Chapter 4 - The Torment Begins
Elena immediately rushed forward, desperately trying to pull Mia away from the sharp porcelain shards. "Marcus, she didn't mean it! I'll clean it up right now, I'll pay to have it restored—"
"Get out of my way, Elena," Marcus interrupted, his voice dropping into a low, terrifyingly calm register that made the blood freeze in Elena's veins.
Before Elena could shield her daughter, Marcus forcefully shoved his wife backward. The sheer, violent force of the push sent Elena stumbling awkwardly before she collapsed hard onto the dark wooden floor, her shoulder striking the edge of the coffee table.
Marcus completely ignored his fallen wife. He turned on his heel and marched directly into the high-end, chef-grade kitchen.
Chloe, the mistress in the red dress, leaned against the doorframe, swirling her wine glass with a look of pure, toxic anticipation. Evelyn stood rigidly by the fireplace, her face a mask of cold, unyielding approval.
Seconds later, Marcus returned to the living room.
In his right hand, he carried the heavy, industrial-grade culinary gas torch he used for searing steaks.
Mia scrambled backward on her hands and knees, her small palms pressing into the jagged pieces of white porcelain. She looked up at her father, her chest heaving with silent, terrified sobs. She didn't understand why he had a weapon. She only knew that the look in his eyes meant he was going to hurt her.
Marcus stepped directly into the center of the wreckage. He didn't say a single word. He simply raised his thumb and clicked the ignition switch.
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The blue flame roared to life, shooting out of the metal nozzle with a terrifying, high-pitched hiss. The intense, radiating heat was immediately palpable, warming the cold air of the living room. Marcus slowly lowered the torch, pointing the roaring fire directly toward the eight-year-old girl cowering on the floor.
👉 Read Part 5 to return to the agonizing climax on the broken porcelain.
