Chapter 2

Morrigan yanked the malachite pendant off my neck and sneered coldly.

"Give it back to me!" I yelled.

"This is such a precious antique piece. An outsider like you doesn't deserve it! Tell me, did you beg Mom to give this to you?"

"Dad left that for me. Give it back!" I struggled desperately and reached for the pendant in her clutches.

Morrigan deliberately held it high out of my reach while scoffing at me. "Mom is about to take me in officially. Everything in the Heinrich family belongs to me. Of course, Dad's belongings are mine too. As expected of a stray picked off the streets—it's in your nature to covet what belongs to others."

With a wave of her hand, two tall men dressed in black immediately dragged me into a van.

Morrigan said menacingly, "Today, I'll teach you a lesson so that you'll understand how shameful it is to take what's not yours. Since Dad is gone, this malachite pendant should be gone with him too!"

She savored my misery with satisfaction before casually tossing the pendant to the ground. Following a clinking sound, the pendant shattered into tiny pieces.

My heart clenched as I trembled from the pain.

Morrigan merely cast me a disdainful glance before ordering, "Take her away."

I was dragged to the rooftop of a tall building.

The two men in black tossed me onto the concrete like garbage. Holding a hand to my still-bleeding face, I pleaded, "Morrigan, I didn't mean to compete with you for Mom's love. You've misunderstood. I only came back now because my eyes have just healed."

Morrigan smirked and looked me over. I thought for a moment that she believed me. But then she raised her red heel and kicked me hard in the face.

"I've misunderstood? Like I'd believe you. You could've come back earlier or later, but you chose this exact moment when Mom was about to take me back into the family. Isn't it clear that you're back to compete with me for her affection?" Morrigan said with disdain.

I froze in place. I had thought that by coming back now, I was showing my support for Morrigan. Unexpectedly, it had evoked her resentment.

Morrigan further expressed her hate for me. "I hate pretentious people the most. Since you're so good at playing tricks to gain affection, you must be a promiscuous woman. Let's see how many men it takes to satisfy a slut like you."

She clapped her hands, and dozens of men in construction uniforms emerged from the stairwell.

As they approached me, they began unbuckling their worn belts. I tried to run, but the two men in black held me down firmly.

Their sweaty and dirty hands reached for me, tearing off the buttons of my shirt in one swift motion. The lacey bra I had put on that day barely concealed my exposed body.

"Don't touch me! My mom is Eleanor Heinrich. She won't let you get away with this!" I shouted loudly to warn them.

The men hesitated for a moment, but Morrigan bellowed, "You're just an adopted dog. I, on the other hand, am Eleanor's birth daughter. Do you think she'd side with you over me?

"What are you guys afraid of with me backing you? Just do it!"

With her assurance, the men didn't hold back. I was pinned to the edge of the rooftop, my lower body bent at an agonizing angle. The searing pain from the assault and the ache of my broken bones blurred together, making it impossible to tell which hurt more.

One of Morrigan's lackeys hesitated and tried to intervene. "Morrigan, everyone says Eleanor dotes on this adopted daughter like she's her own. Should we really—"

Before she could finish, Morrigan yanked her hair viciously. "Who do you think you are to question me? Remember this—I'm Eleanor's biological daughter. Who would love an adopted daughter over their own flesh and blood?

"So what if I kill this vixen? Once I'm by Mom's side, she'll forget about her in no time."

The lackey quickly nodded in agreement, and Morrigan finally let her go.

Everyone present knew that Eleanor had a volatile temper. Even strong men avoided provoking her when she snapped.

"I can't believe Mom spent money to treat your eyes. You deserve none of this! The money spent on your treatment belongs to the Heinrich family—it's mine. Give it back to me right now!" Morrigan shrieked like a madwoman.

I stared in shock as she picked up a steel bar from the ground. Before I could scream for help, excruciating pain came from where my left eye was.

First, everything turned red. Then, it was followed by total darkness.

"Ah!" I let out a bloodcurdling scream.

In response, Morrigan's excitement grew. She pulled the steel bar out and thrust it into my right eye socket.

I had just undergone a corneal transplant and was still recovering. Yet, she gouged my eye out right then and there mercilessly.

Not even a miracle doctor like the great Asclepius could save my vision now.

I had planned to share the good news of my restored sight with Mom as a birthday gift for her. But now, I feared Mom would lose her mind.

Clutching my ruined eyes in agony, I screeched at Morrigan, "Mom won't forgive you for hurting me!"