Eleanor came hobbling out, clutching her back.

She glared angrily at Jackson Reid.

"Let go of her hand right now!"

"My son will deal with you when he gets here!"

"Aurora, don't be scared."

"Mom will protect you."

Jackson Reid didn't seem scared at all.

Instead, he tightened his grip and started dragging me slowly along the ground.

"You old hag, you dare threaten me?"

"It doesn't matter who shows up, you're squatting in my villa."

"Pack your things and get out!"

Small stones on the ground tore at the skin on my legs.

I could feel blood tracing two faint lines behind me.

"Jackson Reid, this villa belongs to me!"

"Go home and ask your parents what really happened!"

"I'm warning you, let go of me now!"

"Or you're dead!"

"This isn't our maid."

"Be careful who you're offending!"

Jackson Reid was about to speak, but Scarlett Hayes cut him off.

She shoved her way viciously through the crowd.

Then she kicked me hard in the chest.

"What are you whimpering about, you cheap woman?"

"Trying to play innocent to hook one of these rich guys?"

"Hooking up with a kept man behind Jackson's back wasn't enough for you?"

"Now you're getting frisky out here?"

The kick left my chest aching, as if cotton was stuffed in my throat.

Seeing Scarlett hit me, Eleanor threw herself in front of me.

"Aurora, are you okay?"

"Hang on, Mom will find a way to help you!"

Enraged that someone dared stop her, Scarlett grabbed Eleanor's hair.

She slapped her across the face several times.

"You old hag, just because you moved in here, you think this villa is yours?"

"Forget this tramp Aurora Miller."

"I'd beat your kept man son too if he showed up!"

Scarlett's blows made Eleanor stumble back.

She collapsed to the ground and lay still.

I saw her covered in dirt.

My heart breaking, I screamed, "Mom!"

Turning to face Scarlett Hayes and Jackson Reid, I yelled at them.

"Do whatever you want to me, but leave my mother alone!"

"She's over sixty, don't you have any decency?"

That sent Jackson Reid into a rage.

He grabbed my hair and pulled the belt from his pants.

He started whipping me with it, again and again.

I lay on the ground, unable to move from the beating.

Through blurry vision, I saw figures milling around.

I closed my eyes in despair.

I thought I might die right there.

Just then, a man in the crowd couldn't take it anymore.

He stepped forward and yelled, "Stop!"

Jackson Reid looked up at the bald man and sneered.

The man's name was Thomas.

"Are you another one of Aurora Miller's men?"

"Why are you so concerned about her?"

"Looks like she's good in bed, getting so many guys hooked!"

"You rich ladies better watch out!"

"This woman sleeps with anyone, she might steal your husbands!"

His words made the wealthy women in the crowd eye me warily.

Their pitying looks turned cold and indifferent.

They looked like they wanted to spit on me.

Thomas stood in front of me, facing off against Jackson Reid.

"Sir, watch your language."

"No matter what's going on, you can't beat a woman in public!"

Hearing that, Jackson Reid's eyes flicked between Thomas and me.

Then he punched Thomas squarely in the nose.

He climbed onto him and started punching him relentlessly.

"You think you can scare me?"

"I'm going to beat the life out of you and your little tramp today!"