Chapter 1108
Lila’s body was smashed into the wall before crashing hard onto the floor.
“What was that?” Brenna demanded, pressing her foot hard against Lila’s chest. “Repeat it.”
The increasing pressure made Lila gasp, her ribs aching as if they might snap. “I can’t breathe,” she whimpered, fear lacing her voice.
Seth, Lila’s young son, watched in terror as his mother lay pinned beneath Brenna’s foot. Overcome with desperation, he charged at Brenna, shouting, “You’re a monster! Let my mom go!”
The guard intercepted Seth, catching him mid-lunge. “Stay back, kid, or you’ll get hit, too,” he warned coldly.
But Seth, too young to grasp the danger, thrashed wildly, scratching at the guard with both hands and screaming, “Let her go! Let my mom go!”
Unfazed by the boy’s age, the guard silenced him with a sharp slap across the face.
“Don’t hurt my son!” Lila shrieked, panic flooding her as she realized Brenna was not to be trifled with. “Please, Miss Harper, don’t hurt my son. I was wrong. I’ll apologize to Joann now.”
Alec’s heart twisted as he watched his wife and son at Brenna’s mercy. Lila had been harsh to him lately, and part of him had wanted her humbled, but seeing her degraded like this stung. She was, after all, his only companion in his later years.
“Brenna, please stop. She sees her mistake now. Let her go,” Alec pleaded.
Brenna lifted her foot. “Apologize to Joann.”
Lila, having never faced such intimidation, was terrified by Brenna’s presence. With her son held by the guard, she dared not defy Brenna. She dropped to her knees.
“Joann, I’m so sorry. I’ll cook for you, serve you—anything you need. Just please ask Miss Harper to spare us.”
Joann eyed Lila with disdain, wishing she could be rid of her. But she knew she still relied on Lila’s care. Pushing her too far now would only invite trouble later. She was left with no other choice but to forgive Lila. She blamed her son for all of this.
If Alec hadn’t squandered his wealth into bankruptcy, would Lila ever have gained such a foothold in the Barrett family?
Joann gritted her teeth, forcing herself to suppress her resentment. “Get up. It’s alright. I forgive you,” she said.
Brenna was fully aware of her grandmother’s temperament; she knew Joann had no desire to stir up further conflict.
Joann might worry about Lila potentially making things difficult for her, but Brenna didn’t.
“My grandmother already told you to stand up, so stand up. You can leave. Your presence is no longer required here,” Brenna commanded, her voice cold and firm.
The guard let go of Seth, allowing the frightened boy to rush into his mother’s arms.
Seth clung to Lila, trembling, while she was still stunned from what had just happened.
After a while, she said, “Miss Harper, you cannot watch Joann all the time. She still needs my care. You can’t just dismiss me like this.”
She shot a subtle glance at Alec, signaling him to follow through on their scheme.
Alec stepped forward, playing his part. “Brenna, how about you give me some money? I’ll see to it that Joann’s room is upgraded and that her surgery costs are covered. We’ll take care of everything. You’re swamped with work; no need to trouble yourself with Joann’s care.”