Chapter 4

The guard sneered, "Eugenia told us to give you some extra attention. If you're looking for someone to blame, it's your own fault for offending the wrong people."

For a whole week, Veronica was trapped inside the training center, suffering nonstop abuse. Food tainted with urine had long become the norm for her.

Not even at night did Veronica dare relax for a second, afraid she'd be jolted awake by ice water or the crack of a whip.

Cigarette burns marked her chest and lower back, each one leaving her shivering and ashen-faced in agony.

More than once, she wanted to commit suicide, but it was the thought of Annie that kept her hanging on.

Before Bud and Veronica got married, Bud had given her a safety net, which was a signed divorce agreement.

He'd said, "Veronica, don't worry. If I ever treat you badly and you want to leave, I promise I won't stand in your way.'

'I've made up my mind. Once I survive this nightmare, I'll grab Annie and leave Bud,' Veronica told herself.

But when Veronica finally came home, Annie was nowhere in sight, and her heart dropped with dread.

"Bud, where did you take Annie?" Veronica demanded, her voice trembling with fear.

Bud's phone rang the instant Veronica finished speaking.

Bud answered the video call right away. The moment the connection went through, agonizing, hysterical screams burst from the other side.

Annie's cries echoed through the room, each one striking Veronica's shattered heart like a sledgehammer.

Veronica's eyes turned bloodshot as she lost all control, scrambling for Bud's phone in pure desperation. The moment she saw the screen, rage shook her to the core, her teeth grinding so hard she thought they'd shatter.

On the video, Annie was strapped down tight to an operating table, barely able to wiggle an inch.

A scary-looking electroshock device lurked nearby, and Annie cried and screamed until her voice turned raw and scratchy from the pain and terror.

"Eugenia, don't you dare touch my daughter!" Veronica shouted.

Eugenia, who had been fiddling with something the whole time, finally raised her head and gave Veronica a long, appraising look before smirking and speaking.

Eugenia taunted, "I'm doing Annie a favor by treating her. Mrs. Burgess, why are you so upset? Or is it that you'd rather have Annie stay as a fool for the rest of her life?

"Annie is just a girl. When she grows up, she'll just marry whoever and spend her days in bed, legs spread for some man.

"But Annie is still my patient, and it's my job to fix people. How could I let her stay like this?"

She lifted the electroshock device, lips curled into a mocking smile as she stared straight at Veronica.

"Eugenia, stop. Please, I'm begging you!" Veronica screamed.

While Veronica was breaking down, her hearing seemed to become exceptionally sharp. Even through the shaky video call, Veronica caught every cruel hiss of burning flesh, every soul-shattering scream from Annie.

Veronica heard Annie's fragile voice whisper. "Mommy, it hurts..."

Veronica had never heard Annie call her mom before. This sentence completely broke her down.

Tears streamed down her face as she collapsed to her knees in front of Bud, sobbing and pressing her forehead to the ground, begging like a lost and beaten dog.

Veronica wailed, "Bud, I'm begging you. Bring Bud back to me.

"I don't want anything. Take Eugenia, take whatever you want. I'll give it all up.

"Annie's only three years old. She's just a little kid. If you keep shocking her like this, she'll die.

"Don't you hear her? Don't you hear her screaming? Bud Burgess, answer me!"

Veronica kept pleading. She just wanted Bud to back down. If he didn't call off this treatment, it would be all over for Annie.

Veronica didn't dare gamble now. Annie was all that she had left to fight for in this world.

A flicker of uncertainty passed over Bud's face. He was just about to say something, but Eugenia jumped in.

Eugenia said, "Bud, remember what I told you? The pain you go through as a kid never really goes away. You will carry it for the rest of your life.

"You don't want Annie to grow up just like you, trapped by the scars of childhood forever, do you?

"Trust me, I know how to help her. You got lucky finding me. What about Annie? When she grows up, who's gonna be there to save her if you mess this up now?"

Just a few words from Eugenia made Bud change his mind. He threw his phone aside, scowling as he looked at Veronica.

Bud said, "Veronica, Eugenia's got a point.

"As a mother, you cannot be satisfied after giving Annie a life. You have to make sure that she actually has a future like everyone else.

"Relax. Eugenia knows what she's doing. Annie is not going to get hurt."

Veronica's lips quivered. Immediately afterward, she went up and choked Bud.

"Bud, if anyone lays a finger on Annie, I will kill them!" Veronica spat.

The shouting inside drew the bodyguards in from the hall, and before Bud had a chance to react, Veronica was already slammed to the ground, her arms wrenched behind her by the guards.