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Wiping her face, she typed “OK.”
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Hearing Walter mention working late, she entered his study. Rifling through signed documents, she found the divorce papers tucked inside.
Staring at his flamboyant signature, her heart remained eerily calm.
Packing in the bedroom, Amy opened the closet only to realize nothing belonged to her. Everything came from Wal-
ter.
Only Robert had been hers–and now she’d failed to protect even his ashes.
Suddenly the door slammed open. Mrs. Davis stood grim–faced, ordering maids to seize her.
Amy struggled, earning a slap that left her ears ringing. “My son instructed me to teach you some manners!”
They forced her into a van where attendants stripped her to underwear.
Each cry for help brought brutal beatings.
Late that night, the van stopped under a desolate bridge. Pushed onto the gravel, she was kicked hard from behind.
The impact drew swarming homeless men from the shadows.
At the sight of her pale naked body, they crept forward with lecherous grins.
Amy scrambled to run, but countless hands dragged her back. “Slut, dressed like this and coming to us, aren’t you begging to be played with?”
“Stop pretending! Still wearing underwear? Strip now and let us have fun.”
The moment greasy, filthy hands touched her skin, she screamed wildly and hurled everything within reach at them.
She looked up toward the bridge for help and saw Michelle smiling down at her.
“Amy, if Walter knew you’d been used by so many hobos all night, would he still want you?”
“Go ahead and scream your lungs out. It’ll only attract more hobos. Nobody’s saving you.”
“Tomorrow I’ll bring Walter to pick you up. Can’t wait to see his reaction.”
“Will he pity you more, or be disgusted by you more?”
Amy stared after Michelle’s retreating figure, despair crushing her chest.
Was this what Walter meant by teaching her a lesson?
Michelle’s mocking laughter echoed under the bridge as the car disappeared, leaving Amy alone with the hobos.
Like hungry wolves, the men clawed at her, ripping at her last scraps of clothing. She bit and scratched, but one furi- ous kick sent her crashing onto the rocks.
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Blood spread down her back as the crowd surged closer.
“Get away! Don’t touch me!” Amy screamed, her voice breaking.
But their frenzy only grew.
Staggering to her feet, she stumbled toward the lake.
Fine. If this was her end, she would follow Robert the same way.
Cold water swallowed her whole. For the first time, she felt no fear–only relief.
“Robert,” she whispered, a faint smile on her lips, “Mom’s coming.”
Suddenly–thunderous footsteps overhead. Amy Carter didn’t know how she made it home.
She numbly stepped out of the car as the sounds of Walter and Nathan playing in the living room assaulted her ears.
She felt sick to her stomach.
Suddenly, a shriek pierced the air behind her, Michelle’s sobs drowning out all other noise.
When Walter emerged carrying Nathan, he saw Michelle’s swollen calf bleeding profusely.
Red–eyed and seated on the floor, her face contorted in pain, she instantly covered the wound upon spotting Walter.
“Mr. Davis, I was too slow getting out–that’s why the door caught me. Mrs. Carter didn’t mean it.”
“She wept by the sea all afternoon. I understand her resentment toward me, especially since I personally scattered young master Robert’s ashes at sea today.”
“If this small injury eases her pain even slightly, I count myself blessed.”
She pressed on the wound, yet blood kept seeping through the fabric.
Nathan wailed in Walter’s arms, squirming free before hurling his toy car violently at Amy.
He clawed at her arms, nails digging deep into her flesh.
Screaming while he pinched her. “You evil woman, I hate you!”
“I don’t want you as my mom–you’re just horrible!”
Overwhelmed by pain, Amy shoved him away. Nathan fell, his head striking a flowerpot and swelling instantly.
Michelle scrambled up, cradling him while examining the injury with anguish.
“Mrs. Carter, if you resent me, hit me or curse at me–vent all your rage on me.”
“The young master just recovered from fever! How… how could you hurt him?”
“If you truly despise me, I’ll resign today.”
“I’ll take him away. He may lose this privileged life, but at least he’ll be safe from harm–and out of your sight.”
She tried standing, but her leg buckled. Her delicate face streamed with tears.
Nathan clung to her neck, whimpering about being scared and begging to leave.
Watching their victim act, Amy’s agony peaked until laughter nearly escaped her. “Fine. Leave.”
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“Go now!”
Michelle feigned a struggle to rise, limping toward the exit until large hands blocked her path. She collapsed against Walter, trapped in his embrace.
“I run this household, Amy Carter. You’ve crossed the line!”
“Don’t test my patience–it has limits.” His icy words ignored her ashen face and trembling body.
He swept Michelle into his arms, striding toward the bedroom.
Amy’s strength vanished. She crumpled to the floor. Yet her gaze locked onto Walter’s retreating figure.
His frost–laden eyes held not a shred of their past warmth.
Peeking from his embrace, Michelle flashed Amy a knowing smile.
After that night, the entire Davis Manor House shifted its attitude toward Amy.
She stared at the plate of rancid–smelling food, knuckles whitening around her fork.
Lifting her head, she met the indifferent expressions of the maids. They huddled together, pointing fingers at Amy and snickering, their mocking gazes unconcealed.
Amy knew they acted with Mrs. Davis’s encouragement and permission–that was why they dared treat her so openly.
She set down the knives and forks and walked to Robert’s former room, wanting one last look before leaving. Pushing the door open, she was frozen in place.
The familiar scene had vanished without a trace.
Robert’s bed was replaced with a dog bed, the room scattered with dog toys. His memorial portrait now lay atop a dog pee pad.
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Chapter 10
A figure dove into the water, cutting through the waves toward her.
“Amy! Don’t be afraid–I’m here. I won’t let anyone hurt you again!”
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Through the blur, she saw Keith’s face. With her last strength, she clutched his sleeve, tears mingling with the river.
“Please… take me away…” Her voice cracked with despair.
“I never never want to see him again—”
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