Chapter 4 If It Weren't for You

• For the officers, their responsibilities were clear. If they failed to transport the prisoners to the barren wasteland within the allotted time, they would incur penalties themselves.
• As it became evident that no one else would come to say their goodbyes, the officers cracked their whips, driving the crowd away.
• The members of the main branch lagged at the back, particularly Daniel, who was struggling to carry Remus. At only fifteen, accustomed to a life of comfort, he found himself gasping for breath.
• "Daniel, wait up!"
• Seizing the opportunity when the officer was momentarily distracted, Tammy called softly to Daniel. But he had little affection for her, quickening his pace to avoid her.
• Lara Heyward, Daniel's twin sister, was preoccupied helping Ivy and also ignored Tammy.
• It appeared that the Heywards harbored no fondness for the original character at all.
• But Tammy couldn't stand idly by while the original character's savior lay there, losing blood, so she hurried to catch up with Daniel.
• In one swift motion, she pressed a bottle of wound ointment into Remus's hand and whispered urgently, "When you take a break, apply this quietly."
• They could not afford to delay any longer; Remus was at risk of bleeding to death.
• "Who knows what you're up to!"
• Daniel shot back, suspicious of her motives regarding Remus.
• Lara added sarcastically, "Yeah, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't be facing exile!"
• "Enough!"
• Ivy, her face wet with silent tears, suddenly reprimanded her children.
• She cast a sorrowful look at the barely conscious Remus and said, "Do you really think this is the time for infighting?"
• Despite her resentment toward Tammy for using questionable methods to marry into their family, she respected anyone willing to endure the hardships of exile.
• Even if Tammy had tried to stay behind, the king's men would have dragged her along anyway. They were unaware that Tammy and Remus had never consummated their marriage and feared she might be expecting a Heyward heir.
• "Mom, you don't like her either, right?"
• Lara scoffed, her annoyance evident. It felt absurd that her handsome brother Remus had been forced to marry someone as cunning as Tammy—what a waste!
• "But she genuinely cares for your brother," Ivy sighed.
• Their family was no longer what it once was; despite Tammy's abrasive personality, her love for Remus was sincere, and Ivy could tolerate it.
• Lara rolled her eyes, unconvinced by her mother's words. Who knows? Perhaps, in the past, she admired Remus for his status.
• At that moment, the officer noticed them conversing and cracked his whip against the ground, causing Lara to scream and fall silent.
• What truly frightened them was when a boy ahead of them claimed he couldn't continue and wanted to rest. The officer responded by mercilessly whipping him several times.
• "You only took a few steps, and you want to take a break already?!"
• The officer showed no hesitation, clearly using the boy as a warning to intimidate the others, who dared not speak or move again.
• "Oww!"
• The boy who had been struck with the whip was now covered in blood and remained silent, enduring the pain as he trudged onward, afraid to speak up.
• Tammy walked at the back of the group, choosing to keep quiet. After more than two hours of travel, she noticed Daniel's legs beginning to tremble, but he was too scared of punishment to voice his discomfort. He bit his lip and forced himself to push through the fatigue.
• Eventually, the officer brought the procession to a stop. Beau Reed, the lead officer, wore a stern look as he announced, "We're taking a lunch break!"
• At his command, the exhausted travelers dared to rest, collapsing onto the ground in sheer weariness. The sight of so many people sprawled out was quite striking.
• Tammy glanced over at the dazed Remus and gently reminded him, "The ointment is safe—I hid it for you."
• "Daniel, help Remus apply it!"
• Ivy made the call; they had no other medicine, and the situation couldn't possibly worsen.
• She could no longer bear to watch her son suffer. If Tammy dared to harm him in any way, Ivy vowed to ensure she would pay for it!
• Daniel hesitated for a moment, but then Remus, barely conscious, urged him weakly, "Just put it on me."
• Though he didn't trust Tammy and her manipulative ways, Remus believed he was significant enough to her. Without him, their chances of returning to Aviara would vanish.
• Hearing Remus, Daniel reluctantly shifted to shield them from the officers' sight and quickly applied the ointment to Remus's wounds.
• Tammy frowned, anxious that treating an open wound like this might lead to infection, but given the dire circumstances, they felt they had no choice.
• What surprised Tammy even more was how Remus, despite his pain, didn't flinch. His resilience was impressive and earned her respect.
• While she contemplated this, the officer approached with a few loaves of dark bread. Each person received a dirty piece—this was their meager lunch.
• The pampered group had never encountered such hardship before, and their faces reflected their discontent.
• "How can we eat this?"
• "The horse groom at my house used to eat better than this!"
• "My throat hurts too much; I can't eat!"
• The young lords and ladies, who had yet to truly experience adversity, still had the energy to complain.
• Even Gloria pulled out a package prepared by her family, offering a gold hair accessory to the officer in exchange for soft bread for her relatives.
• Whether intentional or not, Gloria clearly overlooked the main branch.
• Others quickly followed her example, leaving only the main branch to sit in silent despair.
• Lara, being younger, gazed longingly at the soft bread, casting a cautious glance at Ivy.
• "Mom."
• She felt starved and utterly exhausted.
• "Lara, I don't have any money either," Ivy replied, her face flushing with embarrassment.
• Compared to Tammy's cold family, Ivy had no relatives to turn to for help, which was also why Melissa had favored the second and third branches in the past.
• Upon hearing this, Lara shot Tammy an accusatory look and muttered, "I wish Gloria were my sister-in-law."
• Then she could eat soft bread.
• "Well, if Remus agrees, that could be arranged!" Tammy replied coolly.
• While she was willing to tolerate Remus out of obligation to the original character, she had no intention of doing so for anyone else!
• Naturally, Lara was so furious she almost clawed Tammy's face, but Ivy quickly grabbed her arm.
• "Lara, do you want to be whipped too?"
• Those who caused trouble during the exile would face severe punishment from the officers; after all, they were no longer privileged nobles.
• Warned by Ivy, Lara fell silent, and Tammy felt a bit reassured to have someone like Ivy around. Otherwise, she might have had to get physical.
• With that thought in mind, she quietly pulled out some cash and approached one of the officers.
• "Sir, may I trade this for two water pouches?"
• The officer was taken aback to see that Tammy still had money. However, since the water pouches were inexpensive, he viewed it as a win for himself and agreed, maintaining his serious demeanor.
• "Fine."
• After tossing two new water pouches to Tammy, he watched her trade money for water instead of food. The others, unfamiliar with real hardship, began to mock her, particularly Gloria.
• "With cash in hand, she chooses water pouches over food? Is Tammy losing her mind?"