I could never forget Darcy's eyes—that loyal, aching gaze that broke me more than any knife ever could. Nor could I forget the rage carved into my very bones, a fury that burned anew every time I looked at Noreen.

All I had left for her was hatred—not yet extinguished, but smoldering, waiting to ignite.

"Noreen," I said, each word bitten out, "you're nothing more than a dog Maxwell keeps on a leash. If Mr. Edward could see you now, he'd claw his way out of his coffin to drag you down with him."

"The Carter family is finished—and it's all on you."

Her hand shot out, fingers crushing my throat. Air vanished from my lungs, oxygen draining as her bloodshot eyes locked onto mine.

"Colin," she hissed, voice twisted with madness, "don't think for a second I won't kill you!"

She hurled me to the ground. Champagne glass shards dug into my skin, slicing me open in a hundred places. Agony shot through me, but before I could catch my breath, her hand fisted in my hair and yanked my head back.

"If I say kneel, you kneel. If I say die, you die!"

Her lips curled into a smile, cruel and taunting.

"But tonight... I don't feel like letting you die just yet."

She patted my cheek as though I were some pet.

"After all, how could I let such a fine plaything go to waste, hm?"

Her face blurred before me, so close I could smell her perfume. And in my mind, I heard Maxwell's mocking voice, echoing from that video he once sent me, dripping with pride.

"I only told Noreen that Darcy looked scary. She skinned him alive for me."

"Tell me, if I told her you were scary too, would she peel your skin off as well?"

"Hilarious, isn't it?"

"You may have been the Carter family's son-in-law by name, but in truth—you weren't even worth as much as a servant."

Now, staring into Noreen's gloating expression, bile and blood surged in my throat. As she raised her hand to slap me again, I spat a mouthful of blood straight into her face.

For one instant, shock flashed across her features—revulsion twisting her perfect mask. I laughed.

"That's right, Noreen."

I mirrored her tone, my lips curling. "How could you die so quickly? A game this fun... deserves to be played to the very end."

I hadn't come back to be spared.

I'd come back to destroy the Carter family—piece by piece.

For Darcy, whose death was so cruel it still tore at me, I would make every last one of them pay.

Seeing I would not break, Noreen abruptly let go of my hair and wiped the blood from her face. Her eyes gleamed darkly.

"You're right." Her voice was soft, yet chilling. "Some things shouldn't be rushed. They need... slow torture."

She straightened her back, eyes narrowing. "Since you've returned... then let's play properly."

Without another glance at me, she barked an order at the security guards.

"Watch him. Don't let him run."

Then, as though flipping a switch, her expression melted into tenderness when she turned to Maxwell.

"Does it hurt?" She gently brushed the tears from his face.

"I'll take you to a private room."

Maxwell leaned into her with red-rimmed eyes. "As long as I have you, nothing can hurt me."

His voice cracked, choked with tears. "With you... I'm not afraid of anything."

As they left, I sat slumped on the floor, wounds stinging, my body screaming with pain. Around me, the vultures circled—Noreen's sycophants spitting their venom.

"Who even is this nobody? Daring to hurt Miss Noreen—she spared his life tonight, and he should be grateful!"

"Exactly! I heard he's just some orphan Mr. Edward picked up off the streets. The old man raised him out of pity, and how does he repay it? By bullying Maxwell! No wonder he was thrown out."

"Speaking of—" one of them laughed, pulling up a video on his phone. "I still have that dog video saved. You remember it, don't you? The night Maxwell taught him a lesson."

The man opened his photo album and pulled up the torture video.

The others crowded around, jeering.

"Show me!"

"I want to see too!"

The sound of Darcy's dying screams filled the air.

Something inside me snapped.

I snatched a jagged shard of glass from the floor, grabbed the man by his hair, and drove the shard straight into his eye.

His shriek tore through the room, but to me it was nothing more than background noise—like the finishing stroke of a painting. I turned my head toward the crowd. The ones who just moments ago were pointing and laughing fell silent, their faces went deathly pale.

No one dares provoke a madman.

Especially a madman willing to take the Carter family's precious little princess down with him. Even the guards hesitated, unwilling to make the first move.

I spat a mouthful of blood at their feet, sneering one word before turning on my heel toward Noreen.

"Trash."

Inside the private suite, Noreen had brought Maxwell to a bed and summoned her personal doctor.

The doctor leaned in to examine Maxwell's wound, but Maxwell waved him away.

"Don't look at me—check on Noreen first."

His voice cracked with self-pity. "I can't believe it... Colin is even crazier than before. I should've never shown mercy back then. If he's here today, it must be because he still can't let you go."

He wiped his tears, clinging to her.

"Back then, he loved you so much the whole city knew. And just because you were kind to me, he humiliated me in public—he even slapped me across the face."

His eyes watered again.

"Noreen, don't let him ruin us. Please."

Noreen sat at the bedside, her hand gently covering his, her voice calm and soothing.

"I won't. Don't worry."

Then, with a laugh as soft as glass breaking, she added, "To me, Colin has never been anything but a toy. When I was little and bored, I'd lock him in the dark room, throw in snakes and rats, and laugh at his cries."

Her eyes sharpened.

"Later, I found him feeding stray dogs every day. I poisoned a few, and he actually dared to raise a knife against me—over animals!"

Her teeth ground together.

"That mutt deserved to die."

I had reached the doorway by then, and her words struck me like a blade.

My memory flashed with the image—Noreen chaining me for three days straight, breaking my body, her hands always closing around my throat as she hissed, "If playing with you isn't enough... then I'll bear your child. Let's see if you can keep that defiance once I'm carrying your blood."

Her eyes had been fevered, obsessed. That memory was carved into me.

It was Darcy who found the old master and saved me. Darcy accompanied me to the hospital—who sat with me as I chose sterilization, severing any chance of fatherhood. Because I would rather die than let Noreen give birth to my child.

It was from that day that her hatred of Darcy curdled into a death sentence.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed.

The name flashing on the screen softened my face instantly.

"You went to the banquet for Dad?" The voice on the other end was gentle and warm.

"I heard your ex-wife is there too. Why didn't you wait for me?"

I couldn't hold back my frustration and complained, "I'm about to get killed here! If you don't save me soon, I won't last!"

I hung up, pulse hammering.

From inside, Maxwell's voice trembled.

"And what if Colin still wants to be with you?"

Before Noreen could answer, I kicked the door open.

Maxwell's face twisted in shock. Noreen instantly shielded him, glaring at me.

"Colin! You've really got no shame—chasing us here!"

She smiled coldly, unhurried, almost mocking.

"What is it? Do you want to crawl back into the Carter family? Do you even know who you are—"

My blade cut off her words.

I surged forward, and drove the knife deep into her abdomen.

Her eyes widened.

I leaned in, lips curling into a smile as cold as death itself.

"Noreen."

"Go to hell!"