During the drive, Louis remained completely silent. Rachel sobbed and reached for his reddened cheek, but he pulled away,
At the Moore estate, they both knelt before Philip and Maggie, whose faces blazed with fury.
“Explain yourselves. What the hell is going on between you two? You’re siblings! How could you have any thought like that?”
Louis spoke first.
“We’re not blood–related. Rachel’s adopted. Dad, Mom. I’ve divorced Cersei, and I want to be with Rachel.”
Philip’s face turned crimson. He’d never imagined his promising son would develop feelings for his own sister, much less divorce Cersei without saying a word.
He slapped Louis across the face with such force that Louis’s head snapped sideways.
“You’re a fucking basterd.”
Then Philip’s glare shifted to Rachel. She instantly panicked and began a desperate defense.
“It’s not my fault! It’s all Louis! He forced me. Cersei’s my best friend–I would never make her divorce Louis! It’s all his fault for neglecting her, that’s why they got divorced! Daddy, I didn’t do anything!”
Tears streamed down Rachel’s face as she sobbed pitifully. Her words didn’t lessen Philip’s anger, but they turned his gaze toward Louis with even greater disgust.
Louis turned to Rachel, eyes filled with shock and betrayal.
“Rachel, what are you saying? We love each other-”
“Bullshit! It’s all you! You made me kiss you and… and fuck with you! I never wanted any of that! I just wanted you and Cersei to be happy together!”
Her tears flowed faster as she vividly described being Louis’s victim. With each word, Louis’s face drained of color,
He never imagined that his sister–the girl he’d loved would betray him at such a crucial moment.
She had loved him too. How could she do this?
By the end, Philip looked at Louis with nothing but revulsion. The Moore family rules strictly forbade such relationships.
Philip signaled the security guards to restrain Louis. According to family tradition, such moral transgressions warranted 99 slaps.
“Louis, do
you
admit you were wrong?” Philip asked before beginning.
If he were actually to receive all 99 slaps, Louis would be seriously injured. Philip was clearly offering him a way out. Even Rachel tugged gently at his
sleeve.
“Louis, just apologize to Dad. Ninety–nine slaps! You could die!”
The panic on her face seemed genuine, but Louis’s heart had already been shattered. He turned to her with a bitter smile and yanked his arm away.
“I did nothing wrong. I’ll accept death if that’s what it takes.” He looked directly at Rachel, his voice heavy with grief.
“I told you I’d do anything for you. What’s 99 slaps, Rachel?”
Philip’s eyes flashed dangerously, his expression hardening further. Rachel was terrified of being implicated and cried out.
“Louis, stop! Please!”
9.3%
Chapter 12
Louis lowered his head with a self–mocking smile. Philip wasted no more time.
The first slap landed with brutal force, each one harder than the last. Louis’s face swelled as he cried out in pain.
By the time Philip finished, his hand was swollen. And Louis had passed out, his face a mess of angry welts and blood.
Philip ordered the guards to take Louis away, then turned his attention to Rachel who was shaking with fear.
In his eyes, Rachel had always been sweet and childish. He never imagined she’d fuck with his own son.
“Rachel, get ready for an arranged marriage. Even though you’re just an adopted daughter, I’ve always treated you like my own. You and Louis are not meant to be together.”
His cold words reminded her of her place in the family.
Rachel couldn’t control her tears as she knelt and agreed. Without Louis, she knew she couldn’t go against her family’s will.
♡ (0)
