Chapter 496

Little Jovie was already weak. She could not help but watch her mother, Celena, take a beating. She wriggled and squirmed, trying to break free, her tears flowing as she cried out, "Stop it, stop it! Let me go! Don't hurt my mommy, you meanies! My daddy will come back and get you for this. You're all so mean... Please, don't hurt her... Mommy, are you in a lot of pain?"

Celena, with one hand on her aching belly, managed to prop herself up. She looked at Jovie and, through the pain, mustered a smile that looked more painful than tears. "Jovie, honey, Mommy's okay, don't cry. Be a good girl. Mommy's here, everything's going to be alright..."

Brianna, who had been watching with a scowl, could not stand Jovie's loud sobs. She marched over, her hand swinging out to deliver a stinging slap to Jovie's cheek. She barked, "Enough! Silence, you little brat! One more peep out of you, and I swear I'll chop you up for the dogs!"

Jovie froze, her sobs caught in her throat, her face wet with tears