Chapter 3

Morrigan's voice became icy. "Are you trying to threaten me?"

She stepped on my hand with force, her voice menacing. "Well, you sure can talk. Let's see if you can still run your mouth after I rip out your tongue."

A cold blade was pressed against the root of my tongue as Morrigan hissed, "I'll let you experience the pain of having your tongue torn out. Let's see if you dare to speak carelessly again!"

I shook my head frantically, but the sharp blade cut into my mouth, leaving gashes. Blood trickled from the corners of my lips. The searing pain from having my tongue cut made me want to scream, but I couldn't make a sound.

Morrigan, however, laughed heartily. "Wonderful. Let's see how you can work your charm on Mom after this."

She grabbed my nearly severed tongue and yanked it forcefully. With that, my tongue was completely ripped out.

"Ah!" I screamed soundlessly as the metallic taste of blood filled my throat. Warm and sticky blood streamed down my face.

"Look at her. Isn't she so much prettier like this? Now that she can't say all those disgusting words, she's so much easier on the eyes," Morrigan said while putting a hand over her mouth as she giggled.

She dragged the blade across my face with fluid movements. The pain numbed my entire body. I couldn't see, and I couldn't speak. Only my ears still picked up the disgusting, ragged breaths of the men around me.

It felt like my body was being thrown into a vat of boiling oil. The overwhelming pain caused me to fade into unconsciousness.

In a daze, I heard Morrigan barking orders to the men. "Have fun with her."

I had no sense of how much time passed or how many men had touched me. The endless pain left me numb. But every time I was about to faint, they splashed me with cold water to wake me up.

My body was nothing more than a flesh puppet they manipulated according to their whims.

My soul slowly floated upward, and I saw Morrigan standing at a distance. She watched with satisfaction as she orchestrated this horrific scene.

"As expected of Ms. Morrigan! She's just like Ms. Heinrich back in the day."

"Of course! Ms. Morrigan is Ms. Heinrich's daughter. She's bound to be as fearless as her mother. This cheeky fake deserves a harsh lesson."

"But won't Ms. Heinrich be angry if we kill her?"

Morrigan's expression darkened upon hearing that question. "She's just a fake. Do you really think Mom would get mad at me, her long-lost daughter, over the likes of her?

"Besides, if I don't make an example of her, someone else may try to cozy up to Mom and take my place. What do I do if that happens?"

Her lackeys eagerly agreed with her and praised her cleverness. Their flattery further inflated Morrigan's arrogance.

She instructed with glee, "Chop off her fingers and pack them up with her eyeballs and severed tongue. I'll prepare a special birthday gift for Mom."

And so, my mutilated body parts were assembled into a grotesque bouquet and sent to the venue where the birthday banquet was held.

Mom was dressed in an elegant evening gown. She stood gracefully in the middle of the banquet hall, holding a glass of champagne. Her gentle eyes repeatedly glanced at the clock on the wall as if she were expecting someone.

I knew she was waiting for me.

However, all I could do was float around by her side, unable to meet her.

Morrigan walked toward Mom elegantly.

Mom smiled faintly at her and said, "You're here, Morry."

Morrigan linked her arm with Mom's like a spoiled child and presented the bouquet she held behind her back. "Mom, here's the gift I prepared for you."

Mom didn't hurry to look at the bouquet. Instead, she tapped Morrigan's nose dotingly. "You're so thoughtful, Morry."

Only then did she take the bouquet from Morrigan. Its strange shape made her frown as she remarked, "This bouquet is quite odd."

Mom reached out and touched one of the flowers made from one of my eyeballs. The familiar texture made her immediately realize what it was.