His face bent with flattery as he stared at me, wagging like a dog and begging, “Daughter, long time no see…”
Before he could finish, I kicked him hard and sent him flying. “Who’s your daughter? Disgusting!”
He rolled across the floor, skidding to a stop, then struggled up, messy and pitiful.
“Back then, I was taken by evil, that is why I tied you in the street, that is why you were shamed and torn by dogs… Now I truly know I was wrong.”
Each word cut into me like a whip. Rage burned away all reason. I pulled out a gun and aimed at his head.
One shot would end him, and my painful past would be buried for good. But suddenly his fear faded, and he laughed with triumph.
I frowned instantly. Turning my head, I saw a man dragging Emma over as a hostage.
“Dear daughter, didn’t expect I’d still have a backup, did you?” he said, threat dripping from his voice.
“As long as you give me money and let me go, I guarantee this woman will be safe. Otherwise, she won’t see tomorrow’s sun.”
When I saw Emma, my lips curved. “Foolish and ignorant. You didn’t even check that this woman is my enemy. Truly, thank you, father.”
I raised the gun again and aimed at his forehead. “Perfect. Let me kill two birds with one stone.”
Seeing that I was truly fearless, my stepfather panicked, and his face twisted with disbelief. “If you dare kill me, this woman will surely die before me!”
I raised an eyebrow. “Then go ahead and try.”
As I was about to pull the trigger, I felt cold pressure at my waist crawl across my back.
A gun barrel was pressed against me from behind.
Then a voice I knew rang out, “Let your people release Emma, and I will let you go.”
In disbelief, I turned my head and saw the cold, ruthless Easton. When his eyes met mine, he quickly looked away. In a voice just for us, he whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Betrayal hit me like falling into a cold pond, struggling blindly, and then drowning in hopelessness.
Seeing me held by one of my own, my stepfather laughed up at the sky.
“Didn’t expect it, Tisha, you’d have a day like this too!” He nodded at Easton with satisfaction. “Very good.”
Easton had clearly known my pain before. That year, a simple rope had crushed my dignity, the rope tight around my neck, my clothes torn as I was dragged down the street like a dog.