I looked at the gentleman with some surprise. Only now did I learn his last name was “Carter”—let alone his powerful status, which made even the police chief bow to him.
Mr. Carter gave me a reassuring smile. His manner was gentle, but his voice carried the weight of authority as he said, “I’m just here to pick up my friend and her children.”
“Of course! I understand, I understand!” The police chief quickly signaled his men to seize the weapons from Ethan’s two bodyguards.
Seeing this, Ethan immediately panicked. “Mr. Chief, what are you doing?! What’s so special about Mr. Carter? I’m still Mr. Brooks!”
“Are you insane? Do you even know who Mr. Carter is?”
The police chief looked at him like he was a complete idiot. “Mr. Carter runs the most powerful syndicate today. His businesses span across industries. Even the president treats him with respect! You want to die, go ahead—I, on the other hand, still value my life!”
“Mr. Chief, I have a few words for Mr. Brooks. I hope you won’t mind.”
“Mr. Chief, you... You can’t just stand by and watch someone get killed!”
Only now did fear truly grip Ethan. He reached out to the police chief for help, but the chief stepped back indifferently and turned to Mr. Carter with a bootlicking smile. “Of course not. We won’t interfere.”
As Mr. Carter’s men grabbed Ethan by the hair and forced him to kneel in front of me, I saw real terror in his eyes—and I felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
Ethan shot me a murderous glare, but before he could speak, the butt of a gun smashed into his nose. I even heard the crack of bone.
“Ahhh!” Ethan screamed in agony before collapsing to the floor, his face drenched in blood.
But Mr. Carter’s men weren’t done. One of them kicked his chest with full force. Several ribs snapped instantly—one even tore through the skin, exposing a stark white bone.
Vanessa, who woke up just in time to witness it, screamed in horror.
Completely losing her mind, she tried to crawl away, but her legs were too weak to hold her. Like a dog, she dragged herself across the floor.
She didn’t get far before one of Mr. Carter’s men stomped her back, pinning her down. She couldn’t move an inch.
“Don’t... don’t kill me! I didn’t do anything! It was... all Ethan! He forced me!” Even now, Vanessa clung to her lies.
Her crying was pitiful and frail—something that used to manipulate Ethan and Ryan with ease. But Mr. Carter’s men didn’t flinch. They simply tossed a large black garbage bag in front of her.
The bag opened, releasing a putrid stench that nearly choked me. I instinctively covered my nose and mouth. Inside was a chunk of rotted flesh, squirming with maggots.
“You eat it, or your child eats it. Choose.” One of Mr. Carter’s men pointed a gun at her head, voice flat and cruel.
Those were almost the exact words Vanessa once said to me. I drew a shaky breath and bit hard on my lip to hold back tears. I wouldn’t cry in front of Mr. Carter.
Mr. Carter gently placed me in the wheelchair his men had brought, then handed me his handkerchief, faintly scented with cologne. Only then did I realize I was crying.
“No! No! If I eat it, I... I’ll die! Tessa, I was wrong! Please forgive me—for my child’s sake! I... I was possessed—I didn’t mean it!”
Vanessa suddenly kowtowed to me, her forehead thudding again and again on the cold floor. Blood streamed from her wounds, making her look pathetic. But I knew she wasn’t truly remorseful. She was just terrified.
“I didn’t die. I’ve already tried it.”
My words stunned her completely—she hadn’t expected me to be so cold.
“Looks like this lady needs some help,” Mr. Carter said lightly.
Immediately, his men pried open Vanessa’s mouth, chopped the rotten meat into small chunks, and shoved it in.
Vanessa thrashed wildly, but couldn’t break free. She gagged violently, and I saw maggots crawl in and out of her nose.
“Wait!”
Ryan’s voice rang out behind us—followed by Jordan’s desperate cry, “Mom! Help me! Mom, save me!”
I turned around abruptly—and froze.
Ryan had one arm wrapped around Jordan’s shoulders, the other holding a scalpel against her neck.
