Chapter 5

Shawn hadn’t expected Wendy to recognize the watch when she failed to recognize him.

Conflicting emotions rose in him. He was about to speak when Ethan cut him off.

“Shawn, why did you take my watch without asking?”

Ethan came over and tried to wrench it off Shawn’s wrist. He pulled so hard that his nails left bloody scratches across Shawn’s hand.

Shawn grunted in pain and tried to pull free. Ethan used the movement to throw himself backward.

Wendy’s expression changed. She caught Ethan instinctively, then looked at Shawn with dark, furious eyes.

“So that’s it. I thought…”

“You stole Ethan’s watch, and when he caught you, you attacked him! Shawn, you disgust me!”

A chill ran through Shawn. She believed Ethan without giving him a chance to explain.

He raised his bleeding hand, unable to hide the pain and despair in his voice.

“If you remember this watch, didn’t you notice that Ethan never wore it after you regained your sight? That’s because he never even knew it existed. He isn’t the one you think he…”

Before Shawn could finish, Martin slapped him.

His vision went dark, and he fell backward into the champagne tower.

Hundreds of glasses crashed down on him, soaking him.

He hit the floor hard, bruised and bleeding.

Caroline strode up to him, her face grim. She poured the red wine in her hand over his face and spoke sharply.

“Ethan stopped wearing it because it broke. We sent it for repairs, and the butler only brought it back today. You put it on while we were out. Were you planning to keep it?

“We put up with your behavior at home, but today is your brother’s birthday. You’ve disgraced our family in front of everyone!

“That watch was your grandfather’s most treasured possession. He left it to Ethan, the grandson he loved most. How could it possibly belong to you?”

Martin backed her up, and Wendy accepted their story as the truth.

She comforted Ethan, who looked deeply hurt, and wiped a smudge from his face.

Then she walked over to Shawn, knelt beside him, and lifted his injured wrist.

She removed the watch, wiped away the blood with a handkerchief, and fastened it around Ethan’s wrist as though it were precious.

“Ethan, this watch holds your grandfather’s love for you and the memories of our five years together. I won’t let anyone defile it.”

Then she turned to Martin, her voice icy.

“Mr. Yates, he stole from his own family. Doesn’t that call for punishment?”

Martin nodded repeatedly. He had someone bring him a whip and took it in his hand.

“Shawn’s actions today deserve fifty lashes! I failed to raise him properly, and I apologize for disrupting the celebration. I’ll punish my ungrateful son here, in front of everyone!”

He raised the whip and brought it down hard.

It struck Shawn with a sharp crack. The skin on his back split, and his whole body shook.

Blood streamed down, soon staining him red.

The pain blurred his thoughts. Broken moans escaped his throat.

“I didn’t steal it. That watch… was mine. Grandpa… gave it to me!”

Wendy showed no pity as Shawn struggled in a pool of blood. Ethan covered her eyes and led her away.

Shawn watched them disappear and closed his bloodshot eyes.

He bit down hard on his lips, smeared with blood and tears, and forced himself to make no more sound.

When the punishment ended, Martin and Caroline walked away without looking at him.

The guests and servers left too, mocking him as they went. No one came to help.

He lay battered on the cold floor until the lights went out.

Endless darkness closed around him.