<b>Chapter </b>269
After half an hour, Liana’s eyes fluttered open. When she spotted Chris, her expression hardened into pure hatred.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Chris said pleasantly. “Feeling better?”
Liana turned her face away, jaw clenched.
“Not talking? That’s fine.” Chris circled the bed slowly. “I was just wondering something–aren’t would they think if you died here?<b>” </b>
Liana’s body tensed, but she remained silent.
you worried about your parents<b>? </b>What
“Not afraid of dying? Or just don’t care <b>about </b>breaking your parents‘ hearts?” Chris continued, his tone <b>casual </b>but his eyes watchful.
“Don’t talk about them,” Liana snapped, her voice hoarse from disuse.
<b>“</b>Why not?” Chris leaned against the
I the <b>wall</b>, studying her. “I <b>love </b>poking at people’s sore spots. It’s <b>a </b>hobby of mine.”
his attention like that.”
“I heard your father <b>has </b>quite the collection of women,” Chris continued. “Must be hard for your mother, sharing
Liana’s breathing quickened. “Shut up.”
“What? Did I hit a nerve?” Chris smirked. “Was your mother one of the favorites, or did she have topete? Maybe she was eliminated by one of his other women? Or perhaps he paused dramatically, “your father got rid of her himself?”
At his <bst </b>suggestion, Liana’s entire body flinched. Chris noticed it immediately, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“That’s it, isn’t it?” Chris <b>pressed</b>. ‘Daddy dearest got <b>tired </b>of mommy and <b>had </b>her disposed of?”
“SHUT UP!” Liana <b>screamed</b>.
se guess–fed her to the snakes?”
“Let me
The word ‘snakes <b>acted </b>like an electric became erratic, shallow,
<b>c </b>current through Liana’s body. Her eyes widened, pupils dting to near–ck. Her breathing
“S–snakes…” she whispered, her gaze suddenly unfocused, seeing something none of them could.
Chris stepped closer, intrigued by her reaction. “Yes, snakes. Big ones. The kind that can swallow <b>a </b><b>person </b>whole.”
Liana’s face wentpletely nk. Then, without warning, she began to scream–not words, just a continuous, piercing howl that echoed against the concrete walls. Her body <b>convulsed </b><b>against </b>the restraints, foam gathering at theers of her mouth.
“Shit,” Chris muttered, backing away. He hit <b>an </b>inte button on the wall. “Security, I need someone to get Jade down here now!”
Liana’s screaming continued, her eyes rolling <b>back </b>in her head. She waspletely dissociated, trapped in whatever horror her mind had conjured.
<b>12:31 </b>Sat, Sep 27
Jade checked Liana’s restraints to ensure she wouldn’t harm herself. Her screams had degenerated Into Incoherent muttering, punctuated be asional shrieks.
She quickly prepared a syringe with a professional–grade sedative, finding a vein in na’s arm and administering the dose with practiced efficiency.
Within seconds, her struggles began to subside. Her eyes rolled forward, focusing briefly on Jade before the sedative pulled her into unconsciousness.
“What did you <b>give </b>her?” Chris asked, watching Liana’s now peaceful form.
“Something to help her sleep,” Jade replied, disposing of <b>the </b>syringe. “She’ll be out for <b>a </b>while.”
Chris ran a hand through his hair, looking genuinely disturbed. “What the hell <b>happened </b>to her?”
Jade studied Liana’s face. Despite the sedation, her features remained tense, haunted. “You mentioned snakes, and she broke. ssic
trauma response.”
Chris’s expression was unreadable. “I didn’t know,”
“Now you do.” Jade packed up her medical supplies.
Chris nodded slowly. “I won’t see her for a few <b>days</b>. Let her stabilize.”
True to <b>his </b>word, Chris avoided the basement for
nt for the next two days, <b>giving </b><b>Liana </b>time to recover from her psychological break. Jade asionally checked on <b>the </b>girl’s condition.
On the morning of the third day, as they headed upstairs from one such check–up, Chris’s phone rang. He answered, listening briefly before his expression darkened.
“When?” he asked the caller. “<b>How </b><b>many</b>? Another pause. “Hold them in the front hall. I’ll be right there.”
He hung up, turning to Jade with a grim smile. “Looks like the Scorpio family has finally sent representatives to collect their precious Liana.”
Jade raised an eyebrow, “Perfect timing<b>.</b>”
“Indeed,” Chris agreed<b>. </b>