Chapter 30 As soon as Brian left , my parents arrived . Their faces were full of disappointment as they looked at me . Their voices cold and sharp , without a trace of sympathy as they said , " Lilian , admit your mistakes . Only then Brian will let you go . " I couldn't help but give them a bitter smile . Since the day they brought me home , I had been forced to admit fault for everything . If I scored higher than Adeline on a test , that was my fault . If I won a prize in a competition , that was my fault . If I didn't act like Adeline and play the spoiled child , that was my fault too . " But now , I no longer wanted to bow my head or admit to anything . Swallowing the bitterness in my heart , I asked them calmly , " What's the point of admitting anything ? Should I admit that I didn't push Adeline hard enough ? " The words had barely left my mouth when my father's hand struck my face with a loud smack . Pain stung my cheek , but.l held back my tears . I lifted my chin stubbornly and let out a cold snort . \ " I was kidnapped , but you only worried about Adeline . Now , she stages a fake fall . But you force me to confess again . Am I just some piece of trash you picked up off the street ? " " My parents didn't even flinch . They just stared at me as if I were a vicious enemy threatening their beloved daughter . " " Lilian , you're being ungrateful . Just stay here then ! " they shouted at me . " Without another glance after they said , they turned and left . Meanwhile , the guards ignored my protests and shoved me into a small cell . The room was pitch black with only a thin beam of light slipping through a narrow window . My body trembled uncontrollably as my breathing turned shallow and ragged . My claustrophobia surged , choking me with terror . Instinctively , I called Brian name . Yet , there was no answer . Only endless darkness pressed down on me . " I had no idea how much time passed before the cell door swung open . A group of tall , rough - looking women stepped inside with their eyes gleaming with malice . " Is that her ? Miss Wyatt said to teach her a lesson ." } As one of them spoke , a short - haired woman cracked her knuckles and stepped toward me . My heart dropped . I backed away , but another grabbed my hair and slammed me to the ground before I could escape . Fists and kicks rained down on me . Each blow sent sharp waves of pain through my body . I tried to fight back , but my old injuries hadn't healed yet . I was too weak to defend myself . All I could do was curl up and endure it silently as they vented their anger on me . " They didn't stop until a guard's voice shouted from outside the bars , " Enough ! Stop right now ! " Finally , the women backed away . " I was lying motionless on the cold floor . My body was covered in blood and bruises . Slowly , I lost my consciousness . My back was torn open again , old wounds mingling with fresh ones . Every move felt like my bones were shattering from the inside . After a long while , the cell door creaked open . After that , I was dragged out . Their laughter echoed in my ears as they mocked me openly . But I didn't even have the strength to respond . A full day and night passed before they finally threw me out of the police station . Sunlight hit my face , blinding me . I raised a trembling hand to shield my eyes , then staggered to my feet and limped toward the hospital . After my wounds were bandaged , I turned to leave only to see Brian and Adeline walking toward me . He froze when he saw me . His eyes widened in shock . For a while , he stuck on his place . " How how did you end up like this ? " he asked , frowning deeply as he looked at me with a flicker of heartache.§ Brian tried to reach out almost as if to help me . However , I stepped back to avoid his touch . Before I could speak , Adeline hurried to his side , clutching his arm like a devoted lover . She looked at me with fake worry in her eyes . " Lilian , Brian released you yesterday . Why didn't you come home last night ? And how did you get yourself into such a state ? " \ Then she turned to Brian and added , " Don't blame her , Brian . Lilian probably just wants attention . Look at how badly she's hurt . Let's get her treated first , okay ? " " Her gentle words worked like poison . The pain in Brian's eyes vanished in an instant , replaced by cold fury . He glared at me coldly as he angrily accused me , " You're doing this again ! Lilian , your lies are so obvious now . No one believes you anymore ! " N This time , I didn't answer . Instead , I just stared at him as I silently memorized the face I had once loved so deeply . His eyes were still beautiful , but now , they no longer held even a trace of love for me.M Brian the turned to Adeline , gently holding her hand as he spoke while he was looking at me , " If you have the strength to hurt yourself , then you have the strength to walk home ." " Watch her closely . Don't let her take a single shortcut . " } After that , both Brian and Adeline walked away . Step by step , I forced myself to walk home . Every painful step burned the Jame worde into my mind M p p .