I swallowed it down and slowly lifted my head to look at him. Instead of anger, I smiled coldly.
"Brian, I hope you won’t regret this."
My parents arrived right after him. They immediately rushed to my side. Not to protect me, but to scold me like I was a stranger.
"Lilian, you ungrateful wretch! How could you hurt Adeline like this? What has she ever done to you?"
Adeline clung to Brian, crying pitifully, yet her trembling voice was laced with false kindness as she spoke, "Brian, Mum, Dad … please don’t scold Lilian anymore. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have upset her."
"I’m leaving tomorrow. I won’t trouble this family again. I just don’t want her to keep being unhappy because of me … "
Her performance only added fuel to the fire. Brian’s face became even more grim. His rage was nearly uncontrollable.
Brian then shouted toward the doorway and two black-clad bodyguards immediately entered.
"Drag her outside. Hang her upside down from the tree in the yard," he ordered.
He paused before he continued with his tone cutting me like a knife, "Let the sun warm her dark, filthy heart. The Herbert Family does not tolerate women as vile as her."
The bodyguards moved without hesitation, seizing me by the arms.
"Brian! Let me go! You can’t do this to me!"
But no one listened. They dragged me out into the yard. My struggles were meaningless against their strength.
The rough rope bit into my ankles as they tied me up. With a hard yank, they then hoisted me upside down from the tall tree. Blood rushed to my head, making me dizzy and nauseous.
The scorching midday sun beat down mercilessly on my body. My skin burned, my chest tightened and my breath came in ragged gasps. Through the haze of heat and pain, I tilted my head and caught sight of the living room window.
Inside, Brian was tenderly applying medicine to Adeline’s wounds. My parents sat beside her, speaking softly, comforting her. The three of them looked like a warm, happy family while I was left to suffer alone.
Tears streamed from my eyes, falling to the ground below. The hot sun dried them instantly, leaving no trace. I clenched my teeth and swore silently to myself.
Just one day. I only have to endure this for one day. When I got free, I would make every single one of them pay for what they had done to me.
Meanwhile, the sunlight grew hotter and hotter. My vision blurred. The world spun wildly around me.