Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 793

Back then, she hadn't understood the appeal, because she had always been the one at the bottom of the power dynamic. It wasn't until she tried using those same dominant tactics on Lucas that she finally grasped the thrill of it. The rush of absolute control, of looking down on someone and breaking them—it was intoxicating.

But right now, to get the money, she had to strip away every last shred of her dignity. After she took off her remaining underwear, they doused her in harsh disinfectant. She was covered in foam and scrubbed raw.

Once it was over, the butler looked at her with empty, emotionless eyes. "You may go upstairs, Miss Ward."

Less than fifteen minutes later, Bella's agonized screams echoed through the entire house. The pain was unbearable. The ordeal dragged on for over an hour before the screaming finally stopped.

A maid walked into the room. Bella slowly lifted her head, catching her reflection in the mirror. Her face was untouched, but her body was covered in vicious, bloody whip marks. She hadn't expected the old man to be even more sadistic than before. Despite his age, he was horrifyingly strong. She didn't know what kind of supplements he was taking, but he was brutal.

"Here is the check you asked for, Miss Ward," the butler said, tossing the slip of paper onto the floor in front of her. "The master said this is the last time. You're too old. You're not worth this kind of money anymore. Do not come back. You know he doesn't like women your age. You're no longer qualified to be his toy. He also said you're getting too greedy, and that you need to know your place."

The maid dropped a stack of fresh clothes next to her. Everyone left the room. Exhausted and trembling, Bella crawled across the floor and picked up the check. When she saw the amount—over twenty million dollars—she let out a ragged breath of relief. Now that the adrenaline had faded, every inch of her body screamed in agony.

She was running out of time. She could survive this month, but next month was her wedding. She had to secure the cash. Between the billion-dollar bridal gift and the money Debbie owed her, she swore she would never let herself be subjected to this kind of degradation ever again.

She forced herself to walk, flagging down a cab to take her back to where she'd parked her car. Her body was in too much agony to drive normally, but she didn't dare call anyone for help. Her clothes hid the whip marks, but anyone looking at her pale, trembling face would know something was deeply wrong. She couldn't let her guard down. She gripped the steering wheel and drove back to the city at a painfully slow speed.

Once she arrived at her hotel, she met the loan sharks downstairs and handed over the check. Then, she bought some antiseptic, painkillers, and scar-removal cream from a nearby pharmacy before dragging herself up to her room. She knew the drill all too well—she was an expert at treating these kinds of wounds.