My voice trembled uncontrollably as I called out, “Enid?”
My daughter froze, then slowly lifted her head to look at me. She stared for a long moment, dazed—until her eyes widened in disbelief.
“Mama? You’re back?”
The next second, her small figure broke down into tears. She cried out like she’d finally found someone to cling to after holding on for far too long.
“Mama, Aunt Malissa locked me in the dog cage. She didn’t give me any food. Daddy didn’t do anything about it! I was so scared. The big dog bites real hard, it hurts so bad. Mama, please get me out…”
The word “Mama,” spoken with such raw pain and trust, shattered me from the inside. But I didn’t have time to cry—not with that hunting dog now awake, glaring at Enid like she was prey.
I grabbed an axe from the corner, ignoring the old butler’s frantic protests and brought it down hard on the lock of the cage.
Once the chain snapped, I rushed in, scooped Enid into my arms and held her tight.
Then I turned back. I wasn’t done. Raising the axe once more, I aimed it at the snarling dog.
“Ma’am, please! Don’t be reckless!” the butler begged. “That’s the madam’s favorite dog—Mr. Milford gave it to her himself! If you hurt it, she’ll be furious—and the master too!”
Oh? So Milford gave Malissa a dog... to mangle his own daughter?
I didn’t even spare it a glance. As the beast lunged, I met it head-on—and with one clean, furious swing, I severed its head.
Still not satisfied, I turned to the cage that had imprisoned my child… and hacked it to splinters.
Milford came rushing in at the sound of the chaos—only to start scolding me the second he opened his mouth.
“Lori, you just got back and you’re already making a scene? Do you want the guests outside to start asking questions?
"You scared Eddy half to death! He’s crying his eyes out and Lisa’s been running around all day. Now she has to calm him down too? Can’t you just stop causing trouble?”
“I know this past year hasn’t been easy for you and I will explain everything when I get a moment. But I won’t let you ruin Lisa’s reputation.”
I let out a bitter laugh. Eddy, huh? Of course! His precious little prince.
And what were Enid and I to him then? Disposable trophies?
“So your heart breaks when her son cries, but not when your OWN daughter is locked in a dog cage? When she's bitten by some wild animal? Forced to eat slop like a stray? Tell me, Milford—how twisted is your love?”