Chapter 260: Can’t Tolerate

I had just returned Philippa to her room when a shrill male voice pierced the air—it was unmistakably Harper. What had Carter done to him? Philippa tensed immediately at the sound. “Zoey, your uncle…” I cut her off, stepping in front of her. “Mom, you’ve spent your whole life being exploited by the Wilchers. Do you want to keep living like this? You treat them like family, but all they do is take from you. Are people like that even worth calling family anymore?”

Philippa hesitated, falling silent. “In the past, you stayed because of Grandma. But Carter’s already made sure Grandma is safe and away from them. You have no ties to the Wilchers anymore. Don’t forget who’s responsible for the pain and suffering you’ve endured all these years. Just now, if I hadn’t stopped him, that so-called father of yours was about to hit you—even knowing you’re pregnant!”

Tears welled up in her eyes, and I continued, my voice firm. “It’s completely unfair. Just because you’re a woman, does that mean you deserve to suffer like this? He gave you life, and you repaid him by supporting the Wilchers for so many years. Without you, they’d have gone bankrupt a long time ago. Mom, you deserve to live for yourself at least once in your life. If you don’t, by the time you’re on your deathbed, you’ll only regret it.”

I guided her to sit down and poured her a glass of water. “Here, have some water and calm down.”

Philippa nodded, taking the glass. “Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

“Mom, trust me—I’d never do anything to harm you. Everything I’m doing is for your good.”

Philippa suddenly gripped my wrist tightly, her expression unreadable. “Why are you being so good to me?”

I froze, taken aback by the unexpected question. Philippa’s tone carried a deeper meaning. “You’re my mom. Who else would I treat well if not you?”

She gazed into my eyes as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she stayed silent. I hugged her gently. “Just focus on taking care of yourself and the baby. Don’t worry about anything else. I’ll make sure you get a divorce and start a new chapter in your life.”

“Okay,” she murmured.

“Rest for now. I’ll check on what’s happening downstairs. I’m worried Carter might go too far.” No one understood Carter’s protective nature toward me better than I did. His sending me away was a clear sign—he didn’t want me witnessing the bloody mess he was undoubtedly handling.

Quietly, I made my way to the staircase, stopping at the corner. From my vantage point, I could see the entire living room below. The stench of blood hung thick in the air. Harper lay sprawled on the ground, his left hand pinned under Damian’s boot. In his other hand, Damian held a knife, its blade gleaming menacingly under the light.

“This is the hand, isn’t it?” Damian growled.

Linette, paralyzed with fear, screamed, “What are you doing to my husband? Let him go! This is too much! I’ll call the po…” Before she could finish her threat, one of Carter’s bodyguards hurled her aside with brutal force, sending her crashing to the floor. Her head slammed into the leg of a table, and blood poured from the wound. Carter’s bodyguards all shared one distinct trait—they were swift and merciless, without distinction for gender.

As Linette whimpered on the ground, Damian raised the knife. Benjamin stepped forward in desperation, pleading, “Mr. Bolton, this was our mistake. I apologize on their behalf. Please, I beg you, spare Harper this once.”

Carter’s gaze fell indifferently on Benjamin, his lips curling into a cold, detached smirk. “Who do you think you are?” he said dismissively. Benjamin dared not utter a sound.

Just as Damian was about to act, Carter raised a hand, halting him. “Wait.” A flicker of hope lit Harper’s eyes. “Mr. Bolton, I know I was wrong.” He assumed Carter had reconsidered. But Carter spoke again, his tone chilling. “This knife is too small. Go to the kitchen and bring me a cleaver.”

A scream escaped from one of the maids, who had been frozen in fear. She likely never imagined that the once reserved and gentlemanly Carter could be so cold-blooded and ruthless. At that moment, I finally understood why the Hudsons and Bill treated Carter with such reverence, despite him being their junior. They had seen the real Carter—the one who only showed his restraint when he was with me.

Carter glanced at the maid, his voice calm and unhurried. “You’re making soup, right? Check the stove. Don’t let the Celebration Dinner be delayed. Oh, and Zoey likes something sweet. Prepare some mango sorbet.”

“Yes, sir. Right away,” the maid stammered, terrified. She couldn’t believe how Carter could casually order desserts while directing such violent acts. Not wanting to get involved, she hurried off to the kitchen.

Damian returned with a cleaver, and Harper was pinned against the coffee table by two bodyguards. “I’ll do it myself,” Carter said evenly. Damian handed the cleaver over, and Harper, now trembling uncontrollably, had already wet himself. He knew Carter wasn’t joking and frantically began pleading for mercy. Carter’s expression remained indifferent. “Your regret doesn’t stem from realizing you’ve done wrong but from your fear of the consequences. If faced with the same situation in the future, you’d make the same choice.”

“Mr. Wilcher, I have no intention of being your enemy. Let bygones be bygones. However, you crossed the line when you dared to lay a hand on her. As her husband, I can’t tolerate anyone disrespecting my wife.” His words were calm and measured, and yet they sent shivers down everyone’s spines. What kind of man was this? He remained composed even while doing something so violent—choosing to handle it himself rather than delegating.

“Mr. Wilcher, take this as a lesson. Never provoke another man’s wife again.” As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp “thud” echoed in the room. Harper’s thumb was severed cleanly by Carter.

“Ahhh!” Harper screamed in agony. Linette fainted on the spot, while Vere and his wife, Rubie Rhodes, clung to each other, trembling. Benjamin was furious, his voice shaking. “Carter, how dare you!”

Carter turned his cold gaze toward Benjamin. “Benjamin, would you like to try it next?”