bChapter /b329

Richard smirked at her in amusement.

“You really think I’d just tell you what I’m up to?”

Xylia sat tall and unshaken, as steady as a pine tree.

15 vouchers

“You’ve got me locked in here, cut off from the outside world. Even if you told me why you’re doing all this, it’s not like I could stop you, right?”

Richard stared at her in silence, the curve of his lips growing wider.

“Honestly, I really appreciate how you stay so calm and collected,” Richard said.

‘If only she hadn’t gotten mixed up with Joshua, I’d probably like her even more, Richard thought.

But in the end, he kept his mouth shut.

Richard made Xylia eat, but she just picked at her food without any interest.

After she finished, instead of sending her back to her room, Richard took her outside the vi.

It was the first time in two days that Xylia had felt the sun on her skin. Instinctively, she couldn’t help but crave its warmth.

‘I didn’t realize just how much I missed sunlight,’ Xylia thought, her eyes drinking in the light.

Richard’s estate sprawled wide, its white stone pathspletely paved with smooth pebbles—each step felt like a free foot massage straight from nature.

He took Xylia on a winding walk, turning this way and that until they ended up in the back garden.

At first nce, Xylia immediately spotted a nk tombstone smack–dab in the middle of the flower beds.

Xylia felt an uneasy shiver as she stared at the nk tombstone in the center of the flower bed, but she made sure not a hint of worry showed on her face.

Before she could even voice her question, Richard answered, “That’s my father’s grave.”

Xylia kept quiet, thinking to herself, ‘What does his father have to do with me, anyway?‘

‘There’s no way I’m paying my respects, Xylia told herself, determined not to budge in the slightest.

Richardpletely ignored Xylia’s reaction, his voice cool and casual. “My father didn’t die of old age, and it sure wasn’t illness either. So, want to take a guess what happened to him?”

As Richard turned toward her, Xylia caught the cold, sinister smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.

She could feel a chilling hostility and unmistakable murderous intent radiating off him, all of it aimed

b9:19 /bbThu/b, bOct /bb2 /b

straight at her.

Xylia couldn’t help but step back instinctively, trying to put a little more distance between them.

How the hell should I know? Xylia shot back, refusing to show any fear even as she felt her nerves start to fray.

Richard ignored her attitude, just kept talking, barely ncing her way as he pressed on

“Joshua’s the one who killed him.”

Richard let that bomb drop, eyes sharp and watching Xylia for the slightest change in her expresion.

But instead of the shock he’d expected, Xylia just gave him a look that said loud and clear, “You’re obviously lying to me.

“You don’t believe me?” Richard demanded, the temperature in his voice dropping.

Richard’s tone grew icy, barely disguising his irritation.

“Of course I don’t,” Xylia replied coolly,pletely unfazed. “I’ve figured it out–you’re at war bwith /bJoshua. Why would I trust anything thates out of your mouth?”

Xylia shot back, her voice ringing out clear and strong.

Richard just snorted, his sneerced with cold contempt. “So that’s where your loyalty lies? Too bad for you- turns out the guy you trust most is nothing but a murderer.”

Richard kept his cool, his voice steady.

Xylia could clearly sense the restless energy simmering beneath his calm.

‘He looks like he could turn on me and tear me apart at any second, Xylia thought, her nerves stretched tight

Richard turned away, not looking at her anymore. After a while, once he’d steadied himself, he finally spokei. /i

“My father died under Joshua’s wheels. Joshua drove right over his bodyi, /icool as ice, just rolling back and forth -by the end, there was nothing but a mess of crushed flesh. When I tried to scoop up the remains, there wasn’t even enough left to fill my hands.”

‘Seriously, what kind of nightmare fuel is he dropping? Xylia thought, stomach doing flips. Thank God she hadn’t stuffed herself at lunch; she’d be hurling all over his precious pebbled path if she had.

Richard turned, and when he caught the look on Xylia’s face, his expression grew even darker.

“You still don’t believe me?” Richard said, his tone icy.

Xylia forced down the urge to gag, furrowing her brow at Richard.

“Joshua’s not that kind of person,” Xylia said inly.

9:20 Thu, Oct b2 /b

:

Suddenly, Richard snapped. He moved with ghostlike speed, appearing right in front of Xylia and fiercely mped his hand around her throat.

Her airway was instantly blocked–Xylia’s face flushed a furious red as she fought for breath.

