Chapter 26: Tempest of Defiance

“Be careful, Leonard,” Francis growled, his fingers reluctantly withdrawing from the girl’s waist. His frustration was palpable, a mixture of rage and humiliation evident in his eyes. The audacity Leonard had shown in front of his slave was a direct challenge to his authority. Olivera’s heart pounded as she watched the confrontation unfold. The man’s anger was almost tangible, and she felt a chill of dread. Fear surged through her, a creeping sensation that threatened to bring on one of her seizures. She fought to maintain her composure, recalling Nick’s advice: she had to be brave, even if every fiber of her being was screaming otherwise. She couldn’t let them see her weakness; they would exploit it. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to take deep, steadying breaths, even as her task mistress, Rose, intervened. “Calm down, Francis,” Rose said, her voice cold and authoritative. She grasped Francis’s massive arm with a firm grip, her eyes flashing with a cold promise of retributi