The slap came.

Then another.

And another."

Each strike rang out like a gunshot, slicing through the silence.

The sharp smack echoed relentlessly through the room.

Judith didn’t stop until her hands went numb, trembling as she shook them.

My face was swollen, blood trickling from the corners of my lips. The pain stung, but compared to the horrors I endured in my past life, it was nothing.

“I’ve hated you for a long time,” Judith spat with venom. “If it weren’t for my son protecting you, you’d have been out on the streets ages ago.”

“You’re nothing but a dog living under someone else’s roof—and you dare to bark at your master?”

Her eyes burned with scorn as she sneered, “How can you even compare to Marilyn? Her parents run the EastBridge Holdings. And you? A poor orphan with no standing.”

She looked at me with cold pride, clearly satisfied by Marilyn’s prestigious background. She’d been desperate to tear us apart for years, but Brandon had always stood by me.

Thankfully, it seemed he had finally woken up and seen through my facade.

Watching Judith revel in her moment of triumph, I couldn’t help but sneer inside.

After all her praise for the rich and ruthless trampling of the weak—she too could stumble.

And Marilyn? That sweet little flower wasn’t as innocent as she appeared. She hid dark secrets beneath that porcelain smile.

But I wasn’t about to dig up Parrish family dirt. Not again.

The bodyguards released me, and I collapsed to the floor, drained.

Looking up into Judith’s eyes, I smiled softly.

“You’re right. I don’t measure up to Marilyn. So I’m moving out.”

Judith’s brow furrowed in confusion at my meek tone, but she only said, “You know when.”

With that, she gathered her precious daughter and swept away gracefully.

I pulled out my phone and sent a message to someone I hadn’t contacted in ages:

“Can you help me get a certificate?”

The message disappeared into silence. Minutes later, a reply came slowly:

“Meet me at the Provincial Registry Office in thirty minutes. Don’t stand me up.”

Appointment made, I resumed packing.

I didn’t have much—mostly things Brandon had given me, including an album filled with memories from high school to college.

I left the album and everything else behind, taking only a few sets of clothes.

At the garage, I loaded my bags into the trunk, started the engine, and prepared to leave.

That’s when the maid, carrying a white puppy, purposely let it slip from her arms just as I passed.

I slammed on the brakes—but it was too late.

The maid screamed, “Ah! Omar! Omar, no!”

I rushed out, heart pounding, and saw the puppy crushed beneath my tires—dead in a brutal instant.

“My Omar...”

At that moment, Brandon returned, holding the engagement ring, accompanied by Marilyn.

Without waiting for the car to stop, Marilyn jumped out, tears streaming down her face.

“Omar! How could this happen? My Omar...”

Omar was Marilyn’s dog. With her parents abroad, Judith had allowed Marilyn to live at the Parrish family estate.

The servant pointed accusingly at me. “It was her—Miss Robinson. She ran over Omar!”

Marilyn bit her trembling lip, shooting me a venomous look before collapsing into Brandon’s arms, sobbing:

“Brandon, Omar has been with me for seven years. When you were away, it was the only thing that kept me going. More than family... and now Anna has taken him from me. It hurts so much.”

Brandon’s eyes flickered coldly between the lifeless dog and me—so full of fury it could kill.

Then Brandon said to the servant, “Go to Miss Robinson’s room and bring her cat here.”

The servant pointed to my open car window. “Miss Robinson’s cat is already in the car.”

He moved to open the door and grab my cat.

I quickly blocked him. “What are you doing? Kerry was left to me by my father. No one is allowed to touch him!”

Kerry is a ragdoll cat I’ve raised for four years—gentle and obedient.

“Step aside.”

Brandon grabbed my shoulder and shoved me roughly. I stumbled, falling hard onto the rough asphalt. My palm scraped and bled, but I barely noticed the pain. I pushed myself up, desperate to stop him.

He reached in and grabbed Kerry by the scruff of his neck. Kerry, thinking he was being petted, licked his palm affectionately.

But instead, Brandon tightened his grip and yanked him out.

“No, Brandon! Don’t hurt Kerry!”

I dropped to my knees before him, clutching his trouser leg, begging desperately.

“Omar jumped out suddenly—I didn’t mean to hit him. Please, ask me to do anything—even apologize to Marilyn—but please don’t hurt Kerry!”

When I first brought Kerry into the He household, Brandon himself had teased the cat, bought him food, and even built him a climbing frame.

“We’ll protect Anna together, Kerry,” he had said fondly.

But now Kerry was in Brandon’s grasp, completely vulnerable—at his mercy.

Fear twisted my chest as I kept bowing, begging him to spare Kerry’s life.

My forehead struck the hard ground repeatedly, soon stained with blood, but I couldn’t stop. I was terrified that if I stopped, Kerry would die.

A flicker of pity crossed Brandon’s eyes, but Marilyn’s sobs cut through the moment:

“Anna, Kerry’s life matters, but Omar’s doesn’t?”

“I think you’re just jealous of Brandon’s new bride and want revenge!”

“I can’t live without Omar!”

Brandon’s face hardened. “Don’t worry. I will avenge Omar.”

Then, with cruel finality, he raised Kerry and slammed him onto the ground.

“No!” I screamed, lunging forward.

Marilyn grabbed his arm. “Anna, don’t go near him! You’ll get hurt!”

Kerry’s tiny skull hit the pavement. He whimpered, pain and confusion in his eyes.

I dropped to my knees, cradling the trembling cat as tears spilled uncontrollably.

“Kerry... Kerry...”

Kerry stretched out his pink tongue, licking me one last time.

Brandon snatched him away again and threw him down once more.

This time, Kerry didn’t move.

A scream tore from my throat.

I pushed Brandon away, the world spinning around me.

My Kerry...

I sank to the ground, clutching his lifeless, cold body. My eyes were raw and swollen, tears falling like heavy rain.

Then my phone rang.

“I’m here. Where are you?”