Paying the Price

My gaze fell on Celine's face. She stood to the side with her arms crossed. There was a look of satisfaction in her eyes.

A chill ran down my spine—this wasn't just about revenge.

She wasn't merely angry or vengeful. Instead, she was enjoying this. She was taking pleasure in torturing me and making me suffer. Her suspicion that I was a mistress alone had driven her to dish out personal execution.

Now, she looked like someone who was admiring their masterpiece.

She was a very terrifying person.

I let out a bitter laugh, forcing myself to speak despite the extreme pain in my body. "Just because you suspect I'm another woman Shawn's been seeing, you're this eager to beat me to death. You seem to be very familiar with inflicting such violence. You must have done this countless times before, right?

"Mere suspicion could drive you to such extremes. If someone else happens to like Shawn, are you going to go crazy like this every time?"

"You wretch!" Celine's expression contorted in anger as she stomped on my hand.

She hissed, "How dare you provoke me even further, you shameless tramp! Someone give me the scissors! I'll cut out your tongue and see how you talk then!"

The pressure from her foot on my hand sent cold sweat dripping down my face. Her ghastly words made me clamp my mouth shut, but it didn't take long before one of the women handed her the scissors.

Celine gripped my jaw harshly. "Since you like talking so much, go ahead and keep talking!"

She then barked, "Hold her mouth open!"

Celine ran out of patience soon after. She jammed the scissors into my mouth, twisting and cutting without care. My tongue was soon shredded, and several deep cuts were dealt to my lips.

"Mmph!" I whimpered, my entire body breaking out in cold sweat.

I had never seen anything like this, not even on TV. Could someone truly be capable of such cruelty?

Still feeling unsatisfied, Celine grabbed the hammer again and knocked out a few of my teeth.

Only when my face and chest were soaked in blood did she finally stop.

"I didn't want to be this harsh with you. Don't blame me—blame yourself. This is the price for seducing someone else's boyfriend. This is the punishment you deserve!" Celine spat coldly.

I was on the verge of passing out. The events of the day felt like a nightmare. Her voice alone made me feel physically ill.

"Alright… I'm sorry…" I stammered weakly, tears streaming down my face. "I had this coming. Please... just let me go…"

My pleading seemed to amuse them even more. They burst into laughter while taking in my miserable state.

"That's it? She's already begging for mercy. Weren't you claiming to be Mrs. Ziegler just now? Is this all it takes to break you?"

"Celine did the right thing. Didn't she start out so defiant? Now look at her. She has completely given in!"

"Exactly. Someone like her deserves to be beaten to death. Who does she think she is, stealing someone else's man?"

"And she said she was Shawn's mom? As if!"

Celine gazed at me like she was admiring a piece of art she had crafted. Then, she pulled out her phone and began recording a video. She focused the camera on my face, which was now covered in swollen red rashes from my allergic reaction.

I had been raised in comfort and luxury—I had never once endured hardship. Yet here I was, beaten to a bloody mess and humiliated on video.

My husband had promised to take care of me for the rest of my life. My son had always said he would protect me when he grew up.

But now... I was in so much pain.

Why weren't they here to save me?

I couldn't stop the tears from falling. Celine's excitement only grew as she saw me cry.

"Look at this! The shameless woman is crying now. She knows her place now that I've taught her a lesson," Celine remarked smugly.

Her voice now was light and sweet. It contrasted sharply with the voice of the venomous woman from moments ago. After a few seconds, she seemed to have sent out the video.

As soon as she put her phone away, hurried footsteps echoed through the villa.

"What are you doing?" a loud voice roared.