Chapter 2

###Chapter 2

The staff member's answer left my mind completely blank.

"I'm her only daughter. I never claimed my mother's body! Who picked her up?!" I demanded.

"Let me check... Yes. It was Kendall Meyer."

The moment she finished speaking, an email from Kendall suddenly appeared in my inbox.

A terrible feeling rose in my chest.

With my hands trembling, I clicked open the video she had sent me. What appeared on the screen instantly plunged me into an icy abyss.

My mother's body had been placed on a marble coffee table like some discarded object.

Kendall casually ran her fingers over my mother's face.

"I have to admit, the old woman still has some charm left. But that scar on her left cheek is so ugly!"

She eagerly took a dagger from someone beside her, then suddenly smiled.

"Why don't I ‘fix' it for her?"

The moment I realized what she intended to do, terror filled my eyes.

"Stop, Kendall!" I screamed with everything I had. "Don't you dare insult my mother!"

But Kendall simply raised the dagger and slowly carved two words into my mother's face.

[Whore.]

The people gathered around burst into laughter.

"As expected of Kendall! She really has an artistic talent~"

I watched helplessly as my mother's skin was carved to pieces, and I cried until my voice went hoarse.

My mother had loved her appearance more than anything while she was alive. Even the smallest scar was enough to send her to a clinic for laser treatment.

Several years ago, she had been trying to rescue me from a burning building when a collapsing pillar struck the side of her face.

She survived, but the burns had been so severe that they left a permanent scar.

Back then, I cried endlessly out of guilt. But my mother had simply smiled and gently stroked my head.

"As long as my good girl is safe and happy, what does a little injury to Mom matter?"

And now, Kendall was treating her corpse with such cruelty.

I fell to my knees, anger and hatred burning through every inch of me.

After wiping away my tears, I forwarded the video to my lawyer.

Suddenly, my phone rang. Hector's commanding voice came through the moment I answered.

"Prepare yourself for a public apology. Tell everyone that Kendall isn't a mistress and that those photos were photoshopped by you."

"She was just diagnosed with depression. She's been crying terribly."

Depression?

Just moments ago, that woman had been gleefully humiliating my mother's corpse!

Before I could say a word, I heard Kendall's sobs coming from the other end.

"Hector, forget it. Don't force Beatrice if she doesn't want to apologize. At worst, I'll kill myself to prove my innocence."

Hector's voice immediately softened, as though he were comforting something precious.

"Don't worry, Kendall. If anyone dares spread those rumors again, I'll cut off her hands!"

Then his voice turned cold again. "Beatrice, why aren't you saying anything? Start a livestream and apologize to Kendall right now."

I clenched my fists and spat, "Hector, what if I say no?"

He froze for a moment before raising his voice in disbelief.

"Unless you want a divorce!"

I nodded, speaking slowly and clearly. "Then I'll give you what you want, Hector."

"What did you say? Say that again! Do you really think I can't make it impossible for you and your mother to survive in this city? Let's see how you'll come crawling back to me and beg when that happens."

"Shut up! You have no right to mention my mother. You and Kendall are the reason she's dead!" My voice trembled with pain.

Before he could respond, I hung up.

The place where Kendall had filmed the video was a VIP private room at a Miranda Corporation club.

I hailed a taxi and rushed there.

The moment I stepped inside, I saw a body bag carelessly discarded on the floor beneath the dim lights.

My hands trembled as I pulled down the zipper.

The sight of my mother's mutilated face hit me like a blow to the chest.

I collapsed to my knees, tears spilling uncontrollably. "Mom... I'm sorry. It's my fault. Your daughter is the one who caused this..."

I pulled my mother into my arms.

Her body was so cold. And my heart felt so unbearably lonely.

From now on, there would be no one waiting at home with a smile to welcome me. No one would ever love me with their life again.

"Beatrice, what are you doing here?"

Hector's suspicious voice suddenly sounded behind me.

The next second, his eyes fell on the bloodied, mutilated body in my arms.

His entire body stiffened. "T-That... that really is your mother?!"