Nathan was left utterly speechless, his emotions welling up inside him.


    His heart felt wounded, and he pursed his lips, gazing at her with a profound sadness in his eyes.


    She tapped the bed sternly with a ruler.


    Her expression was cold and distant, as she reminded him, “Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten the family rules?”


    Nathan eventually gave in.


    The intense internal struggle finally subsided and with a sigh, he extended his left palm before her, ready to ept his fate.


    Lucinda shook her head.


    “Both hands,” she insisted firmly.


    “Lucinda, you know I have to sign that contract tomorrow,” Nathan pleaded, worried that an injury to his right hand might affect his ability to write.


    Lucinda’s face remained impassive, as though silently conveying that there was no room for negotiation on this issue.


    Her cold gaze weighed heavily on Nathan, and reluctantly, he extended his right hand as well.


    The ruler came down on his palms three times.


    Red square marks instantly swelled on Nathan’s broad palms, causing him to wince in pain.


    His trembling fingertips revealed the depth of his difort.


    He held his breath, feeling hurt both physically and emotionally.


    ‘s BunnyBookery


    Lucinda’s tearful gaze fixed on him as she asked, “You haven’t shown much care for the babies since they were born.


    Nathan, do you not like me anymore, or the babies I brought into this world for you?”


    Her words startled him, and he immediately raised his head.


    “What makes you think that? I’ve seen how much you’ve suffered for them in the past ten months, and it breaks my heart to witness it.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    I’m willing to do anything for you.


    ”


    His voice carried a tinge of bitterness as he bit his lower lip, feeling deeply aggrieved.


    “Lucinda, it’s just that I sense you don’t care about me as much as you used to since the babies were born.


    It feels like you prioritize them over me.


    And now, you me me and punish me because of them, without considering my feelings.


    ”


    She stared at him, taken aback by his words, and couldn’t help but smile in her anger.


    “Why are you so jealous of your babies? How old are they? They’re just one month old andpletely dependent on us.


    We have to take good care of them.


    It’s our responsibility.


    What are they to you?


    Rivals in love?”


    Nathan bent his head, unsure of how to respond to her words.


    Lucinda didn’t hold back as she delivered three more firm hits on his palms, determined to make him learn his lesson.


    “Ouch…”


    He winced in pain and furrowed his brow.


    It was the first time he had to endure two punishments simultaneously—kneeling on a washboard and enduring the ruler’s strikes on his palms.