Chapter 4
Right then–Matthew and Jax appeared out of nowhere, each holding a plastic bag of shriveled, yellowing apples.
They spotted Sofia running out of the room in tears and didn’t even manage to catch the edge of her dress.
Jax turned on me immediately, his tone full of fire.
“What the hell did Sofia do wrong? You two just can’t stop tormenting her, will you?”
“Matthew and I came here out of the kindness of our hearts to check on Shirley, and what do we walk into? More abuse.”
Matthew stepped up and threw the apples to the floor, his jaw clenched.
“Ms. Voss, if you’re really going to take Shirley’s side no matter what–if you’re going to keep bullying Sofia–then I’m done
pretending to be polite.”
“When the Voss family finally realizes it needs a man to take charge, don’t say I didn’t give you the chance.‘
I stared at the two overgrown brats in front of me- so full of themselves they thought they were the ones running this family.
I slapped both of them–hard.
Twice.
“You think you two have the right to speak to me like that?”
They clutched their faces, stunned, and then the fury kicked in.
Matthew knocked over Shirley’s soup thermos.
Jax lunged toward the hospital bed, grabbed Shirley by the arm, and tried to drag her off the mattress.
“What are you faking now? You’re not sick.”
“Get up. You’re coming with me to apologize to Sofia—and you can’t leave until she forgives you.”
As he yanked her, the IV line ripped out of her hand. Blood started flowing.
! screamed.
“Security! Get these two idiots out of here, now!”
“If my daughter gets hurt again, I swear to God I’ll bury both of you!”
Panicked, Matthew rushed forward and slapped a hand over my mouth to shut me up.
“Julian! What are you doing just standing there? Help us!”
“If she calls the guards, we’re screwed!”
The room descended into chaos.
Julian finally snapped to attention after hearing Matthew.
When he saw me pinned down and unable to move, he stormed over and slapped me across the face–hard.
The force of it made my cheek burn and swell almost instantly.
“You froze my cards? Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Just a woman,” he spat, seething. “Always out playing boss, pretending you’re making deals. Who knows how many men you’ve been screwing to climb your way up–just like your whore of a mother.”
Maybe in that twisted little mind of his, he’d convinced himself I’d cheated on him countless times.
Chapter 4
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Blinded by rage, he swung again, slapping the other side of my face even harder.
“You and your damn daughter–useless! You’ve had me laughed at for years! If you knew what was good for you, you’d hand over the Voss family now!”
“This is a man’s world. And you? You’re just a loud, washed–up bitch who doesn’t know her place.”
Across the room, Jax shoved Shirley flat on the bed, pinning her down by force.
She looked up and saw me restrained–my face bruised and bleeding.
“Get off my mom!” she screamed, her voice cracking.
“Let her go! Let go of my mom!”
Shirley thrashed, trying to break free.
When she nearly succeeded, Jax snapped.
He yanked one hand free–and wrapped it tightly around her throat.
“You two bitches. If anything happens to Sofia, you’re both dead.”
Already weak, Shirley gasped for air–then passed out cold.
My face was burning, my body giving out. I couldn’t speak anymore, couldn’t lift my arms.
Matthew, sensing I was no longer a threat, finally let me go.
I collapsed onto the floor, breathless.
But when he turned toward my unconscious daughter, I forced myself upright and held up my phone, hand shaking but steady enough
to show the open call screen.
“You’d better let go of my daughter–my private security team’s on their way. And trust me, you don’t want to be here when they
arrive.”
As if on cue, the sound of engines roared outside. From the window, I saw convoys of black–suited, well–trained operatives pouring out
of SUVs, headed straight for the hospital room.
I spat out a mouthful of blood, looked at the three of them turning pàle with fear, and allowed myself a crooked smile.
“Now say those words back to me. You only have one chance. Don’t waste it.”
Chapter 4
