Chapter 2

2.

For the past two years, we hadn't gone back to see my in-laws for the holidays. They missed Vivienne terribly.

I wanted to surprise her and make up for the time we lost.

That's why I brought them to the city, hoping for a warm family reunion.

Instead, the surprise turned into a nightmare.

The moment they stepped into the mansion, they weren't met with hugs. They were met with a bucket of dirty mop water.

Caleb stood in the foyer, looking at us with pure disgust.

"What kind of hobos are trying to sneak into the Vance estate?"

"Silas, are these your parents?"

"They look like typical trailer park trash. They even smell like dirt. Gross."

I suppressed my rage and quickly wiped the water off my in-laws.

Martha had a fiery temper. She couldn't stand being insulted like that.

"Who the hell are you? You have no manners! How dare you call Silas a hillbilly!"

Instead of backing down, Caleb got aggressive. He grabbed a heavy crystal vase from a side table and hurled it at Martha.

I moved instinctively, blocking the throw. The vase grazed my hand before shattering on the floor.

Martha wasn't hit, but a deep gash opened on my palm. Blood began to pour out instantly.

Caleb stepped forward, looking smug and arrogant.

"I'm the future master of this house. I'm Vivienne Vance's current boyfriend."

"Your precious Silas is about to be kicked to the curb. Get lost, you old hag!"

Arthur and Martha were too stunned to speak.

They never imagined that their daughter, the girl they were so proud of, would be involved in something so shameful.

Arthur was shaking with fury. He stepped forward to confront Caleb.

But Caleb shoved him hard. Arthur went flying back, his spine slamming into the sharp edge of the shoe rack.

"I told you, trash isn't allowed here. You're too poor to even be a janitor in this house."

Caleb laughed, his voice full of cruel mockery.

Arthur groaned in agony, his face turning ghostly white.

I held Arthur and screamed for the servants to help us.

But the staff, who usually treated me with respect, acted like they were deaf.

They stood there, watching, ignoring my cries for help.

Caleb casually buffed his nails as if he were cleaning off a speck of dust.

"Someone, tie these three peasants up. Throw them out into the snow so they can cool off."

The servants moved in all at once.

Martha stood in front of Arthur and me, screaming, "Don't you dare! Vivienne is my―"

Before she could finish, Caleb shoved her out the front door. She stumbled and fell face-first into the snow.

I felt a surge of murderous rage. I tried to rush him, but two large security guards pinned me down.

They used heavy rope to bind the three of us tightly.

Then, they dragged us out into the yard like we were nothing but dead weight.

It was a brutal winter night. The snow was deep and the wind was howling.

I was thrown onto the frozen ground. The cold seeped through my thin clothes instantly, making my bones ache.

Caleb stood in the doorway with a sadistic grin on his face.

He clapped his hands, and the servants took the hint.

They started packing snow into hard balls and pelting us with them.

The impact of the ice was painful, but the humiliation was far worse.

I struggled against my ropes, roaring, "Stop! Those are Vivienne's parents!"

My voice was swallowed by the wind. No one cared.

The snowballs kept coming, hitting my face and chest.

My skin felt like it was on fire from the cold, and then it went numb.

Arthur was old and his health was already fragile. He looked like he was fading away.

Martha was still screaming insults at Caleb, her heart racing with fury and cold.

Suddenly, Martha's voice cut off.

I saw her face turn a terrifying shade of blue. Her body began to twitch violently.

Then, her eyes rolled back, and she went limp.

"Mom!"

I screamed in terror. I fought against the ropes, desperate to reach her.

The servants finally looked scared. They stopped throwing snow and looked at each other nervously.

I managed to break free from the loose bindings and crawled to her.

Her breathing was shallow, almost non-existent.

I begged the servants to call an ambulance, my voice cracking with desperation.

The sight of her dying on the lawn finally snapped them out of it. Someone ran inside to call 911.

Caleb just watched from the doorway, a look of boredom on his face.

"Lucky you. Having a mom who knows how to play dead," he sneered.

"Now get lost before you ruin the view."