“Break her hand. Make sure she remembers this lesson and never dares to touch Paige again.”
The bodyguards forced me to the ground as the iron rods came down on my arms again and again. The sound of bones cracking filled the air, and the burning pain made my vision blur.
In that haze, it felt like I was back on that night when Max had taken the beating for me. My mind drifted as I softly hummed the lullaby I had made up long ago.
Back then, he had been beaten until he lost consciousness, and I had been terrified, terrified that he wouldn’t wake up, and that there was nothing I could do to help him.
I could only stay by his side, softly singing to him, hoping it might ease even a little of his pain.
Max froze for a moment, his expression unreadable. “This tune… it sounds kind of familiar…”
He took a small step closer, trying to listen, but Paige clung to his arm.
“Max, my arm hurts so much.”
Max’s face turned cold again. He took off his coat and gently draped it over her shoulders.
“Lila, this is the last time.”
When the final rod came down, I thought, Max, I don’t owe you anything anymore.