Sandra screamed, her voice cracking with desperation as she struggled to escape.


    But after just two steps, the guards behind her seized her and held her fast.


    "Let me go! Let me go, you bastards! Let me go!"


    "Lionel, what do you want to do? I already told Hannah it was Quennel who held me captive, not you. And now you''re locking me up here again? The next time I see Hannah, I''ll tell her you''re a monster who holds people prisoner!"


    Forced to the ground, Sandra thrashed and screamed.


    "You''re imprisoning me! You were the one who tortured me before! Hannah doesn''t trust you anymore anyway, so I can say whatever I want! Let me go right now, do you hear me? If you don''t, I will never help you again."


    Through all of Sandra''s hysterical shouting, Lionel sat nearby, watching her with a cool, detached expression, saying nothing.


    Sandra was dragged into the cell, and the door was locked behind her. Although she wasn''t shackled this time, it hardly made a difference.


    She rushed to the bars, pounding them with her fists, the metal nging loudly.


    "Lionel, what are you doing? Let me out of here! Do you really think locking me up and then telling Hannah we have no rtionship will make her believe you? That you''ve gotten rid of me and are all alone at home? Do you really think she''ll fall for that?"


    Sandra had already guessed Lionel''s motive for bringing her back here.


    But it was toote for that now; it wouldn''t change anything.


    "Hannah isn''t at your house, so how would she know what''s going on there? This aplishes nothing! Why don''t you just let me go? Let her see me get on a ne and leave the country with her own eyes. Wouldn''t that be better?"


    Sandra looked at Lionel, her eyes pleading as she offered her suggestion.


    "If you keep me here, what will Hannah see? Even if you show her a recording of


    me locked in this cell, she won''t believe it! She''ll just think it''s a fake!”


    But no matter how she screamed, raged, or begged, Lionel seemed deaf to her words, remaining utterly silent.


    After about a minute, Sandra''s voice grew weaker. As if giving up the fight, her legs gave way, and she slumped to the floor, herhead resting against a cold metal bar. She had no more words to say


    Silence descended upon the prison. Only then did Lionel finally speak.


    "What''s the matter? Nothing left to say? If you''re done, then it''s my turn."


    Hearing his voice, Sandra didn''t respond. She remained perfectly still, as if all life had drained from her.


    Lionel continued, "You''re right. Hannah probably won''t know that I''ve locked you up here. And I''m not doing this for her to see."


    His words made Sandra''s brow furrow in confusion. She couldn''t understand what he meant.


    "I just feel that my previous actions werepletely wrong. If you still want to leave, then you will stay here and continue to give me advice. 11


    your ideas are useful, I will let you


    go


    IMS


    “But if your advice is useless, I will treat you exactly the way Quennel did!”


    At his words, a cold shiver ran down Sandra''s spine. Her pupils contracted, and her body trembled uncontrobly.


    "You know what this ce is like. If you don''t want to be locked up here forever, then you will think of every possible way to help me. Do you understand?"


    Sandra was silent for a long moment before letting out a coldugh.


    "So, in the end, you still need your so-called mistress to be your strategist. The only thing that''s changed is the location of my


    prison You still need to


    antain


    contact with me. How is that any different from when I was living in your house?"