Chapter 4

Lily's POV

I looked at the bowl in my hands, trembling uncontrollably. My stomach churned violently. I grabbed the trash can and vomited.

"Vivian Taylor, how could you?"

I stood up and raised my hand to strike her.

Before my hand could land, a heavy force knocked me aside. My back slammed into the bedside table. Piercing pain shot through me. I could barely stand.

Harrison shielded Vivian behind him, looking at me with a dark expression.

"Lily, I thought after the snake house incident, you'd learned your lesson. I didn't expect you to escalate and try to hurt Vivian."

I pointed at the thermos on the table with trembling fingers, tears streaming down.

"Harrison, do you know what she used to make that soup?"

His expression turned cold.

"Whatever Vivian used to make the soup, it was her gesture. That doesn't give you a reason to attack her."

Harrison turned away, refusing to look at me.

"This time you've gone too far. If I don't teach you a lesson, you'll never learn to behave."

With those words, Harrison's former subordinates entered from outside and quickly restrained my hands.

"Take her to the attic for punishment."

Only then did I realize. The man who once knelt before God and swore to treat me well had returned to his old ways for Vivian!

Gang rules dictated that rule-breakers must receive ninety-nine lashes before witnesses.

When Lily was brought to the attic, everyone had already gathered.

I was forced to the ground. I stared at Harrison.

"Harrison, you can't do this to me. I'm not part of your gang. I don't accept this punishment."

Harrison's gaze swept over me coldly.

"Lily, you're going to be my wife. You must follow the rules. Today you must accept punishment."

He waved to his subordinate, and someone approached with a whip.

The whip fell. A burning pain seared my palm. I looked at Harrison in despair.

"Harrison, you're already married to Vivian. I won't be your wife. You have no right to punish me."

Harrison's hand holding his tea paused. The anger on his face deepened.

"Add ten more lashes."

He strode toward the main hall.

Watching him leave, I plunged into absolute despair.

The whip kept falling on my palms, like a knife carving open my heart piece by piece, making me wish for death.

In the main hall, Harrison celebrated Vivian's birthday. Cheerful birthday wishes formed a stark contrast with my screams of agony!

When the final lash fell, I could no longer hold on and collapsed slowly.

As I closed my eyes, I thought I saw Harrison knock the cake to the floor and rush toward me desperately.

"Who told you to actually hit her that hard?"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the familiar room.

I tried to sit up when the door suddenly burst open.

Harrison stormed in with a dark expression and grabbed my hand forcefully.

"Why did you order people to kidnap Vivian's mother?"

What was he talking about?

I struggled to push Harrison's hand away.

The wound on my palm tore open. Bright red blood soaked the white bandages, but Harrison acted as if he didn't see it.

Vivian helped her mother inside, her face streaked with tears.

"Miss Sullivan, I know you're upset about my mother's last wish. To force me to divorce Harrison, you had my mother kidnapped."

"But my mother doesn't have much time left. Can't you even wait one month?"

Vivian's mother leaned weakly against her daughter, pointing directly at me.

"When the kidnappers abducted me, I heard them on the phone. They called out Lily's name."