Mandy grabbed her mother’s arm and quickly backed away, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction.
Mr. Sullivan pointed at Abriella’s back and roared, “Ever since you moved out, you think you’re too good for us! You humiliated your sister in front of everyone, slapped her right at the party! And now you dare talk back to your parents? Is this because of that nobody you’re seeing?”
Even as pain burned across her back, Abriella slowly straightened up. Her voice was rough but steady.
“This isn’t about him. Mandy asked for it.”
“You still have the nerve to talk back?”
The whip cracked down again, harder this time.
“If Mandy wasn’t handling all those businesses for you, would you have this kind of freedom? Why can’t you just listen for once?”
Crack.
Crack.
The blows landed in quick succession. Soon, blood stained the back of Abriella’s shirt, her skin split open.
She bit her lip, fists clenched tight, refusing to make a sound.
Mr. Sullivan, panting, demanded, “Are you going to apologize or not?”
Abriella lifted her chin stubbornly, blood trickling from her mouth. She gave a broken, determined smile, eyes full of defiance.
“If you really have the guts, just beat me to death.”
“Fine! That’s what you want? Fine!”
Mr. Sullivan’s face twisted in rage. He raised the whip again, throwing all his strength behind it.
“Tonight, you’ll learn what happens when a Sullivan daughter refuses to obey!”
…
Outside the mansion, Emmy sat in her car. She’d been waiting almost two hours, and the worry in her chest only grew heavier.
She couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed her phone and called Steve.
“Steve, are you almost here?”
Thumping club music blasted on the other end. Steve sounded as relaxed as ever.
“Chill, Emmy. I checked with the Sullivans’ housekeeper. They just set Abriella up with some rich guy again. It’s nothing serious. Happens all the time.”
He answered on the first ring.
“Emmy?”
“Will, Abriella’s family has locked her up. She’s in real danger!”
“Send me the address.”
Without hesitating, Emmy sent him her location.
Less than half an hour later, the rumble of an engine grew louder at the Sullivan mansion.
A fire truck screeched to a stop in front of the gate.
The door swung open and Will jumped out from the driver’s seat. He was still in his firefighter uniform, soot smudged across his face, his eyes fierce and determined.
Several tall teammates in matching uniforms piled out behind him.
Will rushed straight to Emmy’s car, his voice urgent.
“Emmy, is Abriella inside that house?”

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