Chapter 68
Behind the closet, there was a body.”
Though it had already begun to decay, it was still unmistakably my precious daughter, Elise.
Even under the drug’s numbing influence, it felt as though someone had driven a fist straight through my heart.
I dropped to my knees and wept in silence.
No wonder I could not find her anywhere.
She had been here all along. She died right here, in my room.
Damien collapsed in front of her corpse, covering his face with both hands as he sobbed uncontrollably.
Then, all at once, he rose to his feet and struck me across the face with brutal force. “Vivian, you killed our daughter!“}
“I asked you to keep her in line and you let her die behind a damn closet!”
“She’s been dead for who knows how long and no one even noticed!“}
He yanked me up by the hair and began slapping me back and forth. “Is this what you are now? Addicted to groveling like a dog?“}
“You crave degradation, don’t you?“}
“You can’t think of anything beyond that filth, can you?“>
“You’re a disgusting, immoral woman. You ruined our daughter!“}
IPPPERSTI
The blows blurred my vision and my cheeks quickly swelled from the force.
tried to speak, to explain, but only a choked gurgle escaped my throat.
X
Veronica’s eyes brimmed with tears as she chimed in, “Vivian… Elise was such a sweet girl. How could you bear to trap her behind a closet like that?”
Her words reignited something in Damien’s mind.
His gaze sharpened. He lunged forward and gripped my throat tightly, choking the breath from me.>
“The closet was in your room. She died in your room.”
“Tell me! Did you kill her? Did you hide her body there yourself?“}
“Vivian, why? Why did you murder our daughter?!“}
I was already drowning in sorrow. Now, I was literally being strangled.
My vision darkened. My consciousness began to slip away.
Before everything went black, I heard Damien shouting and the sharp sting of another slap across my face.}
“Bring water!”
The mentor was flustered and uneasy but hurried over with a glass of water.
It had
just been drawn from the dispenser.}
Scalding hot.
– F = US = = –
Without hesitation, Damien poured it over me.}
I jolted awake with a scream, the burning pain tearing through my skin.
He pressed my face to the floor with the sole of his leather shoe, grinding it down mercilessly. “Tell me, how did Elise die?”
I struggled to rise, then collapsed to my knees, muttering over and over, “It was my fault. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have defied Mr. Montclair. I shouldn’t have crossed Veronica.“}
“Elise… I was wrong. You died because of me. Elise, I’m so sorry.”
Everyone present sighed quietly.
One of Damien’s friends leaned in and murmured, “She has lost her mind, Damien. Vivian has gone mad.“}}
Damien shoved me hard, sending me sprawling into the corner.
I dropped to my knees and began banging my head against the wall. “Elise, I’m so sorry. Elise, forgive me…“}
Tears welled up in Veronica’s eyes as she turned to Damien and said gently, “Damien, the dead can’t come back. Let’s give Elise a proper burial.”
“As for Vivian.. I never imagined she could be so heartless, capable of killing her own daughter.”
“Let’s leave. She should stay here and continue her lesson.”
She reached out to take Damien’s hand, ready to lead him away.
However, he did not budge.”
His gaze remained fixed on his daughter’s lifeless body. “I can’t just walk away. I need to know the truth. I have to find out how Elise really died.“%
Veronica’s expression darkened. “Elise is gone. And Vivian is insane. She is a liar. What answers could we possibly get from her?”
Damien hesitated, then pulled his hand free from Veronica’s grasp.”
