Chapter 52 Letting Go Was Long Overdue.
That incident left her sick for two whole weeks.
Afterward, her periods didn’t come back for six months. And when they finally did, they were lighter than ever–and now she had to deal with brutal cramps too.
All of it was because of the Bennetts.
Looking back, she couldn’t believe how naive she’d been. After all that heartless treatment, the version of her that just wanted to be loved still clung to hope.
It wasn’t until she ended up behind bars that the illusion finally broke–and she saw the Bennetts for what they really were.
Willow was shaking, eyes full of fury as she yelled at Lauren, “If Dad dies, I swear I’ll never forgive you!”
Lauren stopped chewing. Her fork hit the table with a sharp clank.
“Never forgive me? Who the heck do you think you are?” She locked eyes with Willow. “Your dad’s in that state because of
you.
She stood
LITE
and started walking toward her, slow and deliberate. “You were the one who came into my room, weren’t you? You were the one who picked a fight. You swung first–I just defended myself. And then you ran off to tattle to Madam Alice like the victim.”
Her voice kept climbing. “You stirred the pot. Then your precious dad saw his baby girl all worked up and flew into a rage- ended up hyperventilating himself into respiratory alkalosis. You kicked all this off. And now you’re pointing fingers at me?”
She stopped right in front of Willow. The second she finished speaking, her hand snapped up.
Smack! The slap landed hard and clean across Willow’s face. “You’ve got some nerve.
A deep red handprint bloomed on the opposite cheek to match the first one. Her face was now perfectly, painfully balanced.
Alice shrieked and lunged toward Lauren. “Lauren! You hit her again‘ What’s gotten into you?”
Lauren just laughed coldly, sidestepped, and let Alice fall flat to the ground with a loud thump.
Elliot lost it. He shoved Lauren hard and snapped, “Lauren, that’s enough!”
She stumbled back, almost hitting the floor.
He moved to catch her without thinking, but before he could reach her, Marilyn had already stepped in and caught her.
His hand froze midair, then dropped to his side. The concern on his face disappeared just as fast.
Lauren steadied herself just in time to hear Elliot lay into her. “No matter what went down, you don’t hit Willow. And with Dad the way he is, how long are you planning to keep this chaos going
Lauren’s smirk deepened. “Oh, so now you remember your dad’s not doing well. That’s weird–didn’t see you call 911, didn’t see you try CPR or anything. Honestly, looks like you’re just waiting for the old man to drop dead so you can run the company.”
“Shut you
your mouth! Elliot shouted, wishing he could glue it shut. “What is wrong with you? You’ve completely lost it.”
His face was full of disappointment. For days now, he’d been walking on eggshells because of her. She hadn’t appreciated a damn thing. All she gave him was shark and bitterness.
He used to worry she’d suffer once she married into the Brooker family out in Balewood.
But now? That worry felt pointless. With an attitude like hers, if she got hurt, she probably had it coming.
In the middle of all the yelling, David’s whole body went stiff. His face turned a sick shade of purple, like he couldn’t breathe.
Alice, Elliot, and Willow instantly forgot all about Lauren.
12.26 PM
Chapter 52 Letting Go Was Long Overdue
Finished
“What do we do? What are we supposed to do? Dad looks like he’s in serious pain–he’s not gonna make it!” Willow was a mess, crying hard. She wasn’t faking it. David had always been her rock in this house. The only one who loved her with no strings attached.
Elliot D
pulled out his phone and tried to call Jeffrey. The call went through, but no one answered.
Alice was losing it, pacing around like a maniac, clearly out of her depth.
Lauren stood there watching, cool and detached, towering over David like she couldn’t care less.
Honestly. I hope he just keels over right now.
But if he did? The Bennetts would one hundred percent blame it on her. They’d eat her alive.
And her 1.4 million dollars would be down the drain.
With that thought, Lauren finally said. “Marilyn, go grab a trash bag from the kitchen.”
Marilyn didn’t get it, but she didn’t question it either. She came back a moment later with a big black garbage bag in hand.
Lauren slipped the trash bag over David’s head.
Alice, Elliot, and Willow froze, a mix of shock and outrage hitting them all at once.
“Lauren, what the heck is wrong with you? Dad’s already like this and you’re trying to suffocate him with a trash bag? Are you. even human?” Willow screamed, hand flying up to hit her, but Lauren smacked it aside without hesitation.
“If you don’t know what you’re talking about, then shut it Lauren’s voice cracked like a whip, instantly silencing the room.
She scanned their stunned faces and spoke coldly. The bag is to help raise his carbon dioxide levels.”
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