?<strong>Chapter 283:</strong>


    “Let go of me!” Matias barked, his fiery re a testament to his unyielding fury.


    “I won’t!” Ainslie cried out, her grip resolute as she held her ground in defiance.


    “Neil!” Matias barked with an edge of authority.


    Neil hastened over, gently but firmly prying Ainslie away from Matias.


    As soon as Ainslie was pulled aside, Matias raised the whip once more, ready to strike Ryan again.


    But before the blow could fall, Verena suddenly dropped to her knees, her voice trembling with desperation. “Uncle Matias, please stop this! Don’t hurt Ryan anymore. This is all my fault—punish me instead!”


    Matias cast a frosty gaze upon her, his voice cutting through the tension. “Verena, step away right now. I am disciplining my son, and you are not in a ce to meddle here.”


    Tears brimming in her reddened eyes, Verena held her ground, her knees rooted to the floor in defiance.


    Matias’ eyes narrowed into slits of displeasure, but he chose not to say anything further to Verena. Instead, he lifted the whip once more and let it fall with a searing strike across Ryan’s back.


    “Ryan!” Verena’s scream pierced the tension in the room, her voiceced with concern.


    “Ugh…” A guttural groan escaped Ryan’s lips as his body convulsed from the sheer force of thesh.


    Blow after merciless blow followed, Matias showing no signs of restraint as he delivered a total of twentyshes. Only then did he finally stop punishing Ryan.


    Towering over Ryan’s battered body, Matias nced at Verena, still kneeling beside him. Then, he said in an icy tone, “This is your final warning. If something like that happens again, a whipping will be the least of your worries.”


    With those words, Matias let out a derisive snort, discarded the whip carelessly, and walked to leave the room without a backward nce.


    “Ryan… Are you alright?” Verena’s voice quivered as she hurried to Ryan’s side, her heart breaking at the sight of him in pain.


    “Ugh… Don’t touch me!” Ryan winced, his voice strained with pain, halting Verena in her tracks.


    His face, ghostly pale, was slick with sweat, and his body trembled involuntarily. Even the faintest shift in position sent fresh waves of pain rippling through him.


    Just then, Ainslie rushed over to Ryan, a few servants trailing closely behind her, their faces etched with concern.


    “Quick, take him upstairs! Call our family doctor over immediately!” shemanded, her tears streaming unchecked.


    “Auntie Ainslie,” Verena murmured softly, attempting to assist.


    But the moment Verena’s hand brushed Ainslie’s, Ainslie shook it off with a dismissive motion.


    Wearing a cold expression, Ainslie turned on her heel and ascended the stairs in silence, ignoring Verenapletely.


    Verena’s gaze lingered on her aunt, anxiety twisting like a knife in her chest. She knew that Ainslie was ming her for this. After all, it was her actions that had led to Ryan’s brutal punishment.


    Unable to defend herself or protest, Verena sniffled quietly, brushed away her tears, and trailed after Ainslie up the stairs.


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