Chapter 7

Joy flagged down a car by the roadside and made her way home.

Little did she know that she would see a heart-wrenching scene as soon as she entered the building.

Wrapped in a blanket, Charmaine was curled up on the couch, looking like a wounded kitten.

Leon was beside her, cautiously feeding her soup, spoonful by spoonful. Out of the corner of his eye, Leon saw Joy. His gaze was like a sharp knife, carrying an almost tangible sense of disgust.

"How dare you come back!" Hector strode forward and slapped Joy hard.

Joy felt the world spin and almost lost her balance.

"I know you're unhappy about Charmaine's return, but she's your sister after all. Aren't you afraid of traumatizing her with such a prank? If Leon hadn't arrived in time, who knows what would have happened?!"

Charmaine was inwardly gloating but hypocritically advised, "Dad, don't hit Joy. I'm fine, aren't I?"

"Don't speak up for this brat!" " Hector's chest rose and fell violently, looking extremely furious.

Joy stood still, her ears buzzing.

The next second, Leon, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "Apologize to Charmaine." The man's tone was icy.

Joy gritted her teeth. She did not know where she got the courage from, but she retorted, "I won't apologize."

She understood it when the kidnappers tortured her. Charmaine had arranged the kidnapping to frame her and make her the vicious sister.

She did nothing wrong. Why should she apologize?

Charmaine sighed and pretended to be generous. "Forget it, Leon. Joy probably didn't do it on purpose. I don't want to ruin our bond as sisters..."

"She almost killed you. Is it too much to ask for an apology?" Leon stared at Joy, the disgust in his eyes intensifying.

When did Joy become so wild and unruly?

Hector was also angered by Joy's stubbornness. He grabbed Joy's arm and dragged her over to Charmaine. It was when Joy groaned in pain that he noticed that her arm was densely covered with burns. Hector frowned.

Just when he was about to ask what happened, he heard Leon say icily, "You put yourself in such a state to frame Charmaine. Joy, you really took the words 'by any means necessary' to a whole new level."

Hector heard this, and his confusion instantly dissipated, replaced by a stronger sense of fury. He grabbed Joy's shoulders and pressed down hard, forcing her to kneel heavily on the ground. "You exist because of me, but it seems that you have completely forgotten this!"

Joy raised her head numbly and met Leon's icy gaze.

He hugged Charmaine, looking condescending as if he was examining a prisoner, while Joy knelt in front of him, her dignity long since crushed.

Leon was inexplicably uneasy about her stubborn gaze. He repeated coldly. "Joy, as long as you apologize to Charmaine, I can let this matter go."

Joy burst into laughter when she heard that. She glared at Leon with red eyes and uttered, "Let me repeat myself. I won't apologize. You can kill me or cut me up as you like."

Leon froze, and the little pity left in his eyes disappeared.

After that, Hector continued to beat and scold her.

Joy was already very weak, and she soon lay on the ground and lost consciousness.

...

Joy had no idea how long she had been unconscious. When she woke up, the living room was empty. She endured the excruciating pain all over her body, supported herself on the couch with both hands, and staggered back to her room to check her luggage.

Before closing the suitcase, Charmaine's voice came from behind.

Charmaine leaned against the door frame with a contemptuous smile. "Do you like the farewell gift I prepared for you? I wanted to keep you until the engagement party so that you could give me and Leon your blessing, but unfortunately, Dad refused.

"He felt that you had humiliated the Quinn family and didn't want you to stay here for a second longer.

"Joy, never come back after you leave. After all, this family is only complete without you. Also, thank you for being my husband's free plaything for two years. You made sure that he wasn't so lonely without me.”

Joy pursed her lips tightly and said nothing.

The suitcase closed with a thud, also sealing her last trace of nostalgia she felt for this family.

Before dawn the next day, Joy boarded a flight to go abroad. She left resolutely. Before boarding the plane, she deleted all of Leon's contact information without hesitation.

The plane flew across the vast sky, leaving white chemtrails and completely ending her disgraceful past.