Chapter 6
When Eliza got back to the Newell estate from the police station, the place was eerily quiet. She didn’t dwell on it and headed straight for the stairs, but the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from the entrance
The door swung open, and Greg stormed in first, followed by Evan, who was holding a shaken and tear–streaked Margot.
Greg’s temper flared, “What are you up to? Did you call the cops? Margot just hit the wrong pedal; it wasn’t on purpose. Why’d you call the police? Do you want her to end up in jail?”
Evan chimed in, trying to console Margot while scolding Eliza, “You just got a little hurt. Do you realize Margot was grilled for hours? If we hadn’t signed that waiver, she’d have to endure much longer!”
“Margot’s health isn’t great. If something happened to her, could you handle that on your conscience?
Yeah, she just got a little hurt, just flirted with death. Margot was lectured for hours, which was way more
serious.
Eliza let out a bitter laugh, defiance lighting up her gaze as she stared at Greg for the first time, “Yeah, I called called
them. So what?”
Normally, she’d be all meek and mild, but today she was different, and Greg wasn’t having any of it. Without hesitation, he stepped forward to hit her. “You insolent girl! What kind of attitude is this? I’ll teach you a lesson today!”
At his command, the bodyguards moved in, tying her up with ropes and forcing her to kneel.
She was numb, like a fish gasping for air, as they bound her and pushed her to the ground.
Greg picked up a rope and lashed it across her body. “Ungrateful child! You are a menace!*
Each lash left a bright red welt on her skin.
One, two, three…
She lost count of the strikes, only hearing the swoosh of the rope and Thea egging him on.
“Yeah, give her what she deserves. Should’ve never brought her into this world!”
Eliza shivered, suddenly lifting her head, her eyes brimming with tears of blood.
She looked so hopeless, Greg’s hand, ready to strike again, hesitated.
She bit her lips until they turned white, her voice trembling with pain and despair. “You don’t want me as your daughter, and you think I want you as my parents?
“You brought me into this world just to be Margot’s blood donor, but did you ever ask if I was okay with that?
“Since I was a kid, I wore Margot’s hand–me–downs, ate what she didn’t like. We share the same birthday, but you never gave me a gift.
“Do you even think of me as your daughter? Do you know what I like to eat, my favorite color, what I’m allergic
to, or what scares me?
“If I had a choice, I wouldn’t want to be born into this world.
“Because in this world, no one loves me…”
Everyone froze, stunned, as she laid bare her heart, leaving a heavy weight in the air.
Just then, Aiden arrived at the Newell estate and the first thing he saw was Eliza, battered and kneeling.
The words that she was unloved made his heart twisted painfully.
He hurried to her side, lifting her gently, “Eliza, I love you…”
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10:13
Eliza gave a faint, bitter smile, shook her head, and turned to walk away.
Instinctively, Aiden wanted to follow her, but Margot suddenly clutched her head and collapsed.
“Aiden, my head hurts…”
He hesitated, then turned back toward Margot.
