Chapter 4

My assistant drove me over.

The car reached the mansion, but there was no getting it inside the gates.

Security stopped me.

"Sorry, Ms. Black."

"Your father and mother revoked your access. You're not allowed onto the property now."

My assistant looked at me, awkward, at a loss.

"Boss, what do we do…"

I pulled out my phone and called.

"Mom, have you had enough of this yet?"

"You want me home, but you won't even let me through the door."

At first there was only silence on the line. Then it turned into my mother's shriek.

"Lily! Why would you cut yourself with a knife?"

"Susan Black, what did you say to Lily on the phone?"

Before I could even make sense of it, security blocked my way.

A group of them hauled me out of the car.

Straight toward the mansion.

Inside.

The family doctor was bandaging Yvonne's wrist.

Amos Harris toyed with a small dagger, watching me with a grim, poisonous stare.

"No wonder Lily always says you're a bad person. Turns out it's because you're always driving her to hurt herself."

"I did no such thing."

Mom stepped forward and slapped me across the face.

"You didn't?"

"You didn't what?"

"When Lily did this, the only call she took was yours."

Dad glanced at the bodyguards.

"What the Black family values most is a harmonious household. Since you broke that on purpose, you'll accept punishment under house rules."

My face was pinned hard against the floor, the breath crushed out of my chest.

The pain in my ribs sharpened until every breath felt like torture.

What shamed me most was this.

The back of my shirt was cut open, and a female bodyguard held a lash soaked in salt water.

The men spread out.

The whistle of the whip, and then it came down hard.

Amos's voice drifted on the air.

"Susie, admit you were wrong and your aunt and uncle can still forgive you."

"From now on you just take good care of Lily."

I bit down and held on, all the way to the last stroke.

Mom and Dad had already gone to comfort her.

I was dragged to the dark room where I used to face the wall and reflect on my sins.

Drifting in and out, I felt my phone buzz.

I struggled to work it free and answered.

It was my capable assistant.

"Boss, we've finished looking into what you asked for."

"And whatever ties you had to the Black family, this time they're truly finished."