I dragged my stepfather out from under the bed, where he had hidden.
After more than ten years, he still looked the same, fat, dirty, and shabby.
His face bent with flattery as he stared at me, wagging like a dog and begging, “Daughter, long time no see…”
Before he could finish, I kicked him hard and sent him flying. “Who’s your daughter? Disgusting!”
He rolled across the floor, skidding to a stop, then struggled up, messy and pitiful.
“Back then, I was taken by evil, that is why I tied you in the street, that is why you were shamed and torn by dogs… Now I truly know I was wrong.”
Each word cut into me like a whip. Rage burned away all reason. I pulled out a gun and aimed at his head.
One shot would end him, and my painful past would be buried for good. But suddenly his fear faded, and he laughed with triumph.
I frowned instantly. Turning my head, I saw a man dragging Emma over as a hostage.
“Dear daughter, didn’t expect I’d still have a backup, did you?” he said, threat dripping from his voice.
“As long as you give me money and let me go, I guarantee this woman will be safe. Otherwise, she won’t see tomorrow’s sun.”
When I saw Emma, my lips curved. “Foolish and ignorant. You didn’t even check that this woman is my enemy. Truly, thank you, father.”
I raised the gun again and aimed at his forehead. “Perfect. Let me kill two birds with one stone.”
Seeing that I was truly fearless, my stepfather panicked, and his face twisted with disbelief. “If you dare kill me, this woman will surely die before me!”
I raised an eyebrow. “Then go ahead and try.”
As I was about to pull the trigger, I felt cold pressure at my waist crawl across my back.
A gun barrel was pressed against me from behind.
Then a voice I knew rang out, “Let your people release Emma, and I will let you go.”
In disbelief, I turned my head and saw the cold, ruthless Easton. When his eyes met mine, he quickly looked away. In a voice just for us, he whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Betrayal hit me like falling into a cold pond, struggling blindly, and then drowning in hopelessness.
Seeing me held by one of my own, my stepfather laughed up at the sky.
“Didn’t expect it, Tisha, you’d have a day like this too!” He nodded at Easton with satisfaction. “Very good.”
Easton had clearly known my pain before. That year, a simple rope had crushed my dignity, the rope tight around my neck, my clothes torn as I was dragged down the street like a dog.
Back then, he had rushed in recklessly, beating my stepfather without caring for his own life, and even when he was beaten down and barely breathing, he still dragged me forward without stopping.
But now all of that past felt like a bullet pressed to my forehead in this moment. While Easton held me, my stepfather broke free of my bonds and fled in a panic.
I stared hard at my stepfather’s back, bloodlust burning in my eyes.
By my ear came Easton’s soft words, “Tisha, there will be another chance.”
No. There would never be another chance.
The next moment, while Easton was not watching, I raised my gun and aimed at the enemy.
A shot rang out, and blood sprayed. Watching my stepfather fall heavily to the ground, I smiled with relief.
