My Runaway Groom Came Back I Became His Aunt! novel Chapter 65

Chapter 3

But I bit it all back, hard. My brother Alexandro had taught me from the cradle, never argue with fools.

Besides, bound as I was, provoking them now was unwise. The reckoning would come at the estate.

So, I hunched my shoulders, making the ropes dig in, and let my voice quiver. “I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have

moved. I’ll listen, sister. I won’t make a fuss.”

Seeing me so thoroughly cowed, Elizabeth’s triumph bled through her facade. She sighed, a parody of concern.

“Little sister, this is all for your own good. I’m glad you understand. Our world, our upbringing… it’s nothing like your…

rustic background.

Taking you to the Colleones serves two purposes. It shows you true class, and it teaches you the consequences of your

actions. From now on, watch your every step.”

I thought my humility would suffice. I was wrong. The malice in Elizabeth’s eyes sharpened.

She turned to Shawn.

“Shawnie, I’m still worried. What if she gets nervous? What if her… clumsiness offends the Colleones? We’d be doomed

because of her. Maybe… maybe we should rehearse. Let her practice. So she’s prepared.”

“What do you mean?” My head snapped up, a cold dread pooling in my stomach.

“What do I mean? Don’t play dumb, sister.” Elizabeth’s smile was saccharine. “We practice now. A dress rehearsal. So you

don’t bungle the real performance.”

Without waiting for agreement, she ordered the driver to pull over on the desolate roadside.

Then, before I could react, a fist tangled in my hair and yanked. A searing pain shot across my scalp as I was dragged

from the car and thrown onto the freezing asphalt.

‘Come on, sister. Show me how you kneel. Elizabeth loomed over me. “Practice. How to kowtow. How to beg.

‘Go to hell!’

The retort was instinctive, my gaze blazing. I knelt for Heaven, for Earth, and for my Godmother. She was nothing.

You dare talk back?” The sugary smile vanished from Elizabeth’s face.

Her hand flew out, cracking against my cheek. White-hot pain exploded. Bound and off-balance, I staggered back.

‘You bitch! I knew it was an act!’ Elizabeth’s face twisted with fury. “All that sweet talk, and now you refuse to kneel! You

never planned to apologize, did you? You want to get us all killed!”

Shawn was at her side in an instant, his face dark. “You conniving little wretch. Almost had us fooled. You think you have

a choice? You’re kneeling today whether you want to or not.”

Chapter 3

CO DON

In your dreams!” I snarled, spitting at their feet.

“You ungrateful trash!” Shawn’s hand shot out, clamping my jaw with bone-crushing force.

“We’re giving you a chance! A chance you don’t deserve! Your miserable life is a gift from the Patrizis! Serving Elizabeth is

an honor! Keep pushing, and I’ll teach you some manners myself!”

“You wouldn’t dare!” I met his gaze, my own burning with a fury that made him flinch for a split second.

He recovered, rage flushing his face. “Watch me!”

His foot snapped out, a vicious kick to the back of my knee. Agony lanced through me. My leg buckled, and I crashed to

the ground.

“Hah! See? You can kneel.” He sneered down at me. “Don’t you look at me like that. Looks like you need a lesson to

remember your place-a place I wouldn’t even spit on.”

He nodded to the hulking bodyguards. “Hold her down. Make her bow. Properly. She doesn’t get up until she learns her

lesson.*

The two men moved like automatons. Their hands were iron vices, forcing me prone.

Another set of hands clamped on the back of my head, relentless.

I fought, thrashing with every ounce of strength. It was useless.

Thud.

My forehead smashed against the unyielding ground. Darkness swam at the edges of my vision. A warm, coppery trickle

raced a path down my temple.

Hahaha! Excellent!” Elizabeth clapped her hands in delight, savoring my humiliation.

See, sister? If you’d just been obedient from the start… What a nice, loud bow. Why make things so hard? Trash should

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