Adeline clung to Brian, crying pitifully, yet her trembling voice was laced with false kindness as she spoke, "Brian, Mum, Dad … please don’t scold Lilian anymore. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have upset her."
"I’m leaving tomorrow. I won’t trouble this family again. I just don’t want her to keep being unhappy because of me … "
Her performance only added fuel to the fire. Brian’s face became even more grim. His rage was nearly uncontrollable.
Brian then shouted toward the doorway and two black-clad bodyguards immediately entered.
"Drag her outside. Hang her upside down from the tree in the yard," he ordered.
He paused before he continued with his tone cutting me like a knife, "Let the sun warm her dark, filthy heart. The Herbert Family does not tolerate women as vile as her."
The bodyguards moved without hesitation, seizing me by the arms.
"Brian! Let me go! You can’t do this to me!"
But no one listened. They dragged me out into the yard. My struggles were meaningless against their strength.
The rough rope bit into my ankles as they tied me up. With a hard yank, they then hoisted me upside down from the tall tree. Blood rushed to my head, making me dizzy and nauseous.