Chapter 84 Teaching a Jerk a Lesson, Extremely Satisfying
Emily's ferocious, twisted, and embarrassing appearance was now laid bare before the entire family.
No one had expected that this seemingly fragile, obedient, and kind girl would reveal herself to be so disgustingly repulsive. Even as she lay on the ground, fragile and helpless, there wasn't an ounce of sympathy in their eyes. The thought of being deceived by her for so many years ignited a quiet fury within them.
Caspian, in particular, was seething with anger. To him, it was one thing for Emily not to be kind, but to harbor such filthy thoughts was intolerable. Throughout his life, Caspian had partaken in the necessary machinations of the business world but had always adhered to the family's major principles. Never had he stooped to malicious deeds. Now, to find that his own daughter held such malevolent tendencies was a bitter pill to swallow.
"Bring the whip!" he thundered at the nearest servant.
The whip was a dreaded instrument reserved only for the gravest of offenses. In all these years, only Alaric had ever been subjected to it. The memory of Alaric's body, beaten to a pulp and he was bedridden for a week, was still vivid in Emily's mind. She had even recorded it in her diary, wishing she could kill Caspian for inflicting such torment.
Now, the whip was to be used on her.
Emily's blood ran cold at Caspian's command. Though she had undergone countless surgeries as a child, all were under anesthesia, and any subsequent pain was quickly alleviated. The thought of enduring Caspian's brutal punishment was untenable.
Terrified, she scrabbled up from the floor and clung to Arabella's clothes. "Mom, please, I can't bear Dad's whipping. I can't."
Arabella was torn between distress and fury. While her heart ached for her daughter's suffering, the revelations of Emily's vile thoughts and malicious character left her cold. Part of her wished she could erase these dark truths with any means necessary."Mom, I was wrong. I know I was wrong. I promise I'll never harm anyone again. I'll even stop my feelings for Alaric. Mom, please, my body can't take it; Dad will kill me. Mom, save me..." Emily's desperate plea continued, her tears flowing freely.
Despite Emily's pitiful state, Arabella remained unmoved. Her eyes were filled with cold detachment as she stared down at her daughter, saying nothing.
"Mom, you don't want me to die, do you? You’ve worked so hard to raise me all these years. Every time I got sick and was rushed to the hospital, you were in so much pain. You can’t just stand by and watch Dad beat me to death, can you? Mom...""Stop pleading!" Arabella shoved Emily away, her face etched with a combination of anger and sorrow.
Emily looked at her mother in disbelief. How could the woman who had always shown her unconditional love now treat her so harshly?"Every time you fell ill, I felt responsible. Every time you went into the operating room, I blamed myself for not giving you a healthy body. I wish I could trade places with you. But now, I'd rather see you punished than let my pity and indulgence turn you into this detestable person."
Emily couldn’t fathom the words coming from her most beloved mother. The devastation rippled through her heart.
"No!" she screamed, shaking her head. It felt as if the entire world had turned against her. "I became like this because of you! Isn’t it your fault for not giving me a healthy body? I've been confined at home, cut off from the world. I can't run, can't make friends, can't fall in love. I can't do anything and constantly endure this physical torment. Isn’t all of this because of you? Shouldn't I hate you? Shouldn't I hate all of you? Why can you be healthy while I can't? Why can you do so many things while I have to suppress my every feeling?"
Emily’s screams echoed through the room, rendering everyone speechless. Her face twisted with rage and bitterness.
"Yes, I like Alaric. I like him!" she continued, her voice rising with a desperate righteousness. "But is it my fault that I like him? No, it's your fault! I've lived in isolation, meeting so few people. The only ones I could like were those around me. If not Christopher, then Jasper. If not Jasper, then Alaric. What other choice did I have?!"
"Emily!" Caspian bellowed, his voice thunderous, making the walls seem to shudder.
"You should be grateful that I like Alaric and not Christopher or Jasper. After all, Alaric isn’t even your—"Caspian's hand shot out, slapping Emily so hard across the face that the sound reverberated through the room. She stood stunned, her cheek stinging and ears ringing.
Since childhood, Caspian had never laid a hand on her, never even raised his voice. Yet now, he had struck her, a slap so fierce that it felt like it had shattered her very soul.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, but any semblance of pity was gone from people's eyes.
"Give me the whip!" Caspian's face was contorted with fury.
The servant, trembling with fear, had already fetched the whip but had been too afraid to hand it over. Finally, she approached him hesitantly.
"I must teach you a lesson!" Caspian declared, his voice brooking no dissent.Emily's fear was palpable as he approached, the whip in his hand. She knew with a dreadful certainty that he intended to use it on her. With each step he took, she retreated, her terror growing with every heartbeat.
The thick whip lashed out—and then came a visceral cry of pain."Caspian!" Cecilia sprang forward, placing her body between Emily and the whipping. The lash meant for Emily landed with brutal force on Cecilia’s back instead.
Caspian froze, his hand shaking. Alaric, watching nearby, clenched his fists tightly, his face a mask of conflicted emotions.
Cecilia looked up, meeting Caspian’s eyes. "I told you about Emily not to have you punish her like this. I wanted you to understand her and help her," she admonished, her voice strong despite the pain.
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