"Ah!"
Saira screamed in agony.
Dalia watched in distress, wishing she could shield her daughter from the blows. Aaron, fueled by rage, mercilessly lashed Saira with the whip. Each strike was harder than the last, his anger intensifying with each thought of how one daughter had brought honor to the Lin family by allying with the Ye and Feng families, while the other had turned the Lin family into a laughingstock.
A bastard will always be a bastard, no matter how long they're kept around, they're useless. The more Aaron thought, the harder his hand struck.
"Dad, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me this time," Saira wailed, lying prostrate on the floor.
The maids nearby trembled with fear.
Soon, Saira's back was streaked with blood, staining her white dress a vivid red.
"Mom, save me. Mom..." Saira cried out, reaching for Dalia.
Dalia wanted to intervene, but she knew her husband was too enraged to listen. She glanced at Zuri, who was leisurely sitting on the sofa, sipping coffee, watching the beating with a cold detachment.
How could she be so cruel?
Watching her own sister being beaten and remaining indifferent.
Dalia wanted to lash out but restrained herself, speaking softly, "Zuri, please, ask your father to calm down."
Zuri leaned back lazily on the sofa, her voice cool and indifferent, "If he doesn't let off some steam, it'll harm his health in the long run. For his sake, he needs to vent."
Dalia was furious but continued to plead gently, "I know you've been wronged today. Saira knows she's wrong too. Please ask your father to stop. If he keeps this up, your sister might die."
"From a medical perspective, death occurs when internal organs are damaged, leading to blood clots. A whipping like this has only a 0.1% chance of being fatal. Given my father's strength, it's unlikely to be deadly," Zuri said calmly.
Dalia's blood pressure soared with anger, "What will it take for you to let your father spare her?"
"Didn't you care most about the Lin family's reputation? Today she has utterly disgraced the Lin family. How can you forgive her so easily?"
Each word was a stab to the heart.
Suddenly, Dalia raised her hand to slap Zuri. She moved quickly and unexpectedly, but Zuri blocked her hand mid-air, redirecting the slap onto Dalia's own hand.
A cold glint appeared in Zuri's eyes. She twisted Dalia's arm, forcing her forward until their faces were inches apart.
In a low, chilling voice, Zuri whispered in her ear, "If I make Father choose between Saira and me, who do you think he'll pick?"
Dalia's eyes widened.
Before today, it was uncertain. But now, after today, he would undoubtedly choose Zuri.
Dalia knew her husband too well.
"Don't provoke me again. If you do, I'll make sure your precious daughter is thrown out of the Lin family."
With that, Zuri pushed Dalia away.
Dalia staggered back several steps.
She stared at Zuri, speechless for a long time.
Saira called for Lady Lin repeatedly, only to see her and Zuri intimately close, fueling her growing hatred.
Why had even her mother changed?
Saira felt a chill throughout her body. The physical pain was nothing compared to the betrayal by Lady Lin.
She writhed on the floor, her blood staining the shiny marble tiles.
"Dad, I was wrong."
"Ah, ah!"
"I'm going to die. Dad, I'll never dare again."
"Sob, sob..."
No matter how Saira cried and begged, Aaron did not stop. His face had been utterly disgraced by her today. How could he let it go?
A bastard daring to ruin his biological daughter's future.
Zuri was destined to enter the Ye or Feng family, how could he let Saira destroy that?
At that moment, Christian returned, reeking of alcohol. Seeing Saira writhing in pain on the floor, covered in blood, and his father holding a whip with a fierce expression, his anger surged.
He rushed over, snatching the whip from Aaron's hand, and demanded, "Dad, what are you doing?"
Aaron was startled by the sudden intrusion.
"Give me the whip," Aaron ordered sternly.
"What did Saira do wrong to deserve such harsh treatment? Even if she's not your biological daughter, you've watched her grow up. You once cared for her."
Seeing Saira's battered body, Christian's heart ached.
He turned to Zuri, pointing at her, "Since she came back, you've changed. She's your daughter, but aren't we your children too?"
"What do you know? Do you know what she's done? My reputation and the Lin family's face were lost because of this ungrateful girl," Aaron shouted.
"Even if Saira made mistakes, it's because you pushed her to it. Today is Zuri's birthday. You only thought about celebrating for her, but did you consider Saira's feelings? Saira used to be so kind and innocent. Now you've pushed her to this."
To Christian, his sister Saira could do no wrong; she was always innocent and kind. Any misdeeds were caused by others.
"Dad, if you despise Saira and me so much, we'll leave and won't bother you again. You can live happily with your precious daughter."
Christian bent down to help Saira up.
Zuri watched the pitiful siblings, then looked at herself. Suddenly, she felt like the evil step-sister driving the poor foster siblings away.
"If you leave today, don't ever come back," Aaron was infuriated, making a harsh declaration.
Christian scoffed, unfazed, and continued to support Saira as they headed out.
"Wait."
Zuri suddenly stood up, walking leisurely towards them.
Before she could speak, Christian spat, "Don't bother pretending to care. We won't stay."
Zuri sneered, "Sorry to disappoint you. I'm not here to keep you. I'm here to remind you that everything you use, including your car and the downtown villa, belongs to the Lin family. If you have any backbone, don't use any of it. If you do, don't pretend to have dignity."
"You..." Christian was furious.
"By the way, everything you're wearing and using, even your bank cards, hand them over. If you have any real courage, don't rely on the Lin family. Make your own way," Zuri said.