Before the man could even continue with his next question, Owen immediately spilled everything.


    "Yes, yes! I''m Owen! I know you kidnapped me because of Sandra! I can tell you-l really don''t know anything! She just told me to stay close to Lionel and report back to her anytime Lionel and Hannah had any contact. That''s all, I swear!"


    He spoke rapidly, spraying saliva as he rushed to exin. “Even the thing about the drugging-I only found out about itter when Sandra told me! I was just... tempted, you know? That''s why I made that mistake. Over the years, I only ever used my phone orputer to report when Hannah and Lionel met up!"


    His eagerness to expose the truth and wash his hands of the matter left both men speechless. They''d thought a man might show some backbone, but it turned out just asking his name was enough to make him unravelpletely.


    "What did she offer you to make you cooperate so willingly?" one of the men finally asked.


    "I already said—I was just tempted! She... offered herself to me in exchange for money. That was it, there was nothing else!"


    Owen''s voice was thick with regret and resentment. "I never should have been so weak. I shouldn''t have done it. I know I was wrong. Please, just let me go. If you let me go, I swear I''ll nevere back to the country. I''ll wander abroad, I''ll die out there I won''t ever return!"


    The two men fell silent again, then simply stood up and left the room.


    There was no point in questioning him further he had already told them everything they needed to know.


    After leaving, they walked to another cell and pushed the door open. Inside, Sandra immediately stood up at the sound.


    "Who are you? What do you want with me? Did Quennel arrange all this? What is he trying to do? Let me see him—I have things to say to him!"


    But the two men ignored her barrage of questions entirely.


    They stood just inside the doorway, looking at her coldly.


    "The videos you sent-do you have other copies? Where are the backups? Tell us, and we''ll retrieve them. If you lie, you can prepare for hell."


    Hearing the harsh, electronically distorted voice, Sandra was silent for a moment.


    She took a deep breath, then spoke through gritted teeth.


    "I''m not stupid enough not to have backups. But if you want to know where they are, you have to take me to Quennel. Otherwise never


    "1


    Before she could finish, one of the men picked up a thick whip from outside and


    "Ms. Woods, I suggest you understand the situation clearly. This is not a ce for negotiation Speak now, or the nextsh won''t just hurt-it could cripple you for life


    To emphasize his point, he snapped the whip hard against the floor beside her. The


    sharp sound made Sandra''s face instantly pale.


    Her lips trembled slightly. She drew another shaky breath and insisted, "I want to see Quennel—”