There was not a shred of remorse in Danica's face, and it stunned Summer.
"Don't you feel guilty?" Summer shot back, trembling in rage. "That was your child."
"So what?" Danica exclaimed, unhinged. "It was only a few months old, a burden. Adrian is in a coma. Who knows if he will wake up? Maybe he will stay like that forever. Do I have to live like a widow?"
Her expression twisted into resentment as she continued, "While I was drowning in misery, you and Gideon were basking in happiness, preparing to celebrate your child's birthday. Did you ever think about how I felt?"
Summer's face paled, the revelation snatching the ground beneath her. "So you destroyed my family!" she mumbled in shock. "You faked that paternity test, didn't you?"
She grabbed her arms in a burst of desperation.
"You have no right to question me." Danica pushed her away.
The force sent Summer stumbling down, her butt hitting the floor.
Danica moved closer, towering over her. "I am now the real hostess of this house, soon to be Gideon's wife, the only daughter-in-law of this family." She smiled slyly. "Do you still dare to touch me?"
Summer had the impression that her brain had blown up. Gideon was actually marrying his brother's wife! The idea was unthinkable.
"You were given a chance to escape," said Danica, "and were offered money, but you refused. You stayed, dreaming that you could get back to Gideon. So foolish. He will never forgive the woman who killed his brother's son."
Summer wasn't even shocked anymore. A vile woman like Danica could do anything. Rising to her feet, she faced her with blazing defiance. She had initially thought she would run away. But she changed her mind. She would fight back and expose Danica.
"You fooled both Gideon and Adrian. You deceived them. How could you sleep peacefully after killing your own child? You don't deserve Gideon, Adrian, or this family. Your place is in jail. I'll expose you. I'll tell Gideon everything."
"Hahaha…" Danica laughed. "Oh, Summer, you are so sweet. Still thinking he'll trust you?"
Summer's expression froze, her confidence faltering. She had forgotten that Gideon had lost his trust in her. Would he listen to her?
"He didn't come to see you even for once," Danica started, "because he doesn't care. He locked you here to punish you, to make you suffer. You have no idea what he has done to your family and to your child."
Summer felt her hair rising on her nape. A heavy feeling settled on her chest.
"What do you mean?" she asked with growing anxiety.
"Do you see your daughter anywhere?" Danica sneered.
Summer's heart sank at the prospect that something might have happened to Hope. She grabbed her arms tightly and demanded, "Where is my child? What did you do to her?"
"Get off of me, you lunatic." Danica pushed her away. She brushed her sleeves in disgust. "You stink."
"I'll ask you one last time – where is my daughter?" Summer thundered.
"I don't know," Danica snapped back. "Gideon was mad that night. He sent the child to the orphanage."
"What did you say?" Summer felt the world tilt from its axis. "He sent Hope to the orphanage?"
She had never imagined Gideon could be able to abandon their one-year-old daughter like that. "That's our baby. How could he do that?"
Danica shrugged casually. "Why are you surprised? That child isn't even his. Who knows which wild man's child she is?"
Summer completely lost her cool. She strode over and delivered her a tight slap.
Danica stumbled backward, dumbfounded, clutching her cheeks. She snapped her head toward Summer. "You hit me!" The sting on her face added to her fury.
"It's your doing," Summer spat. "You faked those reports, lied to him, and made him destroy his own family. You are nothing but a vile woman. Adrian is still lying in a coma, and you… You shamelessly seduced his brother and convinced him to marry you. Such a malicious being – you even killed your child just to frame me. But not anymore…This ends here."
Determination shone in her eyes. "You have already ruined enough of my life. I won't let you destroy what is left. I'm going to tell Gideon everything you did."
She strode toward the door, her steps brisk with resolution.
"Do you think you can just walk away after assaulting me?" Danica roared. "You are not going anywhere."
Two burly guards appeared at the doorstep, blocking Summer's path.
Summer's eyes widened in dread. Those were the same men who had dragged her into that cold room. Fearing they would lock her up again, she stepped back. But Danica stepped forward and stopped her from escaping.
