My father commanded Ashford’s underworld, but the only person he answered to was my mother. He was down to a single leg, having lost the other when protecting her from a rival. The night I was born, fireworks lit up Ashford all night long. They made as if the heavens themselves were celebrating the little princess’s arrival. Good days lasted until I was five. That year, a woman looked so similar to my mom returned from abroad and moved into the Vaughn family’s mansion. The first time she saw me, she pinched my cheeks with a sneer of triumph curling her lips. "Little brat, your mother was nothing but my shadow. Your father married her because she looks like me. Now I’m back. You little bastard, and your mother? Just send yourselves out." Crying, I ran upstairs and told Mom, who was using a knife to scrape off a tattoo that matched Dad’s. Blood covered the floor, but she just smiled. All night, the mansion echoed with the woman’s screams. But Mom held me, patting my back gently. "Lily, did you see the moon tonight? Is it brighter than usual?" I pressed my face to the window as a car approached. "Mom! Look! Dad’s back! He brought Marianne!" Marianne is my favorite doll. She has sapphire eyes as pretty as Mom’s necklace. The next second, it was tossed to the floor. Dad limped inside and soon came out carrying that woman. I shouted, but he didn’t look at me. He stomped on Marianne like it was just trash. By dawn, he returned, eyes bloodshot. I reached for him, hoping for a hug as usual. "Dad..." But he shoved me aside. I lost my balance and hit the floor. It hurt, but I couldn’t cry. Dad slapped Mom. "Iris, what are you doing?! Chloe nearly died! She’s just a little girl. Do you really have to go this far?!" Mom’s gaze was calm. "Sean Vaughn, remember who gave you everything? Now you finally have the nerve to question me?" Dad went pale. "I earned this! Chloe’s carrying my son! She can’t be hurt!" Somehow, Mom smiled. "You treasure her so much, and still dare to bring her here? Did you forget what I told you? If anyone so much as lays a finger on my daughter, I’ll wipe out their entire family." She walked to him. "Sean, I ask you one last time. That woman called my daughter a bastard, should she be spared?" Dad froze in place. It was that single moment of hesitation that made Mom’s gaze turn ice-cold. She grabbed the knife and shoved it at Dad. “Either stab me now,” she said, “and go live your perfect life with your true love. Or kneel. Kneel and tell me you’ll spend your life at my feet.” I could feel his anger snap, and in a blur, he twisted the knife into Mom’s chest. “Iris, are you fucking done? Things aren’t the same anymore! I’m the boss of Ashford now! You’re still Mrs. Vaughn. That won’t change.” “But Chloe is different. She’s so innocent. She won’t take anything from you.” Mom smiled as if pain had never burst in her body. She yanked the knife out and pressed it to his throat. “Sean Vaughn,” she said, “I gave you the throne so you’d shine in public, not so you’d forget who you are.” “You carry the name Vaughn,” “But this city—” “Belongs to the Hales, the family I was born to.”
Dad’s eyes burned red. He shoved Mom aside, snatched the knife, and pressed it to her face. Mom always said her face was her greatest treasure. I could only throw my arms in front of her. “You’re a monster! You crushed my Marianne! You hit me! And you hit Mom!” “Iris, I just want Chloe’s son to be born safely! I left her ten years ago. I owe her.” “Get a hold of yourself and stop making a scene!” The door slammed shut behind him. A red bloom spread across my mother’s chest, but I didn’t dare touch it. “Mom… does it hurt?” She said nothing. Just looked at me for a long and deathly silence. “Lily, Dad has changed. He no longer deserves to be your father.” That night, I had a nightmare. In the dream, Dad was holding the aunt Chloe, smiling happily. A little boy stood beside them. Then Dad pointed at me, with a cruel voice. “This is your sister. And she’ll be your punching bag from now on. Hit her whenever you like.” I woke up in fright and ran downstairs crying to look for Mom. But Dad had moved Chloe into our house, our rooms. “What a rotten smell… It smells disgusting!” “Sean, these things aren’t good for the baby. I want it my way.” Then he called people in immediately. One by one, Mom’s belongings were thrown out. I lunged for her makeup box. Then Chloe stepped on the back of my hand and jabbed hard at my forehead. “You little bastard, I’m the one in charge here now. Once my son is born, you and your crazy mother will be thrown out of here.” She took out a handful of candy and waved it in front of me, then tossed them onto the floor one by one and crushed them under her high heels. “Want some? Kneel down and bark like a dog, and I might reward you with one.” Dad stood nearby, frowning. “Lily, Chloe’s joking. Come on, be polite and greet her.” Chloe grew smug when I stayed silent. “What, turned into a little mute? Your mother didn’t teach you manners, huh?” Dad said nothing. That was as good as agreeing. Then I saw Mom coming down the stairs. Slowly. Carrying a plate of fruits, a small knife stuck in it. “Chloe, don’t bother with the kid.” She offered the plate. Chloe thought Mom was giving in, so she grinned arrogantly. “So you know what’s good for you.” she said, reaching for the fruit. But in the next second, Mom suddenly pried her mouth open, drove the fruit knife inside, and twisted hard. Her blood gushing out like a red river. Mom wiped her hands with a silk scarf, then patted her face. “You want to teach my daughter?” “Just because you have that little thing in your belly?” “Oh, I’d really like to see if he is a treasure or just... a little bastard.” Mom held the knife and walked toward Chloe’s stomach. Then Dad went mad, shoving her like a man possessed. “Iris Hale, you crazy bitch! How dare you!”
Dad’s eyes were blazing. Anger pushed him to grab a vase and unhesitatingly smashed it down on Mom’s head. “Iris, I said if you hurt Chloe, I’ll make you regret.” Glass and blood spilled down her hair. Still not satisfied, he seized her by the hair and slammed her into the wall. Once. Twice. A blood mark bloomed on the wall. His face twisted—so savage that it even scared me. Mom didn’t scream. She didn’t even frown. Another heavy blow. As Mom slid down the wall, she kicked hard at his prosthetic leg. Then her smile came back, colored by her blood. “Sean Vaughn. I gave you a chance.” “Too bad. A dog will always be a dog.” Dad’s prosthetic flew off. Bracing himself against the cabinet, he glared at Mom viciously. Then his expression changed. His hand went to his waist. I tried to stop him. But he yanked me aside again. “Back to your room!” Thrown to the floor, I scraped a large patch of skin off my elbow. But I didn’t care. Because I saw a group of uncles closing in around Mom. They used to bow and call me Young Miss. Now they followed Dad’s orders and pinned her down. There was a sense of sadness flowing in Mom’s eyes that I couldn’t understand. “Sean Vaughn,” she said, “think carefully.” “Are you ready to throw everything away for a woman from nowhere and a child of unknown blood?” Dad’s chest heaved. “You forced me! Chloe can’t take any more shock! The doctor says she might miscarry!” “You’ll stay in the prayer hall. Whenever you figure it out and decide to apologize to Chloe, let me know.” They started to take Mom away. I rushed forward, wrapped my arms around Dad’s good leg, and bit down hard. I was Mom’s daughter. I wouldn’t watch her be bullied like this. A man reached for me. Mom’s voice turned to ice. “If you dare touch Lily, I guarantee you won’t last the night...” Dad went deadly pale. Then Chloe, lying on the floor, pointed at her mouth. And that look aroused some deep feelings inside Dad’s body. He turned back and grabbed me so hard. “You little bastard. Go repent with your mother!” Mom pulled me into her arms. She didn’t resist as they dragged us away. I wasn’t afraid. Because I heard her whisper— “Lily, don’t be afraid. Dawn is coming.”
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