Chapter 4

The bodyguards immediately hauled over a second dog cage.

Several men rushed forward and seized my arms, their grip brutal, forcing me into the cage.

Margery walked over to me, her eyes full of venom, and threatened in a low voice:

"Kathleen, all you have to do is kneel down in front of everyone, kowtow to me ten times, and admit out loud that you're a slut, and I'll talk Mom, Dad, and my brother into letting you off."

"Getting shocked isn't pleasant. If you don't believe me, go ask your adoptive parents."

I clenched my fists, hating that I couldn't smash them into her face right now.

I gave a cold snort and shot back:

"Making you lose everything is still too easy on you, Margery. You'll pay for what you've done today, and soon!"

Margery hadn't expected me to talk back even when I was cornered. Her face went ashen, her lips tight and twisted.

"Fine! You really don't know when to quit! Let's see how long you can keep running your mouth!"

She straightened up and barked at the bodyguards:

"Throw her in! Turn the current up to the max! Today our dear Miss Harding is going to put on an exclusive show for all our guests!"

Just as they were about to stuff me into the dog cage, a voice full of authority came from behind me.

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

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried the crushing weight of a man who looked down on all living things.

The entire room went dead silent, the chatter cutting off at once.

Silas's legs gave out, and he dropped down onto the floor.

The moment my father saw this man, he switched to a fawning, ingratiating tone and hurried up to greet him.

"Mr. — Mr. Delgado! What brings you in person to the Harding family banquet? Forgive us, forgive us, we failed to receive you properly!"

I turned my head with difficulty. The man stood tall and straight in a black suit, his presence terrifying.

And yet somehow he seemed familiar.

The man looked straight ahead, never once glancing at him, his gaze fixed on the two dog cages.

He stepped forward and gave a deep-voiced order to the medical team behind him.

"Save them first."

His bodyguards moved in at once and broke the specially made lock on the dog cage in a few quick motions.

My barely breathing adoptive parents were carefully lifted out of the cage.

After emergency treatment and oxygen given in time, their once faint breathing gradually steadied, and the pallor of their faces finally eased.

The heart that had been lodged in my throat finally settled.

The man's face was hard as he said in a low voice:

"Mr. Harding, is this how you usually raise your children to abuse people?"

My father, all dignity gone, forced himself to defend himself:

"Mr. Delgado, this is a Harding family matter..."

"A family matter?"

The man raised an eyebrow, his presence so heavy it left everyone struggling to breathe.

"Lay a hand on my boss, and it stops being a family matter!"

My father's eyes went wide in disbelief. Before he could say another word, the man had already walked up to me.

The Harding bodyguards went rigid with fear and hastily let go of me.

The man bent down and steadied me to my feet, his voice softening in an instant:

"Boss, I'm late."