Chapter 241

She dropped straight to her knees, begging Martha, "Mom, I was wrong! Please, please don’t hit me. I swear I’ve learned my lesson. Whatever you all decide, I’ll go with it—no more objections! Wuuwuu..." The butler came out carrying Martha’s infamous punishment ruler, a tool she'd used for decades to discipline people. Grace Collins crumpled to the floor, her face completely drained of color. "If you can't raise your kids right, then I'll do it for you! Butler, start with a slap!" With that, the butler swung the ruler—crack!—a sharp slap landed on Grace's cheek. "Ah!" Grace let out a wail as the side of her face instantly swelled. Crack! Crack! Crack! The sharp, punishing sounds kept coming, her face swelling horribly with crimson marks and blood pooling at the corners of her lips. "Mom, please stop! I'm begging you, no more!" Grace sobbed, crumpling into herself. "Grandma, don't hit Mom, please! It's my fault—punish me instead!" Anna tried to shield her. But of course, Martha wouldn’t