Sharp, crushing pain radiated from her neck.

She grabbed Richard’s hand, desperately trying to pry his fingers loose.

Richard didn’t let go–he only tightened ihis /igrip, looking like he might snap her neck right then and there.

“Why does everyone defend Joshua? He’s nothing but a cold–blooded killer! Just like his father, he forced me and my dad into this foreign country, made us live like the walking dead, and then he murdered my father! Why is a monster like him still loved by anyone?”

Xylia scrabbled frantically at Richard’s hand, her strength draining with every second.

Only when her breathing was barely a whisper did Richard finally release his grip.

She copsed to the ground like a kite with its string cut, gulping in fresh air.

Xylia hacked out dry, desperate coughs, unable to stop.

Her ears wouldn’t stop ringing–every sound reduced to a relentless buzz.

None of Richard’s furious ranting registered with her.

With every passing second, the pain in her throat only got worse; stars exploded behind her eyes as everything went ck and she slumped to the ground.

Joshua set himself up in a small town, blending right in.

He’d sent Graham out on an errand.

And while he waited for word, Joshua didn’t just sit around–he spent those two days quietly scoping out the area, learning every nook and cranny.

From his initial scouting, Joshua learned that Richard’s estate clung to the mountainside, backed by a dense, wild forest. The grounds were wrapped tight with a custom–built fence, and whatever lurked beyond that barrier was a total mystery–could be anything, could be trouble.

And outside the estate, an army of guards stood watch—loyal heavies that Richard had personally trained over the years. If Joshua thought about charging in solo, he’d be walking straight into a meat grinder. No chance he’d make it out in one piece.

Joshua stood atop the old watchtower, lowering his binocrs. Even those normally icy eyes of his betrayed a hint of concern.

‘Richard’s a total madman–God only knows what he might do next,’ Joshua thought.

‘If he decides to take his anger out on Xylia over what went down back then… Joshua’s thoughts stalled.

b9:20 /bThu, Oct b2 /b

I can’t let myself go there, he told himself, squeezing his eyes shut against the worry threatening to overwhelms him.

Joshua’s mind raced–he couldn’t waste another second. He had to rescue Xylia, the sooner the better.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Graham was calling.

Joshua. Philia just stormed Richard’s underground den! She blew the ce wide open–local police are swarming everywhere,” Graham said, sounding breathless.

It’s about time, Joshua thought, his mind racing.

Grabbing his gear, he scrambled down from the watchtower, jumped into his car, and gurined it straight toward Richard’s estate.

Meanwhile, Richard got word that his underground operation had been raided. Without a second’s hesitation, he bolted for the scene.

That underground den–he and his dad had poured their blood, sweat, and tears into it for years. That idiot Philia actually thinks she can mess with me? She’s dead meat, Richard seethed, rage crackling under his skin.

Before heading out, Richard made sure to leave Holt behind at the estate.

“Watch Xylia like a hawk,” Richard barked. “Joshua’s bound to show up for her, so don’t let him screw up our ns.”

“But what about the underground ce…?” Holt protested, concern for Richard in on his iface/i.

‘I just hope Richard doesn’t get in over his head, Holt worried, his nerves fraying as he watched him go.

Richard snorted, his voiceced with harsh contempt. “Philia? Please. I could snap her neck like a twig with one hand!”

Richard’s tone was so brutal it made Holt’s blood run cold.

Holt instinctively shuddered, unable to stop the chill creeping up his spine.

Once Richard’s car was out of sight, Holt headed back to the vi, keeping a watchful eye on Xylia.

Ever since the day Richard choked her out cold, he’d brought in a doctor to patch her up. After that, he stopped confining her and just let her roam free.

Now Xylia stood in the center of the living room, her eyes drifting toward the back garden through the wide ss windows.

Red marks still marred her neck, a stark reminder of what she’d endured.

After thinking it over these past couple of days, Xylia realized Holt’s real motive was all about Joshua.

He’d locked her up here, but never actually did anything to her.

b9:20 /bbThu/bb, /bbOct /bb2 /bfnec54 ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? fι?dnοvel/fnec54

She was just bait on a hook–her only purpose was to draw Joshua in.

And the only one they’re trying to hook is Joshua.

Remembering the way Richard looked at her that day–the sheer hatred burning in his eyes–sent a chill straight through Xylia’s heart.