Immediately Victoria gasped, her lips parted, and her knees wobbled slightly. She didn't know whether to scream or collapse. She couldn't even breathe for a second.
But Benedict didn't spare her another glance. He immediately turned away from her like she was nothing more than a ghost behind him.
Immediately he faced Lisa again, his voice calmer but still desperate.
"Please," he said, dropping back to his knees. "I'm begging you. I'll do anything… anything you want. Just name it. Please, I'm begging you, limit the punishment—anything at all, I will accept. Just get my family out of this mess."
At that moment, seeing that Victoria was still standing—her arms limp at her sides, her mouth slightly open in disbelief—her father's fury erupted like a dam breaking.
"What are you still doing standing there?" he roared, his voice echoing across the tense room like a slap. "Are you deaf? Go down on your knees right now and start begging! Do it now—before it's too late!"
