Chapter 38
Each strike rang out like a gunshot, slicing through the silence.
The sharp smack echoed relentlessly through the room.
Judith didn’t stop until her hands went numb, trembling as she shook them.
My face was swollen, blood trickling from the corners of my lips. The pain stung, but compared to the horrors I endured in my past life, it was nothing.}
“I’ve hated you for a long time,” Judith spat with venom. “If it weren’t for son protecting you, you’d have been out on the streets ages ago.”
“You’re nothing but a dog living under someone else’s roof–and you dare to bark at your master?“}
Her eyes burned with scorn as she sneered, “How can you even compare to Marilyn? Her parents run the EastBridge Holdings. And you? A poor orphan with no standing.”}
She looked at me with cold pride, clearly satisfied by Marilyn’s prestigious background. She’d been desperate to tear us apart for years, but Brandon had always stood by me.
Thankfully, it seemed he had finally woken up and seen through my facade.
Watching Judith revel in her moment of triumph, I couldn’t help but sneer inside.}
After all her praise for the rich and ruthless trampling of the weak–she too could stumble.
IL
And Marilyn? That sweet little flower wasn’t as innocent as she appeared. She hid dark secrets beneath that porcelain smile.
But I wasn’t about to dig up Parrish family dirt. Not again.}
The bodyguards released me, and I collapsed to the floor, drained.§
Looking up into Judith’s eyes, I smiled softly.
“You’re right. I don’t measure up to Marilyn. So I’m moving out.”
Judith’s brow furrowed in confusion at my meek tone, but she only said, “You know when.“>
With that, she gathered her precious daughter and swept away gracefully.
I pulled out my phone and sent a message to someone I hadn’t contacted in ages:
“Can you help me get a certificate?“}
The message disappeared into silence. Minutes later, a reply came slowly:
“Meet me at the Provincial Registry Office in thirty minutes. Don’t stand me up.“}
Appointment made, I resumed packing.
I didn’t have much–mostly things Brandon had given me, including an album filled with memories from high school to college.
I left the album and everything else behind, taking only a few sets of clothes.
At the garage, I loaded my bags into the trunk, started the engine, and prepared to leave.
That’s when the maid, carrying a white puppy, purposely let it slip from her arms just as I passed.}
I slammed on the brakes–but it was too late.
The maid screamed, “Ah! Omar! Omar, no!“}
I rushed out, heart pounding, and saw the puppy crushed beneath my tires–dead in a brutal instant.
“My Omar…”
At that moment, Brandon returned, holding the engagement ring, accompanied by Marilyn.
Without waiting for the car to stop, Marilyn jumped out, tears streaming down her face.
“Omar! How could this happen? My Omar…”
Omar was Marilyn’s dog. With her parents abroad, Judith had allowed Marilyn to live at the Parrish family estate.
The servant pointed accusingly at me. “It was her–Miss Robinson. She ran over Omar!“}
Marilyn bit her trembling lip, shooting me a venomous look before collapsing into Brandon’s arms, sobbing: “Brandon, Omar has been with me for seven years. When you were away, it was the only thing that kept me going. More than family… and now Anna has taken him from me. It hurts so much.”
Brandon’s eyes flickered coldly between the lifeless dog and me–so full of fury it could kill.
