here are very kind; they're not as scary as Julian made them out to be!"

Ruth immediately chimed in, "Yes, Thomason is right. Julian is just a petty man, deliberately fabricating lies to scare us!"

Amidst their laughter, the dilapidated bus slowly started moving.

Watching them leave, I let out a cold laugh.

I hoped they'd still be this happy in a little while.

Not long after they left, Mr. Harrison came in.

"Are your things packed? Should we head back home?"

Before he finished speaking, he stopped, stunned by the empty room.

"Where are they?"

With reddened eyes, I regretfully told Mr. Harrison.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Harrison, I couldn't stop them. Thomason and Leah took everyone out to have fun."

"Nonsense! Which bus did they take?"

Mr. Harrison's face instantly turned livid!

"Absurd!"

"Absolutely lawless! I warned them repeatedly not to go out! They completely ignored my warnings!"

Mr. Harrison paced frantically.

"How long have they been gone?"

"Almost an hour, I think."

Hearing that, his face instantly turned ashen.

"This is bad! At this time, the entire state's police force is deployed to handle the protests!"

"Quickly, come with me! We'll contact the embassy first, then report it to the local police to find them. Hurry, hurry!"

I contacted a security company.

I only dared to leave after the highly paid bodyguards arrived.

They searched from dawn till dusk, finally finding the bus in a filthy, chaotic slum.

But when they opened the bus door and saw the horrifying scene inside, everyone couldn't help but vomit...