Zachary Sullivan trembled in pain.
Raised in luxury by his doting mother, he'd never endured such suffering despite his illegitimate status.
At worst, his mother would slap him.
Even Amelia Sullivan's controlling nature had never tormented him like this.
"Let me go!" Zachary snarled through gritted teeth. "Or I'll kill you!"
Ethan Sullivan held a baseball bat without anyone noticing.
The cold metal pressed against Zachary's forehead.
"You know the consequences of trespassing," Ethan said calmly. "Killing you would be self-defense."
Zachary's soul nearly left his body.
His entire frame shook, words stumbling out. "I-I was just talking nonsense..."
Ethan was infamous as a mad dog.
Unpredictable. Merciless.
Zachary desperately turned to Amelia. "Mom! Save me!"
Amelia's brows furrowed.
She knew Ethan wouldn't actually kill.
This was just intimidation.
What chilled her was discovering Ethan not only had fully functional legs but also moved with lethal precision.
He'd been pretending all these years.
"Ethan, I know you hate me," Amelia leaned weakly against the wall, tears glistening. "I stole your mother's place. We shouldn't even exist."
She looked pitiful.
Yet her eyes secretly gauged Ethan's reaction.
"Zachary is your brother. You share the same blood," she sobbed dramatically. "If you must kill someone, kill me!"
Her words rang with false nobility.
As if she were the victim.
Ethan's voice remained flat. "You think I wouldn't?"
Amelia choked.
This lunatic couldn't be reasoned with!
She changed tactics. "What will it take to spare Zachary?"
"That's for Ms. Sullivan to decide," Ethan's obsidian eyes shifted to Sophia.
Their depths were unfathomable.
"Zachary offended her."
The baseball bat pressed harder.
Cold sweat dripped down Zachary's forehead.
Ethan radiated danger.
Yet Sophia smiled.
Tilting her head, she appeared gentle and harmless.
"I'm quite forgiving," she murmured. "Young Master Sullivan merely lacks discipline. Perhaps you should teach him a lesson."
Amelia's methods were masterful.
Her fragility was her deadliest weapon.
Sophia recalled Ryan's investigation.
Amelia might be connected to Ethan's mother's death.
Ethan met Sophia's gaze.
His fingers around the bat were long and powerful.
"Your wish is my command."
Zachary seethed with rage and fear.
He refused to believe Ethan would strike.
"You'd hit me for this woman?" Zachary spat. "Father will destroy you! Even if your legs—"
The bat smashed into his ribs.
Zachary screamed.
Darkness swallowed his vision. He nearly passed out.
Not another word escaped him.