Chapter 26 Willow Pulls the Same Trick Again, Framing Lauren


    "You''re full of sh*t!" Elliot roared. Thew already sentenced Lauren to five years. She paid her debt a long time ago!"


    Keh''s expression remained cold. "Paid She spent five years in prison and still walked out alive, but my sister is trapped in a hospital bed for the rest of her life. And you''re telling me that''s fair?"


    "As long as ine doesn''t wake up, Lauren will never be done paying for what she did."


    "Shut up!" Elliot''s voice was hoarse with anger, his eyes red. "Lauren was beaten, humiliated, stabbed with needles, forced to kneel, and had her leg broken in prison. She used tough all the time, and now she barely speaks. She''s not even the same person anymore. After everything she''s suffered, how is that not enough!"


    He staggered back, knocking over a stool behind him, but he didn''t even notice. He just kept staring at Keh, his chest. heaving.


    "My sister is crippled now, he spat through gritted teeth. "Is that enough for you?"


    Keh felt a sharp, inexplicable pain in his chest, like an invisible hand was squeezing his heart.


    Lauren had turned ine into a vegetable. He had no reason to pity her


    He shoved down the unwee feeling. She got exactly what she deserved. Whatever she went through in prison is nothingpared to what ine lost. My sister had a bright future ahead of her, and Lauren destroyed it


    He let out a coldugh. "And don''t forget, Elliot-you were the one who testified against Lauren when she tried to frame Willow. You helped send her to prison. Now you suddenly care about her She probably hates you more than


    anyone."


    Elliot''s heart clenched painfully.


    He never wanted Lauren to suffer in prison. He just wanted her to learn from her mistakes ande out as a better person


    Rage burned through his veins. He swung at Keh again.


    Keh easily dodged, stepping aside as Elliot''s punch hit nothing but air


    Elliot lurched forward, mming into the bar. He gripped the counter, panting heavily.


    "Give me another drink, he slurred at the bartender.


    Without a word, the bartender poured him another ss


    Elliot grabbed it and downed it in one go. Alcohol dripped from his lips, soaking into his cor.


    Keh sat beside him, gripping his own ss so tightly his knuckles turned white.


    He looked calm on the outside, but inside, his emotions churned violently


    Lauren, you were supposed to have a brilliant future ahead of you. But you had to ruin ine''s life. You''re despicable.


    Inside the bar, the shing lights and pounding music drowned out everything else. People danced,ughed, drank without a


    care.


    Meanwhile, at the Bet estate, chaos was unfolding


    Willow clung to Alice, sobbing uncontrobly.


    Her cries filled the silent living room, each one a sharp, pitiful usation against Lauren.


    Alice held Willow tightly, saying nothing, but her eyes were full of disappointment and me as she looked at Lauren.


    David''s face was dark with fury. He pointed a trembling finger at her.


    "You pushed Willow down the stairs. Were you trying to turn her into a vegetable too?" he bellowed. "You were already a heartless monster five years ago when you did it to ine! You spent five years in prison and still haven''t changed! Now


    Chapter 26 Willow Pulls the Same Trick Again, Framing Lauren


    Lauren met David''s gaze, cold and emotionless. A deep, unshakable sense of despair filled her chest.


    Finished


    She couldn''t understand why her own father treated her with such cruelty,


    Her heart had been shattered beyond repair, but even now, she couldn''t suppress the burning fury inside her.


    "Mr. David, you of all people should know the truth," she said icily. "You were standing right there when Willow pushed ine down the stairs. You saw it with your own eyes. What, did you lie so much that even you started believing it?" David''s body trembled, his face turning an ugly shade of red. "Shut your mouth!"


    Lauren smirked. "Hit a nerve, did 1? Five years ago, Willow framed me for pushing ine. Now, five yearster, she throws: herself down the stairs just to pin it on me again. And you still defend her. You know exactly how vicious she is, but you''d rather frame me than admit the truth"


    Her voice turned sharp. "Sometimes I wonder-am I really your daughter? Or am I your enemy? Because you''re more than willing to destroy me for your precious adopted daughter"


    She narrowed her eyes. "Willow isn''t your illegitimate child, is she? Is that why you treat her like gold and treat me like trash?"


    David''s face twisted with rage.


    "You ungrateful brat! I''ll beat some respect into you today if it''s thest thing I do."


    In a blind fury, he yanked off his leather belt and swung it down on her


    The crack of the belt echoed through the room as it struck Lauren''s arm, instantly leaving a deep red welt.


    Pain shot through her body like a knife slicing through her skin, digging straight into her bones.


    She let out a muffled groan, instinctively curling in on herself, trying to shield herself from the blows


    But David die


    stop. He was lost in his rage, striking her over and over. The beltshed across


    her back, her shoulders, her legs-each hit more vicious than thest.


    Alice stood frozen, hesitation flickering in her eyes.


    Her hands twitched as if she wanted to stop David.


    But then she nced at Willow, who sat trembling in her arms, looking fragile


    and pitiful.


    Any trace of sympathy for Lauren vanished.


    She pressed her lips together and stayed silent.


    Marilyn, however, couldn''t take it anymore.


    "Sir, please stop!" she begged. "Miss Lauren is already injured. If you keep hitting


    her, you''ll-


    David didn''t even hear her. His fury only intensified.


    The belt snapped through the air again and again, the sound sickening.


    Lauren''s body trembled violently. Blood seeped through the thin fabric of her clothes, staining them red.


    Her face was pale as a sheet, lips drained of color. She tried to move, but her crippled leg made it impossible to escape


    She wanted to fight back, but against a man like David, she waspletely powerless.


    For the first time, despite all the suffering she had endured, tears slipped from her


    eyes.


    Marilyn''s Heart broke at the sight


    1 uran would rack Willow


    → Finished


    Chapter 26 Willow Pulls the Same Trick Again, Framing Lauren


    But Willow! That girl was devious. If anyone was framing someone, it was her


    Biting her lip, Marilyn made a split-second decision.


    She lunged forward, shielding Lauren with her own body


    The beltnded hard on Marilyn''s back with a sickening smack,


    But she didn''t flinch. She just held Lauren tightly, whispering. "Miss Lauren, don''t


    be afraid!"


    Lauren''s eyes widened in horror. "Marilyn-"


    Marilyn forced a weak smile. "It''s okay, Miss Lauren. Don''t cry."


    But Lauren couldn''t stop.


    Marilyn was just a housekeeper. She didn''t have to get involved.


    She could''ve turned a blind eye, and no one would have med her.


    But instead, she took the beating meant for Lauren


    It hurt more than anything else.


    David''s face twisted in rage. "Move, Marilyn! No one is going to stop me from


    punishing this ungrateful disgrace!"


    Lauren slowly lifted her head.


    Her eyes, filled with unshed tears, had turned ice-cold.


    For the first time, her gaze held something more than hatred.


    It held the unmistakable glint of murder.