Chapter 131 The Deepest Wound
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“You little brat! At least you know your place!” Ruth growled through gritted teeth. “So why do you keep talking back to me?”
As she shouted, she shoved Maia’s head hard against the wall.
Thud!
That loud crash was the final straw for Caroline. She stepped forward and seized Ruth by the throat, shoving her back forcefully.
Ruth, caught completely off guard, stumbled against the wall. Caroline’s grip tightened around her neck, cutting off her words. All Ruth could do was open her mouth in a silent gasp, flailing helplessly.
Caroline pinned her against the wall, clenched her hand tightly around her throat, and said, “You don’t deserve to be a mother. You’re cruel to your own child–God knows what you’re like to everyone else. Maybe I should just put an end to it and save others from your poison.”
With those words, Caroline tightened her grip, this time with real force.
Ruth, who had just moments ago been so fierce with Maia, was utterly powerless now. In front of Caroline, she was nothing but a frail, flailing weakling. No matter how hard she struggled, it was useless.
Her face began to flush a dark, angry red. She was suffocating–she could feel it. Death was close.
She couldn’t speak, but her lips mouthed over and over, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!”
Caroline narrowed her eyes slightly, then loosened her grip just enough for her to breathe. “Will you ever hit her again?”
Ruth coughed violently, the fear in her eyes unmistakable. She shook her head frantically. “No–I swear, I won’t! Never again!”
She looked so small, so delicate. Who would’ve thought she had that kind of strength? Just a moment more, and Ruth was certain she would’ve been strangled to death.
“I’ll let you off this time,” she slowly released her and warned, “But if I ever catch you picking on the weak again, if I so much as hear you laid a hand on someone–I’ll finish what I started. And next time, I won’t hold back.”
She knew Ruth wasn’t really remorseful. That woman was probably already imagining a hundred ways to
get revenge.
People like her never change.
Still, Caroline hoped her warning would keep Ruth at bay, at least for a while.
Noticing the blood still trickling from Maia’s forehead, Caroline gently took her hand. “Come on, let’s get you to the ER.”
Maia nodded and had just taken a step when Ruth’s voice cut through the hallway again.
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David and
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Chapter 131 The Deepest Wound
Caroline turned and shot her a cold, piercing glare. Ruth shut up instantly.
But her silence didn’t extend to her eyes.
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They burned with hatred as they locked on Maia, as if to say, try walking out that door and see what happens.
Maia bit her lip, forcing a shaky smile toward Caroline. “Thanks, but I’ll be okay. It’s not that bad.”
She noticed Maia’s sudden change and instinctively glanced at Ruth.
That smug smile on Ruth’s face said it all. Seeing Caroline look her way, Ruth said, “Why are you staring at me? I didn’t say anything.”
Caroline ignored her and turned to Maia. “That cut’s deeper than you think. If you don’t get it looked at right away, it could leave a scar. Is that what you want–your face marked forever?”
Maia quickly shook her head.
“Exactly,” Caroline said, her tone softening. “Whatever’s going on, nothing’s more important than your health.”
And with that, she took Maia’s hand again and led her out.
This time, Maia didn’t resist.
Ruth stood behind them, fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. That brat–how dare she defy
her?
Looks like the lesson earlier wasn’t enough. Tomorrow, she was going to beat the defiance right out of her- see if the girl still dared to talk back after that.
Caroline could already guess what Ruth was planning.
But right now, she had more urgent matters to deal with.
She got them to the nearest ER on her scooter.
The doctor frowned the moment he saw Maia’s injury. He asked, “That’s a nasty gash. What happened?”
Maia gave a faint smile and said, “I was running too fast and tripped. Hit the edge of a step.”
The doctor didn’t question it. He just sighed and said, “You young people are always in a hurry. Try slowing down next time.”
Caroline listened to the excuse, watching Maia’s strained smile. It hit her hard.
Maia reminded her so much of her past self–quiet, enduring, always trying to keep the peace no matter the
cost.
She knew exactly what that felt like.
About 30 minutes later, the wound was cleaned and bandaged.
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Chapter 131 The Deepest Wound
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As they walked out, Caroline glanced at the stark white gauze on Maia’s forehead. “That must’ve hurt,” she said quietly.
Maia gave her a soft smile. “Not really.”
Just two words, but they said so much.
Caroline lowered her gaze in thought. Yeah. No matter how deep a wound runs, it’ll never hurt as much as being betrayed by your own family.
After all, that wound on Maia came from the one closest to her.
Maia noticed her silence, saw the hollow look in her eyes, and gently asked, “Ms. Somerton, is something wrong?”
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