Chapter 6

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Cathryn arrived in the garden with a large group of people.

"That's impossible! Harlee is usually so well-behaved. We need to prove her innocence. How could she be involved with strangers like that?"

Cathryn's face was filled with disbelief as she hurriedly defended me, though there was an undeniable excitement in her tone.

Led by Cathryn, the group soon witnessed me, disheveled and surrounded by four thugs.

My face was still flushed and anxious from the previous struggle.

In my adoptive mother Elliana Foster's eyes, I had just finished a clandestine meeting with those individuals. My panicked expression, attempts to hide, and the man's suit jacket that clearly belonged neither to me nor to Kaiden were undeniable evidence.

"Harlee, what is this?"

Elliana snatched the suit jacket off me and threw it to the ground as if it were something filthy.

"You've brought shame upon our family's name!"

Elliana was shaking with anger, her eyes filled with unprecedented disappointment and disdain.

For the first time, Elliana raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face!

My head turned sharply to the side. "Mom..."

"Don't call me mom. I don't have a shameless daughter like you! Even as a disabled person, you can't behave yourself and you engage in such disgraceful acts in the hospital!"

Elliana looked at me coldly, as if I were an object devoid of any worth.

Jared glared at the suit jacket and then at me, his voice icy. "Harlee, you're absolutely revolting."

Kaiden looked at me with disgust, while comforting Cathryn, who seemed utterly shocked.

My adoptive father, Benton Foster, slowly approached me, his expression one of sheer contempt and disdain. "Harlee, since you've done something so detrimental to the family, shaming us, you'll be disowned from the family and disappear forever."

He turned away without a trace of parental concern, showing not a hint of concern.

I hung my head low, still clinging to futile hopes as my heart sank into despair.

"What's this?" Cathryn covered her mouth, pulling a small knife from Roderick's suit jacket.

Cathryn held the knife, blinking innocently at Elliana, her voice sweet yet quivering with a sense of righteous indignation. "Mom... Harlee has done something wrong and even hid such a dangerous thing..."

She tilted her head, like an angel puzzled over how to punish a mischievous child, raising the knife slightly.

"Can I teach her a lesson instead of you? Just a little, to teach her a lesson so she won't make mistakes again, okay?"

Her tone was so naive, yet her intentions were so malicious.

Elliana nodded in agreement, and Cathryn smiled with delight, pressing the knife to my face, ready to slice it.