Chapter 295
She couldn''t bear to gamble with the lives of her loved ones anymore.
Oh, how ra yearned to wrap her arms around Ian, but her hands, dangling helplessly by her
sides, clenched into powerless fists instead. Her voice wasced with a helpless rasp as she said,
"Ian, let''s just take a breather, okay? My dad''s health isn''t great, and I need to go check on him."
Heedless of her protest, Ian kissed the top of her head, his voice deep and soothing, "I''ll take you
home."
As he took ra''s hand to leave, his gaze inadvertently fell upon Leonora. His eyes, which had
been filled with warmth just moments before, now seemed coated in ayer of frost. "ra and I will
never be torn apart in this life. If you dare to interfere again, I''ll sever all maternal ties with you!"
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Watching the two of them walk away, Rose sighed in resignation. "What should''ve been a
celebration has turned into a wake. What sins have our familymitted to deserve this?"
Teo immediately stepped forward to console her. "Mom, don''t worry. I''ll make sure they stay
together. As for Leonora, I''ll have someone keep an eye on her. She won''t get another chance to
wrong ra."
Rose''s eyes brimmed with tears. "We owe Leonora our lives—twice over. Why should ra have to
pay that debt? Do you have any idea how much it hurts to see them at odds like this?"
Leonora''s mother had saved her son, and then Leonora herself had saved her. Because of those
two lives, the Hayes family had refrained from dealing with Leonora''s malevolence and venom.
But why did it all have to be repaid with her grandson''s happiness? She would have rather Leonora
never saved her at all.
Rose, resolute in her pain, fixed Leonora with a steely gaze. "This affair has caused harm, and I
won''t let it go. As a daughter-inw of the Hayes family, you''ve shown neither virtue nor sincerity,
and you''ve schemed to block your own child''s happiness. If I let you get away with this, our
ancestors would never forgive me. If thew won''t punish you, then our family will. Butler, bring the
riding crop. ording to our rules, anyone who causes harm with malicious intent shall receive a
hundredshes."
At these words, Leonora fell to her knees in terror, pleading for mercy. "It wasn''t on purpose. That
old man was already on his way out. You can''t pin it all on me. Besides, I spoke only the truth
without fabrication. You can''t punish me like this. It''s not fair."
Rose snorted coldly, "Fair or not, my word is thew in this house. I''ve been too lenient in the past,
which has led to this mess. If you no longer wish to be part of the Hayes family, I might consider
sparing you."
Leonora knew exactly what Rose was implying. Rose wanted to use this situation to force Leonora
into asking for a divorce.
But how could she? Her ambitions were far from fulfilled; she couldn''t just walk away from the
Hayes family. She gritted her teeth and said through clenched jaws, "I ept the punishment."
The crop was an heirloom left by their ancestors. When it struck flesh, it would tear skin and flesh
alike. A hundredshes could leave someone half dead, if not fully. Soon, the great hall echoed with
the crack of the whip and Leonora''s agonized screams.
Meanwhile, Ian had escorted ra to her front door. Just as he was about to follow her inside, she
stopped him. "This is as far as you go. You should head back."
"But you said your dad''s heart isn''t doing well. I''ll just take a quick look and leave."
ra''s heart ached unbearably. She just couldn''t bring herself to harden her heart against him.
As they stepped into the hall, ra caught the scent of her beloved braised pork ribs. She was
about to say something when suddenly her stomach churned violently. Unable to hold it in, she
gagged and bolted towards the bathroom.