Chapter 19

Walking through the winding, dimly lit hallway, Vespera felt her nerves tightening. She kept glancing over her shoulder, her paranoia growing with every silent step. The hotel was eerily quiet. She hadn't passed a single staff member. The silence was… unsettling. After covering some distance without anyone following, she let out a slow breath. Maybe she was overthinking. If Felicia had wanted to resort to underhanded tricks, she would have done it long ago. There was no reason to make a move now when Vespera was leaving Luke on her own. Felicia was certainly bitter about the settlement money, but for the Munoz family, that amount was insignificant. She wouldn't be foolish enough to take a reckless risk over it. Up ahead, just a little farther, was the main lobby where she had entered earlier. Vespera pulled out her phone to check the time. It was already 7:40 pm. She figured it was time to text Raymond. She unlocked her screen and began typing, "I'm here, at…" She didn't get to finish. At the next turn, a female hotel staff member in a black uniform suddenly stepped out, colliding with her. "Oh! I'm so sorry, miss!" The woman quickly apologized, reaching out to steady Vespera. "It's fine, I'm okay, you don't—" Before she could finish, an icy sting pierced the side of her neck. Her heart skipped a beat. She tried to shove the woman away, but her vision blurred, a wave of dizziness crashing over her. The female staff member's lips curled into an eerie smile. Feigning concern, she held Vespera even tighter. "Miss, are you alright? Which suite are you staying in? Oh, that one? Alright, I'll take you back." After muttering a few words to herself, the woman forcefully "helped" Vespera, guiding her toward a more secluded hallway. "Help…" Vespera's panic surged. Her limbs were growing weaker, her voice trapped in her throat. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't make a sound. The world around her blurred, slipping further and further away like she was plummeting down a deep, dark void. "Someone… Someone help…" When she had been bumped earlier, she had instinctively slipped her phone into her pocket. The unfinished message was still on the screen. Mustering every ounce of strength left in her body, she forced her limp hand into her pocket. Her fingers moved slowly, cautiously, relying solely on touch as she typed blindly. And then—she hit send. … Elsewhere in the hotel, Dominic had just finished a meeting with a client and was now resting in a quiet courtyard of the hotel, his eyes closed. He had a few drinks and a warm buzz settled over him. The night breeze swept through his hair, lifting it briefly before letting it fall gently against his sharp brow. "Ding—" A text notification broke the silence. Standing nearby, Raymond pulled out his phone. He had been waiting for a message from Vespera, and seeing her name on the screen, he smiled. But that smile faded quickly. His brows knit together as he read. "Mr. Reid." Dominic opened his eyes, his voice calm. "What is it?" Raymond hesitated for half a second, then stepped forward, holding out the phone. "Ms. Gildon was supposed to meet me at 8:00 pm. She just texted, saying she's here, but… "Look at the last two words. They seem… off. Mr. Reid, what do you think she meant?" Dominic was speechless. Dominic cast an exasperated glance at Raymond, silently blaming him for acting without permission. Then, he shifted his gaze to the message. "I'm here, at hlep." "Hlep?" His brows furrowed slightly as he considered it. Then, suddenly, a sharp glint flashed through his eyes. Without hesitation, he tapped to initiate a video call. Raymond looked surprised. "Mr. Reid, you—" Dominic lifted a hand, signaling for silence. Raymond was puzzled, but before he could question it, the call connected. On the other end, the screen showed nothing but a blurry haze of dim light. If he listened closely, he could make out the faint sound of footsteps. Shoes scraped lightly against the floor, accompanied by rapid, uneven breathing. "Help… h-help…" The desperate cry for help quickly faded into muffled whimpers. Something was wrong. Dominic ended the call abruptly, his expression dark. "Find out if Vespera checked into this hotel." Raymond immediately called the front desk and got a response within seconds. "They said a beautiful woman arrived around 7:00 pm. She mentioned having an appointment and even left a suit with them. "Based on the description, it was likely Ms. Gildon. But after that, no one saw where she went." Dominic stood up. With sharp precision, he pulled out his phone and dialed another number. His steps were firm and fast as he strode in a clear direction. … Inside the room, the dim lighting cast eerie shadows across the space. Vespera was thrown onto a large bed. Several men stood around, dressed in nothing but towels. Their eyes were lecherous, their expressions twisted with depravity. At the foot of the bed was a collection of disturbing items, including a syringe filled with drugs. "N-No… don't… come…" Pure terror sent violent tremors through her body. She tried to prop herself up on one arm, but her strength gave out, and she collapsed back onto the bed. As the men closed in, she could do nothing but desperately push herself backward, her legs too weak to support her escape. "Damn, she's a real beauty." "That face, that body… she's top-tier." "Her man must really hate her. Paid us not just to ruin her but to destroy her completely. What kind of bastard would waste a woman like this?" The woman disguised as a hotel staff member rummaged through Vespera's bag and pulled out a contract. Holding an ink pad, she walked over to the bed, grabbed Vespera's hand, and pressed her fingerprint onto the paper. "He doesn't want to give her a divorce settlement. So, he gave the green light. Not only does he want you all to do whatever you please, but he also wants every second recorded." … Vespera's mind went blank. She thought, "Luke? No! Impossible!" She refused to believe it. Her trembling hands fumbled over her body, desperately searching for her phone. It slipped through her fingers several times before she managed to grab it. With the last of her strength, she dialed his number. She had to ask. She had to hear it from him herself. As Vespera pulled out her phone, someone lunged forward to snatch it. But the woman holding her contract stopped them. "Let her call." The call went through. The first time, Luke hung up. The second time, he ignored it again. By the third attempt, the call finally connected. But the voice on the other end wasn't his. Tina's voice rang out, light and mocking. "Luke doesn't want to take your calls." Then, she chuckled. "By the way, do you like the men we arranged for you? Let me give you a little secret—not only are they into some pretty twisted stuff, but one of them had HIV. And in a little while, we'll give you a special shot. Just to spice things up. "Tomorrow, your grand performance will be all over the internet. Your parents, your relatives, and your friends—everyone you know will see what a filthy whore you are. "Oh, and one more thing. To celebrate, Luke and I will be announcing our engagement tomorrow night. Not only will you get nothing, but you'll be ruined. "And even if you're unwilling, even if you try to report it, it's useless. In Halewick, our families could crush you like an ant. You never stood a chance." "How does it feel? I stole your man, your position, and now I'm about to destroy you completely. And the best part? I'll still live a beautiful, happy life with Luke." "As for you? There's nothing you can do. You'll rot in misery while I laugh." She burst into laughter, loud and unrestrained. The phone slipped from Vespera's fingers. An overwhelming tide of hatred and despair tore through her, carving through her chest like ice-cold blades, shredding her from the inside out. But she felt no pain. She didn't even want to cry. She just wanted to get up. Even if she died, even if she became a ghost, she would drag them all down with her. "Let's get started. Have fun! No need to hold back," the woman standing at the foot of the bed said as she switched on the camera. Eight depraved men swarmed toward her. "Get… away…" Vespera trembled as she grabbed for a pillow, but she was too weak to even lift it. Hands clamped down on her wrists, tying them to the bed frame. Her legs were pinned in place. Dozens of hands reached for her, tearing at her clothes… An ugly, obese man climbed onto the bed, a syringe clutched in his fist. His face twisted in excitement as he aimed it at her thigh. Vespera squeezed her eyes shut. With the last ounce of strength she had left, she bit down on her tongue. At that moment, the sound of a lock clicking echoed from the door.