Chapter 3

The vase shattered across the floor, and a thin trickle of blood ran down Evelyn's forehead. Anne's mother, Victoria Larkin, glared at her with a face twisted in rage. "You little bitch, did you do something to me during the surgery? Why does my chest hurt so much?" Evelyn clenched her fists and stared coldly at Victoria. She had spent 12 hours in surgery saving her life, paying the price of losing Layla, only to be met with accusations the moment she woke. "Postoperative pain is normal. The fact that you can still shout means you're likely going to be fine," Evelyn said coldly. She stepped forward, ready to leave, but Anne stood in her way. "Ms. Shaw, if you don't check on my mom, how are you going to answer Howard?" Evelyn didn't want to cause trouble before the divorce, so she forced herself to control her anger and walk toward the bedside. Just as she lifted her stethoscope, Victoria suddenly raised her hand and slapped her across the face. "Are you even licensed to do the job, or are you just going to poke me with that stethoscope?" Fury burned in Evelyn's eyes as she pressed a hand to her sore cheek and looked at Victoria. "Mrs. Prescott, if you don't trust me, you can ask for another doctor. You've hit me enough already, and it has already caused me harm." Before she could finish, a sharp smack rang out. Victoria hit her again. "So what if I hit you? Are you going to sue me? Did you already forget how Layla died? Maybe next time, you'll be the one all over the broadcast," Victoria said, giving her a challenging look. "Well, it's no surprise. You're nothing good yourself. Your mom was a scammer, so getting hit by a car was just karma. Layla was a whore who sold herself for money. I bet you're just as worthless." The insults against her mother and Layla, spoken by the very woman who had caused their deaths, sent Evelyn into a blind rage. She lunged forward and grabbed Victoria by the throat. "You're the one who killed them! What right do you have to humiliate them? I saved your life, and I can just as easily send you to hell!" As the words left her mouth, a sudden force slammed her backward. Her body collided with the bedside table, and sharp, searing pain shot through every fiber of her being. Howard stood in front of the bed, shielding Anne and Victoria behind him. He looked at her with disgust and said, "Evelyn, I thought what happened with Layla would have changed you. I never expected you to go so far as to attack a patient. You've truly disappointed me." Anne buried her face in Howard's chest, sobbing. "Howard, I don't know why Ms. Shaw suddenly lost control, but my mom just went through major surgery. Her body can't handle this!" Howard looked at Anne, whose eyes glistened with tears, and immediately pulled her into a tight embrace. His gaze then turned cold as he looked at Evelyn and commanded, "Evelyn, apologize!" Evelyn gripped her fists, struggling to keep her own tears from falling. She stared stubbornly at Howard. "Why should I apologize? Why would I apologize to the people who killed my family?" Howard's expression darkened, and he lifted a hand toward the bodyguards standing behind him. "Since Mrs. Blackwood refuses to apologize, take her to the vault. She will kneel there until she admits her mistake, and only then will she be released." At the mention of the vault, Evelyn's eyes instantly widened in fear. The vault was a restricted area within the Blackwood residence, guarded by two massive mastiffs that Howard kept chained inside. The mastiffs were terrifying. Every year, people were mauled by their bites. Evelyn froze, staring at Howard in disbelief. "Howard, you can't send me to the vault!" Howard didn't even glance her way. Evelyn was almost dragged into the vault against her will. The moment she stepped inside, the two mastiffs, like starving demons, locked their glowing green eyes onto her. She tried to run, but the bodyguards slammed the vault doors shut. "Howard, you can't do this! I can't stay here! I'll die!" The wound on her forehead hadn't been treated yet, and the scent of blood still lingered. The instant the dogs caught the scent, they lunged. One clamped down hard on her right hand, while the other pinned her to the floor. Each mastiff weighed over two hundred pounds, and their combined weight nearly crushed her lungs. Through the pain, Evelyn fumbled for her phone and dialed Howard. The call rang endlessly before he answered. "Howard! Help me! The dogs have gone insane!" Howard hesitated. Before he could speak, Anne's voice came sharply through the line. "Howard, I remember how obedient those dogs were when I gave them to you. How could they possibly attack anyone?" At Anne's words, Howard coldly said, "Eve, don't try any tricks. You'll be released when I'm certain you've learned your lesson." Evelyn felt her heart drop into a pit of ice. In his eyes, even her cries for help were just schemes. Then, there was a sickening snap. Evelyn's wrist, clamped in the dog's jaws, felt like it had shattered. Agonizing pain ripped through her body, nearly blacking out her senses. She couldn't even scream. Blood poured freely as her vision blurred. Just before darkness claimed her, she saw Howard burst into the vault like a man possessed, sweeping her into his arms and holding her tight against his chest. "Eve, I'm sorry!"