Family on Their Knees Heart Turned to Ice novel Chapter 1331

They both knew the brutal reality of their punishment. The moment they bowed their heads in submission, Eleanor would charge forward like a wild animal and strike them.

When a person whose mind was broken lashed out, they didn't hold back. She hit them with everything she had.

The twin slaps across their faces stung for hours, and even after the physical pain faded, the humiliating phantom sting remained burned into their cheeks for the rest of the day.

It was agonizingly shameful to submit in front of all these onlookers. But if they refused, they would never hear the end of it.

The staff would undoubtedly report their defiance to Lillian, and there was no strategic benefit in provoking her wrath again.

Martin gritted his teeth. They had endured this humiliation for days; one more morning wouldn't kill them.

He grabbed Sabrina's arm and aggressively pulled her forward, forcing her to bow deeply beside him.

Sabrina barely had time to register the motion before she was forced into a submissive posture.

Right on cue, as if reacting to a programmed trigger, Eleanor lunged forward and delivered a resounding slap to each of their faces.

Her chaotic, joyful laughter echoed through the garden.

This violent morning ritual seemed to be the highlight of her day.

Having delivered the punishment, Eleanor skipped back to her seat and pointed at them. "Start! Start!"

Clutching their stinging cheeks, Martin and Sabrina kept their heads bowed low and offered their groveling, humiliating apologies to her.

However, knowing Lillian wasn't watching, their words were rushed, hollow, and utterly perfunctory.

Martha crossed her arms and warned them coldly. "You might want to put some effort into this. Ms. Mercer isn't here, but we are recording this to send to her.

Do you really want to risk angering her with such a pathetic performance?"

"Hit him... hit him... beat him to death!"

Eleanor's words were slurred and disjointed, but her violent intent made Martin's blood boil.

He felt like he was being relentlessly bullied by a lunatic.

Sensing the imminent explosion, Brandon raised his voice. "Enough! Just finish the apology and let's go! We have lives to live! I have a meeting, and we have a kid waiting at home."

The mention of Noah sobered Martin slightly. It was true; they had left the boy at home with only a few maids to watch him. He didn't want anything to go wrong on that front.

Swallowing his fury and the throbbing pain in his cheek, Martin forced out the rest of his rushed apology.

It was the most half-hearted performance they had given yet. The second the words left their mouths, they turned and stormed out of the garden without looking back.

Martha scoffed, spitting on the ground behind them. "Serves you right! Just because the old matriarch stepped down, you thought you owned the world? Keep dreaming!"