bChapter /b269

After half an hour, Liana’s eyes fluttered open. When she spotted Chris, her expression hardened into pure hatred.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Chris said pleasantly. “Feeling better?”

Liana turned her face away, jaw clenched.

“Not talking? That’s fine.” Chris circled the bed slowly. “I was just wondering something–aren’t would they think if you died here?b” /b

Liana’s body tensed, but she remained silent.

you worried about your parentsb? /bWhat

“Not afraid of dying? Or just don’t care babout /bbreaking your parents‘ hearts?” Chris continued, his tone bcasual /bbut his eyes watchful.

“Don’t talk about them,” Liana snapped, her voice hoarse from disuse.

b“/bWhy not?” Chris leaned against the

I the bwall/b, studying her. “I blove /bpoking at people’s sore spots. It’s ba /bhobby of mine.”

his attention like that.”

“I heard your father bhas /bquite the collection of women,” Chris continued. “Must be hard for your mother, sharing

Liana’s breathing quickened. “Shut up.”

“What? Did I hit a nerve?” Chris smirked. “Was your mother one of the favorites, or did she have topete? Maybe she was eliminated by one of his other women? Or perhaps he paused dramatically, “your father got rid of her himself?”

At his bst /bsuggestion, Liana’s entire body flinched. Chris noticed it immediately, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” Chris bpressed/b. ‘Daddy dearest got btired /bof mommy and bhad /bher disposed of?”

“SHUT UP!” Liana bscreamed/b.

se guess–fed her to the snakes?”

“Let me

The word ‘snakes bacted /blike an electric became erratic, shallow,

bc /bcurrent through Liana’s body. Her eyes widened, pupils dting to near–ck. Her breathing

“S–snakes…” she whispered, her gaze suddenly unfocused, seeing something none of them could.

Chris stepped closer, intrigued by her reaction. “Yes, snakes. Big ones. The kind that can swallow ba /bbperson /bwhole.”

Liana’s face wentpletely nk. Then, without warning, she began to scream–not words, just a continuous, piercing howl that echoed against the concrete walls. Her body bconvulsed /bbagainst /bthe restraints, foam gathering at theers of her mouth.

“Shit,” Chris muttered, backing away. He hit ban /binte button on the wall. “Security, I need someone to get Jade down here now!”

Liana’s screaming continued, her eyes rolling bback /bin her head. She waspletely dissociated, trapped in whatever horror her mind had conjured.

b12:31 /bSat, Sep 27

Jade checked Liana’s restraints to ensure she wouldn’t harm herself. Her screams had degenerated Into Incoherent muttering, punctuated be asional shrieks.

She quickly prepared a syringe with a professional–grade sedative, finding a vein in na’s arm and administering the dose with practiced efficiency.

Within seconds, her struggles began to subside. Her eyes rolled forward, focusing briefly on Jade before the sedative pulled her into unconsciousness.

“What did you bgive /bher?” Chris asked, watching Liana’s now peaceful form.

“Something to help her sleep,” Jade replied, disposing of bthe /bsyringe. “She’ll be out for ba /bwhile.”

Chris ran a hand through his hair, looking genuinely disturbed. “What the hell bhappened /bto her?”

Jade studied Liana’s face. Despite the sedation, her features remained tense, haunted. “You mentioned snakes, and she broke. ssic

trauma response.”

Chris’s expression was unreadable. “I didn’t know,”

“Now you do.” Jade packed up her medical supplies.

Chris nodded slowly. “I won’t see her for a few bdays/b. Let her stabilize.”

True to bhis /bword, Chris avoided the basement for

nt for the next two days, bgiving /bbLiana /btime to recover from her psychological break. Jade asionally checked on bthe /bgirl’s condition.

On the morning of the third day, as they headed upstairs from one such check–up, Chris’s phone rang. He answered, listening briefly before his expression darkened.

“When?” he asked the caller. “bHow /bbmany/b? Another pause. “Hold them in the front hall. I’ll be right there.”

He hung up, turning to Jade with a grim smile. “Looks like the Scorpio family has finally sent representatives to collect their precious Liana.”

Jade raised an eyebrow, “Perfect timingb./b”

“Indeed,” Chris agreedb. /b