They were wrapped in black cloth and dumped on the floor like trash.
“S-Samantha…” Mom, who had lived a simple life and always had trouble speaking, trembled in front of Samantha.
“Don’t act like you know me!” Samantha snapped. She knocked a cup across the room, hitting Mom’s head with a loud crash.
Dad rushed to shield her, protecting her head with his large hand.
Samantha’s gaze swept over and lingered on Dad’s darkened nails, the result of years of hard labor. Her eyes were filled with disgust, and she spat out words laced with contempt.
She arrogantly spoke, “Your ungrateful son, Joziah, has been avoiding me because he doesn’t want to divorce me. Listen carefully. Parents are responsible for their children’s actions! As long as Joziah doesn’t show up, neither of you are leaving here!”
Dad lifted his weathered face and argued, “Joziah is a good kid. He’s always helped us, even working in the fields and cutting pigweed to help make ends meet. I won’t let you say such things about my son!”
Samantha stood up angrily. “Joziah is a criminal! He violated me, and I had to hire a team of lawyers to send him to prison for three years to turn over a new leaf.
“His sentence was up, and he should’ve begged me for forgiveness on his knees. But he’s too afraid that I’ll bring up the divorce the moment I see him. He’s hiding away, too scared to show his face. What kind of man is that? Calling him a man would be flattering!”
“No, you’re lying! Joziah isn’t like that! I won’t believe it!” Dad’s face flushed with anger. The humble man, who’d never been a fighter, suddenly lunged forward.
Samantha was momentarily startled, but her bodyguards reacted instantly. They overpowered Dad and pinned him to the ground.
Isaac arrived just then and saw what was happening. He turned to Samantha and asked how she wanted to handle it.
Samantha coldly responded, “These country bumpkins need to have every bone in their bodies broken!”
Isaac hesitated, his face showing concern. “They’re Joziah’s adopted parents, and they’re already old. Isn’t that a little too much?”
Samantha was resolute. “They raised a piece of trash like Joziah, so they must be just as bad. Even if I were to kill them today, it would be a service to society!”
“No! Don’t hurt my parents!!” Rage and regret surged through me. I was so enraged that my eyes turned bloodshot.
I rushed forward to stop them, but my soul passed right through them.
I could only watch helplessly as Dad was pinned to the ground, his leg joints shattered with sickening crunches. His bones pierced through his skin, bloodied and white, showing the immense pain he was enduring.
Mom screamed and collapsed, blood spilling from her mouth as she passed out.
And yet, Samantha showed no emotion at all. She even instructed her assistant, Billie Shaw, to record the scene of Mom’s and Dad’s suffering.
I could feel my anger consuming me.
How had I ever hoped for anything from this woman? She had no feelings for me at all.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed in the hall.
“We’ve got a problem, Ms. Langley! The—”
Before he could finish, the villa’s door burst open, and a group of armed police officers stormed in.
“Ms. Langley, we’ve received a tip from a neighbor about illegal activities taking place here. We’ve gathered enough evidence. Please come with us!”
Within moments, Mom and Dad were rescued by the police. They were taken to a corner to be comforted.
Dad, gravely injured, was unconscious and rushed to the hospital.
Mom suddenly woke up. She gripped the hands of the officers and shook uncontrollably. “Please bring Joziah back! Please bring my son back!”
Matilda, who usually struggled to speak, somehow managed to say those words clearly.
The Hendersons never told Mom and Dad that I was locked away in prison by both families. They always thought I had gone missing.
I couldn’t imagine the depth of despair Mom endured during those years while I was “missing”.
After countless failed attempts to seek help, how many times did she repeat those painful words, hoping that one day, a savior would appear and bring me back?
The police officer’s face softened with sympathy. “Your son is… already dead.”
Samantha’s face went deathly pale. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
