Confess, Bitch

The next moment, as Ethan demanded, I raised a trembling hand and slapped myself hard across the face.

The sharp sound echoed through the microphone, filling the entire hall.

"Harder," Ethan's voice was a demonic whisper. "If you don't feel it, I'll make sure your daughter does."

I gritted my teeth and struck again, harder this time.

"I am a shameless woman…" I forced out the humiliating words. "I used despicable means to destroy an innocent family. I drove a kind wife to her death. I deserve to die…"

The only sounds in the silent hall were the sharp crack of each slap and my broken voice, echoing through the speakers.

The humiliating confession dragged on for what felt like a century, until I finally choked out the last sentence.

"…I voluntarily relinquish all my shares in VanceTech as compensation to the Basset family."

When I finished the last word, my face was numb and stinging.

But Ethan’s smile only grew more cruel. "It seems you really do care about your daughter."

He paused, then laughed coldly. "But, to make sure she doesn't turn into a bitch like you, I think I should help purify her first."

"You promised!" I screamed, panic drowning me again.

Ethan, however, looked even more smug. He spat a single word into his phone: "Do it."

On the screen, I watched in horror as the masked man's knife sliced a long gash into my daughter Sophie's tender arm.

"No!"

Blood instantly gushed out, staining her sleeve red. Sophie's cries were muffled by the tape, reduced to pained whimpers.

The moment I saw my daughter bleed, the last thread of sanity in my mind snapped.

My maternal instincts erupted. Like a crazed lioness, I lunged at Ethan with no regard for myself.

But he was faster, kicking me hard in the ribs.

"You bitch! You still dare to fight back!" he roared, as I stumbled and fell, the sharp pain nearly making me pass out.

Not satisfied, he kicked my abdomen again and again until I could no longer move.

Just then, the piercing wail of sirens cut through the air.

Someone shouted, "It's SWAT! The special police are here!"

Suddenly, a team of heavily armed tactical officers stormed the stage. Everything became a blur, but through the chaos, I saw Ethan being pinned to the ground and handcuffed.

A pair of hands gently helped me up, and I heard a concerned voice in my ear: "Eleanor, are you all right?"

It was my husband, Julian.

I ignored him, staggering forward to grab a police officer’s uniform, my voice raw as I screamed that my daughter had been kidnapped and begged them to save her.

I only breathed a sigh of relief when the officer assured me they would act immediately.

I turned my head and looked at Julian’s hypocritical face.

Without a moment's hesitation, I summoned all my strength and gave him a resounding slap.