“Daddy, did you really have Mom’s other leg broken too? Just because she forced you to divorce her? But now she can’t even get prosthetics, right? She’ll be stuck in bed forever, like a paralyzed invalid. That’s so pitiful.”
My husband sighed in the bathroom.
“Lily, you saw her aggressiveness. If I don’t go through with the divorce, she’ll expose me and Isabella Reed. But we’re just innocent college friends, nothing more.”
“And Isabella cares about you so much. She never forces you to eat green peppers, does she? Unlike your mom—her controlling nature is unbearable. She needed to be taught a lesson, to rein in that arrogance.”
“I had no other choice. Even if your mom is bedridden for life, I can provide for her, give her a comfortable life. But poor Isabella—she’s abused daily and can’t get divorced. As her old classmate, isn’t it right for me to comfort her? I can be her support, her shield, so that abusive man never dares hurt her again!”
Lily began to cry softly.
“Daddy, you’re right. Isabella really is too pitiful. Mom has no empathy, and on top of that she keeps accusing you. She’s so controlling, always forcing me to eat green peppers and never letting me have burgers. She’s awful. She deserves this. It’s better if she never stands up again.”
Hearing that, I covered my mouth as tears streamed down my face.
Daniel had completely lost his mind. And my daughter stood with him, unable to distinguish right from wrong. But her heartlessness made me wonder if I even wanted her anymore.
I sank into despair and dialed my best friend Emily Brooks.
“Emily, I regret it all.”
On the other end, Emily was startled.
“What happened, Sophia? What’s going on?”
I told her everything, and she was stunned.
“That bastard dared to do this to you? I’ll kill him!”
“No, Emily. Just take me away. I’ll avenge myself. I just want to escape.”
After a long silence, Emily replied,
“All right. I’ll have my brother Ethan come get you.”
I didn’t sleep a wink that night, my mind spinning on how to get away from this toxic father and daughter.
The next morning, as usual, police officers came to take my statement. When they saw my condition, their brows furrowed. Not a single part of me was uninjured. Everything below my waist had been severed. The fact that I was alive was a miracle.
“Ma’am, based on your account—those were the same men who kidnapped your daughter before? Then this was revenge?”