When My Ex's Worst Enemy Became My Sanctuary novel Chapter 127

Layton and Elise hurried into the room, Elise’s face drained of color. “Dorothea, have you lost your mind? She’s your sister!”

Dorothea swung the whip toward Elise, stopping just short of her nose. “You’re my mother by blood. That’s the only reason I’m not hitting you too. Otherwise, you’d be next.”

Carola clutched her head and dashed behind her father. “Dad, Dorothea’s gone crazy! Call the police, please, call the police!”

Dorothea couldn’t rein in the anger boiling inside her. She knew she was out of control.

Outside, Albert had arrived early to pick someone up. He saw the front door hanging wide open and frowned, waving over a maid. “What’s going on? Did something happen?”

“Albert, Dorothea went upstairs with a whip and hit Carola! It was awful!”

He blinked, stunned, like he couldn’t quite believe what he’d heard. “Did you just say Dorothea?”

“Yes, her! Albert, it was brutal. Layton told me to call the police!”

Albert took a slow, steady breath. “Hold off on calling the police. I’ll go up and see for myself. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

He took the stairs fast, skipping steps, and walked in on a scene that was about to fall apart. Dorothea’s face looked ready to break, but she held herself together with sheer will.

“Albert!” Carola saw him and threw herself into his arms. “Albert, look what Dorothea did. She’s lost it. She whipped me. It hurts so much.”

Dorothea shot her a cold, sharp look.

Her lower lip was white from biting it, a harsh contrast against the red rimming her eyes. Her jaw was clenched so tight you could see her cheekbones trembling. Albert couldn’t look away. He’d always thought of Dorothea as quiet and soft, but right now, she was something fierce and vivid, almost shocking.

He patted Carola’s back, gently untangling her arms from his waist, and stepped up to Dorothea.

“Dorothea, have you finished causing trouble for today?”

Her eyes, bloodshot and burning, locked onto his. “No. Not even close.”

He turned to Layton. “Layton, I’ll take her to get checked out. Elise, can you stay with Layton?”

Layton was no fool. He caught Albert’s meaning right away. He didn’t want the police involved either.

Layton let out a long sigh. “Albert, I’m trusting you with Carola.”

Albert scooped Carola into his arms. “It’s okay, let’s go to the hospital.”

A little of Carola’s hurt faded as she nodded, voice barely above a whisper. “Okay, I’ll do what you say.”

The Brown home fell quiet.

Elise and Layton sat on opposite sides of the couch, the tension thick between them. Word spread fast, and when Alonzo heard that Dorothea had hurt Carola, he was furious, pacing like a young lion ready to pounce.