*Chapter 3**
Damien stood there, impeccably dressed in a suit, his features stark, his imposing presence silently permeating the air.
My fingertips trembled. I quickly told Liam, “You should go first.”
Liam didn’t notice anything amiss and continued, “Once the paperwork is ready, you…”
“Just go!” My voice was tight, almost a plea, as I looked at him.
He paused, then finally nodded. “Alright. Be careful.”
Only when his car drove away did I dare to turn, walking step by step towards the steps.
Damien remained there, his gaze fixed on me, the emotions in his dark eyes unreadable.
I was trembling all over, I could almost hear my own heart pounding wildly.
Would he be angry?
Or would he be like before, breaking someone’s hand just because they touched me?
But in the end Iheard his cold voice:
9:26 AM
<
But in the end, I heard his cold voice:
“We have guests. Go make some tea.”
With that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps fading.
I stood frozen for a while before I dared to look up.
He… showed no emotion.
It seemed he really had amnesia.
O
I breathed a sigh of relief and turned to the kitchen to make tea.
But when I carried the tea into the living room, I found there was another person there.
I recognized her at a glance–it was Seraphina Reed, the woman who had been announced as Damien’s fiancée on the
news.
Currently, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, and Brooke, were all gathered around her, smiling broadly as they discussed wedding
arrangements.
Damien sat to the side, not interjecting, listening calmly.
I lowered my head, brought the tea over, and softly said, “Miss Reed, your tea.”
Seraphina looked up at me, a subtle smile playing on her lips.
She reached out to take the cup, but the next second, she suddenly “accidentally” knocked it over-
The scalding tea splashed all over Seraphina.
Before I could even react, Brooke had already swung her hand, slapping me hard across the face!
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?!”
I opened my mouth, instinctively wanting to explain-
“I didn’t…
But before I could finish, Brooke shrieked, cutting me off, then turned to Damien to complain:
“Brother! I’ve been meaning to tell you, this maid has impure intentions towards you!”
She pointed at me with a disgusted expression. “She secretly collects your things, she’s clearly a troublemaker! Now that she knows you’re engaged to Seraphina, she’s gone mad with jealousy and deliberately scalded her!”
I felt a chill run through my body, unable to believe she could twist facts like that.
“I didn’t…” My voice trembled, but before I could finish, Seraphina also spoke up.
She looked at Damien, her eyes slightly red, her voice weak. “Damien, with your status, many people will try to cling to
KE
<
Mr. and Mrs. Sterling immediately chimed in, “Exactly! She must be severely punished!”
I froze, suddenly realizing-
This was an act.
A trap they had set together.
And Damien despised anyone who tried to seduce him.
Sure enough, the next second, I heard his icy voice:
“Drag her away and carry out the family punishment.”
After saying that, he bent down, scooped Seraphina into his arms, and walked upstairs without a backward glance. “I’ll call the private doctor.”
I didn’t even have a chance to utter another word of defense before two bodyguards seized my arms and roughly dragged me out.
Outside the mansion, the night was deep and dark.
Brooke held a rattan cane with thorns, her face alight with undisguised excitement and malice.
“Elara, you’ve finally fallen into my hands.”
She raised the cane and brought it down hard!
*Smack!*
The first whip landed, tearing my skin open.
“This whip is for stealing my identity!”
*Smack!*
The second whip, raw and mangled.
“This whip is for seducing my brother!”
*Smack!*
“This whip is for being ungrateful!”
“Hahaha, scream, why aren’t you screaming wildly now? My brother won’t stand up for you anymore!”
I bit my lip hard, forcing myself not to cry out.
But the thorns on the cane dug into my flesh, each strike feeling like it was tearing me apart alive.
<
1
Blood trickled down my back, my arms, my legs… dropping one by one onto the ground.
Ninety–nine lashes.
Brooke seemed determined to vent all her years of rage. She whipped harder and harder until, finally, my consciousness began to blur.
All I could hear was her shrill curses and the dull thud of the cane ripping through flesh.
When the last whip fell, I finally couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed heavily into the pool of my own blood.
