You Think
"Please, let me go," Rhea continued to plead.
Her begging did nothing to move Miles; instead, it only made him more ruthless. He took a whip from the drawer and walked slowly towards her. Rhea scrambled out of the bathtub, running toward the door, only to find it locked. As he drew closer, her fear and despair grew.
When the whip landed on her, the pain was unlike anything she had ever experienced.
"Ah!" Her screams echoed through the large bathroom, mingling with Miles' maniacal laughter. There was no escape, no resistance. Rhea was utterly hopeless. Little did she know, the worst was yet to come.
Her dream of a luxurious life was shattered, replaced by endless torment. She now wished for death rather than endure this living hell. She even began to long for her old life. She regretted everything: following Miles, believing his words, and most of all, attending that fateful party. If only Zuri hadn't invited her, she wouldn't have met this demon and suffered this inhuman torture.
It was all Zuri's fault. Why did she, already so blessed, have to ruin Rhea's life too? The pain gave way to hatred, which she directed entirely at Zuri. It was the only way she could endure Miles' relentless abuse.
At the Lin family mansion, Zuri lounged lazily on a soft sofa as her phone buzzed. She opened the message.
[I'm ready to act tonight. Once I retrieve the video, that beast's crimes will be exposed. When can we meet?]
Zuri slowly typed her reply.
[4 PM, 'The Tea House'.]
She closed her phone, opened a drawer, took out a glass bottle, and placed a half-fresh rat tail inside. The bottle, once a third full, was now more than half.
"Who's next?" she muttered to herself.
"Let's make it you," she decided, her eyes glinting as she looked at the name on the paper: Miles.
The evening sky was awash with colors as Arianwen entered the room. Finding it empty, she noticed the light curtains fluttering gently in the breeze. She walked to the balcony, picked up a book from the table, and glanced at the cover.
"Social Psychology."
Arianwen dismissed it as just another school subject. As she left the room, she ran into Dalia.
"Is she here?" Dalia asked.
"The second miss went to Azura's house. She plans to stay on the lake island tonight," Arianwen replied with a smile.
"Running off every few days, it's not proper," Dalia grumbled.
Arianwen kept her smile, avoiding a response. She found it puzzling that the mistress was so upset, considering the chairman encouraged such visits. As Dalia went downstairs, she spotted Saira in the courtyard and approached her with a warm smile.
"Saira, could you go to the lake island and bring Zuri back?"
Saira's first instinct was to refuse, thinking a phone call would suffice, but she quickly understood her mother's intentions.
"Alright," Saira agreed sweetly.
"I'll have Uncle Wang drive you. Be safe, and don't rush," Dalia advised.
At Lake Island in Oceanic City, a delicate figure was pulling weeds in the garden behind the house. The housekeeper called out to her, "Miss Azura, the Lin family's eldest miss is here."
Azura looked up, surprised. "Saira? Why is she here?"
"She's here to fetch Miss Zuri."
To fetch Zuri? Azura chuckled. Zuri wasn't there. If they needed her, a phone call would suffice. "Tell her Zuri isn't here."
Azura turned back, concerned. Could Zuri be out causing trouble and using her place as an alibi?
She decided to find out what Saira wanted. Putting down her tools, she dusted herself off and went to meet Saira.
In the grand reception hall, Saira sat elegantly, taking in the luxurious surroundings. This was her first time at Lake Island, rumored to be the most opulent property in Oceanic City. As she heard footsteps, she turned to see Azura, but not Zuri.
"What are you doing here?" Azura asked bluntly.
Saira, not picking up on the hostility, smiled. "I'm here to take Zuri home."
"Zuri? She's not here. You can leave now," Azura replied, spreading her hands.
Saira didn't believe her. "Zuri said she'd be here tonight. She can't not be here."
Azura's heart skipped a beat. Was Zuri really out doing something dubious? Azura coughed, trying to sound confident. "I said she's not here, and she's not. You can't take her because she's not here."
Saira, seeing Azura's stance, decided to wait. "I'll wait here then."
Azura smirked at her stubbornness. "Fine, but don't think you can outlast me. Uncle Qin, call the guards to escort her out. People like her shouldn't be let in again. And clean the sofa after she leaves," Azura ordered coldly, walking away without looking back.
Saira turned red with anger. Uncle Qin stepped forward, politely gesturing for her to leave. "Miss Lin, this way, please."
Furious, Saira left. As she stepped outside, she turned to see a tall figure on the second-floor balcony. Just as she was about to speak, Uncle Qin cut her off, "The fourth young master does not like his private life disturbed."
Saira forced a smile, hiding her frustration.