"This happened because you were so reckless! I just got my car and you’ve already wrecked it! Were you trying to take out your anger? Couldn’t you even see the road? There was a mudslide and you didn’t even try to dodge it?"
I looked at him with a painful gaze, my eyes stinging red, pointing to the bandage on my forehead.
"I went through all this for you and Wanda. You forced me to make the trip in just two days. Don’t you know how dangerous mountain roads are after heavy rain? Heinry, in your eyes, is my life worth less than a bug?"
Heinry’s expression darkened. He gripped Wanda’s hand, his brow tightening.
"You were careless behind the wheel, so you can’t blame anyone else. Now the car’s ruined and Wanda can’t even eat the tomatoes she wanted. I know you did it on purpose."
"Yes, Heinry, she must have known I was pregnant with your child. That’s why she crashed the car on purpose. Who knows what she was thinking? After all, she’s already had a miscarriage once."
Wanda lightly touched her flat stomach, her voice soft and pitiful, deliberately adding fuel to the flames.
"Next time, don’t let me catch you playing cheap tricks. And remember, the company’s going-public celebration is in three days. Don’t embarrass me there."
With that, he pulled Wanda toward the door. Before leaving, he turned back and added coldly, "There’s no room for you in the car. Find your own way home."
I watched Heinry walk away, my body trembling with rage. My head throbbed with sharp, stabbing pain. Tilting my head back, I forced myself not to cry.
Three more days. Just three more days and I could finally leave Heinry Lorrimer behind and end this humiliation he called a debt.
I stayed in the unfamiliar hospital for two days. The quiet there felt like a release, free from trouble and from those hateful people.
When Heinry texted me, telling me to get my outfit ready for tomorrow’s banquet. I just looked at the message once and ignored it.
After leaving the hospital, I went straight to the station, found a private carpool and rushed home that afternoon.
Heinry wasn’t there. Wanda stood upstairs, peering down at me in her loose silk pajamas. I didn’t even need to guess how well she and my husband had enjoyed themselves while I was gone.
"Oh, you scared me! I thought it was a thief. Turns out it’s just our Yoanne. What made you think of coming back, hmm?"
I ignored her mocking tone and headed upstairs, intending to go straight to my daughter’s room.
However, Wanda stretched out her leg and tripped me.
Startled, I grabbed the railing, glaring at her with burning fury.
"Wanda, stop your stupid games. I don’t have time to argue with you. You’re nothing more than a bar girl. If I fought with you over that scumbag, I’d only be lowering myself."
"Oh, Yoanne Wilson, how noble do you think you are? Aren’t you still being toyed with by a bar girl like me?"
I shot her a look of pure annoyance. I had no interest in wasting energy on her. All I wanted today was to pack my things and leave this place for good.
"Move. I don’t have time to waste on you."
I brushed past her, but suddenly she grabbed my hair and yanked me toward the stairs.
Instinctively, I seized her arm. In the struggle, neither of us realized the danger until it was too late. We both ended up tumbling down the stairs.
Ah! My stomach!"
Her scream cut through the air. I forced my eyes open, pain searing through my forehead and saw blood everywhere.
Then Heinry’s panicked voice roared from the doorway. "Wanda! What happened to you?"
He rushed to her side, staring in shock at the blood pooling beneath her.
"I only wanted to talk to Yoanne, but she pushed me down the stairs. There’s so much blood… is our baby gone, Heinry?"
Wanda sobbed in agony. Heinry turned on me, hatred blazing in his eyes. His steps were heavy and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey.
Then, with a loud crack—
His hand struck me hard across the face, slamming me to the ground.
