American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 2 Saving Arya

Her voice was filled with surprise and joy, happy that he knew she was going to be a father and had rushed to her side the moment he found out.

Lin Yu'an's regrets, self-blame, and sorrow from his past life, his joy and ecstasy at regaining what he had lost in this life—all these complex emotions erupted in his chest like a volcano!

Unable to control himself any longer, he rushed forward, used all his strength, opened his arms, and hugged her tightly in his arms!
He could clearly feel the softness of her body, the familiar temperature, and the scent of her hair that he had longed for for many years—all of which were his eternal pain from his past life!
“Arya…Arya…Thank goodness…You’re alright…Thank goodness…”

His voice choked with emotion, filled with the relief of having lost her and the lingering fear that ran deep in his bones! He buried his face in the crook of her neck, tears streaming down his face.

Feeling Lin Yu'an's embrace, his scalding tears, his trembling body, and the incomprehensible words from his mouth, Aria was completely stunned for a moment.

She didn't understand what had happened to Lin Yu'an, and thought he was crying because he was emotional after learning that he was going to be a father.

Just as he held Arya tightly in his arms, feeling her real body temperature, a mix of emotions welled up in his heart.

"Bang! Boom!"

A series of muffled, continuous gunshots rang out like thunderclaps inside the supermarket! This was followed by the sound of shattering glass and terrified screams from the crowd!

Upon hearing the gunshot, Lin Yu'an's body stiffened abruptly.

Here he comes! That damn lunatic!
"Arya, watch out!"

Upon hearing the gunshot, Lin Yu'an almost reflexively turned Aria's body towards himself.

He used his back to completely block the direction from which the gunshots came, put his other arm around her shoulder, and led her to lie down behind a shelf piled with large bags of diapers.

As he fell, he instinctively turned his head and saw a man wearing a dark hoodie, holding a modified AR-15 automatic rifle, rushing in from the supermarket entrance!
They started firing wildly into the crowd! The cozy baby and maternity supermarket instantly turned into a living hell!
Lin Yu'an looked at that face, even though it was covered by a mask, he would recognize it even if it turned to ashes!

The last time I saw this face was at a court hearing in my past life.

In his previous life, after receiving the call, Lin Yu-an immediately rushed to the police station.

In the cold morgue, he saw only Arya's pale face.

And her abdomen, like a silent tombstone, pressed down on him, making it hard for him to breathe!

Lin Yu'an was ready to take on the responsibilities of a father, but this damned murderer ruthlessly took everything away from him!
He took all the blame upon himself! If he had been with Arya back then, perhaps... perhaps everything would have been different!
Regret, self-blame, and sorrow gnawed at his heart like maggots clinging to his bones, tearing his soul to shreds!
Overwhelmed by a jumble of emotions, he finally broke down completely, weeping bitterly in the morgue!

Time was spent in numbness and pain.

During this time, he met Arya's family for the first time. Her family was shocked to learn from the police that Arya had actually gotten married before she died!

Although they knew of Lin Yu'an's existence, they were completely unaware of the two young people's marriage.

But when they learned of Arya's husband's grief, they rushed over immediately to comfort him.

Her father, Robert, a man as resolute as Texas red oak, had bloodshot eyes as he struggled to hold back tears of longing for his daughter.

And her four tall, strong brothers, Wyatt, Garrett, Bo, and Clay, clenched their fists, their eyes filled with anger and grief.

While comforting Lin Yu'an, they were also eager to know what Ailiya had gone through in the past few months!
Months later, the madman who had taken everything from him finally stood in the dock.

That was the first time Lin Yu'an saw this madman! And she learned his real name—Derek! Lin Yu'an would never forget what kind of devil was hidden behind that honest face!
All the families of the victims are waiting for a just trial, hoping that the evildoer will pay with his life!
However, due to the defense by the murderer's lawyer, the mentally ill man suffered from intermittent mental disorders, and therefore was "mentally unstable at the time of the crime," which met the conditions for exemption from criminal liability.

Ultimately, the judge ruled that the murderer was "possibly mentally ill," and therefore he would need treatment and would be sent to Elizabeth Hospital, one of the most notorious mental hospitals in the United States, for treatment.

He was not allowed to leave his side, not even see his parents, until all the attending physicians at the hospital were certain that he had fully recovered!

"Go to a mental hospital for treatment? Isn't that a death sentence?"

"Why?! He took so many lives, destroyed our families, and all he gets to do is languish in the hospital?"

"Not fair! This isn't fair!"

"Texas has not abolished the death penalty! Why wasn't he sentenced to death?!"

Hearing the heart-wrenching cries of the victims' families at the scene, Lin Yu-an's anger immediately filled the courtroom.

Just as the courtroom was abuzz with discussion over the verdict and the bailiffs were trying to maintain order, an uncontrollable rage completely overwhelmed Lin Yu'an's reason!
Clutching tightly in his pocket was an ordinary pen, the kind that could be taken to court—his weapon for revenge.

He squeezed through rows of crowded people, suddenly leaped up from the back of the gallery, and rushed towards the expressionless madman in the defendant's dock!
He roared, his voice hoarse: "Die! You bastard!"

With all his might, he stabbed the pen in his hand into the assailant's head, but the bailiffs who had reacted quickly pinned him to the ground.

The immense force binding him prevented him from moving. He turned his head and, through his blurred vision, saw that all the victims' families had lost control and were rushing down!

The madman dragged him off the dock and rained down punches on his body and head, making dull thuds.

With the sounds of bailiffs pulling and tugging, the entire courtroom descended into complete chaos.

Eventually, everything subsided.

The perpetrator became a vegetable due to multiple severe injuries and brain hemorrhage.

Lin Yu-an, on the other hand, was convicted of second-degree murder for being the first instigator, showing contempt of court, and committing a violent attack in court.

However, since the police have testified that he attempted suicide and suffered a mental breakdown, he should be exempted from criminal liability for being mentally unstable at the time of the crime.

And with public support from the victims' families, he was exempted from criminal liability.

He was immediately sent to a mental health center for three months of treatment, then deported back to his home country and barred from entering the United States for 10 years.

After that, Lin Yu-an would smuggle himself from Canada to Montana once a year, just to pay tribute to Arya.

Each time, his four brothers would cover for him, but his life completely lost its color, and everyone advised him to get over it as soon as possible.

Arya's brother asked him one night after drinking, "Arya is gone, why don't you find a woman and move on, and continue living your life?"

Lin Yu'an looked at Ailiya's brothers, his eyes filled with boundless sorrow, and replied, "I can't beat it."

(End of this chapter)