Chapter 31

"Slap your daughter's face. You won’t stop until I say so. If you hesitate or don’t hit her hard enough, I’ll have two men slap her a hundred times each—with the soles of their shoes."

Olivia froze. "Mrs. Bennett, what... what did you just say?"

Victoria was so terrified that her legs gave out, collapsing to the floor in tears.

Margaret had no intention of repeating herself. She simply stared at Olivia. "Will you do it, or should I find someone else?"

"Me! I'll do it!" Olivia scrambled forward and raised her hand, delivering a sharp slap across Victoria’s face.

"Mother—" Victoria whimpered, her voice trembling.

"Better me than two men with their shoes," Olivia muttered before striking again, this time harder. The blow landed on Victoria’s right cheek, leaving an immediate red mark.

Olivia didn’t hold back.

She couldn’t risk displeasing Margaret.

Victoria stifled her cries, too afraid to beg for mercy.

The slaps continued until Olivia’s hands were swollen and aching, her breath ragged from exertion. Victoria’s face had ballooned, her cheeks a deep, mottled red, resembling raw meat.

She looked grotesque—like a bloated, beaten pig.

Alice felt no pity.

Margaret finally waved a hand, exhaustion settling in as she reclined on the hospital bed. "Enough. Take your daughter and get out of my sight."

Olivia hauled Victoria up by the arm, the girl barely coherent from the beating, and they stumbled out of the room.

Once they were outside, Olivia seethed, her voice a venomous whisper. "Alice Carter… I’ll make you pay for this. Double."

Victoria sobbed, her words slurred from the swelling. "Mother… my face… How am I supposed to go to the Knight family like this? Alexander won’t even look at me now!"

Back in the ward, Margaret took Alice’s hand, her grip weak but firm. "Alice, I know how good you’ve been to me. And I want you to know—even though I’m bedridden and fading, I still have some influence left."

She paused, her breath labored. "There’s a family banquet at Knight Manor in two days. I want you and Alexander to attend together."

Alice stiffened.

A Knight family banquet?

She hadn’t heard a word about it.

Alexander wouldn’t share such details with an outsider like her.

And even if there was a banquet, the woman on his arm should be Victoria—not her.

Before Alice could refuse, Margaret spoke again. "I know you hate these events, but I need you to go. My greatest regret is never being accepted by the Knights. Now that I’m like this… I’ll never step foot in that house again. Go in my place, Alice. Please."

Tears welled in Alice’s eyes. "Alright… I’ll go. I’ll take pictures of everything—just for you."

Margaret smiled weakly. "You’ve always been the daughter I never had."

"Rest now," Alice murmured, standing. "Visiting hours are almost over."

She left the hospital, unaware that Alexander had already received a call from Nathaniel.

"Sir, Alice just left Mrs. Bennett’s room."

Alexander’s voice was clipped. "And the test results from her bag?"

Nathaniel hesitated. "Confirmed. Alice is pregnant."