“No one who deceives me prospers. I’ll turn your life into sheer misery!” Lise had braced herself for death when she decided to speak out. She tilted her chin up slightly, facing Neil with defiance.

“Go ahead, kill me if you have guts!”

Then, with a sudden shift, she mocked Neil with a derisive laugh.

“Neil, you really are useless!”

Neil’s eyes burned like sharp daggers, cutting straight into Lise.

“You really want to die?”

But Lise didn’t cower. This time, she didn’t bother with riddles or ambiguous words. Instead, her expression turned mocking, pity and disdain flashing in her gaze.

“You’re pathetic. A coward through and through! How many times did you realize you’d misjudged Katelyn? But no, you couldn’t admit it, could you? Your pride wouldn’t let you!” Her words hit like a slap, her scorn sharp and biting.

Neil’s entire body trembled, his anger barely contained. It felt as though her words had driven a blade straight through his chest. His grip on her chin tightened painfully, his hand trembling with fury. His voice erupted in a guttural roar.

“Lise Bailey!”

Instead of flinching, Lise’s smirk widened. The angrier Neil got, the more satisfaction she seemed to take from it.

“Stop acting like you’re innocent. You’re no better than me!”

Neil’s jaw clenched, his grip tightening before he suddenly released her, his expression turning cold and calculating.

“Bring it in.”

The man in black standing nearby stiffened, casting Lise a fleeting look filled with pity before nodding.

“Yes, sir.”

Read more stories now g?lnσν?s?c?m

Moments later, a basin was brought into the room. Its contents wriggled in a grotesque, dark mass that seemed alive.

Lise’s expression froze, her usual confidence slipping as terror crept into her wide eyes. She instinctively backed away, her voice rising in panic.

“Neil, what… What is that?!”

She didn’t know what kind of creatures they were, but the way they moved sent chills down her spine. Whatever they were, they were no good.

Neil’s lips curled into a cruel smirk.

“Now you’re scared? It’s too late for that.” He gestured toward the basin and commanded, “Put those leeches on her.” Leeches!

The realization hit Lise like a thunderclap. A shiver raced through her body, her fear becoming pure, unrestrained panic. She thrashed wildly, screaming, “No! Not that! Neil, please! Don’t!”

She was terrified of worms, and leeches—blood-sucking, writhing leeches—were her worst nightmare. Moreover, her open wounds were still bleeding, an irresistible lure for the leeches.

Her violent thrashing only added to the chaos, causing the entire wooden frame to shake noisily under her desperate struggle. But Neil remained unmoved, his gaze cold and indifferent. He gestured at the struggling woman.

“Tie her legs.”

Betrayal was the one thing he despised above all else. In the past, he had hated Katelyn for what he believed was her deceit. Now, Lise had trampled over his boundaries time and time again. How could he possibly forgive her? None of this would have happened if she had just been loyal and stayed by his side. She had brought this fate upon herself.

The men in black followed Neil’s orders without hesitation. They tied her legs securely with thick ropes, then placed the leeches on her. The slimy creatures squirmed against her warm skin, their movements slow but deliberate.

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