“Ahhh!” Verona screamed, collapsing hard to the floor like she’d been hit with a strong force.

Jericho’s face changed drastically. He hurriedly went to lift her carefully.

“Please don’t blame Venice, Jericho. It was all my fault…” she whimpered.

That liar even covered a wound on her hand. It was no bigger than a fingernail! The next second, just like the manipulative woman that she was, she started sobbing.

When Jericho saw that so-called injury, his face darkened like a storm cloud.

The way he looked at me was cold.

“Venice,” he said coldly, “it seems I’ve been far too kind to you. You really need to be taught a lesson now.”

With that, he waved his hand, signaling his men.

In my breaking line of sight, the rope that bound my mom dropped rapidly… until a loud, sickening thud echoed through the air.

My vision blurred with tears as I broke free from the guards’ grasp and rushed to the window.

Down below, at the hospital entrance, a pool of red spread across the concrete.

And my mom—the woman who loved me most in this world—lay there, motionless, her fate unknown.

3

Venice’s POV

My strength gave out completely, and soon, I collapsed to the floor.

“Jericho!”