?Chapter 1009:


    Contempt filled my gaze as I looked down at Evelyn’s broken form on the floor. Then I shifted my attention to Makenna, tightly secured to the cross.


    Beneath her defiance, Makenna’s eyes betrayed a barely perceptible trace of fear.


    The sight of her fear sparked amusement within me, drawing forth a darkugh as my menacing stare locked onto hers.


    “Since death awaits you, Makenna,” I said, circling closer, “I’ll satisfy your curiosity about how Evelyn came to betray you.”


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    Rage erupted inside me when I discovered the wooden box of secrets was missing from its ce.


    Shortly after, memories of the neighboring vi fire resurfaced in my mind, along with Evelyn’s suspicious behavior that day. Darkness clouded my expression as Imanded the guards outside, “Bring Evelyn and Jenny to the basement! Immediately!”


    Without hesitation, the guards carried out my orders.


    From my chair, I fixed them with an icy stare. “Tell me the location of the wooden box.”


    “Mr. Harrison,” came Evelyn’s panicked stammer, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What wooden box?”


    Frustrated by her denials, I turned my prating gaze toward Jenny. Nervously, Jenny’s eyes darted around the room, avoiding direct contact with mine.


    “Perhaps you need a hard lesson,” I snarled, my face contorting with fury. “Don’t me me for being unkind when you force my hand!” I ordered, “Bring the implements!”


    Responding to mymand, fierce soldiers entered, pushing a cart with a searing metal rod.


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    Waves of heat radiated from the glowing metal, warming the dank basement air.


    Horror drained the color from Evelyn’s and Jenny’s faces as they recoiled from the torture device, though my men’s grip remained unyielding as they pressed them down on the metal rod.


    Through the basement echoed their heart-wrenching screams, sharp and piercing—merely the beginning of their ordeal.


    As searing metal met flesh, a grotesque sizzle filled the basement while the acrid stench of burning skin permeated every corner.


    “Evelyn, will you speak or not?” I demanded, waving my hand in disgust to disperse the nauseating odor.


    With a dismissive gesture, I signaled the soldiers to withdraw. Released from their captors’ grip, Evelyn and Jenny crumpled to the floor, their flesh raw and weeping where the rod had branded them.


    “I don’t know anything…” came Evelyn’s feeble response, her voice fracturing with each word.


    Fury consumed me entirely. I lunged forward, seizing Evelyn’s hand and twisting it with calcted brutality.


    The sickening crack of bone punctuated her desperate plea.


    “Ah—” Her body convulsed violently as screams tore from her throat. Rage burned in my bloodshot eyes as I towered over her trembling form. “Evelyn, why did you betray me?”


    Through clenched teeth, Evelyn fought against the pain, her quivering lips suggesting words that wouldn’te.


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