Chapter 5

As my words fell, an eerie silence followed.

Then came Vivian's uncontrollable laughter and mockery:

"What a shameless bitch, already acting like a whore before even seeing Mr. Holt!"

"But Mr. Holt's name isn't something a bitch like you can call! You're asking for death!"

The next second, her eyes grew even more vicious as she drove the knife point into my face. Searing pain exploded like an electric current.

"Hold her down! Hold her down tight!"

Without hesitation, Ethan pressed down on my hands, smashing my entire face toward the cold floor.

The sound of finger bones completely shattering.

Excruciating pain made my vision go black. Cold sweat instantly soaked my back.

The man I'd once loved with everything I had was now personally sending me to the slaughterhouse, acting as the executioner's most loyal accomplice.

A burning line spread from the corner of my eye to my temple. Blood instantly blurred my vision.

Vivian let out a deranged laugh:

"Let's see how you act superior after I ruin this face!"

Ethan fawned obsequiously:

"Exactly, Ms. Jo! If you're still not satisfied after carving her up, just take some nude photos. Let's see how she seduces men after that!"

Summer sneered:

"Just cutting her face is too easy on her."

"Why not strip her naked and throw her in the fountain at the entrance? Let her know the consequences of offending Ms. Jo!"

I listened to their celebration, a metallic sweetness surging in my throat.

Every wound they inflicted on me would become an epitaph carved on their tombstones.

My father's methods would teach them what it meant to be unable to live, unable to die.

The next second, Ethan reached out toward the neckline of my nightgown.

I struggled violently, the last of my strength exploding in this moment.

But Ethan's knee ground even more viciously into my spine. My bones made an unbearable grinding sound.

"Stop struggling. You're just a piece of rotten meat ready for slaughter."

Ultimate humiliation engulfed me.

Vivian's smile grew increasingly cruel. She grabbed the last shred covering me and yanked hard.

Her other hand pulled out her phone and quickly opened a live streaming app.

"Just throwing you out isn't enough. I'm going live so all of New York can see just how cheap this bitch really is!"

At this critical moment!

With a deafening crash.

That million-dollar rosewood door was pushed open from outside.

A towering figure wrapped in thunderous fury walked in.

"Who gave you permission to make trouble here!"

The madness on Vivian's face instantly transformed to delight. Holding her phone, she spoke in a cloying voice:

"Mr. Holt! Perfect timing! I was just disciplining a presumptuous new toy for you!"

Ethan quickly looked up, wagging his tail like a lapdog:

"Mr. Holt! We specifically found you a woman who looks exactly like your first love, absolutely clean!"

"We only ask that you consider our sincerity and give us a chance with that western suburbs project!"

My dad's footsteps stopped.

His gaze passed through the crowd and landed on me lying in a pool of blood.

He saw my face covered in blood and tears.

That commanding presence instantly crumbled.