She looked a picture of regret, and Kenneth, peering out at the blizzard raging beyond the window, then back at her shivering form
wracked with coughs, couldn't help but speak up, "Send her back first."
Seeing that Louisa remained silent, Betty had no choice but to run outside and relay the message to Serena.
"Ms. Serena, let's go."
"Betty, doa favor." Serena lifted her tearful eyes, her plea heartfelt, "Pick up that branch on the ground and whipharshly
with it."
"What??" Betty was flabbergasted, "Ms. Serena, | couldn't possibly lash out at you."
She wouldn't dare, not even if she had the guts.
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"I've done wrong. | deserve to be punished." Serena's voice rose as she continued and then shouted, "Mom, Dad, Bella, you all just
watch from the house, letting Betty do the work!"
She turned to Betty again, "Whether or not | can return to the main house depends on you. The harder you hit, the better my
chances."
"But this."
"Do it!" Serena commanded sharply, causing Betty to shudder and, with no choice left, pick up the branch.
The branch, over a meter long and almost as thick as a baton, looked like it would hurt a lot if used.
"Ms. Serena."
"Do it," Serena seemed resolute, eyes closed, waiting for whatever cnext.
Under tremendous pressure, Betty gently tapped Serena's back, only to be scolded, "Did you even have breakfast? Or do you also
wantto leave? Do you wantout of the main house too?"
"No, | would never think that," Betty replied, putting a bit more force into it.
"Harder," Serena gritted her teeth.
Betty increased her strength once more.
"Give it everything you've got!"
With that, Betty closed her eyes and swung hard. The branch struck Serena's slender back, making her lurch forward, almost
falling face-first into the snow.
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After all, Arabella wasn't around today to witness her embarrassment. Erik had also said he'd try to send away most of the
servants, so at most, only two or three would see this scene.
She figured a moment's shwas worth it if it meant earning her parents’ forgiveness and returning to her status as the
daughter of the Collins family.
"That's right; keep going," Serena endured the pain.
Betty, determined to help Serena return to the main house, steeled her heart and struck again. The sound of the branch falling was
almost too much for Betty to bear.
With another powerful swing, Serena toppled forward into the snow, and the branch snapped in two.
Betty, terrified, dropped the broken branch and knelt to help Serena, shouting towards the main house, "Mr. and Mrs. Collins,
please forgive Ms. Serena. She's always been delicate; how can she endure such punishment? Her wounds haven't even healed."
At that moment, Erik took the opportunity to plead from the living room, "Mr. and Mrs. Collins, | believe Ms. Serena truly
understands her mistake. It's already quite extraordinary that she would kneel in the snow. Please give her another chance. Look,
she can barely stand."