There and then, Evan hung up the phone again.
Susan’s expression stiffened. Why did Evan sound so disgusted with me just now? How could he treat me like this?
“Ms. Susan, can we eat yet?” Maya asked timidly as her stomach growled in hunger.
Susan quickly regained her senses and looked at the children with a forced smile on her face. “Yes, you can,” she replied.
The children then started devouring their dinner.
Susan looked at them as she continued to think about Evan’s attitude toward her. The more she pondered over it, the more uncomfortable she felt.
Why?
Why is Evan treating me this way?
All of a sudden, Maya dropped one of her bamboo chopsticks on the ground.
“Ms. Susan, go and fetch Maya a fresh pair of chopsticks,” instructed Nina as she looked at Susan arrogantly.
Susan’s face darkened. Damned kid! How could she dare to order me around?
Maya is a fat and stupid kid who just can’t stop herself from eating. She needs to be taught a lesson.
“Hold on. I’ll get a fresh pair for you,” muttered Susan as she glanced at the children with a forced smile on her face.
Nina felt a sense of delight when Susan got up and went to the kitchen. She’s such a bad woman. We can’t be too nice to her!
On the other hand, Maya was overcome with worry because she caught a sinister look in Susan’s eyes when she walked past just now.
Will Ms. Susan begin to abuse me again?
She trembled anxiously as she continued eating.
After she finished her meal, her worries soon turned into reality.
Susan took her into the bedroom under the pretext that she wanted to tell her a story.
Thinking about Evan had acted as though he was disgusted by her and how Nicole was a stumbling block even after her death, she shot Maya a death glare.
Maya’s heart started thumping rapidly at that very moment. Her hands fidgeted restlessly and her eyes welled up with tears as she glanced at Susan in fear.
“Ms. Susan, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have dropped my chopsticks on the floor,” she admitted with a quivering voice.
Being a young, innocent child, Maya didn’t understand the real reason that Susan was treating her this way. She thought that Susan was angry at her because of her earlier blunder.
Susan curled her lips as she bent down to pinch Maya’s chubby cheeks. “You stupid pig! Even pigs are smarter than you! You’re a waste of food,” she admonished the little girl.
Maya couldn’t help but question herself at Susan’s words. Ms. Susan called me a stupid pig, but Mommy always tells me that I’m smart.
When she recalled how gentle and loving Nicole was toward her, tears started rolling down her cheeks uncontrollably and she whimpered, “Mommy, Mommy——”
She was cut off abruptly by Susan who warned her fiercely, “What are you whining about? Keep quiet!”
Maya immediately shut her mouth.
After that, Susan pinched her twice on her body before she walked up to the closet and took out a box of silver needles.
When Maya saw the box, she trembled with fear and begged, “Ms. Susan, please don’t poke me. I’ll be good.”
Susan then recalled Evan’s cold attitude and how he had told her not to call if there was nothing important.
Every word that he uttered was like a needle that had pierced through her heart.
Sinister thoughts soon crept into her mind. How many needles should I use to pierce this stupid pig in order to get even with Evan?
Maya’s eyes were filled with terror when she saw Susan walking toward her with needles.
Mommy! Help me!
She screamed in her heart, but she did not dare to make a sound as she feared that her mother would be beaten to death if she shouted.
At that very moment, Maya felt that being alive was a rather frightening thing.
“I’m warning you not to make a sound! If you do, you and your mother will die,” Susan threatened.
Maya shook her head vigorously as she began to worry in her mind. I don’t want Mommy to die. I won’t shout…
Her face turned pale as Susan started pricking her buttocks and thighs with needles. Droplets of sweat appeared on her forehead while tears rolled down her cheeks.
It hurts so much.
Go easy on me, Ms. Susan.
Susan was stunned when she saw the prick marks on Maya’s buttocks and thighs, but she felt that Maya still needed to be pricked on her arms.
