I cast a cold glance at the manager standing nearby. “Hit him! Go all out on him” The manager obediently ordered. Slap after slap resounded, accompanied by cries of pain. I felt a wave of satisfaction, even the pain in my body seemed to lessen.
“Do you even… know… who I am?” Theron was beaten so badly that he could barely speak. Suddenly, a glimmer of light flashed in his dull eyes as the sound of high heels clicking rapidly approached from behind me. The frequency was unnaturally fast, and I saw the light in Theron’s eyes grow brighter.
“Katarina! Someone is bullying your husband, come help me!” He tried to crawl towards her but was restrained by security. Katarina, however, ignored him and knelt down in front of me instead. Yes, Katarina was my biological mother, whom I hadn’t seen in three years.
The moment I saw her, tears streamed down my face. My eyes were filled with blood as I looked at her in despair. “Mom, do you know what kind of the guy you’re marrying is?!” All my grievances erupted like a volcano. “Mom! Don’t marry him!!!” My mother wanted to embrace me but hesitated, afraid of hurting me further. Unsure where to place her hands, she turned and slapped Theron hard across the face.
Slap! The sound was so satisfying that it made me feel better despite my pain. “Scum! What have you done to her?! If anything happens to her, I’ll feed you to the dogs!” I grinned and coughed up blood, feeling as if my insides were shattered.
My mother immediately knelt in front of me again, her eyes filled with worry. “Karolyn, are you okay? Don’t scare Mom.” I was too injured to move and could only look at her with eyes full of grievance and confusion. “Mom, is he the stepfather you found for me?” I wanted to cry out loud but didn’t dare; crying would only make my entire body hurt more. Silent tears rolled down my cheeks.
My mother remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly. “Karolyn, I’m sorry. It was my mistake to trust him.” She promised with a stern look at Theron, “Don’t worry, Mom will make sure justice is served.” Theron covered his face and trembled. “Katarina, why are you here…?” he stammered.
“If I didn’t come, were you planning to beat my daughter to death?!” Theron stared in disbelief. “She’s… your daughter?” He turned sharply to look at my bruised and bloodied face as if trying hard to recognize me. The henchmen gasped in terror.
“Katarina, didn’t you say Karolyn wouldn’t be coming back from overseas?” he tried to explain. Slap! Before he could finish his sentence, another slap landed on his face. “Watch your mouth!” My mother scolded him harshly.
“Karolyn wanted to surprise us; she was picking out a gift for you in the store when you attacked her! Theron, you’re truly heartless! You’ve been hiding your true nature well!” Theron broke down and begged through tears. “Katarina, I didn’t know she was your daughter! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have dared hither!”
He looked around at the wrecked jewelry store and my battered body before turning back to my furious mother. Realizing the consequence of his actions, he knelt before me without hesitation and sobbed. “Karolyn, it’s all my fault. I didn’t recognize you; I’m sorry.”
He pulled the other henchmen down with him and shouted, “Apologize to Karolyn now!” They hesitated but eventually knelt in a row under my mother’s glare and muttered apologies.
I wanted to laugh but knew it would make me cough up blood again. Holding back my laughter, I weakly commanded them: “Each of you, Knowtows to me fifteen times” Theron immediately started banging his head on the floor while the henchmen followed reluctantly under my mother’s watchful eyes.
After fifteen kowtows, Theron’s forehead bled as he lifted his head with difficulty and forced a smile at me. “Karolyn, I’ve kowtowed to youcan you forgive me now?” I smirked and spat blood at him.
“Never! You bastard! ? I’m just teasing you. I’ll never forgive you!”