Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 46

A sharp crack echoed in the room as Lillian felt a searing pain across her cheek. Her words, stripping away his hypocrisy and selfishness, had finally pushed Martin Mercer too far. He had slapped her, hard.

Lillian didn't flinch or retreat an inch. She met his furious gaze and offered her other cheek. "Go on, hit me again! Over here!"

The single slap hadn't been enough to quell Martin's rage. He raised his hand to strike her again, but as his eyes met hers, he froze. There was something in her gaze that stunned him into inaction. His raised hand fell limply to his side.

Lillian's voice was low and filled with finality. "Martin Mercer, if you don't hit me again today, you will never lay another finger on me for the rest of your life."

"Lillian, I won't argue about this in front of your grandmother," Martin said, backing down. "I've dedicated my entire life to this family. You, your brothers, even your insane mother—you all live under my protection to this day. What right do you have to call me selfish? You served two years in prison for this family, a small price, and you complain endlessly and defy me. We ask you to make one simple introduction for the family, to bring in some resources, and you act so high and mighty, thinking we're begging you? You even drove Sabrina to attempt suicide. Lillian, you are getting more and more out of line. I'm telling you, as long as you refuse to obey, you will never see your grandmother or your mother again. Guards! Get this ungrateful girl out of here!"

Lillian walked back to the bed and gently placed her grandmother's hand back under the covers, tucking her in. Then she turned to face Martin Mercer. "You don't have to throw me out. And you don't need to threaten me with my grandmother and my mother. Once I've made all the arrangements, I will be back to take them away."

"You dare!" Martin roared. "Your grandmother is my mother, and your mother is still legally my wife! You'll take them over my dead body!"

Lillian let out a cold laugh. "Oh, so now you remember that my mother is your wife? The wife you abandoned in a psychiatric hospital without a second thought, while you brought your mistress and her daughter into our home to be worshiped like goddesses, even forcing your own daughter to take the fall for your mistress's child."

Her words were sharp, leaving Martin no shred of dignity. His expression was a mixture of shock and surprise.

Lillian shot him a cold, dismissive glance and walked out of her grandmother's room. She had never been the quiet, awkward programmer they thought she was. She had once burned as brightly as the sun, full of talent and charisma. When had she changed so much? When had she become this person who was no longer herself? Was it her love for her family, her willingness to yield, that had made them all forget her fiery, untamable spirit? And now, was just a small glimpse of her former self enough to leave her father so utterly stunned?

Outside the room, the two sets of bodyguards were still locked in a tense standoff. "Let's go," Lillian said simply, and her men followed her out.

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