?Chapter 1606:


    Vincent observed Katelyn’s focused intensity with quiet fascination. He’d never seen her this absorbed before. Rather than disturb her concentration, he settled into silent vignce, waiting patiently.


    Sophia’s car stopped in a courtyard. Unlike the rugged road she had traveled, this area stretched out t and wide before her. The t ground was surrounded by steel wire mesh equipped with high-voltage electricity. Some birds that touched the mesh were quickly struck down. Such incidents happened almost every day.


    Sophia only nced at it, then withdrew her gaze. As she entered the courtyard, the gate immediately closed behind her. She then walked inside.


    T reclined in the innermost yard, his identity concealed behind an intricately carved fanged mask. A porcin tea set gleamed beside him as he savored his drink with deliberate calm.


    He barely acknowledged Sophia’s arrival, lifting his gaze with practiced indifference. “You went out and aplished nothing,” he remarked, his voice cold as winter frost. “Tell me, how should I punish you?”


    Sophia approached T and knelt before him. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, genuine regretcing her words. “This was unexpected. I was almost sessful.”


    With a loud p, T struck her across the face.


    Sophia’s head jerked violently to the side from the impact, sending stray hairs tumbling across her forehead. Her cheek swelled up visibly at a terrifying speed, the skin reddening and distorting her features. Sophia dared not wipe away the blood that flowed freely from her nose. Instead, she lowered her head further in submission and whispered, “Boss, I’m sorry.”


    This Sophia bore no resemnce to the confident woman at the hotel. Here, she could only bow her head and obediently ept me for her failure.


    However… T had no intention of showing mercy. He reached for a whip that had been ced nearby, ready for use.


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    The whip cracked through the air, mming into Sophia with the force of a hurricane. The sound alone could make anyone shudder.


    Red welts rose instantly on her skin, blood seeping from the torn flesh—clear evidence of the merciless strike. But Sophia didn’t make a sound. She gritted her teeth and endured it in silence.


    Tshed her several more times, each strike easing a bit of the frustration roiling inside him.


    Elsewhere, Katelyn listened through the monitor. She couldn’t see what was happening, but the sounds told her everything. She was stunned. This wasn’t like Sophia at all. Since when could Sophia bear pain without resistance? Who had the power to make Sophia obedient like this?


    The more curious Katelyn grew, the faster her fingers flew across the keyboard. She needed to break through the courtyard’s defense systems—fast.


    T didn’t stop until he waspletely spent. He stared down at Sophia, his eyes cold. “I’ll let you off this time,” he said. “But if you fail again, say goodbye to your arms and legs.”


    Sophia remained kneeling, her body trembling uncontrobly from the pain. As soon as he finished speaking, she bowed her head and murmured respectfully, “Thank you for sparing me.”


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