LOGINBut this endless cycle—being beaten, then treated, then beaten again—had already torn her apart, body and mind.And in her eyes, the one responsible for all of it… was Sarah.Mindy’s reflection in the mirror turned darker, more vicious. Suddenly, she grabbed whatever was within reach and smashed it against the mirror.Again and again.As if she were not shattering glass, but Sarah herself.“Why aren’t you dead?! Why do you get to live?!”Her voice rose into a hysterical scream as shards scattered across the floor.Objects crashed down around her, and the movement pulled at her wounds. Pain flashed across her face, but she barely reacted.She turned to check the injuries on her back—Then caught sight of her reflection in the broken mirror.And smiled.At first, it was faint.Then it grew wider. Louder. More unhinged.The curve of her lips stretched further and further, while the hatred in her eyes reached its peak.Her laughter echoed through the bathroom, sharp and hollo
A mix of anger and concern flashed across Zachary’s face. “How much did you drink?”Sarah let out a drunken hiccup. Being held in place made her uncomfortable, and she struggled weakly. “Who are you? Let go of me…”He tightened his hold, his voice softer now. “Sarah, no matter what happens, I’m here. You don’t have to carry everything on your own. You don’t always have to be strong. You can lean on me.”It was unclear how much she actually heard.She stopped struggling and went still in his arms, her head lowered, silent.When no answer came, a trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes.But he said nothing.Bending down, he lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the bedroom.After only a few steps, he felt dampness soaking into his shoulder.He paused on the stairs and let out a quiet sigh, gently patting her back. “If you want to cry, just cry. Don’t hold it in.”The moment he said it, her quiet sniffles broke completely.Her sobs grew louder, raw and uncontrol
Mr. Larson was still deeply worried, but no amount of fear could turn back time to before Scarlett disappeared.“I understand,” he said heavily. “You have to find a way to bring her back. She’s already been through so much. She can’t take another blow. If anything happens to her… how am I supposed to face her mother in the afterlife?”Sarah understood him completely.Just as she thought the call was about to end, his tired, aged voice came through again.“How’s Steven doing?”“His life’s no longer in danger, but he’s still under observation in the ICU,” Sarah replied quietly.Mr. Larson huffed, pretending to be angry. “Go tell that brat he’d better stay alive. He hasn’t even answered to me yet for losing my daughter.”A faint, relieved smile touched Sarah’s lips. She played along, keeping her tone light. “Don’t worry. I’ll pass it along.”But once the call ended, the fragile optimism she had forced up vanished completely.By the time Zachary came over, she finally left the hos
“Uncle Larson… something’s happened to them. It’s not good. You have to stay calm.”Mr. Larson’s heart could not take another shock.Sarah was terrified that before they even found Scarlett, he might collapse from the strain.If that happened, she would never forgive herself.Her words hit him like a blow to the head.For a moment, all he could hear was a loud ringing in his ears. His vision blurred, and his legs nearly gave out beneath him.The butler rushed forward, helping him into a chair. He quickly pulled a pill from the drawer and handed it to him.On the other end of the call, Sarah heard the commotion. Her heart clenched.“Uncle Larson, are you okay?” she asked urgently.After swallowing the medication, Mr. Larson steadied his breathing. His voice trembled as he spoke.“I’m fine… Just tell me. What happened to Scarlett? Why hasn’t she come back?”Sarah’s tears finally spilled over. She turned to look through the ICU glass at Steven lying inside.“Steven and Scarlet
By the time Mindy’s back was covered in welts, Aaron finally stopped, breathing hard.He tossed the whip onto the carpet and walked out without a second glance, coldly instructing his men to treat her wounds.---In the Larson family study, Mr. Larson paced anxiously, dialing Scarlett's number again and again.Each time, it went straight to voicemail.“Why won’t she pick up?” he muttered, frowning.Ever since Steven had taken her out yesterday, they had promised she would be back that same day.But now an entire night had passed, and there was still no sign of her.“That brat… don’t tell me he ran off with my daughter and didn’t bother bringing her back?”The butler, standing nearby, chuckled softly. “Miss Scarlett is an adult now. It’s normal for her to go out with her boyfriend and stay out for a night.”That only made Mr. Larson’s expression darken.Scarlett had only just begun to recover from what she had gone through. She could not afford to rush into anything emotional
“Callum’s been taken back. Do you have any other way to help me get him back?” Charlotte looked at him with desperation in her eyes.Nick only gave a polite smile. He casually adjusted the expensive watch on his wrist, his tone cool and detached. “Miss Garnett, I’ve helped you for quite a while now. Don’t you think it’s time I received something in return?”“What do you want?” Charlotte’s voice carried a trace of resentment. Not just because her child had been taken again, but also because he had ignored her call on the train.“I helped you once. I can help you again. But now it’s time for you to repay me.”Charlotte did not argue. She simply nodded, her expression steady.She knew she had no other choice.---In a luxury suite at Misty Island Hotel, the sharp crack of a whip echoed through the room, mixed with stifled cries of pain.Aaron swung the leather whip with force, his eyes filled with disappointment and disgust toward the woman in front of him.Mindy staggered backwa
Mia looked at her freshly painted pink nails. A tiny bunny sticker sat on her ring finger. She gave a faint smile. “They’re pretty.”After what had happened last time, she had improved a little. At least now she could manage simple conversations with Lucas.As he carefully brushed on another coat
Charlotte laughed through her tears and, furious, swept her coffee cup off the table. It hit the floor with a loud crash and shattered, which finally made the man at the door stop.James turned, his face colder than before.Only when she made him angry did she get a moment of his attention.Charl
Nick frowned and reached a hand toward Lucy. “Grab my hand.”Lucy looked at him in pure terror. Her hand trembled as she stretched it out. “Nick!”Her soft, pale fingers landed in his palm.In the next second, Nick yanked her toward him and pulled her onto his horse in one clean motion. The saddl
The psychiatric hospital was even more heavily secured than the cemetery.Beyond the iron gate stood a towering metal fence, thick and reinforced, its top lined with sharp spikes. It even appeared to be electrified.Sarah stepped inside.Doctors and nurses moved briskly through the corridors, bus







