[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-26032258F3A3-521":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},521,7,"Chapter 7: One Hundred Hits Against the Floor","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine stood in the downpour, laughing and weeping all at once, until the sound drew Greta from the shadows of the estate.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Greta had her hauled inside, her hands trembling as she grabbed a towel to scrub Elaine’s wet hair. \"What in the hell is wrong with you? You haven't even finished your recovery, and you’re out here standing in the freezing rain! Do you want to die?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Greta’s eyes darted down to Elaine’s hand. \"And your hand—who the hell did this?!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine stared blankly, her eyes hollow, as if the soul had been ripped straight from her body. Her voice was a ragged whisper. \"Grandma, I just want to go home.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Greta’s entire frame stiffened. She didn't need to ask for details; she knew exactly what had transpired.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She summoned a private physician to patch up Elaine’s battered hands and then slid a thick envelope across the mahogany table. \"I hid these in the pile of standard business filings. Marcellus didn't look twice. Take them. In two days, leave. Run as far as your legs can carry you, and don't you dare look back.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A spark of life finally flickered in Elaine’s dull eyes. She whispered a choked thank you before curling up on the sofa and sinking into an exhausted, death-like sleep.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The next day, dragging her aching, bruised body, she returned to the West Wing.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Mavis, the maid responsible for Max, came sprinting toward her, pale as a sheet. \"It’s bad, Elaine! The young master is running a fever—he's burning up, but the Mistress explicitly forbid us from calling a doctor!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"What?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Despite the countless times Max had been turned against her, Elaine’s heart twisted. He was still her child.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She hurried with Mavis to Max’s room, her pulse pounding in her ears. She scooped the limp, burning boy into her arms. His skin was searing to the touch, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"He needs the hospital. Right now. If this fever spikes, he could suffer brain damage,\" she muttered to herself, turning to bolt for the door, only to be blocked by a shadow.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Morgan sauntered into the room, her expression draped in lazy malice. \"Where do you think you’re going?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine shivered involuntarily, but she forced herself to stand tall, fear gnawing at her insides. \"He needs to get his fever down immediately! If he ends up permanently scarred, not even you can bear the consequences!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It’s just a fever. Boys are tough. Besides, even if he burns out, no one would ever pin it on me,\" Morgan sneered.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine knew she wasn't lying. Marcellus shielded Morgan like a diamond. She could commit any atrocity, and he would simply wash her hands clean of it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine’s knees gave out. With a sickening thud, she collapsed to the floor in front of her. \"Morgan, please. I’m begging you. Take it out on me, just let me take him to the hospital.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Morgan let out a cruel, sharp laugh. \"Such a touching mother-son bond. No wonder this little brat never acted like he was mine.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Morgan’s eyes glinted with sadism. \"I’ll let you take him. But you have to pay the toll. One hundred knocks. Right here. Right now.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine’s hands balled into white-knuckled fists, but she didn't move.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Morgan’s voice dropped, ice-cold and jagged. \"Start knocking!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A single tear slid down Elaine’s cheek. She leaned forward and slammed her forehead against the hardwood floor.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Once. Twice.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her skin split instantly. A dark, ugly bruise bloomed on her brow, rapidly darkening to a deep, sickly purple.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Ninety-eight. Ninety-nine. One hundred.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Morgan let out a satisfied scoff, stepping aside to clear the path.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine didn't waste a second. She heaved Max into her arms and ran.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Outside, the rain had intensified into a deluge. Morgan had already issued the order: no umbrella, no car keys. Elaine plunged into the storm, shielding the burning boy with her own body, stumbling blindly toward the hospital miles away.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">By the time she reached the ER, she was half-dead, but Max was hooked up to an IV drip. After an agonizing wait, his eyelashes fluttered. He blinked, his eyes slowly focusing on the disheveled, soaking-wet woman hovering over him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He stared at her, stunned.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Just as Elaine braced herself for the usual barrage of insults from her own son, he let out a tiny, shaky breath. \"Did... did you save me?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine fumbled with her wet sleeves, forcing a soft, broken, \"Yes.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The silence in the room was heavy, suffocating.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Thank you,\" Max muttered, staring firmly at the sheets, his eyes rimmed with red.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine’s heart melted. \"It was the right thing to do.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Max was far too mature for his age. He had sensed the lies around him for a long time. He hesitated, his voice thick with congestion. \"They say... they say you’re my real mother. Is that true?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yes.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine’s heart hammered against her ribs, a desperate, irrational hope rising in her chest. Could she actually leave this place with a shred of love? If Morgan was mistreating him, maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to take him with her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before she could process the thought, Max let out a jagged sob. \"Why? Why do you have to be my mother? Why did you even show up? Because of you, Mom hates me!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I hate you!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Mom said Dad is going to die soon, and she has to marry Uncle. Please, just give him to her! If you give her what she wants, she’ll stop hitting me! She’ll finally love me!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The boy was hysterical, his words a jumble of twisted logic and trauma.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine froze. The warmth in her chest turned to ice, shattering completely.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Okay,\" she whispered.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Max blinked, confused. \"Really?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine’s voice trembled, brittle as dry leaves. \"If you call me 'Mom' just one time, I’ll do it.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Max didn't seem to believe her, but he whimpered, \"Mom... are you really going to leave?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Seven years. She had waited seven years to hear him say it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Elaine gave him a smile that looked more like a wound than a gesture of joy. She leaned down, gently wiping the tears from his cheeks.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yes. Mom is going to leave.\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272928423]