Chapter 4

Manager Zhang turned ghost-white. "M-Miss Lee, that's way too dangerous!"

"Shut up!" Yoyo Lee snapped, cutting him off. "Do what I say! Or I’ll call Julian right now, and your career as manager is over!"

Gulping hard, he finally waved at the guards.

"No! You can't do this!" I screamed in sheer terror.

My mother-in-law realized the danger too, struggling desperately. "You vicious viper! What do you think you're doing?!"

Ignoring our screams completely, Yoyo Lee had the guards haul my mother-in-law up to the maintenance platform directly over the deepest, most dangerous section of the shark tank.

"Yoyo Lee! Stop it! Let go of my mother-in-law! Julian will never let you get away with this!" I sobbed hysterically, clawing frantically at the guard's arm until blood welled up, but I still couldn't break free.

My mother-in-law's hands were tied behind her back. As the winch rope tightened, she was hoisted into the air, suspended directly over the shark tank.

"How's that, old hag? How's the view from up there?"

Tears blurred my vision as I pleaded desperately: "Yoyo Lee! What do you want?! Let her down! If you have a problem, take it out on me!"

"Take it out on you?" Yoyo Lee chuckled, as if hearing a funny joke. "Sure. You want me to let this old trash go? Simple."

She pointed at the freezing cold concrete floor.

"You, right now, get down on your knees and kowtow eighteen times. With every single one, scream, 'I was wrong, I shouldn't have offended Miss Lee!' Once you're done, I'll think about pulling her up."

"Don't you dare!" my mother-in-law screamed from above. "Nia, don't kneel! That vile woman isn't worthy!"

I trembled uncontrollably, staring at my mother-in-law dangling on the brink of death, and at the terrifying, shadowy beasts circling beneath her in the water.

Dignity meant nothing compared to her life.

"I'll kneel!"

My forehead struck the concrete with a dull thud.

"Nia! Get up! Don't kneel for her!" my mother-in-law sobbed.

I didn't get up. I slammed my head down again.

"I was wrong... I shouldn't have offended Miss Lee."

Yoyo Lee laughed in delight, watching as if enjoying a spectacular show.

By the time the eighteenth kowtow was done, my forehead was a bruised, bloody mess. Blood trickled down my face, obscuring my vision.

"Now... can you let my mother-in-law down?!"

Yoyo Lee clapped her hands, shaking with laughter. "Bravo! How touching! Who knew an in-law relationship could be so deep?!"

She walked over to the tether line, her fingers resting on the safety release buckle.

Yet, she didn't unhook it.

"However..." she dragged out the word playfully. "I changed my mind."

A twisted, sadistic grin spread across her face. "You ruined my day. How could a few bows possibly be enough? I need to make sure... you remember this lesson forever!"

"NO—!"

I let out a bloodcurdling scream, throwing myself forward.

It was too late.

With a cruel snip, Yoyo Lee severed the rope holding my mother-in-law’s life!

"Ahhh—!"

A sharp, terrified cry echoed as my mother-in-law plummeted straight down into the shark tank!

"Splash!"

A massive spray of water erupted.

The water churned violently. The sharks, already circling hungrily, shot forward like released arrows.

Blood bloomed across the tank, dyeing the water crimson in an instant.

The entire world turned blood-red before my eyes.

My scream choked in my throat, unable to make another sound.

She was gone.

Right before my eyes, the mistress Julian kept on the side had thrown his own mother into a tank of sharks.

Right then, someone in the crowd shouted:

"Mr. Vance is here."