Killed Me for Your Precious Angel? Now Pray She Can Save You from Hell - Chapter 49: Chapter 49

Kaiden stood there in his perfectly tailored suit, expression cold as steel, that commanding presence radiating from him like a warning.
Brooklyn's fingers trembled. She quickly turned to Alistar. "You should go."
Alistar didn't notice anything wrong, still talking. "When your papers come through, you—"
"Just go!" Her voice cracked with barely controlled panic. She looked at him desperately. "Please."
He blinked, confused, but finally nodded. "Okay. Be careful."
Brooklyn waited until his car disappeared down the driveway before turning around. Each step toward the mansion felt like walking to her execution.
Kaiden remained motionless on the steps, watching her with those dark, unreadable eyes.
Jesus, my heart's beating so loud he can probably hear it.
She was shaking all over, terrified of what was coming.
Would he explode? Would he break Alistar's hands like he used to do to any man who so much as looked at her?
But when he finally spoke, his voice was flat and emotionless:
"We have guests. Go prepare the coffee service."
Then he turned and walked inside, leaving her standing there like an idiot.
That's it? No screaming, no threats, no violence?
She stood frozen for a long moment, hardly daring to breathe.
He really doesn't remember. He really doesn't give a shit about me anymore.
Relief and something that felt suspiciously like heartbreak warred in her chest as she headed to the kitchen.
But when she carried the silver tray with coffee and petit fours into the living room, she stopped dead.
Sitting in the center of the sofa like a queen holding court was Karina Wingston—the woman from the news announcement.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan and Alina were clustered around her, all smiles as they discussed wedding plans in excited voices.
Kaiden sat slightly apart, not participating but listening with polite attention.
They look so fucking happy, Brooklyn thought bitterly. Like Christmas morning.
She kept her head down and approached quietly. "Your coffee, Miss Wingston."
Karina looked up with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you."
She reached for the delicate china cup, then suddenly "fumbled" it—
Scalding coffee splashed across Karina's cream Chanel blouse.
Before Brooklyn could even process what happened, Alina's hand cracked across her face.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?!"
Brooklyn opened her mouth to explain—"It wasn't me—"
But Alina was already shrieking, turning to Kaiden like a tattletale kid. "I've been trying to tell you! This nanny has been obsessed with you!"
She pointed at Brooklyn with disgust. "She steals your stuff, stares at you constantly—she's totally unhinged! Now that she knows you're engaged to Karina, she's gone completely psycho!"
This is insane. They're all insane.
Brooklyn's blood turned to ice. "I didn't do anything—"
But Karina was already speaking, tears glistening in her perfectly made-up eyes. "Kaiden, someone in your position will always attract... unstable people. If you don't handle this firmly, others might try the same thing."
Oh, you manipulative bitch.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan immediately chimed in: "Absolutely! She needs to be punished!"
Brooklyn's heart sank as understanding hit her like a freight train.
This was planned. All of it. They set me up.
And Kaiden hated nothing more than women who threw themselves at him.
Sure enough, his voice cut through the room like a blade: "Take her to the stables. Twenty lashes."
Without another glance, he scooped Karina into his arms and headed upstairs. "I'll call my private doctor."
Twenty lashes. Oh God.
Before Brooklyn could say another word, two security guards grabbed her arms and dragged her outside toward the horse stables behind the mansion.
The night air was freezing against her skin.
Alina followed them out, practically vibrating with excitement as she picked up a leather riding crop from the tack room.
"Finally," she breathed, eyes gleaming with malice. "You're mine now, you pathetic little slut."
She raised the crop high.
CRACK!
The first blow across Brooklyn's back sent fire through her nerves. She bit down hard on her lip to keep from screaming.
"That's for stealing my life!"
CRACK!
The second strike split through her thin sweater. She could feel warm blood starting to seep through the fabric.
"That's for seducing my brother!"
CRACK!
"And that's for being a worthless piece of trash!"
Don't scream. Don't give her the satisfaction.
But each strike of the crop felt like a branding iron. Blood ran down her back, soaking through her clothes and dripping onto the stable floor.
"Scream!" Alina shrieked, hitting harder. "Come on, where's all that attitude now? My brother can't save you anymore!"
Twenty lashes felt like two hundred.
Alina seemed determined to release years of jealousy and rage with each brutal strike. By the end, Brooklyn could barely stay upright.
All she could hear was Alina's vicious laughter and the sharp crack of leather against torn flesh.
When the final blow landed, Brooklyn's knees gave out. She collapsed onto the hay-strewn floor, the world going black around the edges.
Maybe this is how it ends. Maybe I just die here like the animal they think I am.