Paying the Price

As the violent blow struck my stomach, I collapsed onto the living room floor and lost the ability to speak for a moment due to the intense pain.

"Save it, you tramp. I'll make you meet your end sooner if you keep this up."

"How dare a shameless vixen like you try to worm your way out? You're the one who should get lost!"

"You're pushing 40, aren't you? Don't you have anything better to do at your age than steal someone else's man?"

My stomach churned in agony, and I curled up on the floor from the pain. This was the first time I had ever been hit, and I couldn't quite take the intense sensation it brought.

"You people are insane! I'm calling the police," I said through clenched teeth.

I thought that they would stop and reconsider their actions when I threatened to get the police involved. However, it only enraged Celine further. She grabbed the front of my shirt and yanked me up angrily.

Celine spoke in a malicious voice laced with venom. "How dare you insult us! Oh, you're going to call the police? Do you want the cops to see a witch like you getting beaten up?"

Then, she picked up a vase from nearby and smashed it against my head. Blood began trickling down my forehead.

She signaled to the others with a glance. "Show her what happens to witches who think they can steal someone else's man!"

Before she even finished speaking, the other women had already started walking toward me. They kicked me repeatedly, targeting my head and body. It was as if they were venting their frustrations on me.

"You tramp! Who do you think you are? You butt into someone else's relationship and don't even have the guts to admit it!"

"Shawn has courted Celine for two years! She's about to become Mrs. Ziegler, and you're nothing!"

"You were asking for it by telling us to leave! Let's see who's going to be kicked out now!"

"We have to teach her a lesson for Celine. We can't let her off that easily!"

Pinned to the ground, I couldn't move. My whole body was wracked with pain. The ache in my head and my body was unbearable.

Having listened for a while, I finally understood that the woman leading the group was the woman Shawn had been pursuing for two years.

Even so, her gaze was now devoid of reason. The comments of the others emboldened her, and she became even more self-righteous in her actions.

She picked up the kettle from the table and prepared to hurl it at me.

Terrified of what was about to happen, I shut my eyes tightly and screamed, "Wait! I'm Shawn's mother!"

The moment I said this, they all paused and looked at Celine for confirmation.

"You're Shawn's mother?" one of them asked skeptically.

Celine scoffed, unconvinced.

I lay on the floor, curled up and clutching my head. I shouted angrily at them, "Yes! I'm Shawn's mother. You broke into my house and assaulted me. Aren't you afraid that he'll come after you as payback when he finds out?"

I thought revealing my identity would make Celine stop. But the way she looked at me grew even more hostile, and she burst into laughter.

"Lying to get out of a beating now, are you?" she mocked.

"Shawn has courted me for two years and never mentioned having a mother. Do you know what's the best part? When I met his family, you weren't even there. Is it because you knew how cheap you were as a kept woman that you didn't dare show up?"

The women laughed openly without holding back.

"If Shawn's mother had still been around, wouldn't he have told his girlfriend? I think you're just a vixen who can't own up to her actions. Without a proper beating, you'll never understand what shame is!"

After saying this, Celine pressed the tip of her shoe down on my hand and twisted it mercilessly.

The pain was excruciating, and I tried to pull my hand away. Nevertheless, it was of no use. Tears mixed with the blood dripping from my head streamed down my face.