Chapter 3

Pain ripped through my scalp.

I crashed down onto the icy floor.

"Come on, little sis, let's see you kneel for me," Vivian said, towering over me.

"You'd better practice how to kowtow and beg for forgiveness."

"Bullshit." I snapped, shooting her a glare without even thinking.

I only kneel to heaven, earth, and my parents.

Who does she think she is? She's not even worth me getting on my knees.

"Still talking back?" Vivian Hart sneered, but her fake smile froze on her face. She raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face.

The sting hit me like a firecracker, burning hot and sharp.

With my hands tied, I stumbled backward again.

"You bitch, I knew you were pretending." Vivian Hart spat, her eyes blazing with fury. Her face twisted with rage.

"You were acting all nice in the car, but now you won't even kneel? Clearly, you never meant to confess your sins." "You were planning to get us all killed, weren't you?"

Samuel stormed over, his face filled with anger. "You bitch, I can't believe I almost let you fool me. Don't know what's good for you, huh? Let me tell you. You're kneeling today, whether you like it or not. You don't get a say."

"In your dreams." I spat, my jaw clenched tight. With gritted teeth, I spat at them hard, not holding back.

"You bitch, still don't know your place?" Samuel snarled. He grabbed my chin, his grip so tight it felt like he was trying to crush my bones.

He said: "We're giving you this chance out of charity. Don't push your luck. The Hart Family picked up your pathetic life off the street. Letting you breathe is already mercy.

"Getting to help Viv is the kind of luck you could never earn in a hundred lifetimes. If you keep acting so ungrateful, don't blame me for showing you what real discipline means."

"Don't you dare." I glared at him, unflinching.

All my life, I'd been the pearl in my brother's palm, cherished and protected.

I'd never been humiliated like this before.

Who does Samuel think he is, acting like he can lay down the law for me?

Samuel was caught off guard by the fire in my eyes, pausing for a split second.

Then, humiliated and furious, he snapped. "Just watch me."

With that, he suddenly drove his foot into the back of my knee, kicking me hard.

The sharp pain made my knees buckle, and I crashed to the ground, completely out of control.

I hit the floor hard.

"Hmph, see? I do dare. You bitch, how dare you still glare at me like that," Samuel sneered. "Looks like you really need a lesson, or you'll never remember your place, You're a piece of trash even I wouldn't touch."

With that, he barked at the guys standing nearby. "Hold her head down and make her bang her head against the floor. She's not getting up until she learns her lesson."

As soon as he finished speaking, two tall bodyguards rushed over.

One gripped my arms and legs tight, while the other mercilessly pressed my head to the floor.

I fought with all my strength, but nothing worked.

A heavy, muffled sound echoed as my head hit the floor.

My skull crashed against the unforgiving ground.

Everything went dark for a second, and then I felt something warm trickling down. It's blood, probably.

"Haha, that's more like it." Vivian Hart laughed, clapping as she watched me in such a mess.

"See, little sis? If you'd been obedient from the start, you wouldn't have to suffer like this. Listen to how loud your head hit the floor.

"Why put yourself through all this pain? Trash like you should accept your fate."

With that, she yanked my hair up.

She forced me to look up at her.

With her other hand, she patted my cheek with a careless, mocking touch. "Come on, be a good dog and bark for me," Vivian taunted.

I'd never suffered such utter disgrace in my life.

My body trembled slightly with anger.

I locked my bloodshot eyes onto her, burning with rage.

I spat out each word, slow and clear. "Do you have any idea who I am?"