Chapter 5
The piano played on.
My mother stood tall, my portrait in her hand.
The luxury cars lined the street, but all eyes
were on us.
And Carter–oh, Carter–glanced at his phone, his expression darkening.
“She didn’t show up?”
Ben, uncomfortable, replied, “Boss, you’ve asked ten times. Do you want her to come?”
Carter snapped, “I was worried she’d cause a scene.”
1/6
Chapter 5
+ 5 Points
The engagement ceremony was in full swing.
Leila stood beside him, that smug smile on her face.
But as the rings were presented, all I could think about was the one Carter had once given me.
The gossip began, soft and low.
“I heard Carter gave Ariya ten million for the breakup.”
“That’s about what he spent on the ring.”
“I always said you can tell a man’s love by what he spends…”
“Stop talking,” someone hissed. “Ariya’s dead already.”
2/6
Chapter 5
+ 5 Points
“Ariya, you can’t leave me like that”
Then, my mother’s voice cut through the air like a blade. “Madam, please leave!”
“Don’t make us use force!”
A few bodyguards surrounded my mother.
She stood amidst them.
“You should be the ones leaving.Return my daughter.”
In less than a few minutes, the bodyguards resorted to violence, grabbing her with force.
A crowd gathered in front of the restaurant- some recording, others simply watching with cold indifference, but not a single person stepped forward to intervene.
3/6
ClChapter 5
+ 5 Points
I watched in horror,as my mother wasas vivielently shoved to the ground. Her highgh heelsls flew off.
A crueleluunforgiving hand struck her onene poweréciuibiow to her chest, sending herer gasping fofopbreath.
A deep swolbilen bruise bloomed across herer calf.lf.
Before she couldleveven recover, another er vicious blow slaiamare chinto her back, the
sharp impact malaking her buckle forward, here legs giving way beneath her.
She fell hard onto the ground, her breath hitching in painin
But still, she refused to tetegao fof my portrait.
4/4/6
Chapter 5
+ 5 Points
She held it tightly, letting the blows rain down on her without a single attempt to defend herself, as though she had given up on everything, except for me.
“Stop it!” I screamed, my throat raw, but my voice fell on deaf ears.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
A voice, familiar and cold, broke through the chaos.
The bodyguards froze.
There, in the distance, standing tall and commanding, was Carter.
Carter’s gaze shifted to my mother, to the portrait she was holding, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.
5/6
