Chapter 4

Elizabeth asked quietly, "Why?" "Why? Because you don't know your place. Your mother's been dead for years, and you're still clinging to everything that belongs to the Fisher family. "All of it should've been mine. You're the daughter of a mistress—what right do you have to enjoy the luxury and status that should've been mine?" Cheryl scoffed. Elizabeth could tolerate a lot, but not when someone dragged her mother through the mud. She stormed up to Cheryl, her voice shaking with fury, every word forced through gritted teeth. "My mother wasn't a mistress. She married my father without even knowing you or your mom existed. It was you two who drove her to her death." Cheryl hadn't expected Elizabeth to talk back. Her expression twisted in rage as she raised her hand to slap her. Just then, the lounge door burst open. From the corner of her eye, Cheryl spotted Daniel walking in and instantly switched tactics. Thinking fast, she grabbed a handful of mixed nuts from the table and shoved them into her mouth. A second later, she collapsed to the floor, slurring her words dramatically through a mouthful of food. "Elizabeth… why would you make me eat that? You know I'm allergic to nuts…" Daniel rushed to her side without hesitation, shoving Elizabeth aside. She stumbled back, hitting the edge of a nearby coffee table. A porcelain cup shattered on the floor. Shards of glass tore into Elizabeth's palms, leaving her hands bloodied, but Daniel didn't even glance her way. He was already kneeling beside Cheryl, wrapping her in his arms. "Cheryl, are you okay?" Tears welled in Cheryl's eyes as she clung weakly to his arm. "I just wanted to catch up with Lizzy… I don't know what I said wrong. She suddenly forced me to eat those snacks… Look at me, Daniel. Am I breaking out in hives?" Daniel looked down, and sure enough, angry red welts were rapidly blooming across Cheryl's skin. "What do I do? The banquet isn't even over yet; I don't want to embarrass you in front of everyone. Makeup—right, I can cover it with makeup!" Daniel gripped Cheryl's wrist tightly, his expression darkening. "You're breaking out in hives and still worried about crap like that? Enough. I'm taking you to the hospital." He scooped Cheryl into his arms. Just before leaving, he shot Elizabeth a cold, scathing look. Elizabeth forced herself to stand. Pain surged through her body with every movement. Blood poured freely from her hands, soaking her dress in seconds. But she couldn't feel it. It was as if she'd fallen into a bottomless pit, and every ounce of sensation had drained from her body. She called over a waiter and asked for a first aid kit, then silently tended to her wounds, her fingers trembling the entire time. By the time she was done, her body was drained, her mind foggy. She dragged her feet toward the exit, too exhausted to think. As soon as she stepped into the hallway, several figures lunged out of the shadows. Before she could react, they grabbed her and dragged her into a nearby storage room. A rough hand clamped around her jaw, forcing her head up. The next second, a burning liquid was poured straight into her mouth—pepper spray in liquid form, sharp and overwhelming. Elizabeth's eyes flew open in horror. Like Cheryl, she had a severe allergy, specifically to chili peppers. This much concentrated pepper could kill her. "Mmff… stop…" Elizabeth tried to fight back, but they didn't give her a chance. Cup after cup was forced down her throat—one after another. She choked violently, her face flushed deep red as her body convulsed. Her wounded hands clawed weakly at the floor, the scraping sound raw and desperate. The attackers didn't stop. If anything, her suffering only excited them further. "Cheryl is Daniel's everything, and you dared lay a hand on her? Do you even know your place?" "Heard you got bullied a lot at school. You probably got passed around by half the guys there. Do you think someone like Daniel—so proud and picky—would ever want a used-up whore like you?" "Drink up, slut. Consider it your apology to Cheryl, or things are gonna get a lot worse for you." Elizabeth's vision blurred, her mind slipping further and further away. With the last ounce of strength she had left, she whispered a name—barely audible. "Dan…" That was all she managed before cruel laughter exploded around her. "Hah! You're still hoping Daniel's gonna come save you?" "He's the one who told us to do this. You hurt Cheryl; he wants you dead!" "Hey, let's rip her dress off and send him the pictures. Let Daniel blow off some steam, too!" They swarmed her. In seconds, they tore her dress to shreds. Then came the camera flashes, shot after shot of Elizabeth's battered, half-conscious body. Until finally, her strength gave out completely, and everything went black.