The screen on my phone had just gone dark when I heard the click of the lock turning, breaking the silence. Maddox stormed into the room, his face twisted with anger.

"You've got time to make phone calls, even after what you did to Kinley?" he snapped, grabbing my arm harshly. Before I could react, my back hit the doorframe, and I let out a pained gasp.

Two bodyguards jumped into action, each grabbing one of my arms. They dragged me into the bedroom, forcing me to kneel by Kinley's bedside.

"Kinley was just frightened," Maddox said coolly, "nearly lost the baby. You'll stay here until she calms down."

With that, Maddox turned away, gently encouraging Kinley to take her medication. Out of his sight, she shot me a smug smile, her eyes challenging.

I bit my lip so hard it drew blood, but the pain went unnoticed. How could I ever have mixed up Maddox, cold and ruthless, with Cristian, warm and loving?

Time dragged on, and the sharp pain in my knees grew worse. Just when I thought I couldn't bear it anymore, barking echoed from downstairs.

Kinley's eyes sparkled. "My new dog is finally here!"

She whispered something to Maddox, and his gaze flickered. Kinley pouted, clinging to his arm and swinging it playfully.

Maddox seemed to make up his mind and headed downstairs. When he returned, he was holding the urns with my parents' ashes.

I stared, stunned, a terrible feeling settling in my stomach. "What are you planning?"

Kinley feigned innocence, covering her mouth with a giggle. "You know what they say about dogs loving bones, right? I'm curious—if we grind them up, will they still eat them? Since we've got bones already, why not let the dog have a taste? Just a little, right? You wouldn’t mind, Violette?"

Her words struck me like a lightning bolt, freezing my blood. They were going to feed my parents' ashes to the dog!

Fury surged through me as I shouted, “Kinley! If you touch my parents' ashes, I'll never let you get away with it!”

"She's so scary, Maddox," Kinley whimpered, huddling into his arms.

He held her close, his expression darkening as he yelled at me, "Enough! It's just a little ash, and you're making a fuss?"

"That's your punishment for messing with Kinley."

I shook with rage. "Maddox, if you have any decency left, give me back the urns! Or I'll hate you forever!"

"Hate me?" Maddox knelt down suddenly, grabbing my chin tightly.

"You're just a pet to me, Violette. What right do you have to talk about hate?"

With those words, he nodded to Kinley. She gleefully instructed Everest to bring over a bowl of dog food, emptying the entire contents of my father's urn into it right before my eyes.

When she moved to pour my mother's ashes, Maddox frowned. "Weren't we just using a little bit? Isn't this too much?"

"Maddox!" Kinley pouted, "Didn't you promise to help teach her a lesson? I nearly had a miscarriage because of her. If you don't put her in her place, she'll trample all over you."

His hesitation vanished, and he folded his arms, watching the scene with cold detachment. "You're right. It's time to teach her, so she remembers her place."

I stood frozen, staring in disbelief as Kinley mixed both urns of my parents’ ashes into a bowl of dog food. My fingernails dug deep into my palms, my body trembling uncontrollably, a cry of despair escaping my lips.

A sleek Doberman wagged its tail, inching closer to the bowl. Its vibrant red tongue lapped over the food mingled with ashes, producing satisfied swallowing noises.

“No—!”

I tried to lunge forward but was immediately pulled back by Desmond. My knees hit the tile floor hard, yet the sharp physical pain was dwarfed by the agony churning within me. My parents had died in a tragic accident just last week, and now I couldn't even protect their final resting place.

I bit down on my lower lip, the taste of blood filling my mouth.

“Violette, don't be so upset.”

Kinley tilted her head, twirling a lock of hair around her finger, her voice saccharine but dripping with smugness.

“I'll have someone package up the waste for you once the dog has digested it. I mean, whether it ends up in its stomach or in a cemetery, is there any difference?”

She chuckled, her eyes glinting with challenge, a smirk tugging at her lips, sending a sharp throb through my temples.

Seizing the moment when Desmond's grip loosened, I broke free and lunged at Kinley on the bed. Grabbing her slender wrist, I yanked her toward the edge.

“Even if it’s the last thing I do today, I’ll bring you down with me!”

The words barely left my mouth before I used every ounce of strength to shove her down the stairs. Her shrill scream sliced through the air as she tumbled down, like a puppet with severed strings.

A shadow darted across, and Maddox rushed forward, catching Kinley just in time. She curled up in Maddox's arms, her face pale, tears streaming down.

“Maddox, I'm so scared... What about the baby...?”

Maddox's expression turned icy, and he slapped me hard across the face.

“Violette! Are you out of your mind? A fall like that could harm Kinley or the baby. How can you be so heartless?”

Bodyguards crowded in, pinning me to the ground. Kinley gasped for breath between sobs, before suddenly rolling her eyes and fainting.

Maddox looked ominous as he carried her back to the bedroom, ordering someone to urgently call the doctor.

When he reappeared before me, he held one of the empty urns. A wave of dread surged through me as I struggled desperately, but the guards kept me restrained.

Maddox poured half a bottle of water into the urn. He gripped my jaw, his gaze cold:

“You brought this on yourself.”

Cold liquid forced its way down my throat, the revolting taste filling my mouth. I retched violently, my sanity unraveling. I screamed and cried, completely losing control.

Maddox looked down at me with disdain.

“This is the price for defying me.”

“I thought about leaving you some dignity, but now it seems pointless.”