I could never forget Darcy's eyes—that loyal, aching gaze that broke me more than any knife ever could. Nor could I forget the rage carved into my very bones, a fury that burned anew every time I looked at Noreen.
All I had left for her was hatred—not yet extinguished, but smoldering, waiting to ignite.
"Noreen," I said, each word bitten out, "you're nothing more than a dog Maxwell keeps on a leash. If Mr. Edward could see you now, he'd claw his way out of his coffin to drag you down with him."
"The Carter family is finished—and it's all on you."
Her hand shot out, fingers crushing my throat. Air vanished from my lungs, oxygen draining as her bloodshot eyes locked onto mine.
"Colin," she hissed, voice twisted with madness, "don't think for a second I won't kill you!"
She hurled me to the ground. Champagne glass shards dug into my skin, slicing me open in a hundred places. Agony shot through me, but before I could catch my breath, her hand fisted in my hair and yanked my head back.
"If I say kneel, you kneel. If I say die, you die!"
Her lips curled into a smile, cruel and taunting.
"But tonight... I don't feel like letting you die just yet."
She patted my cheek as though I were some pet.
"After all, how could I let such a fine plaything go to waste, hm?"
Her face blurred before me, so close I could smell her perfume. And in my mind, I heard Maxwell's mocking voice, echoing from that video he once sent me, dripping with pride.
"I only told Noreen that Darcy looked scary. She skinned him alive for me."
"Tell me, if I told her you were scary too, would she peel your skin off as well?"
"Hilarious, isn't it?"
"You may have been the Carter family's son-in-law by name, but in truth—you weren't even worth as much as a servant."
Now, staring into Noreen's gloating expression, bile and blood surged in my throat. As she raised her hand to slap me again, I spat a mouthful of blood straight into her face.
For one instant, shock flashed across her features—revulsion twisting her perfect mask. I laughed.
"That's right, Noreen."
I mirrored her tone, my lips curling. "How could you die so quickly? A game this fun... deserves to be played to the very end."
I hadn't come back to be spared.
I'd come back to destroy the Carter family—piece by piece.
For Darcy, whose death was so cruel it still tore at me, I would make every last one of them pay.
Seeing I would not break, Noreen abruptly let go of my hair and wiped the blood from her face. Her eyes gleamed darkly.
"You're right." Her voice was soft, yet chilling. "Some things shouldn't be rushed. They need... slow torture."
She straightened her back, eyes narrowing. "Since you've returned... then let's play properly."
Without another glance at me, she barked an order at the security guards.
"Watch him. Don't let him run."
Then, as though flipping a switch, her expression melted into tenderness when she turned to Maxwell.
"Does it hurt?" She gently brushed the tears from his face.
"I'll take you to a private room."
Maxwell leaned into her with red-rimmed eyes. "As long as I have you, nothing can hurt me."
His voice cracked, choked with tears. "With you... I'm not afraid of anything."
As they left, I sat slumped on the floor, wounds stinging, my body screaming with pain. Around me, the vultures circled—Noreen's sycophants spitting their venom.
"Who even is this nobody? Daring to hurt Miss Noreen—she spared his life tonight, and he should be grateful!"
"Exactly! I heard he's just some orphan Mr. Edward picked up off the streets. The old man raised him out of pity, and how does he repay it? By bullying Maxwell! No wonder he was thrown out."
"Speaking of—" one of them laughed, pulling up a video on his phone. "I still have that dog video saved. You remember it, don't you? The night Maxwell taught him a lesson."
