Chapter 10

“Julian! I want to see Julian!”

“You can’t do this to me! Let me see Julian!”

“Julian! Julian! Julian!”

The iron shackles on my wrists rattled loudly, but the only reply was the drip, drip, drip of water from the corners of the room.

I swallowed, realizing my throat was raw from screaming.

I huddled in the corner, not because I was scared, but because… I was cold.

Yes, I’d suspected Julian was onto me for a while.

But I truly couldn’t understand why he would sell me out so decisively.

Putting aside any feelings we might have had over the years, just for all the things I’d done for him, he should have trusted me more.

He just sold me out? Because of a few words from Lily Carter?

I instinctively started biting my nails, but the more I thought, the more tangled everything became.

The only thing I could be certain of in this mess was that I couldn’t die.

I couldn’t die, no matter what, because the mission wasn’t complete.

So now, the only one who could save me was Julian.

That’s why I kept shouting his name.

I couldn’t decipher his feelings for me all these years, but one thing was clear: no one would willingly spend five birthdays with a stranger.

Especially not a monster like Julian, who had lost all humanity.

So, even if it was a gamble, I had to try.

As I relentlessly screamed his name again, someone finally opened the iron door.

“Seriously, aren’t you tired of screaming?”

“Julian’s not coming to save you! Damn it, if the boss wasn’t planning to sell your organs.”

“I’d really like to have some fun with you.”

“…”

I gasped, staring intently at the man.

“Let me see Julian…”

“Damn it, I told you there’s no…”

Just as the man’s foot was about to kick me, someone suddenly stopped him.

It was… Big Roman.

“Let me see Julian! I have something to tell him!”

There was no response, so I raised my voice.

“I said I want to see Julian! Julian!”

My handcuffs rattled with a loud clang, until at one point, a low, calm voice came from above me.

I stopped.

“What’s all the noise about?”

“Anya, who are you trying to charm?”

“…”

I truly hadn’t expected Julian to be here.

So, the moment I heard his voice, I froze for no reason.

Not even the tips of his shoes were dusty. I, covered in dirt, had to crane my neck to look at his pristine figure.

“Julian, why do you suspect me?”

“I’ve been with you all these years. Why would you suspect me without even asking?”

“Did you ever consider that Lily Carter, she… she framed me…”

I tried to make my expression as sincere as possible, until he knelt down in front of me.

His fingers gently caressed my cheek.

Anyone watching would think he was comforting his lover.

“Even now, I still find myself going soft for you, Anya.”

“Anya, blame it on… you provoking me.”

The hand caressing my jaw slowly moved to my neck, and he gradually tightened his grip.

I slowly found it harder to breathe, staring into his eyes, just staring.

They were like a dark, bottomless abyss, revealing no depths, no ravenous beast lurking within.

Until he suddenly released me. I fell to the floor, coughing violently.

Through my blurry vision, I heard his voice, directed at Big Roman.

“She’s all yours to play with.”

“…”

I coughed, my eyes fixed on his pristine pant leg.

Before he left, those were the last words I spoke to him.

“Lily Carter definitely lied to you.”

“Why won’t you… believe me?”

He left.

After the resounding clang of the lock, the basement returned to silence.

It felt like everything was over, and before me lay a path leading to hell.

But was it truly over?