Chapter 5

"Cough… Let… let go of me!"

I leaned closer to her, staring into her terrified eyes.

"You should be grateful you were born in a time of peace, protected by the law."

"Otherwise…"

My fingers tightened slightly, letting her know I wasn't joking.

"Just for what you did, I'd rearrange your face so badly you wouldn't be able to string a sentence together!"

Tiffany trembled under the undisguised killing intent in my eyes, forgetting even to struggle.

Just then, Brendon's gloomy voice came from behind.

"Let go of my mom, or you'll regret it."

I turned around, and when I saw the sight before me, the blood in my veins seemed to freeze.

Brendon, I don't know when, had dragged Lily, with the help of two bodyguards, right off her hospital bed.

She was like a rag doll, her arm being dragged across the rough floor, leaving a vivid trail of blood.

The simple bandage on her abdomen was stained red with blood. Her small face was contorted in pain, emitting faint whimpers.

"Mommy… it hurts…"

My heart felt like it was being pricked by countless needles, a dense, throbbing ache.

Brendon was only five! How could he dare?! Was he a devil?!

"You little monster! Let go of Lily!"

I let out a gut-wrenching roar.

Just as I was about to charge, Tiffany grabbed my hair from behind and yanked hard.

While I cried out in pain, she quickly retreated to her son's side.

She looked at Lily, painfully curled on the floor, a flicker of sadistic pleasure and indulgence in her eyes.

"See? This is what happens when you mess with us! My son is destined for great things!"

Hearing his mother's praise, Brendon's small face showed a twisted, smug grin. He even stretched out his leg and kicked Lily.

Tiffany pointed at me with haughty pride.

"Now, get down on your knees and apologize to us! Otherwise, if my son 'accidentally' hurts her anywhere else, it won't be our problem!"

The sight before me made my eyes burn with fury.

An arrogant, inhuman mother.

A naturally evil, cruel son.

They were actually threatening me with a critically injured child.

I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging deep into my palms.

Lily was in their hands. I had no choice but to compromise.

All my pride and dignity were worthless in the face of a child's life.

I slowly knelt down.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault. I shouldn't have used force."

"Please, have mercy and release the child. She'll die like this… I beg you."

Seeing me bow my head and admit fault, Tiffany's face contorted with triumphant pleasure.

"Heh, now you realize your mistake? Too late!"

She had her bodyguards snatch the blood bag from the nurse and threw it on the ground…

"Weren't you so tough just now? You dared to fight me for this pathetic bag of blood?"

She said, then stomped her high heel down on it with brutal force.

"No!"

The nurse and I cried out simultaneously.

Tiffany watched the bloody mess on the floor and our pained expressions, her smile growing more twisted and malicious.

"You want me to let this little bastard go? Fine."

"You strip those clothes off right here, right now! Let everyone see the cheap, nasty slut you really are underneath!"

Tiffany saw me hesitate and keep glancing at the door.

"What? Still waiting for your other hookers to save you? I'm telling you, if they show up, I'll make them strip naked too!"

"You won't strip, huh? Then I'll have to help you!"

With that, her hand slowly reached for the handle of the fruit knife still embedded in Lily's abdomen.

If not for a doctor's careful handling, pulling the knife out like that would instantly cause massive hemorrhage, and Lily would surely die.

"No! Stop it!"

I screamed, forgetting everything else.

"I'll strip! I'll strip! Just don't touch her!!"

Just as my fingers touched the first button, Tiffany's wrist was struck by a slingshot projectile. The impact made her cry out in pain, clutching her hand as she fell to the ground.

At the same moment, a thunderous roar echoed from the corridor entrance.

"I'd like to see who dares touch them!"