11
646words
The father and son turned crimson with rage upon receiving the documents.
Ivy sneered from the side, "These shameless women are a disgrace to our gender! They should be drowned in the river!"
This time, before I could react, Yvonne slapped Ivy hard across the face.
"You hypocritical witch—you're the one who deserves to be drowned!"
I couldn't have been prouder.
Across from us, Wilson wiped the sweat from his brow and forced a cold laugh.
"Don't celebrate too soon, Sophia! What you don't realize is that over half the people in this estate are loyal to me! Everyone—seize them!"
But aside from a few of his most trusted lackeys, not a single soul moved.
"Wh-what's happening…?" Wilson stammered in disbelief.
I smirked. "All those 'children' of yours were replaced when I dealt with that steward."
Wilson's eyes widened in shock.
"I've reported you for stealing my dowry and secretly supporting ten mistresses and their offspring."
With that, I ordered the guards to restrain all three of them.
"H-how did you find out?!" Wilson panicked instantly.
"Father, enough talking!" Warren broke free from the guards and pulled out a small porcelain bottle. "Sophia, you've been poisoned with Heart-Devourer Toxin. If you want the antidote, you'll obey Father and kneel in the ancestral hall!"
Wilson and Ivy grinned triumphantly.
"Warren's right! Darling, we've been married for twenty years—why make such a ugly scene?" Wilson said with a sinister smile.
In response, I pulled out a small hand drum.
Yvonne planted her hands on her hips. "Since they're beyond remorse, Madame, don't hold back!"
"Well taught, my girl~"
I nodded approvingly and tapped the drum once.
Wilson and the others burst into mocking laughter.
"You think a child's toy can save you? Sophia, you're a laughingstock!"
"Oh my—the Duchess is dumber than a farm animal!"
"Hah! Have you lost your mind in your old age, Madame?!"
Amid their scorn, I struck the drum sharply.
"—Ah!"
Wilson was the first to react, clutching his stomach as he crumpled to the floor.
"Father! What's wrong?!" Warren cried out in alarm.
"It hurts—my stomach! It feels like thousands of insects are eating me alive!"
Wilson screamed in agony, but before he could finish, I hit the drum again.
This time, Warren and Ivy doubled over in pain.
"This is called the Severance Curse," I explained, rhythmically tapping the drum. "Made specially for ungrateful beasts like you."
The three of them writhed on the floor, pale and sweating.
Ivy, unable to bear the pain, clawed at her own stomach until it bled.
Warren fared no better—he slammed his head repeatedly against a pillar, covered in blood.
Seeing his wife and son in such states, Wilson roared furiously, "Sophia, you monster! How could you do this to your own son—and an pregnant woman?!"
"How could I?—"
I shot back with equal fury, "When did you or any of them ever consider sparing me?! You were my husband for twenty years—and Warren, I carried you for nine months and gave birth to you!"
"If Yvonne hadn't discovered your plot to poison me, would I have been forced to defend myself? This is all your own doing!"
I snatched a whip and lashed Wilson and Warren mercilessly.
"This is what you get for looking down on women, Wilson!"
They screamed and begged for mercy, their skin split and bleeding.
"Guards! Take them to the courthouse—I want a public trial!"
Wilson laughed maniacally. "You think exposing us won't make you the joke of the century?!"
"You overestimate how much I care," I said coldly. "I've always lived by my own rules—otherwise I would never have married you in the first place."
With that, I stepped over the defeated faces of Wilson and Warren and walked away.
