?Chapter 242:


    Before Rachel could respond, Pauline rushed forward and clutched his arm desperately. “Darling, what are you suggesting? I’m your girlfriend! You’re breaking my heart.”


    Holden disyed clear indifference toward her feelings. “What? Did you believe you’d be my only woman? Pauline, if you wish to remain by my side, you’d better behave appropriately. Otherwise, leave immediately.”


    Pauline’splexion flushed with humiliation. Both her and her sister’s pride crumbled instantly.


    Still holding Rachel’s chin, Holden pressed again, “Well, have you reached a decision?”


    “Certainly!” Rachel smiled, her lips curling sardonically. “If you kneel before me and knock your head on the floor ten times, I’ll agree.”


    The suggestion dripped with deliberate disrespect.


    Holden’s expression darkened instantly. “Since you fail to appreciate my generosity, you will be the one to kneel.”


    He roughly released her chin andmanded, “Begin now!”


    The two men nking Holden immediately advanced, seizing Rachel from both sides. Their imposing height and strength left her with no opportunity to resist their grip.


    Seeing her sessfully restrained, Juliet’s eyes narrowed with malicious intent. Capitalizing on this vulnerable moment, she rushed forward and delivered a sharp p across Rachel’s face. The sudden strike caught everyone nearby by surprise.


    Juliet’s lips curved into an expression of deep satisfaction as she proimed, “Rachel, consider this retribution for the p you delivered to me earlier. I’m merely returning what you gave.”


    “Get on with it already! What’s causing the dy?” Pauline, growing increasingly impatient, shoutedmands to the men restraining Rachel.


    The two men promptly increased their pressure—one forcefully pushing down on her back while the other applied pressure to her head, attempting to force her into a kneeling position.


    Rachel, naturally refusing to submit to their demands, struggled with remarkable intensity against their restraint.


    With a swift, decisive movement, she sank her teeth into one man’s hand.


    Lατ??τ ?нαρτ?rs ιn g??l??ov?l??.??om


    Taking advantage of his momentary release, she pushed against the second man and attempted to escape.


    Her freedom proved short-lived, however, as another individual quickly intercepted her flight.


    During this chaotic struggle, her head collided violently with the corner of a nearby table, producing an rming sound upon impact.


    Blood immediately began flowing from her temple, creating a crimson line that traced down through her hair.


    Everyone present reacted with visible shock at this development. However, since these actions urred under Holden’s authority, not a single person dared to intervene.


    Samira, whose mouth was being forcibly covered, struggled desperately to vocalize her protest, but her efforts yielded no audible sound.


    Rachel raised her hand to touch the warm blood now trickling from her temple, but the man restraining her quickly recaptured her arm.


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