?Chapter 711:


    He moved closer to her face, his grin turning vicious. “Now I’m just waiting for it to kick in. Then we’re going to have some real fun.”


    “You’re insane!” Rosanna screamed, her body jerking like she’d been struck by lightning. She fought against her restraints, but the ropes around her hands and feet held tight.


    “Dad! Mom!” she cried out desperately, her voice already going hoarse. “Where are you? Help me!”


    Outside, thunder roared and lightning shed as torrential rain poured down once more.


    Rosanna’s cries seemed to vanish into the sealed confines of the house. No one answered.


    The only sound was Axell’s unrestrainedughter. “Go ahead and scream all you want.” His amusement deepened until his eyes became cruel slits. “This is my house. Between these walls and that storm raging outside, your voice won’t reach a single soul.”


    Leaning back with satisfaction, he delivered his next blow. “Your loving parents struck quite the bargain, trading you for your brother’s freedom. They left hours ago. Did you really think you floated here on your own?”


    Rising to his full height, he added, mockery carving harsh lines across his features. “They delivered you personally, of course. And before departing, your father didn’t forget to ask whether I would treat you kindly. Such a good father, isn’t he?”


    “That’s… that’s not possible… You’re making this up!” Rosanna’s voice cracked and wavered, her struggles growing weaker with each passing moment. “They gave me their word… swore they’d find another solution for Jarrod.”


    “Still don’t believe me? They didn’t just slip you the drug, they dressed you up like a gift before handing you over.”


    As if his cruelty hadn’t cut deep enough, Axell—


    Axell narrowed his eyes with fresh malice. “Oh, and that beautiful dress you arrived in? I’d wager your dear mother helped you into it personally. Such a considerate woman!”


    Rosanna’s eyes dropped to the floor, where an elegant wedding gowny crumpled and forgotten.


    Ice flooded her veins while her vision swam, the world bing hazy and unreal.


    Part of her refused to ept it.


    Desperately, she wished that this was nothing more than a nightmare, one she could wake from and find herself safe in her own bed. Yet the rope burns on her wrists, Axell’s poisonous words, and the unnatural warmth spreading through her body confirmed the horrible truth.


    Once, she’d believed herself the apple of her mother’s eye, her father’s most treasured daughter.


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