This time, Anabelle Martin couldn't finish her sentence, as Bella Scott rushed over and tightly gripped her throat.
Anabelle struggled to breathe, she couldn't believe Bella would treat her like this in front of Tyshawn Scott.
Bella sneered coldly: "Aren't you good with words? Go on!"
Tyshawn was the first to react, anxiously slapping his thigh: "You've gone too far, daring to treat your mother like this, you'll be punished by heaven..."
When Tyshawn opened his mouth, Bella's grip on Anabelle's neck only strengthened.
Anabelle's face turned blue, feeling like she could suffocate at any moment.
Mila Gray was stunned too: "Bella, let go quickly! What would happen if this leads to a death?"
Elyssa Scott, seeing the urgency of the situation, worked together with the housekeeper to pull Bella away.
Bella's gaze swept over the messy room full of people, eventually resting on Mila Gray's face.
Mila looked at her with teary eyes, just like she had years ago: "My daughter, it's all my fault..."
Bella's nose tingled, and she turned to walk away.
Tyshawn followed her a few steps, shouting at Bella's retreating figure, "You'll be married in a week. If you dare to run, I'll not only break your legs but also kick your mother out of the Scotts!"
That night, Bella, for the first time ever, went to a bar to drown her sorrows in alcohol. Even when Edward Anderson had left her at the altar two years earlier, shattering her self-esteem, she never indulged in drowning her sorrows.
She considered it a weak act, which she didn't want to engage in.
But now, she discovered that not only was she weak, but she was also an utter failure.
From a young age, she had lived in the Scotts' home with Mila Gray, under their control. When she finally grew up, Tyshawn decided her marriage with a single sentence, making her marry Edward Anderson.
However, in the end, Edward Anderson, just like the Scotts, humiliated her by leaving her at the altar, turning her into a laughingstock of the town.
Edward Anderson, her would-be bridegroom, running away on the wedding day didn't bother her. But he went further to humiliate her, quickly getting involved with other young stars, crushing her remaining self-esteem into pieces.
That time, she couldn't take it anymore and caused a scene.
She vented her anger then, but she was also punished, being caught by Tyshawn's men and brought back to the Scotts. That time, after a beating, she couldn't get out of bed for days.
When the shards of glass cut her wrist, leaving scars, everyone thought she had attempted suicide over love.
Even as she was beaten to the verge of death, her weak mother never pleaded for her from beginning to end.
Just when she had nowhere left to turn, Edward Anderson sent someone with a key, claiming it to be an apology gift, and said she could live in the hotel for the rest of her life.
At that time, she hadn't graduated from college yet and lacked the ability to support herself. Desperately needing a place to stay, she accepted the key.
Ever since then, for two years, she never returned to the Scotts.
Two years later, she went back to that damned place only for Tyshawn to marry her off to a man over fifty years old.
Tyshawn's decision was made, and he wouldn't tolerate her running away. Otherwise, he would do as he said, break her legs, or bring Mila Gray to her, forcing her to get married.
No matter what, Tyshawn would find a way to make her submit.
If there was no way out, she probably only had to leave this city. She used to be unable to let go of Mila Gray, but now she felt that Mila Gray living her whole life with the malicious Tyshawn wasn't bad.
But why couldn't she just let go? She had clearly thought about becoming independent and strong, powerful enough to make everyone look at her with newfound respect, and force those who bullied her and Mila Gray to beg for mercy on their knees.
She didn't want to be a deserter at all...