Chapter 8

"Someone! Grab this lunatic!" Elliana finally snapped out of her shock and turned to the silent, black-clad bodyguards. She pointed at me, a harsh glint flashing in her eyes. "Take her away! She must face the consequences for hurting Cathryn!"

Just as the bodyguards were about to lay their hands on my shoulders, my gaze fell on the group of thugs still crouched on the ground.

"Are you really going to do this?"

I chuckled, my voice hoarse from the earlier outburst, yet laced with cold mockery. My eyes swept over the bodyguards, finally landing on Elliana's face.

Without hesitation, Elliana gestured for the bodyguards to take me away.

The elders of the Foster family were also present.

With a hint of amusement in my eyes, I spoke nonchalantly, "Wouldn't you like to ask them first? Whose money did they take, and under whose orders did they dare to act against the Foster family?"

My voice was low, yet crystal clear. "When the truth comes out, who will bring shame to the family more? Me, the disabled woman acting in self-defense, or Cathryn, who hired those thugs? I can't wait to know the truth."

I looked around at everyone present, a smile on my lips.

I knew they wouldn't investigate.

The Foster family found it most unacceptable to hire goons against their own.

Cathryn had only just returned to the family, unaware of the consequences her actions could bring.

Elliana wasn't foolish. She understood the implications.

If this escalated, even Cathryn would face severe repercussions from the family elders for breaking the rules, possibly disappearing forever.

Elliana gritted her teeth, glaring at me. She heard the threat in my words.

Raising her hand, she signaled the bodyguards to release me, her eyes meeting mine. After a moment of silence, she turned with a smile and said, "It seems today was just a misunderstanding. A little quarrel between my daughters-this is nothing."

Once the elders dispersed, Elliana's icy gaze swept over the bodyguards.

"Nothing happened here today! Keep your mouths shut, or you know the consequences! Deal with those thugs."

After the bodyguards dragged them away, she turned to me, her expression complex.

"Take Harlee back to her ward. Without my order, no one is to approach her!"

I offered no resistance, simply sitting quietly in my wheelchair.

Elliana looked at me with disappointment. "Harlee, how did you become so vicious? Adopting you might have been a mistake. If you still hope for things to return to how they were, you'd better obey."

Her gaze fell to my bleeding hand, and she couldn't help but speak again. "Harlee, you know we still love you. But you and Cathryn hold different places in my heart."

In the past, I valued family love the most, and Elliana tried to use that to make me yield.

"Do you think the feelings I have for you can bind me anymore? I think staying alive is the most important."

I laughed bitterly, raising my hand slightly. "Next time, I hope you'll just chop off my hand. That way, I won't have to play piano for the unreasonable Cathryn."

With that, the bodyguards wheeled me back to my room.

"Mom! Are you just going to let her off so easily?"

Cathryn was indignant, biting her lip as she watched me leave.

The scent of blood lingered heavily in the garden.

"I want to ruin her appearance! I want her to be ugly too! Mom, my face was the most like yours. Look at it now!"

Elliana comforted Cathryn, looking at her wounds with a pained expression. "Cathryn, I will punish her, but not now. First, we need to heal your face."

Kaiden glared fiercely in the direction I had gone, then bent down to pick up the wailing Cathryn, quickly carrying her to the treatment room inside.

I leaned back in my wheelchair, breathing lightly, staring at my bloodied hand, which trembled uncontrollably.

Was it over?

Far from it!

This was just the beginning.