Chapter 4

Before I could finish speaking, Celine nodded at the bodyguard, and my right hand was suddenly wrenched inward.

The crisp crack of bone snapping rang out, but I gritted my teeth and endured it without making a sound. The excruciating pain shot straight to my head, and my vision darkened in waves.

Gasps rose one after another from the onlookers, while Henry let out a short cry of surprise before quickly shrinking back behind Celine.

Celine's gaze was sinister as she ordered the bodyguard to release his hold on me. "Justin, your family fell into ruin long ago. Right now, you're nothing but worthless trash nobody wants.

"You should learn to be more obedient. Otherwise, I don't mind making you hurt even more."

Cold sweat beaded on my forehead. My face was pale, but I forced out a twisted smile.

"Celine, you think far too highly of yourself. Compared to when you chopped off Sofie's hands, and when I watched her bleed without end… What is this little bit of pain?"

I stumbled forward, almost crashing into her. Then I looked up at her face, which suddenly changed color.

"Do you remember the night Sofie's hands were cut off? She looked at you with nothing but fear and confusion in her eyes.

"To the very end, she never understood why her beloved mother would do something like that to her for an outsider."

Celine's breath caught, and she suddenly clenched her fists so hard that her knuckles turned white.

Henry steadied her and shot me a glare. "She was just a burden. So what if her hands were chopped off? What's there to even talk about?"

Celine let out a shout, cutting him off before he could continue.

On that ill-fated night, the villa had been ablaze with lights. Sofie had only accidentally touched Henry's suit and gotten a small part of it dirty.

Henry had complained to Celine, saying that Sofie was ill-mannered and had deliberately humiliated him.

Celine didn't even question how ridiculous his excuse was before ordering someone to hold Sofie down. Then, just to vent her anger on Henry's behalf, she had personally chopped off Sofie's hands.

After Celine was done, she wiped her hands and spoke to me as I lay collapsed on the ground.

At that moment, my world had completely collapsed.

In the present, Celine looked completely enraged.

She suddenly shoved me away, making me crash heavily onto the ground. I landed on my injured hand, and the sharp, unbearable pain caused my vision to darken. I nearly passed out then.

Henry took in my miserable state. The smugness on his face was unmistakable, yet he still pretended to be concerned as he grabbed Celine.

"Cece, don't bother with someone like him anymore. He almost got you killed back then. Let's just go!"

Celine's chest heaved violently as she glared intently at me. She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the emotions surging inside her, and returned to her usual aloof expression.

"Justin, since you were once my husband, I'll spare your life today."

She paused before continuing in a tone filled with condescension and warning, "Take this hand as a lesson. Remember—around these parts, I have the final say.

"You'd best get the hell out of here right now and never show your face again."

With that, she wrapped her arm around Henry and turned to leave.

I lay on the ground, watching their retreating figures. I saw Henry turn around and throw me a victorious smile.

The corners of my lips curled into a smirk. Using my uninjured hand, I pushed myself up and leaned against the decorative pillar beside me.

"Celine."

I didn't speak very loudly, but Celine still stopped in her tracks.

She didn't turn around, only coldly saying, "Still looking to die?"

I pulled out my phone and glanced at the message from the other party. It contained only two words. "Task complete."

I knew what that meant.

With a smile, I pulled out the small dagger strapped to my calf and hurled it into Celine's shoulder.

"Why don't you guess why I came back this time?"