Chapter 53

The sharp crack of the whip echoed relentlessly throughout the courtyard. The sound alone would make anyone wince. Jenna kept glancing in that direction, her brows creased with concern. Hugh had always liked her. Even before Curtis was found, Hugh had thought highly of Jenna. Unfortunately, Curtis came back with Marceline, and the latter caught Beatrice's eye. The whipping finally stopped. Jenna immediately rose from her seat and rushed out into the courtyard, where she found Curtis with his shirt in shreds and soaked in blood. It was a gruesome sight, as a few pieces of fabric were clinging to his open wounds. She tried to help him up, but he evaded her. Curtis rose to his feet on his own, pale-faced, and walked into the living room. Taking in his demeanor, Hugh could tell Curtis didn't take this punishment to heart. Both of his grandsons were exceptional in their own right. However, Curtis, who had been separated from them since he was a child, was different from the rest of the