"Don’t you dare lay a finger on him." Penny’s voice rang out, firm and authoritative.
The guards froze. The whips in their hands dropped to the floor with a dull thud.
They lowered their heads instantly. "W-We’re sorry, Miss Penny," they said in unison, their voices trembling.
Ariana’s eyes widened in disbelief.
What did they just call her?
Miss?
Penny?
A laugh nearly escaped her lips. They had no right to bow to Penny. She’s nothing but a useless girl, a bastard, and an unwanted person.
"Are you all insane?!" Ariana’s shrill voice cracked like glass. "What do you an by sorry? She’s no one! I gave you the orders. Not her!"
She turned to the guards, fire blazing in her eyes. "Continue. I said beat him until I say stop."
One of the guards swallowed hard and shook his head. "I’m sorry, Miss Ariana... but Miss Penny has spoken. We were told Master’s wife must be respected above all."
Ariana’s face twisted in rage. Respected?
Penny? That stupid girl who should have never been born?
"You’re listening to her over ? Are you all insane? Do you all have death wishes?" Ariana hissed.
"Do you even know what she is? A stain. A mistake. A product of sha. She shouldn’t even be here breathing the sa air as us!"
"We’re sorry Miss Ariana. But we only know Miss Penny as our master’s wife therefore we must obey her." The guards stood their ground. They have been given orders, and they couldn’t go against it.
Penny was already kneeling beside Osvaldo, gently touching his bloodied face. She had no idea what this man had been through, but she felt pity for him. No matter what, he does not deserve such treatnt from these people.
"Hughes, get a few servants. We need to take him back to the penthouse," Penny said softly, steadying Osvaldo’s head on her lap.
"But Master is badly hurt... shouldn’t we call a doctor?" Hughes asked, voice full of concern.
"No need," Penny replied calmly, her gaze never leaving Osvaldo’s face. She is a doctor and can handle Osvaldo’s injury.
A few guards stepped forward, guilt all over their faces. "We... we can carry him, Madam. We don’t need help."
Before Penny could reply, a shriek tore through the dungeon.
"Carry him?" Ariana scread, this ti her face had already gotten so red with anger.
"I asked you to whip him more and you’re offering to help him?"
"Who do you think you’re all disrespecting?" Ari yelled.
You’re siding with a girl that couldn’t ta this monster? We all tested her. You all were there. How dare you pick her over ?" She stamped her feet on the floor, her voice high-pitched.
The guards looked between themselves but none moved as Ariana spoke.
They had all beaten their master into an unrecognizable state, what more does she want them to do?
This girl standing before them truly is a witch. Does she want to kill their master?
"Fine," Ariana hissed, her chest rising and falling fast. "If you won’t beat him, I will."
She marched toward the scattered whips on the floor, grabbing two in each hand like a demon from hell.
The guards shifted, ready to stop her, but Penny raised her hand. Her voice was low.
"Let her." She wanted to see what her gullible sister wanted to do. If only Ari knew what she had gotten into.
Ariana smirked, thinking she’d won. She took two steps toward Osvaldo, but before she could unleash the whip on his battered skin.
SLAP!
A loud crack echoed in the dungeon. The whips fell from her hands.
Penny stood tall, palm still raised, eyes cold and sharp like a knife.
"I told you not to touch him," she said, voice sharp enough to cut through steel.
Ariana held her cheek, eyes wide with disbelief, lips trembling.
"You... You slapped ?" she whispered, voice cracking. "You dare slap ?!" She launched at her elder sister, ready to fight her, but Penny pushed her aside quickly to see her bottom land on the hard floor.
The servants standing there almost laughed at how their little madam fell with her legs wide open.
Heavy footsteps echoed imdiately. Chris charged forward like a thunderstorm, his face twisted with anger.
"Penelope!" he roared. "How dare you raise your hand against Ariana?! Are you tired of living?!" Besides him was Ariana’s maids, she had hurried to call the rest of the family mbers when she saw matters were getting out of hand.
Before Penny could answer, Gregory and Abby appeared at the dungeon entrance.
"What’s going on here?" Gregory barked, his eyes narrowing on Penny and his favorite daughter-in-law on the floor.
Penny t his eyes without fear. "Why, can’t a big sister discipline her bratty little sister?"
Gregory’s eyes flashed.
Penny continued, her voice calm but piercing. "I’ve been too soft on her. It’s ti soone taught her manners."
"I didn’t do anything!" Ariana cried, throwing herself into Chris’s arms. "I was just doing what Mother told to do. Punish the madman for hurting my sister. What cri have I committed?" Ari cried more.
"You did nothing wrong?" Penny snapped. Her eyes glinted with fury. "You ordered the guards to kill my husband. What do you think will happen if he dies?!"
Abby’s eyes widened. Only then did her gaze fall on Osvaldo’s motionless form and she gasped. "What... what have you done, Ariana?!"
"I—I only did what you told !" Ariana stamred, panicking.
"Foolish girl!" Abby raised her hand and slapped Ariana hard across the face. By now, Ariana was so sure her cheeks would never remain the sa due to the endless slaps.
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