After the CEO Divorced Me, He Wants Me Back

Jolie lifted her gaze to meet Daisy's, a hint of confusion on her face as she asked, "What do you mean by that?" Bang!

Terence slammed his palm on the coffee table, his face already clouded with anger. "Jolie, are you playing dumb? What's going on between you and lan? Why didn't you tell us beforehand? Do you have any idea how important your future is to this family?" Daisy's expression wasn't much better, her cold gaze fixed on Jolie, carrying an air of disapproval.

Jolie had never seen Terence this furious before. She was momentarily startled but quickly steadied herself.

"I like lan, and lan likes me," she said firmly. "Naturally, we ended up together. What's the problem with that?"

"No. Absolutely not!" Terence snapped, his voice harsh and resolute. "You must break up with him immediately."

Jolie shook her head. "I'm not breaking up with lan."

"Disgraceful!" Terence glared at her, pointing a trembling finger in her direction. "Do you think I won't lay a hand on you? Jolie, I've clearly spoiled you too much. You've grown completely unruly, daring to hide something as significant as a relationship from your family. Go, bring the whip!"

Daisy's face shifted at his words. She quickly grabbed his arm and tried to reason with him. "Don't do this. Jolie will listen to us. We can't hit her-she's a young woman. What if she gets hurt?"

Jolie, however, stood her ground. "I won't break up."

"Bring the whip!" Terence roared, shaking off Daisy's hand. His voice was cold and commanding.

Even Daisy seemed momentarily frightened. She cast a reluctant glance at Jolie before standing and leaving the room.

The whip...

How laughable.

Jolie's mind drifted back to her childhood, to the time when Selena was punished with the so-called whip.

Little Selena had cried and screamed at first, but eventually, she'd fallen silent, enduring the pain without a sound.

Jolie had been terrified back then, hiding in a corner, too scared to make a noise.

And now, would that same whip fall on her?

Before long, Daisy returned, holding a leather whip in her hands. She hesitated, clearly unwilling to hand it over to Terence.

"Jolie, just listen to us. Break up with

lan. He's not right for you," Daisy pleaded, her tone softer yet firm. "We're your parents. Every decision we make is for your own good. Don't be stubborn. Do you hear me?"

Jolie stood up abruptly, then knelt on the living room floor, her head bowed. "I won't break up," she said quietly but resolutely.

Terence's face darkened as he snatched the whip from Daisy's hands. Without hesitation, he raised it high and brought it down hard on Jolie's back.

"Ah!" Jolie couldn't hold back a cry of pain.

It hurt so much-like fire searing through her skin. The spot where the whip landed felt as though it had been torn open. Her face turned ghostly pale in an instant.

"Will you break up now?" Terence demanded, his voice wavering slightly as he saw her pale face. Despite his anger, there was a flicker of hesitation-after all, this was his beloved daughter. "No," Jolie gritted out through clenched teeth.

Crack!

Crack! Crack!

The whip landed repeatedly on her back, the sharp sound of leather striking flesh reverberating through the room. Jolie cried out only at the start. Afterward, she remained silent, enduring the pain without a sound.

Daisy, unable to watch any longer, rushed forward and grabbed Terence's arm. "That's enough! Stop it! If you keep going, you'll seriously hurt her! She's still our daughter!" Terence paused, his anger having subsided somewhat. Tossing the whip aside, he sat heavily on the couch, glaring at Jolie with frustration and disappointment.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

"You'll break up with lan immediately. I won't allow you to continue seeing him!"

Jolie's mind was hazy from the pain. Her back throbbed with a searing agony that left her lightheaded, every breath shallow and strained. Gathering the last of her strength, she exhaled a shaky word.

"No."

The moment the word left her lips, she collapsed to the floor, her vision going dark as she lost consciousness.