Chapter 4

Tears streamed down my cheeks.

Maverick released his hold on me when the teardrops splattered on his skin, acting as though he had been burned.

My face was covered in tears and snot as I collapsed in a heap on the ground, looking utterly pathetic.

Layla was quivering as she curled up next to me. "I don't want to go to school anymore, Mommy," she mumbled. "This place is so scary!"

"Your grandpa will stand up for us when he shows up later, Layla," I murmured in a low, comforting voice.

Rosalia locked arms with Maverick affectionately. She was just about to say something when she heard me. A cruel glint flickered in her eyes.

"I just thought of something, Maverick. A madwoman with lofty ambitions like her will keep bothering us if we don't teach her a lesson she'll never forget. I don't want to give her more chances to disgust us time and time again."

The other parents nodded in agreement.

"You need to be harsher when dealing with a shameless woman like her. That's the only way she'll learn her lesson."

"You have to deal with the root of the problem. Mr. Gibson, for the sake of your family, you can't go easy on her."

Maverick nodded before pinning me with his cold gaze. "I hope that you'll live a proper life after learning your lesson today. Stop trying to take shortcuts."

Realizing that something was amiss, I said, "I've already called the police. What do you think you're doing?"

A group of bodyguards clad in black surrounded me.

Rosalia shot an icy look at me and said, "Strip her of her clothes and beat her to a pulp! Make sure she learns her lesson and never entertains the idea of being a mistress again!"

The bodyguards began to roughly pull at my clothes before raining down kicks and punches on me.

Layla was also caught in the chaos and took a few hits. She cried out pitifully as a smattering of bruises began to appear on her small, pale body.

Meanwhile, fresh blood ran down my face. When I heard Layla's cries, I powered through the pain and lunged at her, shielding her with my own body.

"I'm the real daughter of the Jones family, Maverick! You're going to regret it if you don't tell them to stop!"

Rosalia scoffed and said, "As expected, she really has lost her mind. How dare she claim that she's the real heiress of the Jones family when I'm standing right here?"

"Don't be angry, honey," Maverick said comfortingly while looking at her gently. "She's not worth it."

The other parents began insulting me as well.

"She must have lost her mind. How dare she claim to be the daughter of the richest man in the country?"

"A madwoman like her should be locked up in a mental asylum. There's no telling if she's going to lose it one day and start stabbing people with a knife. Better safe than sorry."

My consciousness began to turn hazy as I shielded Layla from the bodyguards' kicks and punches.

Rosalia's cold voice suddenly sounded in my ear as she hissed, "I've been looking for you for a long time. I didn't expect you to deliver yourself to me on a silver platter. I can only become the real heiress of the Jones family once you're dead!"

I immediately realized that Rosalia was trying to take advantage of the situation and kill me after learning my true identity.

"Help… Help me…" I mumbled weakly, reaching out toward Maverick.

But Maverick just stood there with an indifferent expression.

Hopelessness spread through me as I began to lose consciousness. I couldn't help but wonder if Layla and I were destined to die here today.

The thought filled me with resentment.

Right before I fainted, I heard Maverick say, "Mr. Jones, meet your grandson. Jeremy, say hi to your grandfather."

"Out of my way, you shameless bastards! How dare you raise your hands against my daughter? I won't let any of you off the hook!"

I struggled to open my eyes and met Dad's worried gaze. My grievance reached its peak as I choked out, "Dad, they tried to kill me."