Chapter 2

But this was actually Ethan Sterling's mother---the billionaire matriarch of the Sterling family! Normally, Ethan wouldn't dare breathe too loudly around her, and now she was being stepped on and force-fed dog food by a nanny.

I was about to explain who she really was when Melissa sneered and kicked Eleanor hard in the chest.

"Stop playing dead! You haven't finished mopping the floor yet!"

The kick was vicious.

Eleanor let out a muffled groan, clutching her chest. Her face instantly turned from white to purple. Her throat produced wheezing sounds like a broken bellows as she curled into a ball, unable to form a complete sentence.

"Eleanor!"

I threw myself over and grabbed her tightly. Her heart couldn't handle this kind of shock---her whole body was convulsing violently.

I frantically searched her pockets for her emergency heart medication.

Melissa grabbed my hair and yanked me backward.

"Stop putting on a sob story for me! You country people are so dramatic. Trying to scam me, aren't you?"

She pulled out her phone and started recording me and Eleanor.

"Who can relate? I just encountered the worst today. These are the broke relatives leeching off Mr. Sterling. Not only are they covered in bacteria, but now they're faking illness to extort money."

Ignoring the searing pain in my scalp, I swung my hand back and slapped Melissa hard across the face.

*Slap!*

The crisp sound echoed through the living room.

"Shut up! If anything happens to her, even Ethan can't save you!"

Melissa clutched her rapidly swelling cheek, her eyes filled with venom.

"Oh, so the barren hen dares to hit me! Guards! Throw these two beggars out!"

Two burly bodyguards immediately rushed in from outside. Ethan had specifically assigned them to Melissa, claiming it was to protect his "lifesaver."

"Let go of me! Are you blind? Look closely at who she really is!"

I struggled desperately, but the bodyguards pinned me to the floor, one on each side.

The head guard sneered without even glancing at Eleanor.

"Ma'am, Mr. Sterling instructed us that Miss Snow is in charge of all household rules."

They roughly grabbed Eleanor, who was in the midst of a cardiac episode. Her head lolled helplessly, her lips already turning blue-black.

"You'll regret this! When Ethan comes home and sees what you've done to her, he'll make you wish you were dead!" I screamed in despair, tears streaming down my face.

Melissa walked over and stepped on the back of my hand with her sharp high heel, grinding down hard.

The excruciating pain made me gasp.

"Grace, do you really think you're some kind of high-society wife? Ethan told me you're just a useless decoration taking up space. Once I'm pregnant with his child, you and your poor excuse for a mother will both get sent back to the countryside to shovel manure."

She kicked my hand away dismissively and waved at the bodyguards.

"Drag this old hag to the outdoor pool! Today I'll teach you people a lesson on Mr. Sterling's behalf!"