"You shouldn't have touched me. I'll make you pay. Make her kneel."
The guards seized Summer by her shoulder and forced her to her. She struggled. But the harder she moved, the tighter their grip became.
"If Gideon finds out you are treating me like this, he will ruin you." Summer gritted her teeth, glaring at her.
"Hah?" Danica laughed sarcastically. "Still so sure of yourself? Then we have to check who he believes."
She pulled out her phone and called Gideon. The call was connected within seconds. Her expression changed all of a sudden, and so did her tone.
"Gideon, you should come home immediately," Danica said shakily, as if terrified. "Summer attacked the butler and escaped. She even hurt me. I've no choice but the call the guards to restrain her."
"Gideon, don't fall for her lies," Summer shouted desperately. "She is faking it. I didn't hurt her. She is poisoning your mind, filling you with lies. Don't trust her."
"Stop shouting," Gideon's voice came through the speaker as Danica held out the phone, switching it to loudspeaker mode. "Still causing trouble? Seems like you have learned nothing after all those days. Danica, don't let her go until I come. Handle her as you see fit. I'm on my way."
The line went dead.
Summer couldn't believe what she had just heard. Gideon didn't listen to her. Worse, he had just given Danica permission to punish her.
Her heart shattered completely. The man she once loved so much had turned her tormenter.
She realized this marriage had already been destroyed beyond saving.
"You heard him," Danica grunted, stepping toward her. "You should have signed the divorce agreement and left quietly. But you made things hard for yourself. Now it's too late. Because of your stubbornness, your family also suffered. Things have gone far worse than you can ever imagine."
Summer's heart sank into the pit of her stomach. Panic shot through her veins. She wriggled harder against their holds. "What did you do to them?" she cried in a frenzy.
"I did nothing," Danica sneered. "It was Gideon. He is the one who destroyed your family to avenge the child you killed."
"No," Summer couldn't take it. "You are lying."
"Do you think I'll lie at this moment?" With a malicious glint in her eyes, Danica said, "Your father, that hopeless gambler, racked up millions in debt to the loan sharks. He went begging to Gideon for help. You know how Gideon is – always kind, noble, and generous. He couldn't turn him down. So he came up with an idea to settle the debt."
She held up her phone and showed Summer a photograph.
Summer's breath hitched as she watched the photo. It was her sister – trapped beneath a man.
Horror settled in her heart as she realized what had happened to her sister.
"Your sister was sold to a mafia lord to pay off your father's debt," Danica uttered coldly. "And your mother – she couldn't bear the humiliation and pain and killed herself."
She swiped the screen, revealing another photograph.
"No…" Summer screamed as she saw her mother hanging from the ceiling. She twisted her body even harder. "It's you…You monster…You destroyed my family. How could you ruin my innocent sister like that…"
"Shut up!" Danica pinched her chin again, with a dangerous glint in her eyes. "My life has just started running on the track. And you are a threat, challenging me. I won't let anyone snatch my happiness. Guards…"
Her loud voice pierced the air.
Summer's blood ran cold as she feared they would lock her up again. She couldn't stay confined here.
Before she could protest, Danica ordered fiercely, "Beat her."
"No, wait…"
The guards started hitting Summer, not listening to her pleas. Slaps, punches, and kicks rained down on her mercilessly, her cries echoing inside the hall. But no one came to help her.
Summer curled into herself, shielding her head with her arms. But the blows kept coming. She coughed out blood, her consciousness slipping out.
"Enough," Danica roared, holding up her hand. "Don't kill her here."
They stepped back.
Summer could barely open her eyes, let alone flex a muscle.
Danic squatted beside Summer. "Now you get it. Gideon hates you to the core. He wants everyone in your family dead, including you."
She rose to her full height and issued another command. "Take her away and throw her into the water. Make it look like an accident."
The guards hauled Summer away and shoved her into the trunk of the car.
Every aching part of her body throbbed. She cried in agony. Before she could recover from the pain, the car lurched forward. Her battered body slammed against the trunk. Her eyes rolled, and the darkness swallowed her as she lost consciousness.