Page 97 of Billionaire’s Cruelty

My headache roared back. My ears were ringing.

20

June

“Where?”

I hadn’t felt anything. From Wendy’s reaction, I knew it couldn’t be that serious, otherwise, she would have been screaming at the top of her lungs.

Everyone was staring at me. Suddenly, I felt like I was trapped in one of my nightmares—standing in the middle of the school hall in my pajamas, wearing the wrong shoes, as everyone turned to laugh.

I braced myself, convinced the laughter was about to begin.

“Look what you did,” Kai said, his sharp gaze piercing through his mother.

She folded her arms across her chest, completely unapologetic. “That whore deserved it.”

Never in my life had I been called a whore. And I had no idea what I had done to deserve the title.

I touched my face, glancing down at my fingers. Blood. Not much, but enough. It stung when I pressed.

“I’m okay,” I muttered lamely.

I hated confrontations. And Kai’s mother had come here prepared for one. My gut told me she wouldn’t leave without getting what she came for. Sooner or later, I would have to meet her halfway. But right now, I didn’t have the energy to deal with her.

Tears had been streaming down Lucy’s face since the moment she stepped inside. Judging by her smeared makeup, they had started long before she got here. I had so many questions for her, and I was sure Kai did too. She had disappeared with Jenny—and now, after all this time, she was suddenly here.

She owed us an explanation.

Kai’s mother pulled a card from her white, diamond-studded Birkin bag and held it out. “Here. There’s one million dollars in this card. Take it and leave.”

She flicked the card across the room like some kind of magician performing a card trick.

“What the fuck are you doing? And how the hell did you even get into the building?” Kai’s voice was sharp, laced with frustration.

Mrs. Li ignored his questions, pacing around him in her flawless white suit—probably couture. Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she tipped forward on her toes, scrutinizing him.

“Can’t you see what this whore is doing to you?” she spat “Not only are you raising your voice to me, but you’re also swearing at me—over her. Do you not see how this woman has poisoned your mind?”

Kai scoffed. “Mother, I’ve had enough of you controlling my life. I respect you for raising me, for doing it alone, but you don’t get to dictate who I date.”

Wendy nudged me and pressed a small box into my hands, marked with a red cross.

“Do you need help?” Kai’s voice softened as he turned to me, concern flickering in his eyes. It was like he had a switch—loud one second, tender the next. The shift was seamless, effortless.

I shook my head and silently followed Wendy into the kitchen.

I splashed cool water onto my face at the sink, relieved to finally have a moment of peace. But when I turned around, the entire party had followed me, scattered throughout the space.

“If anything happens to her face⁠—”

“So what?” Mrs. Li cut in before anyone could finish. “She can pay for plastic surgery herself with the money I’m giving her. Hell, I’ll give her another million. Money is not an issue.”

She waved a dismissive hand, her voice dripping with disdain.

For a fleeting moment, when she had finally let me walk away from that hallway, I thought maybe she had softened. Maybe she felt guilty for clawing into my skin with her needle-sharp nails.

But no.