Chapter 3

"Slap!"

A resounding slap echoed through the ballroom.

Ethan's hand hung in mid-air, trembling with rage.

I turned my head, my cheek burning, a trace of blood seeping from the corner of my mouth.

But I didn't flinch, only looked at him with eyes that saw a dead man.

Lily shrieked, rushing forward to shield me, glaring at Ethan like an enraged cub.

"Don't hit my mom! You're a bad man! I don't have a dad like you!"

Ethan froze.

Seeing the hatred in his daughter's eyes, a flicker of panic crossed his face, but it was quickly masked by fury.

"Fine! Fine, Eleanor Hayes! What a daughter you've raised!"

He pointed at me, gritting his teeth.

"You think I won't touch you just because of the Hayes family connections? Believe me, I'll divorce you right now!"

Serena, behind him, secretly curled her lips, her eyes full of malicious triumph.

"Mr. Thorne, please calm down."

She feigned concern, stepping forward and speaking in a soft voice.

"She's just not thinking clearly. After all... after all, she once lost a child, so she's naturally a little overprotective of Lily."

Lost a child.

How dare she bring that up!

A murderous rage instantly boiled within me, and I stared at Serena, my eyes burning red.

"Serena Davies, say one more word, and I promise you won't live to see tomorrow's sun."

My voice was quiet, but it carried an icy chill that cut to the bone.

Serena flinched, taking two steps back, trembling as she hid behind Ethan.

"Eleanor Hayes! You're completely insane!"

Ethan was furious.

"Guards! Take my wife back to the suburban villa! No one is to see her or let her leave without my permission! Lily's affairs are now entirely under Vice President Davies's charge!"

The bodyguards rushed forward like hungry wolves.

I didn't resist, only cast Ethan one last cold glance.

"Ethan, you will regret this. Everything you owe Eleanor Hayes, I will make you pay back a thousandfold."

I took Lily's hand and turned, walking out of the ballroom.

The night wind was biting, chilling me to the bone, but it couldn't extinguish the fire of anger in my heart.

The suburban villa—that was the most secluded property owned by the Thorne family.

Calling it a villa was a euphemism for a place of confinement.

As soon as we stepped through the front door, the heavy sound of a lock clicking shut echoed behind us.

Lily clung to me, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Mom, what do we do? I don't want to go abroad, I want to stay with you..."

I knelt, gently wiping away the tears from her face.

My eyes were filled with both tenderness and fierce determination.

"Don't be scared, Lily. With Mom here, no one can send you away."

I stood up, surveying the empty villa.

This place wouldn't hold me.

The Hayes family's network already spanned this city. With just one phone call, the top legal team could ruin Ethan's reputation.

But I couldn't do that.

I not only had to save Lily; I also had to make Ethan and Serena Davies pay.

I would make them answer for Eleanor's death!