Chapter 192 Chapter 192


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    Eliza stood stone-faced, her expression cold as ice as she stared into the cage where Sophie was on the verge of being bittent to death by the venomous spider. "That''s enough. Come back." Eliza said calmly.


    The spider immediately retracted its fangs and scurried off Sophie''s body, crawling obediently back to Eliza''s side. She reached out and gently tapped it with her finger. "Go build your nest. I won''t be needing you for now."


    This spider was one of several poisonous creatures Gilbert had sent her-not just this one, but many others. After being fed with spiritual water, they had all submitted to her and made their homes inside her pocket farm, just like Simba, the venomous centipede.


    "My patience is limited, she said tly. "If you don''t want to die choking on your own blood, you''d better hand over my mother''s body"


    Sophie trembled as she crawled up from the floor of the cage. Her face was contorted with pain and terror-but beneath it, a deep, burning hatred for Eliza simmered in her eyes.


    Suddenly, sheughed twice, then gritted her teeth and mocked Eliza in a vicious snarl. "My patience is limited too. So tell me-what if I never go back? Do you think my people might destroy your mother''s corpse instead? You know, like


    dismember it... grind the bones to ash?"


    Without a word. Eliza grabbed Sophie by the hair and mmed her head into the iron floor of the cage. Once Twice. Again and again-until blood ran down Sophie''s forehead and her screams echoed off the walls. Then, and only then, Eliza yanked her up by the hair


    "You think a threat like that''s going to save you?" she said coldly. "You want to gamble? Fine. Let''s see whether your bones break first... or my poison wins.


    Sophie''s nose was already bleeding. She was in agony-but she refused to yield. She couldn''t lose. Her mother had lost to Eliza, but she wouldn''t Even if it killed her, she would drag Eliza down with her.


    "Fine," she sneered. "Let''s gamble."


    The entire second floor was filled with poisons.


    How convenient.


    The next morning, Eliza emerged with dark circles under her eyes and a sour expression. She hadn''t slept all night.


    She hadn''t expected Sophie to be that stubborn.


    She had tortured her nearly beyond recognition, but still-the woman wouldn''t crack,


    Fine. If Sophie wouldn''t tell her where the body was, she''d find it herself.


    "Serenity, you didn''t show up for morning prayers-wait, what happened to you?" Mary''s voice faltered as soon as she saw Eliza''s face. Her robes were stained with blood, and her expression was far too grim.


    Eliza hadn''t even changed her clothes. "It''s not my blood," she said quietly. "Don''t worry."


    "Well, that''s something Mary muttered in relief. "But your face-did you sleep at allst night?"


    No. Of course she hadn''t


    How could she, after discovering that Sophie had stolen her mother''s body? 11:44 Fri, 18 Apr


    "Whatever it is," she said, voice dangerously low, "you''d better tell me. If I find out you''re hiring something, I won''t let you


    leave the mountain ever again"


    Eliza bit her lip. And under Mary''s relentless gaze, she finally relented and told her everyth


    The moment Mary heard that Caroline''s body might have been stolen, her face went white. She clutched her chest and swayed back with a gasp.


    "Mary!" Eliza rushed forward and caught her just in time..


    She hadn''t expected such a violent reaction.


    Quickly, she retrieved a pill from her pocket farm and pressed it to Mary''s lips.


    "Please, calm down. You need to breathe-deep breaths."


    "I can''t calm down! Mary sobbed. Tears streamed down her face as she shook with fury and grief. "How dare they do that to


    Caroline?"


    Her knuckles whitened as she clenched her fists and beat against her own chest. "Those monsters-they should rot in hell. I''ll make them pay. I swear I will."


    "I won''t let them off either," Eliza said through gritted teeth. "But first we have to confirm where my mother''s body is. I want. to return to Hasen City"


    She needed to go to the Stonor family-go to the ancestral tombs herself and see


    if her mother''s grave had truly been desecrated.


    And if it had... Did Gabriel know?


    "No. I''m going with you," Mary said fiercely, grabbing Eliza''s wrist.


    "Hey, is that Lady Eliza?"


    "Wait, let me see... Yeah, looks like her.


    "Wrong. She''s not ''Lady Eliza'' of the Stonor family anymore. She has no right to enter without permission."


    The gatekeepers noticed the pair approaching and immediately moved to block their path.


    "You''re not allow


    "Kneel. Eliza''s voice cracked like a whip.


    The guards froze, then remembered exactly who she was-and dropped to their knees in panic.


    "Forgive us, Your Grace...


    But before they could finish, Eliza had already marched through the gates with Mary close behind.


    "Wait! Hold on!" The guards scrambled after them, but it was toote.


    Once inside, Mary didn''t even try to maintain decorum. Her fury exploded in a roar.


    "Gabriel!" she bellowed. "Get your cowardly self out here!


    "Don''t you dare hide from me, you gutless turtle! I know you''re in there!


    "Gabriel


    11:44 Fri, 18 Apr B


    “Eliza” a familiar voice called out-Benedict rushed into the courtyard, visibly startled.


    The moment he saw her, his face lit up. "You''re back? Eliza, what brings you here?"


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    Eliza''s expression didn''t change. Her voice was icy. "I came to see our dear father. I have a question for him-does he still remember the Padi family?"


    "The Padi family?" Benedict frowned. "That''s our mother''s side, right? But..... they''re all gone. Why bring them up now?"


    Before he could say more. Mary, clearly out of patience, snapped. "And why is


    that any of your business? The Stonor family isn''t yours to rule-so step aside and fetch your father!"