Behind your Mask is a Beautiful Smile 8 Chapter 8- Scar

"Just as I suspected....but why...?"

She shook her head and went to the bathroom to soak several hot steamy towels to wipe Ya Nuo's body. At first, only visible dark bruises were visible on her arms and legs. The moment she turned Ya Nuo's body to have her back towards the ceiling, the hot towel in her hand fell on the floor followed by a huge gasp. Huan Hei knocked on the door after hearing Marina's sudden voice, "Aunty Marina! Is everything okay? Can I come in?"

She quickly covered Ya Nuo's body with a blanket and calmed her emotions, "Everything is fine. I slipped and dropped a towel. That's all."

"If you need anything, let me know. I'm standing outside the room."

"Okay."

After calming down, she removed the blanket and looked at Ya Nuo's back carefully. She carefully wiped her back using a clean hot towel as her eyes swelled up. It took her 15 minutes to completely wipe Ya Nuo's body and dress her in a clean set of clothes. Marina applied proper treatment to the bruises on Ya Nuo's body. She carefully brushed Ya Nuo's hair and whispered in a low trembling voice, "Just how much did you go through..?"

knock knock

She wiped her tears and adjusted the blanket, "Who is it?"

"It's me" Grandpa Hoon said in an urgent tone.

"Okay. I'll open the door, but only you can come in."

"Alright."

Click... creak

Grandpa Hoon caught the unusual behavior of hers and opened the door enough that only he could get through. When he entered the room, Marina covered her mouth and whispered, "I..I'm sorry.. but there's something I need to tell you."

"I know about Ya Nuo already."

"You knew she was a girl all along?"

"Yes. But this is not something you need to cry over. She isn't seriously injured. The reason why she collapsed wasn't because of any serious injuries. It was due to the physical injuries, panic attack, and low sugar. She should wake up in a few hours. Prepare some good food for her."

Marina shook her head as she controlled her tears, "You only knew her gender, but definitely not what she's been through. Although I have many questions I want to ask her, I don't want to hurt her in any way."

"Sit on the chair and calm down first. What are you talking about?"

"I..I was cleaning her body.. and then I saw a very old deep scar with poorly done stitches. She must have been in a lot of pain..to suffer from that wound."

"That doesn't mean much."

"There were old scars that slightly faded, but is still visible once you look at her skin carefully. I couldn't stand seeing that deep one so I covered her body for a bit before continuing wiping her body. When i gathered my courage and wiped her body again, I realized that her back has many scars. Some faded, but left small traces of old wounds behind. I am very sure she was physically abused before."

" I know this is inappropriate, but when she wakes up, she will never show it to me. Can you lift her shirt slightly so I can see the deep scar you spoke about? I want to know what tool caused her wound so I can stock up my house with that tool and use it on the bastard who did this to her." his fist tightened.

She nodded and told him to turn around as she adjusts Ya Nuo's posture and clothes.

"Okay, you can turn around now."

The moment he opened his eyes and saw the horrific deep scar and poorly stitched wound, his heart shiver in pain and fury. "Who.. who would do this to a girl as sweet as her?!! She's only 18 this year! This means that before she moved out 2 years ago, she's been suffering endless pain?? I watched her grow up and treated her like my child. Who is this son of a shit hole? There is 25 stitches and because of how poorly the stitches were, it left a deep scar! She's a girl!"

Marina closed her eyes and turned her head, "it's too cruel..and to think we've been the closest to her since she was 10... we didn't even know anything about her. She always smiled warmly at us..how much courage did it take her to pretend that everything was alright?"

"This wound is very messy... it is most likely done using a thick rope for whipping purposes. And from the looks of that wound, it seems like the person didn't stop whipping her after seeing her flesh and blood. That person continuously whipped on the same spot until it reached this deep, then sowed it up. Since the person could be this heartless, then he probably stitched her wound without the use of pain killers."

Marina fixed Ya Nuo's clothes and covered her with a blanket, "What are you going to do?"

"Someone actually dared to do such an inhumane act against a child? This type of despicable craps needs to pay for their circumstances through inhumane ways. When you wiped her, did you check to see if she was ever.."

Marina shook her head, "she wasn't sexually assaulted."

Grandpa Hoon sighed in relief, "An eye for an eye... a tooth for a tooth. Those bastards will pay and even 300 lifetimes wouldn't be enough for their sins!"

"G..grandpa Hoon.. don't" Ya Nuo opened her eyes slightly with a bit of tears coming out of her eyes.

"Ya Nuo, you're awake. How are you feeling?" he asked with extreme tenderness.

"I'm fine. I've been through worse. I've been awake for a bit and overheard your conversation. Please don't look for that man. He is a monster from hell. I've been in disguise so as long as I use makeup to cover up, they wont be able to find me. We won't be able to beat that man with your current status. Also, he's very dangerous. So listen to me and don't do anything reckless. I don't want to lose anyone important." she chanted in a depressive tone.

Grandpa Hoon sighed, "When have I ever gone against your wishes? I treat you like my child, family. But you must promise me that if anything happens to you in the future, you will let me know so I can help you immediately. okay? if that time ever comes, hopefully not, but if it ever does, Grandpa Hoon will skin those bastards alive."

"Okay" she smiled slightly.

"Dear, you're very strong, but it is okay to cry if you feel scared okay? We will always listen to you if you ever want to tell us your story."

Ya Nuo wiped the corner of her eyes and sniffled, "Yes."

Chapter end