Morrigan yanked the malachite pendant off my neck and sneered coldly.

"Give it back to me!" I yelled.

"This is such a precious antique piece. An outsider like you doesn't deserve it! Tell me, did you beg Mom to give this to you?"

"Dad left that for me. Give it back!" I struggled desperately and reached for the pendant in her clutches.

Morrigan deliberately held it high out of my reach while scoffing at me. "Mom is about to take me in officially. Everything in the Heinrich family belongs to me. Of course, Dad's belongings are mine too. As expected of a stray picked off the streets—it's in your nature to covet what belongs to others."

With a wave of her hand, two tall men dressed in black immediately dragged me into a van.

Morrigan said menacingly, "Today, I'll teach you a lesson so that you'll understand how shameful it is to take what's not yours. Since Dad is gone, this malachite pendant should be gone with him too!"

She savored my misery with satisfaction before casually tossing the pendant to the ground. Following a clinking sound, the pendant shattered into tiny pieces.

My heart clenched as I trembled from the pain.

Morrigan merely cast me a disdainful glance before ordering, "Take her away."

I was dragged to the rooftop of a tall building.

The two men in black tossed me onto the concrete like garbage. Holding a hand to my still-bleeding face, I pleaded, "Morrigan, I didn't mean to compete with you for Mom's love. You've misunderstood. I only came back now because my eyes have just healed."

Morrigan smirked and looked me over. I thought for a moment that she believed me. But then she raised her red heel and kicked me hard in the face.

"I've misunderstood? Like I'd believe you. You could've come back earlier or later, but you chose this exact moment when Mom was about to take me back into the family. Isn't it clear that you're back to compete with me for her affection?" Morrigan said with disdain.

I froze in place. I had thought that by coming back now, I was showing my support for Morrigan. Unexpectedly, it had evoked her resentment.

Morrigan further expressed her hate for me. "I hate pretentious people the most. Since you're so good at playing tricks to gain affection, you must be a promiscuous woman. Let's see how many men it takes to satisfy a slut like you."

She clapped her hands, and dozens of men in construction uniforms emerged from the stairwell.

As they approached me, they began unbuckling their worn belts. I tried to run, but the two men in black held me down firmly.

Their sweaty and dirty hands reached for me, tearing off the buttons of my shirt in one swift motion. The lacey bra I had put on that day barely concealed my exposed body.

"Don't touch me! My mom is Eleanor Heinrich. She won't let you get away with this!" I shouted loudly to warn them.

The men hesitated for a moment, but Morrigan bellowed, "You're just an adopted dog. I, on the other hand, am Eleanor's birth daughter. Do you think she'd side with you over me?

"What are you guys afraid of with me backing you? Just do it!"

With her assurance, the men didn't hold back. I was pinned to the edge of the rooftop, my lower body bent at an agonizing angle. The searing pain from the assault and the ache of my broken bones blurred together, making it impossible to tell which hurt more.

One of Morrigan's lackeys hesitated and tried to intervene. "Morrigan, everyone says Eleanor dotes on this adopted daughter like she's her own. Should we really—"

Before she could finish, Morrigan yanked her hair viciously. "Who do you think you are to question me? Remember this—I'm Eleanor's biological daughter. Who would love an adopted daughter over their own flesh and blood?

"So what if I kill this vixen? Once I'm by Mom's side, she'll forget about her in no time."

The lackey quickly nodded in agreement, and Morrigan finally let her go.

Everyone present knew that Eleanor had a volatile temper. Even strong men avoided provoking her when she snapped.

"I can't believe Mom spent money to treat your eyes. You deserve none of this! The money spent on your treatment belongs to the Heinrich family—it's mine. Give it back to me right now!" Morrigan shrieked like a madwoman.

I stared in shock as she picked up a steel bar from the ground. Before I could scream for help, excruciating pain came from where my left eye was.

First, everything turned red. Then, it was followed by total darkness.

"Ah!" I let out a bloodcurdling scream.

In response, Morrigan's excitement grew. She pulled the steel bar out and thrust it into my right eye socket.

