Watching You Burn In Regret novel Chapter 240

Carla stumbled and fell to the ground, but Slater didn't even look back. A frosty despair settled over her heart, squeezing the air from her lungs. She had heard him say similar things to Seren once, and she had watched with satisfaction as Seren's face drained of color. Today, it was her turn.

This wasn't the first time she had been on the receiving end of Slater's sharp tongue. He had a terrible temper. When they were very young, she had taken one of his toys, and he had kicked her to the ground and screamed insults at her. Swain had seen it all but hadn't intervened. He had simply told her later that it was wrong to take things that weren't hers. As for Zena and Thurman, when they heard she had upset Slater, they had given her the cold shoulder for days.

Carla had always known that in their eyes, she was not a daughter but a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder. But she was smarter than Seren, more adept at reading people. She had quickly learned how to manage their tempers, and after that one incident, she had never been yelled at again. She had learned to be obedient, cautious, and accommodating. Her perceived status as the favored child was entirely dependent on her compliance. The moment that premise crumbled, she would face the same fate as Seren.

For more than twenty years, she had been walking on eggshells, constantly on edge. She hated this family more than anyone, but she had no way to escape. That was why she had always resented Seren. Seren had Old Mr. Rutledge and the Brewers to fall back on. If she left the Bradley family, she had other places to go. Carla had nothing.

The sun was shining brightly, but Carla felt a bone-deep chill. She knew Slater would tell the others what had happened, and a wave of despair washed over her.

But slowly, she picked herself up off the ground. So what if Slater and Swain turned against her? Zena and Thurman had invested too much in her over the years. They would be angry, but they wouldn't cast her out like they had Seren. They had poured years of resources into her, and they wouldn't be willing to let that investment go to waste. Zena, especially. Carla knew her mother better than anyone. Zena was a pragmatist. As long as Carla still had value, Zena wouldn't let her go.

She had only taken a few steps when her phone buzzed with a text from Edwin.

[Sweetheart, that was just a warm-up. I have a much bigger gift prepared for you.]

Carla's eyes widened in horror. It felt like an invisible hand was squeezing her throat, cutting off her air. That lunatic… what else was he planning?