"I guess both mother and child can fetch me a huge amount of money, then," the man sneered, his lips curling into a cruel smirk.
"How could you..." the woman choked out, her voice trembling with pain and disbelief. Blood continued to trickle down her forehead, staining her face in crimson streaks. She pressed a shaking hand against the wound in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding, while her other arm clutched baby Hope tightly to her chest. The infant's wails echoed through the small, filthy apartment, her tiny body trembling from fear.
"Oh, yes, I can and I will kill you," the man growled, taking a menacing step forward. "Your body parts will fetch me some real money. You should have listened when I told you to treat me with some damn respect, bitch!" His voice was filled with unhinged rage as he raised his hand again, ready to strike both the mother and child without a second thought.
But just then...
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A sharp rapping on the door stopped him mid-swing.
