Stephanie was hospitalized for two weeks, and Jacob stayed by her side the entire time.
During those two weeks, Lindsey packed up her luggage and moved out of the villa that had imprisoned her for five years. She rented a small apartment with the little savings she had left and returned to work at the bar where she used to have a part-time job.
She had to endure these last two weeks before she could officially return to the National Institute of Research. However, she hadn't expected to run into Jacob again so soon.
To celebrate Stephanie's discharge, he booked out the entire bar and invited all the rich young scions of Janderville for a party all night long. The lights in the bar were dim, and the music boomed as loud as thunder.
Meanwhile, Jacob took great care of Stephanie the whole time. His friends surrounded her and fussed over her as well.
Lindsey didn't want to be involved with any of them, so she texted her boss to request leave.
However, Stephanie called out to her just as she was about to leave, "Lindsey, you've done such horrible things to me, yet you don't even have a single word of apology? Now you're trying to run away too?"
Her teary eyes aroused the pity of everyone who saw her, but Lindsey merely cast her a cold glance. "I'll say it one more time. I didn't do any of those things. If you keep spreading lies, I'll sue you for defamation."
With that, Lindsey turned to leave. However, Jacob ordered his bodyguards to block her path.
A glass of strong liquor was dumped all over Lindsey's head, and a wave of humiliation overwhelmed her like never before.
The loud, jarring music was cut off instantly. The group of wild partygoers fell silent at that moment and stared at her gloatingly.
Jacob sneered. "Trying to run away after what you did? Lindsey, why haven't I ever realized what a vicious woman you really are? First, you hurt Grandpa. Now, you dared to lay a hand on Stephie. What's next? Planning to turn me into a puppet and keep me by your side forever?"
His face looked a little pale from days of exhaustion, but his gaze was locked onto Lindsey. His eyes were as sharp as a blade.
Lindsey felt mentally drained from repeating herself. "I've already told you. I didn't push Mr. Whitaker Senior, and I didn't hurt Stephanie either."
Nonetheless, Lindsey knew she sounded unconvincing and powerless even as the words came out of her mouth. The surveillance cameras were broken, human witnesses had been bribed, and Jacob was blinded by love.
She said, "I swear on my life that I didn't stab Stephanie. If I'm lying, I'm willing to be cursed with a terrible death. But Stephanie, do you dare to swear on your life? Do you dare swear that this whole thing wasn't an act you set up?"
"That's enough!" Jacob snapped and shielded Stephanie behind him. "Lindsey, you still show no remorse! Then, don't blame me for disregarding our past and teaching you a lesson about our family's values!"
Lindsey's legs buckled, and the bodyguards forced Lindsey to her knees in front of everyone. She struggled violently, but the threat of death filled her with fear.
Jacob took a leather whip from one of the bodyguards and approached her slowly. "Are you scared now? Did you ever think about how heartbroken Grandpa and Stephie were when you hurt them?"
With that, he swung the whip with a crack. The first blow landed square on her back.
Lindsey's body jerked violently like she had been electrocuted. The pain was so intense that she couldn't speak.
"Speak!" Jacob raised his voice, filled with fury. "Do you admit your mistake?"
"I won't…" Lindsey's voice was weak but stubborn.
Jacob laughed in exasperation and raised the whip again. "You won't? Do you think you could avoid responsibility just by refusing to admit your fault? You're a criminal, Lindsey!"
The sound of the cracking whip and the crowd's jeering laughter suffocated Lindsey, and she found it hard to breathe. But the more they crushed her, the more defiant she became.
Lindsey suddenly burst into laughter. She laughed so hard that tears appeared in her eyes. "I didn't do anything wrong! Why should I admit to something I didn't do? My biggest mistake in this life was getting involved with a beast like you! Jacob, you're the real heinous villain here!"
Stephanie furrowed her brow. "Lindsey, I won't let you insult Jacob like that—"
"And who do you think you are? Do you think you're any better?" Lindsey cut her off coldly, shouting like a madwoman. "You're just a pathetic parasite leeching onto others! What right do you have to order me around?"
Jacob was beside himself with anger. He cracked the whip and struck Lindsey's body ruthlessly.
"This is for Grandpa," he said after the first blow.
"This is punishment for daring to harm Stephie," he growled on the second blow.
And on the third blow, he shouted, "This one is a warning. Don't even dream of becoming the mistress of the Whitaker family!"
…
All 64 lashes seemed to land squarely on Lindsey's heart. A sweet, metallic taste rose in her throat. She spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot.
Lindsey found herself in a hospital room when she woke up once more. The television in the room was looping a live video of her being whipped. Her agonized screams of pain seemed to spur on their drunken revelry, and her bloodied back was doused repeatedly with liquor by malicious bystanders.
She lay there like a piece of ragged cloth, forgotten and discarded in a corner. Lindsey was finally saved when the bar owner came to check the place and found her barely alive.
There was no sorrow greater than a broken heart.
Despite her sadness, Lindsey couldn't even shed a tear.
Suddenly, a voice called out, "You're awake?"
