Chapter 130 I Guess That''s Only Fair


    +8 Pearls


    Maia almost burst outughing at Caroline''s remark, but with her mother ring daggers beside her, she had to press her lips together and hold it in.


    Ruth, however, wasn''t dumb. She knew exactly what Caroline meant-that she was being called cruel.


    "You little tramp! How dare you insult me!" Ruth shouted, her entire body shaking with rage. She raised her hand, ready to p Caroline across the face.


    But Caroline wouldn''t let her. Her strength had been honed from years of hefting heavy cast-iron She blocked the p with ease, curled her fingers, and caught Ruth''s wrist.


    Ruth tried to yank her arm free, but it was no use. "Your uncultured brat, let go of me! Let go of me!"


    Caroline tightened her grip as Ruth was cursing her non-stop.


    All those years of lifting iron pans had built up serious strength in her hand, and Ruth''s face contorted in pain. "Let go! Let go! It hurts!" she cried, writhing in agony.


    Even in that moment, Ruth didn''t forget to yell at Maia, who was still sitting on the ground, stunned. "You useless girl! You''re just going to sit there while she bullies your mother? Get over here and help me!"


    Maia got up slowly, brushing herself off. She looked at Caroline and said softly, "Ms. Somerton, my mom has a bad temper. I''m sorry on her behalf. Please, would you let her go?


    Caroline looked into Maia''s eyes, saw the raw sincerity there, and reluctantly released Ruth''s arm.


    She hadn''t nned on dragging this out. All she wanted was to give Ruth a taste of her own medicine for hurting Maia. But since Maia wasn''t holding a grudge, Caroline saw no reason to take things any further.


    The sun was setting. Her anger had cooled, and there was no point in wasting more time here.


    She turned, pushing her scooter, and began to leave.


    Ruth massaged her sore wrist but didn''t dare go after Caroline again.


    Instead, she turned her fury on Maia. "You traitor! Watching your mother get bullied made you happy, didn''t it?"


    Seeing Maia''s innocent face made her even angrier. She grabbed her by the hair and mmed her head against the wall. "You''re happy, huh? Think this is funny now?!"


    Thud! Thud!


    Caroline was almost at the end of the alley when she heard the sickening sound.


    She whipped around and saw Ruth holding Maia''s head and ramming it into the bricks. Rage surged through her like fire.


    Caroline dropped the scooter and sprinted back, shouting, "Ruth! Let her go now!"


    She couldn''t believe what she was seeing.


    Chapter 1301 Guess That''s Only Fair


    * Pearis


    Ruth still hadn''t stopped when Caroline reached her. "Stop it now!" Caroline barked. "If you keep this up. I swear I''ll call the cops!"


    She finally released Maia, rolling her eyes. "I''m disciplining my daughter. What''s it to you? Go ahead, call the police! I''d like to see them butt into my family''s business."


    "You clearly don''t know thew," Caroline snapped. "Even if she''s your daughter, you have no right to beat her like this. It''s called domestic violence, and it''s a criminal offense. You could go to jail." She turned her head to look at Maia-and her heart sank.


    Blood streamed from Maia''s forehead, tracing jagged lines down her cheeks. Caroline''s heart twisted at the sight, her expression turning grim as she stared Ruth down. "Your daughter''s bleeding all over. That makes it far more serious," she said, her voice cold and sharp. "You''re not just abusing her anymore-this is assault with intent to harm. You could be facing at least three years in prison. I''m calling the cops right now!"


    Ruth didn''t know much about thew, but the way Caroline spoke-with such certainty-made her panic. Three years? That was serious.


    Better safe than sorry.


    She tightened her grip on Maia''s hair and mmed her head against the wall again. “Go ahead, call them! But if you do, I''ll kill her first. Let''s see who''s faster- me or the police!"


    Caroline froze, her finger hovering over the call button. Her hand clenched around her phone in rage. "You''re insane!" she hissed. "She''s your own child! How can you not feel sorry for her at all?!"


    Even wild animals don''t hurt their young.


    But Ruth wasn''t holding back in the slightest. Her eyes were cold and merciless- as if Maia had nothing to do with her.


    Ruth gave a chilling and sinisterugh. "This is your fault. I was just disciplining my daughter until you stuck your nose in it. If she dies, it''s on you."


    She looked absolutely deranged, still gripping Maia''s hair.


    Caroline was shaking now, not with fear, but with dread-because deep down, she knew Ruth might actually do it.


    Blood continued to drip from Maia''s face, hitting the ground. It was a gruesome sight.


    Caroline''s voice was tight with panic. "Ms. Wagner, your mom''s doing this to you. Why don''t you fight back? Do you actually want to die?"


    Maia let out a soft, bitterugh. "She gave me life. If she wants to take it back... I guess that''s only fair."


    As the blood drained from her, her skin turned paler by the second. Her face was streaked with red, twisted in a haunting smile that looked far too close to death. The sight chilled Caroline to the


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