In my past life, thanks to Olivia, I had suffered many such punishments.
The worst time, I was whipped until my back was split open, the wounds deep enough to show bone, and I nearly died from complications. I was bedridden for two months.
My eyes flicked to the whip and my stomach clenched, but I kept my chin high and shot back,
“Under mutual respect, I’m a polite young lady. If you think I was rude, maybe you should first reflect on your own attitude.”
His gaze on me grew even colder. He pointed the whip at me.
“Sharp-tongued brat! You caused Olivia’s car accident before, and yesterday you pushed her, giving her a concussion—how dare you talk back?”
So this was all about taking Olivia’s side again.
“You’re all blind, of course you didn’t see her run me over and break my leg, then frame me. She only—”
The rest of my words were cut short by the whistle of the whip slicing through the air, striking my back.
Once. Twice…
The pain exploded through my scalp, my body arching involuntarily as I shivered, teeth clenched against the agony.
After five blows, my father flung the whip to the ground and barked,
“Now do you understand your mistake? Will you apologize to Olivia?”
I straightened slowly, met his gaze with defiance, and suddenly smirked.
“I’ll apologize—if you tell me how much you’ll pay me for it.”
His eyes bulged in fury, fists tightening until his knuckles whitened.
“Ungrateful wretch! I’ve never seen such a vile child in my life!”
He was shaking with rage, and my mother quickly stepped in to calm him, helping him sit back down.
“Alright, alright. We know her nature now—just take your time to teach her. Don’t get yourself worked up.”
Then she turned her reproach toward me—
“Your dad stayed home this morning just to have breakfast with you, and you had to stir up chaos until the whole house was in an uproar?”
“Today you’re going with Mr. Tom, the assistant, to change your last name back.”
I forced myself upright despite the pain.
“I’m not changing it.”
Everyone turned to look at me. Ethan Bennett’s voice rose in anger.
“Madison Clark, don’t be ungrateful!”
I took a deep breath, rolled my shoulders, and said,
“My name is already registered in the SAT system. Changing my last name would affect my exam.”
The last name had been given to me by Grandma Grace, and I wasn’t giving it up.
Margaret Bennett nodded slightly, accepting the excuse.