Seeing me, John didn't show any panic but instead smiled contemptuously.

I bit my lip hard to stop myself from venting my heartache.

But my eyes still turned red, and tears blurred my vision.

"Oh, what's this? Playing the affectionate role again?"

"Trying so hard to unfreeze your credit card?"

He slowly pushed Ashley away, stood up, and stood before me.

He lit a cigarette and slowly blew the smoke into my face.

The pungent smell of smoke made me cough.

He knew I couldn't stand the smell of smoke, and he never used to do this.

I suppressed my anger and asked as calmly as possible, "How many times do I have to tell you that they are your parents? Why won't you go and see them?"

"You're a habitual liar. Why should I believe you? Maybe it's another one of your tricks to get my money."

I threw Mom's critical condition notice in his face: "Look clearly whose name is written on it!"

He didn't even look at it, stepping on the notice with his foot and slapping me.

"Such a good actress. Now you even use props."

"If you have this much energy, why don't you learn from Ashley and please me? You could get any amount of money."

"You're using the wrong tactic."

I didn't want to hear his disgusting words anymore, so I turned to leave.

"Did I say you could go?"

John came over, grabbed my arm, and pressed me hard to the ground.

I struggled desperately, but it was useless.

"John, are you crazy? What are you doing?"

The tip of Ashley's high heel ground hard on my face, the thin heel as if it would pierce my skin.

John turned a blind eye, even tacitly approving.

"Where are you going? Don't want the money anymore?"

"That's not right. You used to be very good at getting money. Why are you acting all noble now?"

My cheeks burned, humiliated blood rushing to my head.

"Let me go! You don't want to save your parents, so what's the point of bringing up the past?"

I squeezed these words out through gritted teeth, every word filled with anger and helplessness.

"Unrepentant, and cursing my parents!"

John pressed harder on my face, the heel leaving a clear mark.

I felt like my face was about to be crushed, and breathing became difficult.

Ashley watched with amusement and came over to kick me in the stomach.

I cried out in pain, curled up on the ground, my stomach churning.

John just watched coldly, without a shred of pity.

"Johnny, why are you tying her up here?"

Ashley snuggled up to John, her hands wandering restlessly over his body.

John chuckled and put his arms around Ashley's waist, whispering in her ear, "Keep her here and see how good you are, how well you can serve me."

"Let her out, and who knows what tricks she'll come up with to disgust me again."

I lay on the ground like a dead dog, listening to their disgusting conversation, my heart filled with despair and anger.

John and Ashley's flirting became more and more explicit, and my heart grew colder and colder.

My parents were still in the hospital, their lives hanging by a thread, and I was trapped here.

I even started to regret bringing them here on impulse.

If they were still back home, at least they could have a peaceful Christmas.

Dad's medical expenses hadn't been paid, and he had been moved to the hospital corridor.

Now, with the cold wind howling, how could his aging body endure it?

Sharp pains shot through my abdomen, and I felt like I was about to pass out.

Just then, John's phone rang.

He answered impatiently and put it on speaker.

"John…"

A weak and anxious voice came from the other end of the phone.

John froze for a moment, then exclaimed, "Dad? Why are you calling me from an unknown number?"