Chapter 38: Believe It or Not

"What on earth are you doing, Smith? Why have you tied us up?" Lily Turner cried out in distress upon realizing their predicament. Gavin Smith swiftly backhanded Lily, his face a mask of rage. "All of this is your fault! If you hadn't been whispering in my ear all this time, my life wouldn't have crumbled like this. You ruined me!" Confused and tearful, Lily whimpered, "What are you talking about? I don't know anything!" "You'll see," he sneered, turning his attention to Sophie, whose eyes mirrored sheer terror. "Sophie, you've truly disappointed me. If only you'd agreed to marry me sooner, we wouldn't be in this mess." Gathering her courage, Sophie shot back, "Whatever you're going through, Smith, this is a crime. I'd advise you to let us go before the police get involved." "I've lost everything already. What's there to fear? Even if I die now, having you two beauties by my side, I'd consider myself fortunate." Smith shrugged, exuding a dark confidence. Petrified, Lily blurted o