Chapter 27 Get On Your Knees


    Her words seemed to snap something in Liam-like a switch had flipped.


    He suddenly turned on her, eyes zing. “You’ve got the nerve to bring that up? If you hadn’t pushed Erin that day, she wouldn’t have ended up in the hospital, and Mom would’ve had time to buy your damn


    clothes.


    “In the end, it’s all your own fault!”


    “What?” Simon exploded. “She pushed Erin again?”


    He red at Tracy, face twisted with rage. “You almost killed her two years ago by pushing her down the stairs. And now you’re try it again? You really have a death wish!


    “Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson-for Erin!”


    He rolled up his sleeves and stormed toward her, raising his hand without hesitation.


    Smack!


    Tracy instinctively shielded her head. The p didn’tnd on her face, but her arm burned with pain.


    It felt too familiar …


    The way Simon moved-his face, his eyes-looked exactly like the “ssmates” from the Angelic Etiquette Academy.


    That memory alone twisted something dark inside her, like a scream ripping through her brain.


    She stayed crouched, arms guarding her head, but through the gap, her eyes locked onto Simon-with pure hatred.


    “What … what kind of look is that?”


    Simon saw her stare and got even angrier. “You pushed Erin once before-and now again! Do you think I shouldn’t do something about it?”


    He grabbed her wrist tightly-like he meant to crush it. “You’reing over right now and apologizing to Erin!”


    Tracy staggered from the force, pain shooting through her wrist. Her brows furrowed, but she didn’t make


    a sound.


    She swallowed the difort, holding back the fury boiling in her chest. “I’ve already apologized to Ms. Erin. Mr. Dunn, could you please let go?”


    Simon instinctively looked at Erin, who hesitated, then said, “She … she did apologize. And I … I forgave her.”


    But her face said otherwise-clearly unwilling.


    Simon’s grip tightened. “Erin, she nearly killed you. How could an apology be enough?


    “I don’t think she even meant it. Someone like her needs to pay a price to learn her lesson.”


    Suddenly, his other hand mped down on Tracy’s neck and shoved her downward. “Get on your knees. Apologize to Erin!”


    Get on my knees…


    Apologize…


    The words hit her like a hammer, draining all color from her face..


    For a second, she wondered, had Simon also gone through the Angelic Etiquette Academy?


    Tracy trembled uncontrobly. She fought to free herself. “Let go of me!”


    But he only pressed harder, as if he wouldn’t stop until she was on her knees begging for forgiveness.


    Liam’s expression turned grim as he watched her-pale face, messy hair, barely holding herself up. He stepped forward, about to intervene-only for someone to grab his hand.


    “Liam, please help her.” Erin pleaded, face full of worry, “She pushed me down the stairs, yeah, but I’m still alive, aren’t I?


    “And I don’t think she meant to do it, not in front of so many people at the mall. She probably just lost control after seeing Norris being nice to me. I … I’m not ming her.”


    But her expression said something else entirely-like she was swallowing her pain and choosing to forgive for their sake.


    Liam’s foot halted mid-step, then pulled back. “Erin, why are you still speaking up for a jealous, vicious woman like her? You being okay just means you’re lucky-not because she held back.”


    He nced at Tracy with disdain. “If she really felt sorry, she wouldn’t have shoved you in front of a crowd. Making her kneel is the least she deserves.


    “Simon’s right. A person like her won’t learn unless she gets put in her ce.”


    Simon hadn’t actually used full force-despite shoving her, he was still holding back.


    Tracy was still a Jackman, after all. Even if he wanted to rough her up for Erin’s sake, he wouldn’t go too far in front of Liam.


    But Liam’s words? They erased all restraint.


    If even he had given up on her, what was the point of holding back anymore?


    Simon kicked Tracy hard in the back of her knee, like he meant to snap her leg.


    Bang!


    Her kneecap mmed into the tile with a sickening crack. It sounded like it could break the floor.


    Simon red down at her like she was nothing. “You nearly killed Erin. The fact that I haven’t thrown you off a building is already merciful. And you still won’t apologize? You’ve got some nerve!


    “If I let you off easy today, I’m not even a man.”


    He stormed up to her and kicked her in the waist.


    The sharp pain made Tracy instinctively curl up, arms moving with practiced precision to shield her head and abdomen.