“It's a good thing that her father died. It saved me a lot of trouble. Last time I had to pull out her mother's IV tube—what a hassle.”
Anne’s words cut into me like a dull knife and my eyes widened in horror. So, my mother’s death wasn’t an accident at all. Her cruelty went far beyond anything I’d ever imagined.
“If Nova dares obstruct me again, I won't spare her brother either.”
Her breath hung around me like a demon's whisper, choking the air from my lungs. Her arrogant, vicious words looped endlessly in my ears as my mental defenses crumbled.
Impulsively, I kicked open the door, determined to demand answers.
The room fell silent. Furious, I lunged forward and slapped Anne across the face, only to be stopped by the burly man beside her. “Do you still want to hit me?” she sneered.
After she clapped her hands, her friends surged forward and beat me mercilessly. The louder the music blared, the harder I was hit.
When the music finally stopped, I was dragged in front of Anne, who was smoking an expensive cigar. Amidst puffs of smoke, she pressed the burning tip into my palm. I screamed in agony, but she clamped my mouth shut. “Your parents are already dead. Keep crossing me and I’ll make sure your death is uglier than theirs.”
My eyes burned with hatred. “You'll pay for this!”
Anne laughed. “Oh, really? Then we'll see who pays the price!”
Then the music started again and I endured another round of inhuman torture. My arms were slashed and not a single inch of skin on my body remained intact.
Resentment and hatred churned in my chest as I struggled desperately, but I was knocked unconscious from exhaustion.
Anne tossed me into the basement and left through the back door with her friends. Meanwhile, outside, my brother kept checking his watch and sending me messages, but he did not receive any response.
Little did he know my phone had been smashed to pieces by those people. Unable to wait any longer, he kicked the door open. Seeing the bloodstains everywhere, he grew uneasy. He searched the entire house but found no trace of me.
His rage finally erupted when his eyes landed on the wedding portrait of Lucas and Anne hanging in the living room. In that moment, he understood everything.
Malcom for hours before finally finding me locked in the basement. He noticed my clothes and bedding piled in one corner, while I was covered in injuries, too weak to speak.
"I’ll get justice for you!” As he fought back his tears, he secretly rescued me and arranged for me to be taken to a private hospital under his company's name.
Seeing the dire medical result, the attending physician could only sigh.
After learning everything, Malcom stared at my unconscious form and broke down. He buried his face in his hands and wept because his beloved sister had endured such inhuman torment.
"Mr. Bright, are you sure about cancelling the partnership with the Dubois Corporation? The contract is ready to sign.”
“Not just cancel it,” Malcom growled. “Take all companies that work with him. He and I are now sworn enemies.”
Then he slammed the phone.
