"If anything happens to Annie, I will make you pay with your life!"
The car came to a smooth halt, pulling me back to the present.
"We're here," Paul said.
I opened the door and exited slowly, every movement a labor. My old injuries had left permanent damage; whenever it rained, a dull ache seeped from my bones.
I dug out a handful of loose change and held it out to him.
"Thank you for the ride. This is the fare."
Paul stared at the coins, then at me. His gaze was frosty. "I'm walking you up."
I shook my head. "Really, there's no need."
He didn't argue. Instead, he snatched my bag from my shoulder and marched toward the building entrance.
I sighed. Let him do what he wants.
Does he want to see how pathetic my life is now? Let him look. I don't care anymore.
We climbed eight flights of stairs. By the time I opened the door, my lungs were burning.
Inside, under the warm glow of a yellow bulb, a small figure hurled herself at me.
"Mommy!"
I smiled, the pain fading as I pinched her soft cheek. "Good girl."
Seeing the tall stranger behind me, my daughter shrank back, hiding her face in my coat.
"It's okay," I soothed her. "It's raining hard outside. This uncle brought Mommy home."
She nodded, her large eyes wide. She reached into her pocket, pulled out a handful of candies, and offered them to Paul.
"Thank you, Uncle."
Paul accepted the candy, his expression unreadable. His eyes followed me as I limped to the kitchen to pour water.
"Just now on the stairs," he said abruptly. "Your leg... you have a limp?"
I set the glass of hot water in front of him, ignoring the question. The ache in my leg brought the memories rushing back.
Back then, after Anna's staged fall, she had nearly miscarried.
Paul had knelt outside the hospital room for seven hours, begging Heaven to save Annie and the child. Miraculously, both mother and child were safe.
But after that night, Paul's hatred for me deepened. His eyes held a new layer of vigilance, as if I were a monster waiting to strike.
Shortly after, a servant "found" a USB drive in my jewelry box.
It contained the Gilbert Corporation's core business secrets.
Fueled by rage, Paul didn't wait for an explanation. He struck me across the face, the force of the slap sending me crashing to the floor.
"You hurt Anna, and that wasn't enough? Now you want to destroy the Gilbert Group too?" Paul's voice dropped to a growl. "Serena Whitmore, you bitch!"