Chapter 227
All the way home, Howard and Yosef kept glancing at Maelis, but neither of them knew what to say. The carโs air was heavy with dread and the Tynn family's desperate need to know how Henry was doing. If anything happened to Henry, their family would be finished. Unlike Maelis, they couldnโt muster optimism. Jacksonโs leniency didnโt mean solace; an abyss might still await.
As soon as the car stopped at the Shaw residence, Maelis stumbled out, nearly tripping over herself as she rushed inside like a woman possessed.
A chill ran through Howard and Yosefโthey sensed their family was on the brink of collapse.
As they walked into the living room, they encountered Betty descending the stairs. At the sight of the mad Maelis, Betty frowned, her voice dripping with disgust, โWhere the hell have you been?โ
Maelis collapsed onto the sofa, disheveled hair spilling over her shoulders, her dress wrinkled, cheeks swollen, and eyes glazed with madness. โBetty, Iโm hurt. Tend to my wounds,โ she croaked.
Howard and Yosef hesitated, their expressions wavering. For now, they didnโt know how to deal with Betty. Her past actions had created a gap that seemed impossible to bridge.
Since her release from the police station, Betty had skipped school. At first, she holed up in her room every day, but recently sheโd started going outโleaving early and coming back late.
Nobody knew what she was up to. Howard and Yosef didnโt expect that they would run into her today, and judging by her outfit, she was clearly about to head out again.
โIโm busy,โ Betty said coldly, barely looking up from admiring her fresh manicure. Having burned bridges with the Shaw brothers, sheโd dropped all pretenses. โMy perfect image is shatteredโwhy pretend to be virtuous? They always sided with Zinnia anyway,โ she thought.
Howard frowned, about to say something. But before he could, Maelis suddenly lunged at Betty, who had just reached the bottom of the stairs.
Betty was knocked to the ground, her lower back slamming against the stairs. The pain drained all color from her face.
Before she could even cry out, Maelis slapped her hard across the face. The sting hadnโt faded yet when another vicious slap came.
โYou psycho, what the hell are you doing?โ Betty shrieked. Her head snapped sideways, cheek burning. Trembling with rage, she shoved at Maelis, who pinned her down with rage-fueled strengthโescape was impossible.
โMom, stop!โ Howard and Yosef stood frozen, shock rooted in their bones. Maelis had never laid a hand on Betty, yet now she pinned her down, slapping her again and again.
โYou crazy old hag!โ Betty shouted, her vision blurring from the blows. Her cheeks burned so badly she couldnโt even tell which side hurt more.
Before her cry faded, another strike landed, wrenching a pained wail from her throat.
โCall me mad? Fine, Iโll be mad.โ Maelis erupted into hysterical laughter. โI gave my all to you and your father all these years, and this is how you treat me? Iโll beat you to death!โ
Bitterness bubbled inside Maelis. โBack at the Bacon mansion, if it hadnโt been for Betty crying and pushing me to teach Zinnia a lesson, I never wouldโve hit Zinnia. If I hadnโt done that, none of the irreversible consequences would have followed. Then I would never have uncovered the truth. Itโs all their faultโevery single one of themโthat Iโm in this mess now!โ
โThis is all your fault. You and Zinniaโyouโre both filth,โ Maelis roared, halting her slaps to lunge for Bettyโs throat.
โHelp-โ Betty choked, panic swelling as she stared at Maelisโs enraged face. She struggled desperately and cried out for Howard and Yosef.
โMom, what are you doing?โ the brothers shouted, rushing to pull Maelis away.
As Maelis was dragged away, Bettyโs head lolled, her body racked by violent coughs. Her face was swollen, crimson, pulpy beyond recognition.
Maelis thrashed in the brothersโ grasp, still trying to get at Betty. โYouโre still defending her? Sheโs your fatherโs bastard. I spent over a decade raising my husbandโs illegitimate child.โ
The revelation struck all three of them dumb.
โHow could she possibly know?โ Betty, coughing on the floor, felt panic seize her.
โYou bitch, Iโll kill you,โ Maelis screamed. Seizing on their shock, Maelis broke free and pounced again, raining blows on Betty. โIโve sacrificed everything for you and Donald, yet you two lied to me for years. Go to hell!โ
โWhat are you talking about, Mom? I donโt understand.โ Betty gasped out in agony, crumpling under the onslaught.
โHow the hell did this crazy woman find out?โ Betty panicked. โNo way I can admit to anything right now. I have to wait for Donald to get back so we can figure out how to handle this.โ
โMom, what do you mean Betty is Dadโs bastard?โ Howard asked, his voice hoarse with shock. In any family, the word โbastardโ was enough to make everyoneโs skin crawl with disgust.
Maelis pausedโalso exhausted from the beatingโher chest heaving as Betty lay sprawled on the ground, already kicked unconscious. Finally, her emotions began to settle, though her bloodshot eyes never left Betty.
โBetty was born to Donaldโs mistress over a decade ago. That cheating couple switched Zinnia and have been lying to us all these years,โ Maelis said before turning to Howard, hissing menacingly, โCall Donald, and tell him Betty is dying.โ
โDonaldโs been keeping odd hours lately, and I never suspected him. But now itโs obviousโhe must be with some whore. Why should I suffer alone? They all deserve to burn,โ she thought, her eyes blazing with hatred.
Howard stared at Maelis, then at Bettyโs motionless form. With a deep sigh, he dialed Donaldโs number.
Half an hour later, tires screeched in the courtyard. Donald burst through the door, panic draining his face. At the sight of Betty, battered and still, he cried out, โBetty!โ
Just as he rushed toward Betty, a sharp pain exploded at the back of his head and he crumpled to the ground.
Maelis moved the baseball bat aside, her cold gaze fixed on Donald sprawled at her feetโhis shirt was rumpled, collar smeared with lipstick, neck dotted with hickeys. It was midnight, and he reeked of sex, a stench that gagged her.
Maelis dropped the bat and crouched down, her eyes fixed on his crotch. A knife lay behind her, its blade catching the light. With a manic grin, she reached back, fingers closing around the hilt.
The next moment, a bloodcurdling scream tore through the Shaw residence, shattering the nightโs silence.