Chapter 1

For a moment, the air turned heavy. Rebecca Allen's face darkened instantly. "What did you say?"

My mother-in-law, Sasha Allen, exploded. "You and that unlucky wretch are the reason this family has had no peace! And you have the nerve to bring up divorce? You haven't paid for your sins, and you think you can just walk away? Dream on!"

The bodyguards at Sasha's side swiftly closed in and yanked my daughter, Melissa Booker, away from me.

Melissa wailed in anguish, crying for her mom over and over.

Rebecca pressed her lips together and took a deep breath. She leaned in and spoke quietly into my ear, "Don't threaten divorce. This is what we owe Sebastian. Just hold on a little longer."

My whole body shook as I stared hard at her profile.

I had endured it for five years, and for five years, my daughter had suffered.

I had to hand over my paycheck and report every expense to Rebecca each month. Even the money for Melissa's hospital bills when she fell sick, I had gotten by kneeling in front of her mother and begging.

Behind my mother-in-law, Sebastian Holman rubbed his reddened eyes, his mind on his son, Tyler Holman. "Mom, we're running out of time. Tyler's still running a high fever. We have to hurry, or he'll be in danger."

Sasha's expression turned stern, and she shot a look at the bodyguards beside her.

Melissa and I were shoved into a car.

We were taken to the family chapel on the Allen estate.

The first thing I saw was a brazier outside the door, nearly twenty inches high.

Flames roared inside it, and Melissa hid in my arms, terrified.

"Jump over the brazier and burn away the bad luck. Only then will my grandson be safe and sound," Sasha said hoarsely.

"Mike, you and Melissa owe Hailey her life!"

Melissa was so frightened that her face went white. She clutched the hem of my shirt hard. "Daddy, I'm scared. I don't want to do it..."

Rebecca crouched down, showing rare patience. She stroked Melissa's hair again and again. "Be a good girl, Melissa. Tyler will only get better if you jump over the fire. It'll be over in no time.

"Just close your eyes and run across. Afterward, Mommy will buy you some cake, okay?"

I stared at Rebecca in disbelief. "That fire is huge. Have you even thought about what happens if Melissa slips and..."

Rebecca cut me off. "All of us adults are right here. We know what we're doing."

My heart went cold.

Rebecca had gone through so much just to get pregnant with Melissa. She had endured one shot after another to keep the pregnancy and swallowed box after box of pills. She had labored for an entire day and night to bring Melissa into the world.

Yet now, she could push Melissa toward that twenty-inch brazier without a moment's hesitation.

Beside her, Sasha ran out of patience completely. While I wasn't looking, she snatched Melissa up. Melissa thrashed and struggled.

I tried to rush forward, but a bodyguard kicked me hard in the stomach. The pain was so intense that my vision went black, and I nearly passed out.

Eventually, Melissa cried herself out.

Sebastian pushed her toward the brazier from behind.

The flames caught the hem of her clothes in an instant. Melissa screamed and rolled on the ground in agony.

Someone threw a basin of water over her and put the fire out.

But Melissa's arm had been scorched black by the fierce flames.

I scrambled over to her on my hands and knees as tears spilled from my eyes. "You're insane. You're all insane!"

Sebastian still refused to let it go. He murmured at Sasha's side, "Tyler's fever still hasn't broken. I just asked the psychic. We will have to beat the bad luck out of her."

Rebecca's face clouded over. She opened her mouth. "Mom, surely that's enough..."

Sasha glared at her. "Think about when your sister died. Can you still say that?"

She snatched up a wooden board and, ignoring everyone who tried to stop her, swung it hard at Melissa.

I shielded Melissa and took the blow on the back of my neck. Blood welled up in my throat.

"Don't blame me, Mike. I'm doing this for your own good, and Melissa's. Once the bad luck is beaten out, the Allen family will thrive!"