What You Did to Our Daughter

Robert Simonds shot me a smug look, then turned soft and aggrieved as he spoke into the phone.

"Babe, forget the gift. Just come home, okay? Some guy showed up, claiming he's your husband. He even hit Angela and me. He messed up my face."

The voice on the other end turned sharp with panic.

"Don't listen to him. You're my only husband. And how dare he hurt you and Angela! He's asking for it. Have the guards grab him and lock him in the basement. I'll deal with him when I get back."

"Okay," he said sweetly, dragging it out, then he tossed in a few more soft, clingy words before hanging up.

My teeth ground together so hard that my jaw ached. In my head, I was already cursing Stella a thousand times over.

Everything the Dixons had now came from the connections and influence I had built over the years. Back when she had nothing, she swore she would love me forever, that she would always stand by me.

Yet the first thing she did after getting rich was take a lover.

All those promises meant nothing.

Robert hung up and tilted his chin at me, smug.

"Got some nerve, don't you? Thinking you can take my status from me," he said. "I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"

He waved the guards over.

They grabbed me. I fought back as hard as I could, but there were too many of them. In the end, they forced my arms behind my back and tied me up tight.

He watched me struggle like it was entertainment, then said lazily, "Bring it out."

One of the guards stepped forward and handed him a long whip, lined with sharp barbs. Just looking at it made my stomach turn.

Heidi, still on the ground, saw it and scrambled over to him. Tears covered her face.

"Please, don't hit my dad!" she cried. "I'm begging you. Let him go. You can hit me instead. I don't mind. I'm not scared. You can hit me as much as you want."

My throat tightened. Even now, she was still trying to protect me.

"Heidi, don't worry about me," I said, my voice shaking. "Go hide. I'll get you out of here, I promise."

Robert let out a short laugh.

"Hah! You think you can leave?" he said. "Better ask my daughter first!"

He pulled the girl into his arms and smiled down at her.

"So, what do you think, sweetheart? How should we punish them?"

The girl crossed her arms, her eyes cold, nothing like a child's should be. She lifted her foot and nudged Heidi's head with it, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

"My shoe's dirty," she said. "Lick it clean, and I might let your dad go."

"No, Heidi, don't do it!" I shouted. "I can save you. Just wait a little longer."

She looked at me and forced a small smile, as if she was trying to reassure me. Then, without hesitation, she lowered her head.

"You monsters! Stay away from my daughter!" I yelled, my vision blurring as tears finally spilled over.

Right then, a sharp voice cut through the yard.

"What the hell is going on here?"