Chapter 6

Back then, I often wore this bracelet. Every time he held my hand, he would feel it and ask me what gems were set in it.

Seeing me remain silent, Julian suddenly grabbed my wrist, his tone urgent.

“Speak! Why is this bracelet with you? Who exactly are you?!”

I hadn't expected Julian to not recognize me, but to recognize this bracelet.

My heart was a mix of complex emotions, and I was about to speak, but Celeste cut me off.

“Aria, why did you take my bracelet without my permission?”

With that, Celeste walked over, trying to snatch the bracelet, her sharp nails scratching several blood marks on the back of my hand.

I let out a muffled groan of pain, trying to pull my hand free, but Celeste took advantage of the moment and intentionally fell backward.

Seeing this, Julian's face changed dramatically. He instinctively shielded Celeste in his arms, his gaze at me incredibly dark.

“So that's it, I thought…”

“So you stole Celeste's bracelet, and when you were exposed, you lashed out at her in anger? Aria Henderson, you're truly disgusting!”

Seeing that he didn't even give me a chance to explain, believing Celeste's words instantly, a chill ran through me.

I raised my bleeding hand, my voice filled with undisguised despair and pain.

“Since you remember this bracelet, didn't you notice that after your sight returned, you never saw Celeste wear it? Because she doesn't even know this bracelet exists, and she's not the one you believe…”

My words, each one dripping with blood, were cut short by Mr. Henderson's slap.

My vision went black, and my body uncontrollably crashed into the champagne tower.

Hundreds of glasses shattered all over me, drenching me from head to toe.

I fell heavily to the ground, covered in bruises and blood, tears streaming down my face from the pain.

Mrs. Henderson walked over to me with a grim face, pouring the red wine she was holding directly onto my face, her voice sharp.

“Celeste doesn't wear it because the bracelet was accidentally damaged and sent for repair. The housekeeper just retrieved it today, and you secretly put it on when we weren't home, even trying to claim it as your own?!”

“It's one thing for you to cause trouble at home, but today is your sister's birthday! You put on this show in public, completely disgracing our Henderson family! This was your grandmother's most cherished jewelry, left to my precious Celeste. How could it possibly belong to you?!”

Mr. Henderson echoed Mrs. Henderson, instantly convincing Julian that their words were the truth.

He soothed the sobbing, extremely wronged Celeste, wiping away her tears.

Then, he walked over to me, knelt down, and lifted my bruised and battered wrist.

He took off the bracelet, wiped away the bloodstains with a handkerchief, and placed it on Celeste's hand, his face filled with tenderness.

“Celeste, this bracelet holds your grandmother's love for you, and it carries the memories of our five years together. I won't let anyone defile it.”

He finished with this firm statement, then looked at Mr. Henderson, his voice like ice.

“Mr. Henderson, shouldn't the Henderson family implement disciplinary action for privately stealing family property and immoral conduct?”

Mr. Henderson nodded repeatedly, immediately ordering someone to bring a whip, taking it into his own hand.

“According to family rules, for the mistakes she made today, she should receive fifty lashes! I, Mr. Henderson, failed in raising my daughter and disturbed everyone's enjoyment. Today, I will publicly discipline this unfilial daughter to uphold our family's reputation!”

With that, he swung the whip, bringing it down fiercely.

*Swoosh!* My back was torn open, and my body trembled uncontrollably.

Piercing screams echoed through the hall. Blood gushed out, quickly staining my entire body.

I was in so much pain that my consciousness blurred, and broken groans of agony escaped my throat.

“I didn't steal anything! That bracelet… it was… originally… mine! Grandma gave it to me!”

Watching my pathetic struggle in a pool of blood, Julian showed no pity. Instead, he covered Celeste's eyes and led her away.

Witnessing their figures disappearing into the distance, I closed my blood-red eyes.

I bit down hard on my lips, smeared with blood and tears, enduring the pain and refusing to make another sound.

After the punishment, my parents left without even a glance at me.

The guests and staff in the hall also sneered and departed one after another, no one paying any attention to me.

I lay on the cold floor, covered in wounds, as the lights went out.

Only boundless darkness remained, completely enveloping me.

It wasn't until early the next morning that I regained some strength and went to the hospital alone to treat my wounds.

Seeing the shocking scars on my body, even the doctor was a little frightened. It took a full three hours to clean and bandage them.

I was drenched in cold sweat, several of my fingernails broke, but I finally endured it.

After two days of rest in the hospital, my wounds slowly scabbed over.

During this time, Celeste sent many taunting messages daily.

“Mom and Dad have agreed to convert your room into a nursery. Julian's and my baby will stay there when they come back. When are you going to move your pile of junk out?”

“Julian took me to pick out my wedding dress today. I thought a few were good, so he bought them all for me. My feet hurt from trying on shoes, and he was so worried, he even massaged my legs.”

Looking at the photos of Julian gazing lovingly at Celeste, my eyes were only filled with numbness.