Richard Hayes even left men to watch me.
Richard, only now do I see your selfishness clearly. All your cleverness is spent only on tormenting me.
“For Lily’s life, I’ll comply,” I said, taking a deep breath. “But before that, I want to make a call.”
The Hayes family held immense power.
Only one man could save me from this nightmare.
“This…” The bodyguard hesitated, then said, “A call is not allowed. But you may send one message.”
“Fine.”
I gave in, took the phone under his watchful eyes, and typed:
[Dad, Lily and I miss you.]
After I set the phone down, the urn was strapped onto my back, bending me nearly in half.
Forget climbing—walking a few steps on flat ground was nearly impossible.
The heat was suffocating, my face burning red.
And to make things worse, one bodyguard held a tablet on a live video call with Richard.
Onscreen, Richard sat beside Vanessa, eating watermelon in the cool air-conditioning, a glass of wine on the table.
To them, my suffering was just entertainment, like watching a circus act.
“What are you waiting for? Move,” Richard ordered coldly, raising his wine glass.
Vanessa didn’t speak, but the smirk tugging at her lips betrayed her satisfaction.
I gritted my teeth, took two steps, and collapsed as my right leg gave out.
The heavy urn pinned me down, crushing my bones like a mountain.
A scream of pain escaped me.
Some of the guards couldn’t bear it and tried to reason with Richard.
“Sir, this is too much. In 108-degree weather, carrying fifty pounds uphill will kill her.”
Richard’s face darkened. He slammed his glass against the table.
The guards fell silent.
Vanessa quickly stroked his chest, whispering sweetly, “Don’t be angry, Richard. Anger is bad for your health. Maybe the guards are right.”
But the sharp look she gave them could have cut glass.
“I’m not angry. I’m disgusted,” Richard said with a smile, turning the venom back on me. “Emily Carter, stop pretending. Get up. Lily’s life is in your hands. If you disobey, I’ll give that heart to someone else. Then you can watch her suffer.”
He sneered. “Just like at that pet funeral—Vanessa cried her heart out, but you were cold as stone.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
A father threatening his wife with his own daughter’s life?
“Richard!” I roared, eyes bloodshot. “If anything happens to our daughter, I will haunt you even in death!”
Perhaps it was the first time he had seen me so unhinged, because Richard froze for a moment before standing abruptly.
“Mr. Hayes, maybe let it go,” Vanessa interjected, biting her lip. “After all, the dog was poisoned by Lily. His wife merely missed the funeral. It’s not a big deal. I don’t mind.”
“No.” Richard cut her off immediately. “If the mother fails to teach her daughter, then the mother must be punished.”
He sat back down, his expression dark as he continued watching me like a cruel spectator.
How absurd.
Vanessa had no proof. She was an outsider.
And yet Richard believed her over me.
