Chapter 3

3.

Mrs. Summers saw that comment and her hand shook with rage. She dumped the entire bottle of pepper sauce over my head.

She dug her long nails into my face, scratching deep furrows into my skin. The burning sensation felt like my flesh was on fire.

"Lucian, I'm begging you. Just give my Mandy back."

"We're poor, and Mandy only finished college because of your sponsorship. But we have pride. Her father and I will pay you back every cent if you just stop treating her like your property!"

Her voice cracked with fake sorrow, and the livestream viewers immediately showered her with sympathy.

"Auntie, don't beg this monster. We'll help you pay the debt!"

"I bet he used the scholarship as bait to groom her. These rich guys are the rot of society."

Lulu Lane began rummaging through my drawers and pulled out a pair of sharp sewing scissors.

She used the tip to carve the word "TRASH" into my cheek. Then, she shaved my head roughly, using a red lipstick to write "DIE" across my forehead.

"If you really loved Mandy, you would have treated her right. Making her pregnant and then hiding her? What kind of man are you?"

"I heard your parents died when you were young. I guess nobody was around to teach you any morals. That's why you're such a beast."

I could endure their physical abuse. But I would not let them insult my late parents.

With a sudden burst of strength, I kicked Lulu hard in the stomach and spat on the floor.

"A piece of garbage like you has no right to mention my parents. What kind of morals did your family teach you? To break into a man's home and bark like rabid dogs?"

"As for Mandy, she couldn't find a job after graduation. I took her in out of pity."

"But she was a nightmare. She skipped work, bullied her coworkers, and acted like she owned the place!"

"Is this the 'good person' your perfect parenting produced?"