Chapter 4

One cut, two cuts... The sharp blade sliced through Ian's skin, and blood immediately gushed out. He couldn't help screaming in agony.

His body gradually turned cold, and his vision began to blur.

"Ian, I bought your favorite apricot pie. I was in line for an hour..." Tammy walked in with a smile.

However, when she saw what was happening, her eyes went bloodshot as she kicked the bodyguard away. She chided, "Who gave you the nerve to do this? Are you asking for trouble?"

Selena frowned and clutched Tammy's wrist. "I ordered it. Calm down—"

"He's my fiancé. How can you expect me to be calm?" Tammy's usually carefree eyes suddenly shone with chilling iciness. "If anything happens to Ian, I'll have you buried with him!"

Her eyes filled with killing intent.

Anthony's eyes flashed with calculation as he rubbed his red eyes and choked out, "Tammy, it's all my fault. Ian blamed me for Mrs. Gibson's death and tried to stab me to avenge her. Selena panicked and had the bodyguard intimidate him..."

"He stabbed you with a knife?" Tammy's expression changed abruptly, and she examined Anthony from head to toe. "Are you injured? Where's the doctor?"

Ian lay in a pool of blood, with a sarcastic smile on his lips.

No matter how badly he was injured, as long as Anthony was there, their guilt would vanish without a trace, and they would unhesitatingly side with him.

Anthony looked pitiful. "I'm fine. Ian seems to have passed out. Tammy, go take care of him."

Tammy sneered, "Take care of him? He was badly bitten by those mastiffs. I stayed by his side all night and arranged for the best doctors to treat him, yet he still dared to lay a hand on you.

"Since he refuses to change, I'll lock him in the basement so he can reflect on his actions!"

She showed no mercy, locking Ian in the basement as a cacophony of piercing sounds rang around him.

He had a vision of his mother weeping tears of blood as her body was mangled and dripping with gore from the Mastiffs' attack. She dragged herself toward him through a trail of blood. "Ian, it hurts so much... Save me..."

Trembling in agony, Ian clutched his head and repeatedly confessed, "Mom, I'm sorry! I caused this. I'm coming down to join you now!"

An angry shout rang from a distance. "Who turned off the lights? He's claustrophobic and terrified of the dark!"

It no longer mattered whether it was Selena or Tammy.

In a daze, Ian hurled himself against the wall.

Just before collapsing, he thought he heard a familiar, anxious voice. "Ian!"

Some time later, he felt a long-absent warmth. Tammy's forehead was beaded with sweat as she held him tightly.

Tammy held back her anger. "I only locked you up for a night. Was it really necessary to play the victim to the point of attempting suicide?

"I haven't slept in two days just to plan our wedding! Can't you just behave?"

Ian's eyes were vacant as he forced a smile. "A wedding? You drove my mother to her death. Did you actually think I'd marry the woman who killed her?"

Seeing his hollow gaze and expressionless face, Tammy paused. She felt as though something had pierced her heart. "Ian, I—"

Just then, a bodyguard rushed in, looking frantic. "Ms. Tammy, Mr. Shaw has suddenly started vomiting and suffering from diarrhea. It looks like... like he's been possessed."

Tammy immediately put down the cotton swab she was holding. "Deal with the cut on your forehead yourself. I'll go check on Anthony."

However, before she could leave, Anthony pushed the door open and entered.

"Tammy, I dreamt of Ian's mother. She's turned into a vengeful spirit, and she wants the child in Selena's womb to pay for her life with its own!" His face was deathly pale as his voice trembled with a tearful edge.

Tammy tried to soothe him gently.

Eventually, unable to refuse his insistence, she hired an exorcist to perform an exorcism.

As the exorcist examined the situation, his expression turned to one of horror. "This isn't a vengeful spirit claiming a life. It's the work of the living! Someone has used demonic charms to curse Mr. Shaw, cursing him to a wretched death and eternal damnation!"

Sure enough, the bodyguards discovered demonic charms hidden within the lining of Anthony's pillow, stained sinisterly with blood.

"That's it! That's the one!"

Anthony wailed incessantly, demanding a blood comparison test.

All evidence pointed toward Ian.

The exorcist looked grave. "This is a truly vicious curse. To break it, the person who cast it must kneel and transcribe 99 copies of ures in their own blood. Only then can Mr. Shaw and his child be kept safe!"

Ian found the whole thing absurd as he watched their charade unfold.

He forced a smile and looked at Tammy. "Do you really believe this?"

She had never believed in the supernatural. Someone had once tried to pull a charade involving spirits and trickery in her presence and ended up with both legs broken.

This time, Tammy sighed and whispered into his ear, "I know Anthony bought off this exorcist, but he's just having a little fit. He means no real harm. After all, he is your younger brother. Just humor him."

Sarcasm flickered in the depths of Ian's eyes. "What if I refuse?"

Tammy had initially felt a twinge of sympathy, but her expression turned cold at his retort. "Ian, my patience has its limits."

Her gaze dropped to his legs. "If you refuse, I'll shatter the bones in your legs, section by section, leaving you to spend the rest of your life on your knees. You'll never stand again.

"You can walk over there yourself, or have your legs broken and be carried into the family chapel.

"The choice is yours."