Chapter 282
‘Don’t think I don’t know the score Your man swindled your daughter out of a kidney, leaving her with just one. If I took that one, shed be done for I don’t fancy having blood on my hands–too much quilt in that So, it’s better to go for yours instead.”
He barked out an order “Okay, guys, let’s make this quick.
Miranda went white as a sheet. She never thought she’d find herself in such a filthy mess. She snatched up a rock from the ground and smacked it against the man’s head, then, with shaky legs, she scrambled away as fast as she could manage.
The men laughed uproariously behind her. They trailed after her without hurry.
Miranda wished she could sprout wings and fly away, she crawled until her strength gave out, feeling utterly hopeless and helpless. “Why’d you stop?” The man crouched down, flicked the cigarette from his mouth, and pressed it against her cheek
A Miranda let out a howl of pain, but the searing physical pain was nothing compared to the terror clutching her heart. “Get away from med
ack off!”
The men burst into laughter at her fear–stricken face. “Don’t run. We’ll make it quick. It won’t hurt a bit. I promise. You really don’t appreciate the favor. We’re doing you a service by picking your kidney.”
Miranda curled up into a ball. “Don’t touch me. My daughter’s fiercely loyal. If you lay a finger on me, she’ll make sure you regret it.” “Your daughter?” The man sneered, “You pushed her into hell. She wouldn’t care if you lived or died.” With that, he suddenly yanked up her shirt, revealing her pale skin.
Miranda’s face drained of color. Pure terror showed on her face. Then came a humiliating sound. She lost control of herself. The air immediately reeked with the stench. The men covered their noses. “Way to kill the mood.” And then, they vanished into the night, disappearing swiftly.
Lizzy stepped out of the shadows, sauntered up to Miranda, and mockingly asked, “How’s life as a beggar treating you?” Miranda glared at her, her face gray with shame. “You… you set me up… just to disgrace me…”
Lizzy looked at Miranda’s empty hands, her gaze turning icy. “A whole day’s work and nothing to show for it? Useless.” She kicked her. Miranda felt a mix of anger and humiliation but mostly fear. She kept bowing her head to Lizzy, pleading for forgiveness, “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have treated my daughter that way before. Please, miss, take me home.”
Lizzy’s eyes glistened with emotion. “You couldn’t handle being a beggar for even a day? Nathalie had been doing it for years, and you never cared…”
“I am sorry.” Miranda cried, covering her face.
Lizzy snapped harshly, “If you upset Nathalie again once we’re back, I’ll hand you right over to those traffickers.”
“I won’t! I swear I won’t.”
Finally, Lizzy took Miranda home.
That night, everything was quiet. Cameron sat up in bed, leaning against the headboard, holding an invitation in his hand, his face clouded with worry.
Greta lay next to him, her voice laced with jealousy. “They’re really pushing it. You’re the rightful heir to the Dawson family, but your dad throws this big bash for his illegitimate son. He’s parading him in front of all the big families as if prepping him to take over the Dawson legacy.”
Cameron sighed heavily, “I blame myself for not stepping up.”
