Patricia's expression softened into something almost sweet. "Well, since you're begging so nicely," she said, "kneel and kowtow a hundred times—to atone for your sins against my child."
My jaw clenched, and slowly, I lowered myself to the floor.
Bang—
My forehead struck the tiles.
Again, and again.
The dull sound echoed through the room, each hit drawing blood until my vision blurred red.
Finally, I lifted my gaze toward her, silently pleading. But she only looked down at me with a sneer.
"Sister, you're really stupid," she said, laughing. "Did you actually believe me? I've hated you for eight years! How could I let you go?"
"If I had known you were so easy to deceive, I wouldn't have had to plan for eight years!"
Her laughter grew manic. With a flick of her hand, the men resumed throwing the remains toward the dog.
"No—!" I lunged forward, but one of the bodyguards kicked me hard, slamming me to the floor.
They held my head down, forcing me to watch as my children were devoured before my eyes.
"Stop... please stop..." My voice broke. I could barely breathe through the sobs.
"Patricia!" I screamed, tears streaming. "I'll make you pay with your life for what you've done!"
Fueled by anguish, I charged toward her—aiming for the life in her belly. But before I could reach her, a guard kicked me aside.
Footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Patricia's expression shifted instantly. She slapped herself twice then tore her clothes, and knelt beside me, sobbing.
"Sis, I'm sorry! Please don't hurt my baby!"
"Patricia! Are you alright?"
Weston burst through the door, rushing to her side.
"Weston," she whimpered, clinging to him, "I only came to thank Sister for saving me... but she had her men humiliate me instead..."
Her voice trembled, her tears falling like pearls.
Weston's face darkened as he looked around at the blood on the floor.
The men in black dropped to their knees.
"Mr. Holmes—we were only following Madam's orders!"
He turned toward me, his eyes burning with disgust. "Denise. Apologize!"
I stared at him for a long moment, then laughed—laughing until the tears streamed down my cheeks.
"Weston, you're right," I said hoarsely. "I was wrong."
"My mistake was not sending you both to hell sooner."
His expression faltered for a split second, unease flickering in his eyes. But then he looked at the trembling woman in his arms, and his heart hardened again.