The Illegitimate Heir

Chapter 11

“Have you forgotten how clingy you were growing up? Have you forgotten how much you would beg to stay by my side? Even a kick could not keep you away and you suddenly think you can cut ties with me? Who are you fooling?”

“A mother has to be dutiful for the son to be filial. Since it is obvious that you will never treat me, your son, half as good as Daniel, who is only your stepson, there is no point in having a mother like you.” His voice rang clear despite the humiliating position he was forced into.

Patricia's face darkened and she stepped forward to slap him again.

Then she suddenly stopped, looking at her hand as she said, “Slapping you myself is giving you too much importance.”

Then she pointed at one of the maids. “You, slap him!”

The maid was shocked. Her face paled as she looked at Adrian's piercing gaze that held true even in his position.

She stammered as she looked back at Patricia, “Ma’am, please do not let me…”

“You are fired,” Patricia said off-handedly before turning to another maid. “Do it.”

The first maid fell to the floor in shock. “Ma'am, please. I will do it, please. Do not fire me. I have a sick mother at…”

A single look at the remaining staff had two of them dragging the girl out.

The second maid immediately stepped towards Adrian, giving him a resounding slap.

“Have you not eaten today? You want me to teach you how?” Patricia's voice made the maid quickly raise her hand again.

Her voice shivering, she said, “I am sorry, ma'am. I will do it.”

Her slap this time brought a sharper sting that made Adrian grit his teeth in pain.

The maid was about to step back when Patricia ordered, “Did I tell you to stop? Keep slapping him until I say otherwise. Make each one harder unless you want to replace him.”

Even the staff looked away uncomfortably as slap after slap echoed in the gleaming foyer.

Ten slaps later, she ordered her to stop.

Adrian's ears were ringing and the brewing headache was raging now as his head weighed heavy.

He refused to lower his head still as he glared at Patricia with slightly bloodshot eyes and a reddened face.

Patricia tutted as she tilted his head aside with her piercing nail.

"Oh, my poor son,” her mocking tone grated on Adrian's nerves.

She nodded in satisfaction at the imprint of a hand on his face and she rose, saying, “That should teach you.”

She clapped her hands as she turned around again. “I almost forgot if you had not mentioned his name.”

The satisfaction on her face morphed into anger again as she said, “How dare you try to steal your brother's girl? Is that how I teach you? Have I not told you to know your place in this family? He is the legitimate son, the only recognised one. While you are nobody compared to him. Even I have to make sure I do not upset him so he does not make your life miserable later. But you had to rile him up at every turn, uhn?”

Adrian's teeth were stained with blood as anger forced his words out. “So, you are doing all this for me, uhn? You treat me like nothing and give him all the better treatment because of me?”

“Of course,” Patricia answered airily. Then she continued talking like she was speaking to a dimwit.

“I have told you time without number. Daniel is pitiful. He never knew his mother. He was also sickly as a child, so he needs my care more than you. After all, you have me. Also, if we upset him and he decides to send us out, do you think your father would stop him? Everything in this family belongs to him. Do I have to drill these things into your head before you understand?”

“I do not care what you do,” Adrian answered, hating how blood-soaked spittle stained the corner of his mouth as he spoke. “I already told you, after today, there is nothing left between you and me.”

Patricia ignored that and continued, “Whatever trick you used to make your father agree to this ridiculous idea, you better undo it now. If anyone should participate in a bride selection event, it should be Daniel, not you. Tell your father you are not interested.”

As if he had not already tried, Adrian thought in disgust.

She thought he wanted this? He had practically threatened him with a life before he accepted.

And now he was being punished for something he did not even want? How typical.

Adrian knew Daniel must have found out about the event.

He had no idea which of the heiresses he was interested in.

Not that it mattered anyway. Even if Daniel had not wanted any of them before, he definitely would not want such ‘good fortune’ to fall into Adrian's hands.

Still, Adrian knew Daniel did not come home the night before.

Not only would he have found a way to taunt him last night, he definitely would not have missed out on this humiliation scene.

He must have called Patricia, or the other way round.

Adrian chuckled bitterly at the fact that Daniel did not even need to be present to get him punished.

Hurt, anger and resignation swirled in his eyes as he looked at Patricia with finality in his tone. “You want it for your dear stepson so badly? Then tell Father yourself.”

“How dare…?” The hand she raised to slap him hung in the air as she looked at the mess on his face with disgust.

“Drag him out! How can I have such a shameless son? You will not stop dragging things with your brother, right? Fine, you brought this on yourself!”

“Drag him out! Throw him in the middle of the driveway. Make sure he is facing upward under the sun. Put rocks on his palms and feet to keep him down. If he gets up, you are done for.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the men answered immediately, dragging Adrian towards the door. They had never seen that kind of family law punishment before, but they dared not speak.

“She is definitely getting creative with her punishment now,” Adrian thought, trying to keep his mind off the pain in his body from the beating the day before.

His feet dragged on the floor as the men dragged him according to instructions.

He reached deep within, shutting out the pain wracking his body as he made another attempt to get away.

He dug his feet in suddenly as he reared his head, ready to headbutt the closest man just as the front door was flung open.

“What do you think you are doing?” came an unexpected voice.

Adrian's head snapped up and Patricia’s mouth widened as she paled.

Eyes on the man at the door