ra hadn''t expected him to actually strike her, so she didn''t dodge in time. The pnded hard on her cheek, leaving a sting that echoed more than just


    physical pain.


    The bodyguard''s eyes zed with anger. "Miss Quinn is leagues better than you. Back at the Bradford estate, you made our lives miserable. If it weren''t for Miss Quinn, we would have quit ages ago."


    ra held her cheek, feeling the sharpness of the hit. She couldn''t help but wonder-had she really been that terrible at the Bradford estate? Was she truly that heartless?


    The other bodyguard saw ra get hit and didn''t step in. He had been itching to do the same for a long time.


    To them, ra was nothing more than a viin who had finally met hereuppance.


    ra let out a soft chuckle, keeping her thoughts to herself but mentally marking the incident.


    The car rolled to a halt outside the asylum. As ra was led out, she unexpectedly ran into her father, Johnny, and the hospital director.


    Johnny, typically detached from family dramas, was a figure of authority at work.


    Seeing ra, he sighed quietly. "Take this time to really think things over, ra. Everything''s ready for you here. You''ll leave when you''re back to yourself."


    ra felt a heaviness in her chest, yet the irony of the situation almost made herugh.


    "Mr. Bradford, when I get out of here, I want you to let everyone know that I''ve cut ties with the Bradford family."


    Johnny''s expression turned stony. He raised his ssic square jaw and replied, "Still causing trouble, aren''t you? You don''t even see your own mistakes!"


    He furrowed his brow and sighed again. "ra, I don''t know what''s happened to you. Anyway, after Quinn''s wedding, I''lle for you. We''ll head to the countryside vi; it''s nicer there. You made her lose her baby-there''s got to be consequences."


    ra didn''t say a word and just turned her back on him.


    Once back in the car, Johnny massaged his temples, feeling torn. Both daughters were dear to him in their own ways, but Quinn losing the baby was a serious matter


    Someone beside him offered some advice. "Sir, don''t stress too much over this.


    Let Mrs. Bradford handle the family matters."


    Johnny rarely spoke up at home,


    and


    sy joined in when ra was


    scolded, but he hadn''t disliked her enough to institutionalize her.


    When he saw the unfamiliar look in his daughter''s eyes, something twisted inside him.


    "You''re right. Naomi will take care of it."


    "The missus will handle everything. You''ve seen the room yourself; ra won''t be mistreated."


    Despite his hectic day, Johnny''s unease drove him to the asylum. Naomi had picked it, but his doubts lingered.


    He couldn''t deny it-his wife clearly doted on Quinn, often leaving ra in the shadows.


    But how could a parent not be a bit biased when one daughter was rebellious and the other so well-behaved?


    Somewhere along the way, the bright-eyed little girl who used to look up to him had vanished.


    He turned to the person next to him. "I''ve been partial to Quinn all these years, haven''t I? Did I mess up?"


    "It''s not your fault. ra has made plenty of mistakes. Quinn''s been through a lot, and ra, as the oldest, should''ve had her back but ended up bullying her."


    "Yeah, who knows when she''ll finally straighten out." Johnny decided to leave it for now. They''d tackle itter.