Chapter b197 /b

    bSe /bbscoffed/b. “bIf /bbsomeone’s /bprotecting her, bof /bbcourse /bbthey /bwon’t find evidence. But karma’s ba /bbbitch/b. The bmore /bbsins /bbAnna /bbpiles /bbup/bb, /bbthe /bharder bshe’ll /bfall, I just bhope /bbno /bone else dies before then.b” /b

    bSte /bbhad /buncovered the truth about the doctor–a despicable man, certainly, but she’d never intended his death. Yet bindirectly/bb, /bbshe’d /bset bhim /bon bthat /bbpath/b. After all, it was Anna who had initiated the seduction, and the consequence was unexpected.

    b“/bStop,” Jordan cut in, reading her thoughts. b“/bIt was not your fault.”

    Ste nodded silently.

    Ste hadn’t eaten in two days. Her stomach could only handle small portions. Just a bit of broth at first, then gradually more. Thankfully, the IV nutrients had sustained her. By the time she regained enough strength, she was discharged from the hospital.

    Jordan studied her as they left. “What’s your n now?”

    Ste’s voice was icy. “I’ve contacted Kevin. We’re going to the prison.” Her fingers curled into fists. “I told those women I’d remember every single face. And I promised myself, if I ever got out, I’d make them pay.”

    “I’ming with you,” Jordan said.

    She gave a sharp nod.

    Elsewhere, the men tasked with punishing Anna and Andrew took a brief hiatus, butter. For now, they followed Ste to her next destination.

    the

    ordeal

    aver. Their torment would resume

    The former inmates had been released, disoriented and scattered. But when Ste reappeared before them, their blood ran cold.

    They’d known this day woulde. For weeks, they’d lived in fear, jumping at shadows. And now, with Ste nked by armed men, escape was impossible.

    Too weak to stand for long, Ste settled into a chair Jordan brought her. Like a queenmanding her soldiers, she surveyed the trembling women before her.

    “You were paid to hurt me,” Ste said, her voice lethally calm. “But money was a choice. You chose cruelty. And I always keep my promises.”

    One woman stammered, “W–we already talked. When your people came asking what we did to youb, /bwe told them everything. You went after the ones who hired us. Whye to us now?”

    Ste’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I believe I was clear. I repay every debt. Had you shown me any mercy, I might’ve done the same.”

    She leaned forward. “But you didn’t. You left me no way out. If my husband hadn’t found me in time, I’d be dead.”

    ‘Husband?‘ The women’s eyes darted between Jordan and Kevin, both radiating power, the kind of men who could make people disappear. They knew they were doomed after everything they did.

    Jordan flicked a dismissive nce at the prisoners. “Enough talking, Ste. Just give the order.”

    At Ste’s nod, his men moved in, encircling the women.

    Years in prison had taught them one truth: screaming for guards was pointlessb. /bIf the system had caredb, /bthese people wouldn’t be bhere /bbnow/b.

    b1/3 /b

    b“/bbWhat/bb…/bb.. /bbwhat /bbdo /bbyou /bbwant/b?” bone /bof them choked bout/b,

    su tilted her bhead/bb, /bba /bpredator amused by Its preyb. /bb“/bbI’ll /bgive you a chance,” she said, her voice smooth as venom. “Fight. The Last one

    anding bbes /bbthe /bnew leader and gets off easier.”

    The bwomen /bexchanged nces, and in an instant, their fear twisted into something darker. Like rabid animals, they lunged at each other.

    bSte /bwatched, unmoved. She’d seen this before at the chamber ofmerce g, where wealthy women tore into each other for scraps of power. But this? This was different. These were hardened criminals. They didn’t fight like pampered socialites; they fought to maim,

    Kevin stood silently, his stomach churning as the women attacked with brutal efficiency. One gouged out another’s eye. Another ripped a woman’s mouth open at the corners.

    Hair was torn out in clumps, but that was the least of it. The scene was nothing short of grotesque.

    His chest ached. ‘This isn’t the Ste I knew.‘ The girl who used tough freely, who had once been so full of light, now hardened into something ruthless. And it was their fault. Everyst one of them.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a single woman staggered to her feet. Blood dripped from her split lip as she raised a trembling hand.

    “I… I won.”

    Ste’s lips curved into a smile, cold and dangerous. “Congrattions,” she purred. “I remember you. You were the first toy hands on me.” She flicked a nce at Jordan. “Take her. She gets to relive what she did to me five times over.”

    The woman’s scream was cut short as she was dragged away.

    Some of the fallen prisoners, still conscious, wheezed out brokenughter. “Serves you right!”

    Ste didn’t even blink. “The rest of you? Three times.”

    The prison echoed with shrieks. These women had spent years tormenting others. Now, they were learning what it felt like.

    Ste mused, ‘Good. They deserve worse. How many others have they hurt? How many innocent womenb, /blike me, have they broken just because someone paid them to?‘

    They begged. They pleaded. But Ste didn’t care. Why should she? They’d never shown her mercy.

    By the time Ste left, even the guards looked at her differently. No one had expected this. Not just the brutal punishment, but the legal aftermath. Ste had made sure every one of those women faced new charges.

    Soon, they’d all be on death row. But let them rot.

    Ste’s next stop was Anna and Andrew. But as she moved to enter, Jordan caught her arm.

    “Don’t,” he warned. “They’ve never admitted it was them. If you go in nowi, /ithey’ll use it against you. Wait until they’re out.”

    Ste hesitated, then nodded. Through the ss, she could see themb, /bbroken, bloody, barely moving. And yet, ishe /ifelt nothing. The phone rang, an unfamiliar number shing across the screen. Ste stepped aside and answered, her voice guarded. “Hello?” “Ste.” The voice on the other end was weak, but unmistakable. iNo /imatter how much time had passed, she would always recognize it.