Betrayed I Upgraded to His Billionaire Brother novel Chapter 117

Chapter 117

The butler, stationed outside the door, heard the commotion and rushed in. His face dark, he pulled me back downstairs!

My eyes were red–rimmed. The moment I reached Margaret, I dropped to my knees. “Grandmother, who did this? They were so…”

… wonderful.

But I bit the word back at the last second, leaving even Margaret looking at me with suspicion.

“Are you sure you had nothing to do with this?”

“It had nothing to do with me!”

I truly couldn’t guess who had hurt Theodore.

Gavin’s name flickered vaguely in my mind, but when he left the hotel last night, he’d made it clear he wanted nothing more to do with my problems. Why would he suddenly do this to Theodore?

Besides, Theodore was still his blood relative.

Still, in all of New York, few would dare injure Theodore this severely.

Other than him, I couldn’t think of anyone else.

Margaret stared at my face for a long time before speaking, her voice grim. “Take her out to kneel.”

This was directed at the butler.

“Yes.”

After he acknowledged the order, the butler looked at me. “Miss Windsor, please come with me.”

I sensed something different.

Normally, they’d just order me to go kneel. This time, the butler was personally escorting me.

I understood soon enough.

He led me to the lake in the back courtyard. “Please.”

They wanted me to kneel on the ice.

I clenched my fists, took off my coat and laid it on the ground–so I wouldn’t be weighed down by waterlogged heavy clothes if I fell through later.

Then I stepped onto the ice in the utter darkness.

The sky was still heavy and overcast. I couldn’t see which parts of the ice were thin or thick. Every step was a gamble.

But it was useless anyway.

This was a natural lake, with only a small portion extending into the estate’s backyard.

Even with the low temperatures, the whole surface wasn’t solid. Even if I was lucky enough to find a thick spot to kneel, body heat alone would melt

the ice.

Sooner or later, I’d plunge into the bone–chilling water.

Chapter 117

If Margaret willed it, I could die out here, and no one would ever find me.

Soon, I was shivering uncontrollably. Just as I was about to kneel, the butler on the shore spoke. “The Madam orders that once you kneel, you are not to move.”

My heart sank.

Then I heard him add, “Later, someone will take you to the main hall for your punishment.”

I let out a quiet breath. At least they didn’t plan to kill me tonight.

But in the dead of winter, by the time I fell through the ice and then endured whatever other punishment awaited me in the main hall, the cold would have half–killed me already.

I understood now. It didn’t matter if I’d hurt Theodore, or if I knew who did.

Margaret just needed someone to bear the brunt of her fury.

Soon, my teeth were chattering. The ice beneath my knees was already starting to melt.

Margaret’s methods had grown crueler.

When I knelt on that familiar path of small stones, it was painful, but at least I didn’t have to think.

Out here, every second was filled with the fear of the unknown–not knowing when the ice would give way with a crack and a splash.

What people fear most is uncertainty.

Third–person POV

The butler returned to the main hall under the moonlight and approached Margaret.

“Madam, she is kneeling.”

“Did she say anything?” Margaret picked up her coffee cup.

The butler answered truthfully, “No. As you know, Miss Windsor has always been… obedient.”

Margaret snorted coldly, slamming the cup down without taking a sip. Her clouded eyes were full of malice. “Obedient? I think she’s been fooling all of

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