Chapter 3: The Price of Humiliation

According to my mother, his father had pulled countless strings to arrange this marriage alliance with our family. If he learned that his own son had ruined it, he'd skin Lucas alive.

The thought lifted my mood a little. I could not be bothered to waste more time on these idiots, so I turned to leave.

But Vivian, knowing that Lucas would back her up, refused to let it go. She blocked my path again.

"Don't even try to run, you wench! We're not done here. You stole my gown and hit me!"

I looked at her disdainfully. "What exactly do you want?"

Mistaking my calm for fear, she raised her hand to slap me.

"I'll slap you until I feel satisfied!"

I caught her wrist mid-swing and slapped her across the face without hesitation.

She stared at me in shock, then yelled, "You wench! How dare you—"

I gave her another slap and asked coldly, "Had enough?"

Those two slaps wiped the arrogant look off Vivian's face. She burst into tears and cowered behind Lucas.

"Luc, do something!"

Lucas shielded her protectively and snarled, "Touch my girl again, and I'll end you!"

He signaled his bodyguards to grab me.

I managed to take down the first bodyguard with a quick strike, but the second one pinned me down.

After a barrage of blows, I collapsed to the floor. My body was in tremendous pain. The two bodyguards hauled me up and forced me to my knees before Vivian and Lucas.

Lucas backed Vivian up and said, "Vivi, do whatever you want to her. I've got your back."

With Lucas's reassurance, Vivian immediately gained confidence. She slapped me twice, then spat in my face.

"You wench! Where's all that attitude now, huh? Come on, show me how tough you are!"

Then, she kicked me hard in the stomach.

Clutching my aching abdomen, I raised my gaze to glare at her and Lucas.

"You'll regret this. I swear you'll pay for this!"

Vivian laughed arrogantly. "The Goodwin family is one of the top three powerful families running this city. What can a broke loser like you even do against me?"

"Today, I'll teach you what happens when you mess with me!"

She pulled out a nail clipper from her bag and slashed it across my face.

Searing pain shot through my cheek as the skin swelled, and I felt blood seeping out.

Someone sighed in pity. "I told her not to cross the Goodwin family. Guess she had to learn the hard way."

"What a shame. Her pretty face is ruined now."

"Folks like us can't afford trouble. We'd better swallow our pride when we're out here."

Vivian raised the nail clipper again, aiming for another slash at my face. Terror at the thought of disfigurement overwhelmed me, and I quickly begged for mercy.

"Fine, I'm sorry! Take the dress! I shouldn't have fought you for it!"

Revenge could wait. At that moment, saving my face was the priority.

However, Vivian still slashed the blade across my face again. "Oh, now you're sorry? Well, it's too late now, wench!"

"I won't let you go until I've vented every ounce of my rage!"

I screamed in pain and turned to Lucas for help. "Lucas, you know my background. Aren't you afraid of the consequences? If you keep letting her humiliate me, you'll regret it!"

Lucas sneered. "What status could you possibly have? Your mother bewitched my father into forcing this engagement on me!"

A vicious gleam flashed in Vivian's gaze. "Your mother is a witch, and I bet you are one too. Strip off and let me see clearly!"

"No!"

Just then, my phone rang from inside my bag. I struggled desperately to reach it, but Vivian snatched it first.

She swiped to answer, and my mother's voice came through immediately.

"Lillibet, how's the gown shopping going?"

I hurriedly shouted for help. "Mom, save me! Someone's hurting me! She's trying to strip me off!"

My mother panicked. "What? Who's doing this to you?"

Vivian cut in arrogantly. "Me! Your little witch daughter has been begging for attention, so I'm putting her in her place!"

My mother snapped, "I don't care who you are! Let my daughter go now, or you'll pay for this when I get there!"

"Try me! I'll be right here to catch you, you witch!"

With that, Vivian hung up my phone and hurled it to the floor. It shattered into pieces.

She slapped me across the face again and sneered, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh? When your mother shows up, I'll strip her down too!"

Time crawled by. It felt like half a century, but in reality, it had only been five minutes.

Finally, a familiar, stretched limousine appeared.

My mother stepped out of the car and demanded, "Let me see who dares threaten to strip me down!"