Mary’s words were filled with sincerity, carrying all the grievance of a wronged wife.

Dad wavered.

He thought of the past few years, how Mary had kept her head low, managed the household perfectly, and obeyed him in everything.

How could a woman who was willing to give up everything to follow him and had given birth to his only son possibly harm her own flesh and blood?

Seeing his hesitation, Mary immediately pressed her advantage. Retreating to advance, her face filled with the resolve of someone whose heart had been completely shattered.

“Honey, if you want to investigate, then go ahead. But if it turns out like last time and you find nothing, what you’ll be hurting is my heart. You’ll be destroying the trust between us as husband and wife. And when that happens, I’ll take our son and leave. We’ll get a divorce!”

The word “divorce” hit Dad like two massive boulders, crashing down on his heart.

He believed her completely.

He thought Mary had truly been pushed to the brink by me, this vicious daughter of his, her heart utterly broken.

A neighbor, who had been watching the drama from the sidelines, hurried over to take Mary’s side.

“Mary, you mustn’t say something like that out of anger! Everyone in the neighborhood has seen how much you’ve given to this family. If you ask me, it’s this girl who’s jealous of Ethan. Her heart is rotten to the core!”

“That’s right. Hurry up and comfort your wife. A woman this good is impossible to find. If you really drive her away, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!”

The neighbors’ noisy chatter became the final straw that crushed Dad’s remaining rationality.

He suddenly turned around, eyes blazing with fury as he stared straight at me.

“You won’t be satisfied until you turn this family upside down, will you? All those years of schooling, did you shove them straight into a dog’s stomach?!”

Before his words even finished, he turned and walked toward the toolbox by the wall, pulling out a dark, heavy whip.

It was the one our family used before, specifically to discipline a large dog when it didn’t listen. The whip was covered in tiny barbs, and at the tip, dried blackened flesh still clung to it, giving off a mixed stench of rust and blood.

“Since studying won’t make anything of you, then stay at home. I will personally teach you how to behave!”

“Smack!”

The whip sliced through the air and lashed hard across my back. The neighbors hypocritically called out, “Don’t go too far,” yet couldn’t help cheering.

“Well done! If a child won’t listen, they deserve to be beaten!”

Mary held Ethan in her arms, the corner of her mouth curling into a triumphant smile. Her gaze looked at me like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

“Dad, it really wasn’t me. Call the police and check the fingerprints…” I clenched my teeth as the taste of blood spread through my mouth.

However, Dad turned a deaf ear. With a flick of his wrist, what looked like a light pull caused the barbs on the whip to dig deep into my flesh, then tear out violently, bringing a ripping, agonizing pain.

I hated this!

I hated it so much that my whole body trembled!

Why, even after being given a second chance and planning every step so carefully, could I still not escape this ending?

I closed my eyes in despair, thinking history was about to repeat itself. Dad’s second whip was already raised high, this time coming straight for my eyes.

It was over.

At that critical moment, the Ethan who had been unconscious in Mary’s arms suddenly stirred and let out a weak sound.

“Don’t… don’t hit Lucy…”

Everyone froze.

Ethan struggled to open his eyes, using all the strength in his little body to cry out in a soft, childish voice.

“It was a man. A man who smelled like perfume pushed me down the stairs!”