Chapter 42
Everyone stared at her, completely confused.
Weren’t they supposed to be looking for security footage? Why was she glued to her phone? Was she just trying to buy herself some time?
Right as Olivia opened her mouth to say something, a video suddenly popped up on the giant TV screen. It was the same footage she’d deleted that morning, the one she thought was gone for good.
On the screen, Charlotte walked ahead, Olivia trailing after her, grabbing for her backpack in a clumsy sneak attack. She tried again, but Charlotte finally turned around and slapped her.
Then there was Susan, storming in and yelling at Charlotte without even asking what happened. She acted like just because she was a servant, she could scold Charlotte however she wanted. Charlotte putting her in her place made perfect
sense.
When the video ended, Olivia and Elizabeth just stood there, looking stunned and pale, completely at a loss for words.
How was this possible? That footage was supposed to be gone.
Charlotte got up, nice and slow, and walked over to Steven. Her smile was cold and calm. “So, those ten hits with the cane… Are you going to do it, or should I?”
Steven’s face tightened. He looked at Olivia, who already had tears in her eyes, and his heart softened.
“Dad, I didn’t mean to Olivia’s voice trembled.
“Olivia already said it was an accident, and you weren’t even hurt. For my sake, can’t you just let it go this time?” Steven pleaded.
So when Olivia made a mistake, it got brushed off. But when Charlotte did, she had to pay the price. Why did Olivia and Elizabeth always get away with everything?
Charlotte smiled, cool and unbothered. “So, you can’t do it?”
She ignored Steven, took the cane for herself, and glanced at the maids. Every one of them lowered their head, pretending not to exist.
“No one else? Then I’ll do it myself.”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow, slapped the cane against her palm, and started walking toward Olivia.
Olivia’s eyes went wide with fear. She kept backing up. “Mom, Dad, help me
Steven couldn’t stand to see Olivia scared or hurt. He jumped in front of her, his voice low and urgent. “Charlotte, she knows she was wrong. Please, just let it go.”
“Olivia’s got the piano competition coming up,” Elizabeth said, pulling Olivia behind her, desperate to get her out of there. If she’s hurt, ruin her performance. I’ll apologize for her, can’t that be enough?”.net Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. A faint, icy smile curled on her lips. She flicked her wrist. The cane whipped through the air and wrapped around Olivia’s art. With a sharp pull, she dragged Olivia right back.
The first strike landed, hard.
A scream echoed through the whole house.
Charlotte could still remember the time before her own piano
in
competition, when she was the one beaten black and blue for a tiny mistake. She’d missed her chance to compete. Olivia had taken her
original song and won first place
with it.
Charlotte’s eyes went cold as she raised the cane again.
Two more hits landed on Olivia’s legs, burning with pain.
After that, Charlotte didn’t hold back. The cane came down again and again, fast and merciless, until all ten strikes were done.
By the time Steven and Elizabeth realized what was happening, it was already over.
Olivia collapsed on the floor, curled into a ball, shaking and glaring up at Charlotte with pure hatred in her eyes.
Charlotte tossed the cane aside and leaned down, her voice soft but dangerous. “I spent a long time in the countryside. I don’t know much about etiquette, but I do know how to pay people back.”
“Next time you ‘accidentally’ run into me, I won’t be so gentle. Would be a shame if something happened to those pretty eyes of yours.”
Olivia’s heart squeezed tight. She couldn’t help but remember that year, when Charlotte shoved a knife straight through her uncle’s chest. That same cold terror crept up her spine all over again.