Part 2After My Daughter Was Switched by My Cousin, I Laughed

Blood gushed out in rivulets, but Nora didn’t care. Instead, she drove the hairpin deeper into Skylar’s thigh, twisting it cruelly.

"That’s what you get for disobeying me, you worthless little wretch!" she spat, her voice full of venom.

Skylar lay motionless on the floor, silent tears streaming down her face. She seemed completely numb to the pain, as if she’d long since grown used to Nora’s abuse. Her leg, already crippled, had likely lost all feeling—making it an easy target for Nora’s sadistic outbursts.

The other servants stood around watching, their faces blank, as though this was just another performance for their entertainment.

Kara and I were no strangers to Nora’s violent tantrums, but my husband, Brandon, walked into the room mid-scene and froze, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

"What’s going on here? Cousin, why are you punishing a servant in front of my wife?"

At the sight of Brandon, Nora’s demeanor changed instantly. The wild, vicious expression vanished, replaced by a damsel-in-distress act. She stood up slowly, tucking the bloodied hairpin into her sleeve with practiced ease.

"Brother-in-law," she said, her voice suddenly soft and trembling, "this little maid dared to have impure thoughts about my dear cousin. I had no choice but to discipline her in front of my elder sister."

Her eyes darted between Brandon and me, as if trying to shift the blame onto me, implying I had demanded the punishment.

Brandon frowned, clearly uneasy. He glanced at me, his disapproval evident, then turned back to Nora.

"Skylar is just a young girl, about the same age as Kara," he said. "There’s no need to be so harsh. Please, let her go."

Kara, ever the innocent and straightforward child, couldn’t stand to hear Nora twist the truth. She pointed a finger at Nora and shouted, "It wasn’t my mother! It was her! She slapped Skylar for no reason!"

The more Kara defended me, the darker Nora’s expression became. Her eyes burned with jealousy and resentment as she glared at me.

I smiled back at her, almost daring her to lose her composure. Then, with deliberate calm, I waved the matter aside.

"It’s just a servant," I said lightly, "no need to let something so trivial disturb the harmony of our family."

Brandon clearly wasn’t satisfied with my response, but he respected my position as the lady of the household too much to argue. Instead, he ordered the maids to take Skylar away and tend to her injuries.

But Nora wasn’t about to let Skylar out of her grasp so easily.

With a sweet, fake smile, she said, "Oh, there’s no need to trouble anyone. Skylar is my servant, and I’ll take responsibility for her care."

Before anyone could object, Nora yanked Skylar up by her arm, forcing the injured girl to stand on her damaged leg, and dragged her toward the door.

Kara, ever soft-hearted, couldn’t bear to see Skylar in such a pitiful state. She tugged on my sleeve and looked up at me with pleading eyes.

"Mother, can I send Skylar some medicine? She’s hurt so badly!"

Sixteen years of raising Kara had taught me to read her thoughts as easily as an open book. With a faint smile, I nodded.

"Go ahead," I said. "And take the golden ointment from my cabinet. It’ll help her wounds heal faster."

Kara’s face lit up, and she dashed off eagerly, the kindhearted girl that I’d raised.

Brandon, meanwhile, wasn’t quite done chastising me, but before he could get another word out, Kara returned, her expression crestfallen.

"What happened?" I asked.

Kara’s hands were empty, and there was no sign of the golden ointment. She lowered her head, her voice quiet and filled with frustration.

"Mother," she muttered, "Aunt Nora wouldn’t let me give Skylar the medicine... She said it might get my new dress dirty."

"And the ointment?"

Kara hesitated, her face twisting with anger.

"She threw it away," she said finally. "She said Skylar is just a worthless servant and doesn’t deserve something so nice."