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“Daddy, are you threatening me? Mom, did you hear that? Daddy’s threatening me again!”
Peyton’s voice came through the phone:
“Oliver! If you lay one finger on Maya, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!”
I already regretted it.
Regretted marrying her. Regretted having Lily with her. Regretted letting my innocent girl suffer like this.
The sixth nail came out.
Lily had passed out.
I patted her cheek gently. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at me weakly.
“Daddy… it hurts…”
“I know, sweetheart. It’ll be over soon.”
My tears fell on her face.
Seventh.
Eighth.
Excited by the smell of blood, the wolves were right at the edge of the cage now. Their claws reached in, nearly scraping Lily’s feet.
I blocked them with my body, feeling sharp pain as claws raked my back.
Ninth nail.
Only one left.
Lily had lost too much blood. Her face was deathly pale.
My hands shook as I gripped the pliers, aiming at the last nail.
This one was driven deepest — almost through her entire calf.
With a brutal pull, the last nail came out.
Lily went completely unconscious.
I lifted her and stumbled toward the cage door.
It was locked.
Lily was bleeding heavily. Her face was as white as paper.
I beat against the bars, my voice hoarse.
“Help! Is anyone there? Save my daughter!”
Yet only the growls of beasts answered.
My phone vibrated. Peyton’s voice came through, cold as a knife:
“Oliver, are you done yet? My men say you’re taking this too far. Why won’t you wrap it up?”
I screamed desperately: “Peyton! Lily’s really dying! Come save her!”
“Don’t test me! Stop this pathetic act now, or you’ll pay the price!”
The call ended.
I tried calling 911 — no signal in this remote area.
Outside, the bodyguards chatted:
“Sir’s really committed. Crying like it’s real.”
“Yeah, those prop nails look legit.”
I shook the cage like a madman. Lily’s blood dripped onto my face, warm and stinging.
Just then, I received a video from Maya.
She and Peyton were having dining at a fancy restaurant. Candlelight flickered as Maya sweetly fed Peyton cake.
Caption: Daddy, Mom says if you keep acting up, she’ll have to personally… “coach Lily’s acting”. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
My heart shattered completely.