I had just undergone a corneal transplant and was still recovering. Yet, she gouged my eye out right then and there mercilessly.

Not even a miracle doctor like the great Asclepius could save my vision now.

I had planned to share the good news of my restored sight with Mom as a birthday gift for her. But now, I feared Mom would lose her mind.

Clutching my ruined eyes in agony, I screeched at Morrigan, "Mom won't forgive you for hurting me!"

Morrigan's voice became icy. "Are you trying to threaten me?"

She stepped on my hand with force, her voice menacing. "Well, you sure can talk. Let's see if you can still run your mouth after I rip out your tongue."

A cold blade was pressed against the root of my tongue as Morrigan hissed, "I'll let you experience the pain of having your tongue torn out. Let's see if you dare to speak carelessly again!"

I shook my head frantically, but the sharp blade cut into my mouth, leaving gashes. Blood trickled from the corners of my lips. The searing pain from having my tongue cut made me want to scream, but I couldn't make a sound.

Morrigan, however, laughed heartily. "Wonderful. Let's see how you can work your charm on Mom after this."

She grabbed my nearly severed tongue and yanked it forcefully. With that, my tongue was completely ripped out.

"Ah!" I screamed soundlessly as the metallic taste of blood filled my throat. Warm and sticky blood streamed down my face.

"Look at her. Isn't she so much prettier like this? Now that she can't say all those disgusting words, she's so much easier on the eyes," Morrigan said while putting a hand over her mouth as she giggled.

She dragged the blade across my face with fluid movements. The pain numbed my entire body. I couldn't see, and I couldn't speak. Only my ears still picked up the disgusting, ragged breaths of the men around me.

It felt like my body was being thrown into a vat of boiling oil. The overwhelming pain caused me to fade into unconsciousness.

In a daze, I heard Morrigan barking orders to the men. "Have fun with her."

I had no sense of how much time passed or how many men had touched me. The endless pain left me numb. But every time I was about to faint, they splashed me with cold water to wake me up.

My body was nothing more than a flesh puppet they manipulated according to their whims.

My soul slowly floated upward, and I saw Morrigan standing at a distance. She watched with satisfaction as she orchestrated this horrific scene.

"As expected of Ms. Morrigan! She's just like Ms. Heinrich back in the day."

"Of course! Ms. Morrigan is Ms. Heinrich's daughter. She's bound to be as fearless as her mother. This cheeky fake deserves a harsh lesson."

"But won't Ms. Heinrich be angry if we kill her?"

Morrigan's expression darkened upon hearing that question. "She's just a fake. Do you really think Mom would get mad at me, her long-lost daughter, over the likes of her?

"Besides, if I don't make an example of her, someone else may try to cozy up to Mom and take my place. What do I do if that happens?"

Her lackeys eagerly agreed with her and praised her cleverness. Their flattery further inflated Morrigan's arrogance.

She instructed with glee, "Chop off her fingers and pack them up with her eyeballs and severed tongue. I'll prepare a special birthday gift for Mom."

And so, my mutilated body parts were assembled into a grotesque bouquet and sent to the venue where the birthday banquet was held.

Mom was dressed in an elegant evening gown. She stood gracefully in the middle of the banquet hall, holding a glass of champagne. Her gentle eyes repeatedly glanced at the clock on the wall as if she were expecting someone.

I knew she was waiting for me.

However, all I could do was float around by her side, unable to meet her.

Morrigan walked toward Mom elegantly.

Mom smiled faintly at her and said, "You're here, Morry."

Morrigan linked her arm with Mom's like a spoiled child and presented the bouquet she held behind her back. "Mom, here's the gift I prepared for you."

Mom didn't hurry to look at the bouquet. Instead, she tapped Morrigan's nose dotingly. "You're so thoughtful, Morry."

Only then did she take the bouquet from Morrigan. Its strange shape made her frown as she remarked, "This bouquet is quite odd."

Mom reached out and touched one of the flowers made from one of my eyeballs. The familiar texture made her immediately realize what it was.