Chapter 3

However, Larry had a vicious expression when he said, "You're the one who's not right in the mind! I've been working for the Spencers for almost 10 years, and I've only known Ms. Cindy as their only daughter! Who do you think you are to dare to impersonate her?"

Only then did Cindy step forward from behind the bodyguards. She looked at me coldly, as if I were nothing but dead meat on the cutting board.

She then turned to Jared and asked, "What should we do about this, Jared? I just wanted to enjoy a quiet night drinking with my friends, yet your girlfriend made a scene in front of everyone by accusing me of impersonating the daughter of the Spencer family.

"The Spencers have always kept a low profile, so I kept quiet. I even had her escorted away in a nice car. But she's now accusing me of running her over with my car! She's trying to ruin the Spencers' reputation—how exactly do you want to handle that?"

Cindy's words were far from the truth—distorted and completely twisted.

Yet, Jared's face paled. He immediately grabbed me by the collar and yanked me down from the wheelchair. He then kicked me in my knees, causing me to collapse.

He ordered someone to shove my head down, bashing it repeatedly against the ground. "I never thought you're someone like this, Suzanna. Apologize to Cindy, now—and don't stop until she decides to forgive you!"

Shaking in anger, I struggled to get up.

Eric had always told me that the Spencers were the most respectable family in Harrondale. No matter what happened, we'd never get down on our knees.

I have never gotten down on my knees ever since I was born—being forced to do this now was nothing short of a complete insult to my dignity.

Jared chuckled coldly upon seeing what I was doing. He arrogantly said, "I can't believe you're still so shameless. I'll let you in on something—the Spencers and the Xandersons are about to be joined by marriage…and I'm the groom-to-be.

"It's impossible for someone of our status to end up with a peasant like you. So, just drop your fantasy of trying to climb your way up. Apologize to Cindy now—and maybe I'll ask her to spare your life for old times' sake."

I suppressed the anger within me and chuckled mockingly. "The Spencers would never choose you for a marriage alliance, Jared. You should be prepared to get kicked out of the Xanderson family instead!"

My words seemed to fuel Jared's anger. He broke the vase beside him without a second thought, grabbed a sharp shard of porcelain, and lunged at my thigh. "How dare you run your mouth at me, you tart? I'd break your legs if you continue acting like this—see if you could still be so arrogant!"

Having been pinned down, I was unable to move—I could only close my eyes in despair. However, the pain I'd anticipated did not come.

I was shocked to see Mark shielding me when I opened my eyes. I hadn't even noticed when he got there.

His back was slashed open, and his hospital gown was soaked in blood, but he still stood firm, protecting me.

In a weak voice, Mark said, "Don't believe in what Cindy says. She's a ruthless, manipulative woman—she's not the daughter of the Spencer family at all. Also, you'd have to go through me first if you want to hurt Suzanna!"

Jared was shocked to see the mix of old and new wounds on Mark's body. He was about to ask when Cindy quickly intercepted.

Masking the panic in her eyes, she pulled Mark over and slapped him. She then yelled, "You're so shameless! I can't believe you're still spreading rumors about me even now!

"Don't think I don't get what this is. You tried and failed to win my friend over, so you're now just bitter—trying to drag us down. You're his brother—why are you jealous that Jared gets to marry the Spencers?

She continued, "Your intentions couldn't be more obvious, showing up in the hospital together with this pathetic woman, Suzanna!"

Mark was already badly injured in the first place, and he was now coughing out blood.

Tears sprang from my eyes and fell onto his arm, even as he struggled to stay upright.

The bodyguards scoffed before knocking him unconscious and dragging him out like a dead weight. I anxiously tried to stop them, but Jared suddenly snatched Larry's baton and smashed it on me, knocking me to the ground.

He was seething with rage. "No wonder…it's the same in the past—you two are in this together, trying to deceive me!"

I was shocked to realize that Jared was also reborn. No wonder he had insisted that I was lying on the phone despite not asking for his help this time.

But as blood poured out from my body, my head began to spin, and I could barely speak. All I could do was lie there, struggling weakly.

Jared took in a deep breath and clamped his hand tightly on my wrist. "Do you know what the consequences of hurting the daughter of the Spencer family are?

"When she was born, someone tried to steal her away, but the Spencers were calm. On the very same day, the thief had their limbs chopped off and was tossed into the wilderness.

He continued, "During middle school, a classmate threw nails at her feet, and the same person had both their legs shattered the next day. During college, a player tried to hit on her, but he was immediately exposed for cheating—he disappeared from campus right after.

"You should be grateful I'm sparing you from meeting your demise from the Spencer family."

Jared then grabbed a sharp scalpel and stabbed it right against my wrist, thrusting it around.

Trembling in pain, I gritted my teeth and spat, "You'd be first to die if my family found out that you've been treating me like this."

Cindy snorted when she heard my words. She then lifted her leg and kicked me in the stomach. "I can't believe you're still being so delusional even when you're barely alive, Suzanna—just focus on staying alive instead!

"Let me teach you a lesson on behalf of your lousy parents—I'll show you what it's like to be respectful of others!"

One of them started breaking the tendons in my arm, while the other continued to kick at me. Pain shot through my entire body, and I struggled to back off.

However, Larry pinned me down with a vicious stare before slapping me. He spat, "How dare you try to run! I'll make sure you pay for the wounds your men inflicted on Ms. Cindy! You'd better stay here and endure the beating!"

I was completely pinned down, unable to move. All I could do was close my eyes in frustration, silently bracing myself for the inevitable.

Just as I was on the verge of despair, the hospital doors suddenly swung open, and Eric stormed in with a group of people.

He yelled, "What the hell are you doing here?"

After that, Eric's gaze landed on me.