Chapter 5

When I found my mother, she was being pinned to the ground by several caregivers, barely alive.

Her back was already torn and bloody, yet she still stared fixedly at Chloe.

"I'll kill you!"

Chloe had three bloody scratches on her face, clearly from my mother's nails.

She gripped the whip in her hand, saying through gritted teeth.

"The wedding is tomorrow! How can I face people looking like this?"

"You old hag! Ninety-nine lashes left! I'm going to beat you to death today!"

Understanding what had happened, I immediately rushed forward to shield my mother.

But the doctors had said for years that her condition was improving.

Why would she suddenly lose control?

Crack!

The whip struck me hard.

I cried out in pain.

But Chloe looked down at me from above, smiling smugly.

"Harper, your mother couldn't compete with mine. And now you can't compete with me either."

I froze.

"What did you say?"

My eyes fell on the family photo in her hand.

My father-the one who'd abandoned his wife and child-had his arm lovingly around another woman's waist.

So Chloe's mother was the mistress from back then!

Chloe's laughter echoed in my ears.

"Serves you right! Who told your mom to call my mom a homewrecker back then! Now you've become the real mistress. I've finally avenged my mother!"

"I'll tell you the truth: the day you and Adrian made it official, I gave my permission. Adrian treats you slightly well and you're willing to be a lapdog. You've never been loved before, have you? Pathetic."

"Now, either you take these ninety-nine lashes for this old hag, or you go live and tell the whole world that you and your mother are both mistresses."

Every word was like a poisoned needle stabbing into my deepest wounds.

Rage surged to my head. I lunged at Chloe like a madwoman.

But just as my fingers touched her sleeve, Adrian's furious voice suddenly came from behind me.

"Harper! Don't you dare!"

He kicked me violently aside, his eyes fixed on the sharp scissors on the ground.

"Bitch! If you want to die, go die yourself! Don't touch Chloe!"

I held my bloodied mother, tears falling silently.

Adrian hesitated slightly and instinctively moved to help me up.

But Chloe stumbled into his arms, crying piteously.

"Adrian, Harper said her mom's crazy and won't be punished for murder!"

"I don't matter if something happens to me, but the baby in my belly..."

The trace of pity in Adrian's eyes for me instantly vanished.

The bodyguards immediately understood and grabbed the whip, lashing me viciously.

Excruciating pain instantly engulfed my entire body.

I screamed.

But Adrian refused to look at me again.

At that moment, my mother, who had been on the verge of death, suddenly shielded me tightly in her arms.

Her cloudy eyes were full of tears as she whispered in my ear.

"It's my fault for being useless and letting you suffer so much. This time, let me protect you."

Hearing her breathing grow weaker and weaker, I cried and begged Adrian for help.

"I'm sorry! I apologize! Please, please save my mom!"

But no matter how much I pleaded, no one responded.

My tears ran dry. The ninety-nine lashes were finished.

When my mother went into shock from blood loss, Adrian finally walked out of the room.

He finally spared me a glance.

"A few lashes won't kill you. Your current state is partly your mother's fault! This should teach you both a lesson!"

I wiped the blood from my lips. Through my tears, I began to laugh.

"Adrian, I really wish I'd never met you in this lifetime."

Adrian stood up and let out a cold laugh.

"Fine. Just don't make a scene at the wedding. I'll buy your mom a villa. You can live with us, or if it makes you uncomfortable, you can live next door."

I shook my head numbly.

"No. We're never seeing each other again."

"Suit yourself."

With that, Adrian lifted Chloe into his arms and headed straight for the hospital.

On the wedding day, Adrian's wedding procession got into a car accident.

At the hospital, he spotted my mother's caregiver walking out with luggage.

Ignoring his own injuries, Adrian went up to her.

"Where are you going? Aren't you supposed to be taking care of Harper's mother?"

She looked at him like he was insane.

"Are you out of your mind? Miss Reed's mother's funeral is today. You want me to take care of her in the grave?!"