?Chapter 37:


    “Maggie! Mom!”


    Kristopher’s frown deepened when he saw Rosie and Maggie advancing on Belinda, and he instinctively stepped in to shield her. At that moment, Cathy clutched her chest and gasped, “Ah!”


    Kristopher halted his movement and turned towards Cathy, his eyes filled with concern. “What’s wrong?”


    “It’s nothing…” Cathy murmured, herplexion ashen. “Just my stomach acting up again.”


    While Cathy was speaking, Rosie and Maggie had already reached Belinda.


    Rosie held Belinda’s arms behind her back while Maggie lifted her hand and struck Belinda across the face with a resounding p. As the p echoed through the air, Belinda saw that Kristopher, still tending to Cathy, had a look of worry etched on his face.


    p!


    The pnded sharply, the sound crisp in the tense air. The sting on Belinda’s cheek felt as though her skin was tearing.


    Yet, the physical pain paled inparison to the deep, gnawing hurt in her heart.<fnac1a> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FιndＮovel</fnac1a>


    Upon hearing the p, Kristopher stiffened.


    “Belinda!”


    He was about to rush to her aid when Cathy intervened, stepping between them. “Maggie, Rosie, stop this! We’re all family here. Can’t we just talk it through?”


    “Cathy, you’re siding with her?”


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    Maggie’s voice rose, her fury intensifying with each word.


    “Who does this country bumpkin think she is? Mom, I will keep her still, and you p her!”


    Rosie nodded and sneered at Belinda. “Bitch, let me show you what a real p feels like! If we go easy on you, you’ll never learn your lesson!”


    Cathy, tears brimming in her eyes, positioned herself between Belinda and Maggie, reaching out to pull Maggie away from Belinda. “Maggie, let her go! Belinda just had a miscarriage. She’s not well.”


    Despite her words that seemedced with concern, Belinda caught a glimpse of Cathy actually assisting Maggie in pinning her down. A sneer crossed Belinda’s face, recognizing Cathy’s feignedpassion.


    “Cathy!”


    Kristopher furrowed his brow as he approached. “Calm down, you’re unwell. Don’t make the situation worse. All of you…”


    He was cut off as Rosie raised her hand, aiming a p at Belinda. Despite the throbbing pain in her abdomen and the sweat soaking her clothes, Belinda’s mind remained sharp.


    With all the strength she could muster, she twisted her body away just as Rosie’s hand descended.


    This sudden movement yanked both Maggie and Cathy off bnce.


    Smack!


    The p intended for Belindanded squarely on Cathy’s face instead, leaving a vivid red mark and causing her lip to bleed.


    Cathy still gripped Belinda’s arms firmly.


    Maggie let out a scream, “Cathy! You’re bleeding!”


    It all unfolded in an instant.


    Kristopher only caught on when he noticed Cathy, blood dripping from her lips as she held onto Belinda.


    He dashed forward, pushed Belinda aside, and gathered Cathy into his arms. “Are you okay?”


    Belinda collided with the table, her upper abdomen mming against the corner.


    A wave of pain radiated from her stomach, causing tears to well up in her eyes.


    Struggling to keep from vomiting blood, she gripped the table, her vision blurry.


    Through her blurred vision, she saw Kristopher cradling Cathy and heard him ask with a softness he had never shown her, “How do you feel? Does your stomach hurt?”


    It was a gentleness Belinda had never known.


    “Ugh.”


    Her emotions overwhelmed her. Clutching the edge of the table, Belinda spat out a mouthful of blood.


    The screams around her dwindled to a murmur, and as her vision faded to ck, she caught a fleeting glimpse of Kristopher carrying Cathy off while Darren hurried toward her.


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