Chapter 875

Valencia shivered, glancing back at Jimmy and Keith. “We’re taking Wendy,” she declared. “You can’t stop us. She’s got nothing to do with you. This hospital is outrageously expensive, and we can’t afford her stay.” She swallowed, pointing at Wendy.

Wendy’s face paled. Leaving with them meant the end, but she couldn't let them drag Simona down with her. Just as she resigned herself to go, Skylar intervened coldly, “The police have opened an investigation. The hospital costs will be covered by the suspects and their families.”

Wendy’s senses snapped back. “I can’t go with you. I need justice.”

“Justice? You’ve been raped! Do you want to publicize this and humiliate yourself further? Compensation is what matters, isn’t it?” Valencia seethed, grinding her teeth. All these years, she felt she’d raised nothing but a burden.

“This is family business,” Keith added, avoiding Joe’s gaze. His words were directed at Skylar and Simona. "You can sue us, but stay out of it.”

Their shamelessness was shocking. Wendy gripped Simona’s hand, biting her lip. She knew no one would help. Throughout her life, she'd received nothing but cursory sympathy from neighbors who witnessed her beatings. Their advice only resulted in harsher punishment. Her suffering stemmed solely from being a girl, a girl they couldn't sell for a price they deemed sufficient.

Just when despair overwhelmed her, Skylar, protecting Simona, spoke. “Wendy turned eighteen this year. She’s of legal age, and you have no right to control her.”

Eighteen… Wendy almost forgot. She’d recently celebrated her birthday. She was an adult. Her family's perverse control no longer bound her. Hope flickered in her reddened eyes as she looked at Skylar.

“Eighteen doesn’t matter! She’s my daughter! Whether she’s eighteen, twenty-eight, or thirty-eight, she does as I say! I could beat her to death, and no one could stop me!” Valencia screamed, her ignorance, legal blindness, and immorality appalling.

Skylar felt a suffocating familiarity, reminiscent of her past dealings with the Williams family. Perhaps her own past adversity fueled her desire to prevent others from similar helplessness. She looked at the bruised Wendy, the sobbing Simona, then at Joe. “They slandered Simona and threatened me. Can we get a lawyer to sue them?”

“Yes,” Joe replied, his gaze lingering on her, noting the pain in her eyes. He’d known Skylar had been mistreated by the Williams family, but never fully grasped the depth of her psychological scars.

Collecting himself, Joe looked toward the hallway. “Come here.”

Then everyone noticed several hospital security guards approaching. Hearing Joe’s call, they promptly strode over.