Punished for Skipping a Dog’s Funeral

Lily broke free and ran to my side, sobbing. She turned toward Richard Hayes and cried out, “Daddy! Mommy’s mouth and leg are bleeding—please take her to the hospital!”

Her little face was full of panic.

Richard was about to speak when Vanessa Moore interjected first, “Yes, send her to the hospital. This blood looks just like spilled paint—it’s frightening.”

She pretended to defend me, but in truth, she was hinting that I was faking it.

Richard hesitated for a moment, then sat back down with a sneer. “Emily Carter, I almost forgot the little play you and Lily are acting. Did you really think a fake blood pack on your leg would fool me? I’m not that stupid.”

Hearing this, I gave a bitter smile. “If you think it’s fake, have the guards check.”

“Daddy, we’re not lying!” Lily pleaded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

But Richard only poured himself another glass of wine, sipping slowly.

“Is there even a need to check? If you can’t stand, then crawl up the mountain. Either way, you’ll finish this today.”

His voice was firm, offering no compromise.

Beside him, Vanessa’s lips curled higher and higher, unable to hide her triumph.

I had no choice but to crawl forward, terrified of jeopardizing Lily’s heart surgery.

But the urn was unbearably heavy, and with my injured right leg useless, I could only claw at the ground with my hands, inching forward like a worm.

Within minutes, my fingertips were bleeding.

“Mommy, stop crawling! I don’t want treatment anymore, I don’t want it!” Lily clutched my arm and wailed.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Be good, go home first. Don’t worry about Mommy.”

I forced a weak smile, but blood loss made my voice faint, my head dizzy, and my lips dry.

I felt like I’d soon shrivel into a dried husk under the blazing sun.

“Mommy, please stop! You’ll die from this!”

Lily turned to the tablet screen, dropped to her knees, and begged, “Daddy, please take Mommy to the hospital. I’ll be a good girl from now on. I won’t get treatment anymore…”

Her words were incoherent, tumbling out in desperation.

Richard frowned, staring at Lily, as though weighing something.

“Daddy, I’m begging you! Save Mommy!”

Lily smashed her forehead against the ground again and again, blood gushing from the cuts.

Even the guards couldn’t bear the sight. They tried to pull Lily away while pleading with Richard to stop.

“Lily, enough. Go with the guards. You’ll strain your heart like this.”

The tears I had been holding back finally broke free, my chest aching for Lily.

“I won’t go! I want to stay with Mommy!”

She struggled fiercely, trembling all over.

Richard opened his mouth to speak, but Vanessa cut in again, her tone sharper than ever.

“Emily, you’ve gone too far. This is between adults—why drag a child into it?”

Her words carried the arrogance of a mistress already playing the lady of the house.

Richard narrowed his eyes at me. “Emily, if Lily comes to any harm today, it will be your fault. You’re cruel, poisonous, and shameless!”

Eight years of marriage—and he now described me with such venom.

How laughable.

What had I done to deserve this?

“Everyone step back! Whoever dares help her, I’ll destroy your families!”

“Emily, stop pretending. Crawl!”