Chapter 81 Punishing Ophelia
Ophelia knew Darian was really angry this time.
Her legs went weak with fear, and ignoring her own injuries, she fell to her knees with a thud. "Darian, I realize my mistake. Rowan doesn't like me, and sometimes he’s stubborn with me. In my impatience, I accidentally hurt him.
"But I never meant to do it. You know that. Seeing Rowan, I remembered my unborn child. Sometimes when he misbehaves, I'd only give him a minor punishment as a warning, never intending to really harm him.
"What I spoke of, those punishments, were ordered by Aunt Sandra. Her methods are quite strict, and sometimes Rowan can indeed be disobedient. But we did it for Rowan’s own good."
Ophelia wept profusely, purposely bringing up her miscarriage to remind Darian that she was once on the verge of motherhood herself, alluding that it was due to the callous nature of Rowan’s mother that she had lost her child.
She then dragged Sandra into the mix, shifting some of the blame onto her.
Her story was a mix of truth and lies.
The kneeling and standing punishments were indeed Sandra’s doings, and Ophelia herself wouldn’t dare to be so brazen.
Clutching her chest, she sobbed uncontrollably. "Darian, honestly, I admit I don't care for Rowan that much. His mother caused the loss of my child. How can I be expected to have no hard feelings toward the child of the person who killed my own?
"I'm human, too. I have feelings. Put yourself in my shoes, Darian. If my child had been born safely, he would be the same age as Rowan right now."
Ophelia gasped for breath between sobs. "I know it's been five years, and I shouldn't keep bringing it up, but the pain of that event is still so great for me. Just thinking about it takes my breath away.
"I know you can't abandon Rowan, and I've been trying to get along with him, for your sake.
"Darian, I was too hasty before. It won't happen again. You believe me, don't you?" Ophelia pleaded with an aura of heartfelt sincerity that evoked sympathy from those around her.
She watched Darian's face closely for any sign of emotion, but although his expression shifted slightly, he remained largely impassive.
Ophelia clenched her fists, wiped away her tears, and said, "If you think my presence endangers Rowan, then fine—I'll leave. I won't appear in your life again."
With that, she rose laboriously, her injured leg protesting the forceful movements she had made, causing the wound to reopen. Blood seeped through the bandage, staining her new dress.
The pain made Ophelia stagger, but she steadied herself with the couch, her face set in determination to leave.
Her silent, restrained departure was designed to evoke guilt in Darian.
Inwardly, she counted down...
Three.
Two.
One.
"Wait," Darian suddenly called out.
Just as she had expected. With her back to Darian, Ophelia allowed herself a triumphant smile.
By invoking the story of the death of her unborn child, she tapped into Darian's deepest guilt. She was certain that her words had affected him deeply.
Turning back to face Darian, Ophelia's tearful, pale face met his gaze.
Griffin sat on the couch, swinging his little legs, watching Darian closely. He wondered if this was the extent of his father's anger and if the wicked woman was going to be let off so easily.
If that was the case, he would ignore his father forever. Griffin crossed his arms, huffing as he angled his head and shot a glare at Darian.
"My score with you isn't settled. Where do you think you're going?" Darian's chilly voice rang out again, and Ophelia stood frozen, as if rooted to the spot, her eyes wide and unresponsive for a long time.
"So... what... what else do you want?" Ophelia's voice trembled.
Knowing Darian's methods, she was, of course, frightened.
Darian's face was expressionless as he said, "The loss of your child and this incident are two different matters. You shouldn't take out your anger on a child. He didn't do anything wrong."
Ophelia looked at Darian with a sense of injustice. Darian had made up his mind to seek justice for this child that was born out of wedlock.
Ophelia clenched her teeth, her heart hardened, and said, "Fine, I did something wrong and I admit that I deserve punishment. Is twenty stroked of lashes enough?"
Ophelia bit her lower lip hard, raising her hand to wipe away the tears on her face, her expression filled with steely resolve.
She thought that although Darian didn't love her, he still cared for her. He wouldn't really hit her. She said that just to show Darian that she was repentant.
As Ophelia thought this, in the next moment, Darian gave a subtle nod, and a bodyguard immediately came forward with a whip.
Ophelia panicked, wondering if Darian was really going to punish her.
For this illegitimate child, he was really going to punish her.
Ophelia bit her lip, her eyes fixed on Darian. Tentatively, she reached out her hands, and in the next moment, the bodyguard showed no mercy as the whip cracked across her palms.
"Ah!" Ophelia screamed in pain, her body shaking violently as a dense wave of agony spread, making her feel as though her hands were no longer her own.
Darian's brows twitched, but he showed no sign of stopping the punishment.
Ophelia failed to notice any flicker of emotion in Darian's eyes. Her heart continued to tremble as she spread her hands, and another sharp stroke of the whip landed upon them.
Ophelia didn't scream, biting her lip hard, feigning strength as she held back a whimper that sounded like suppressed agony.
She was betting on when Darian's heart would soften.
She forcefully closed her eyes, unable to believe that five years ago, she had convinced Darian to personally administer an abortion pill to Cecily.
However, five years later, Darian was punishing her personally for the sake of Cecily's child.
She finally figured that Darian had always been a cold-hearted man.
Anyone who crossed his bottom line would face his ruthless retribution.
By the tenth whipping, Ophelia's face was ghostly white, her face beaded with sweat as if she had just been pulled out of the water.
Darian's brow twitched as he stood up, and the bodyguard's whipping came to a halt.
Ophelia struggled to raise her head and look at Darian. He gave her a cold glare and his chilly voice broke the silence, "Let this be the end of it. If I find out anyone is bullying Rowan behind my back, they'll end up like this."
All the bodyguards and servants trembled, never daring to lay a finger on Rowan ever again.
Ophelia collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
She had won her bet. Darian still had a soft spot for her.
"Darian, have you... forgiven me?" she asked weakly.
Darian looked down at her coldly and instructed, "Get someone to bandage her up."
With those words, he walked away.
Ophelia sat up with difficulty, her gaze falling on Griffin, filled with seething hatred as if she wanted to tear him limb from limb.
Griffin blinked his eyes at her, flashed a grin, jumped off the couch, and followed Darian out.
Ophelia stared at her trembling hands as she thought to herself, 'Just wait, Cecily, Rowan, your arrogance won't last much longer.'
If she didn't bring them down, her name wasn't worth a damn.
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