Chapter 418

Olivia's breath hitched as Victoria advanced toward her. With a single flick of her wrist, Victoria summoned the guards, who roughly forced Olivia onto the cold concrete floor. The sharp click of Victoria's stiletto echoed through the room as she pressed down mercilessly on Olivia's delicate fingers.

White-hot pain exploded through Olivia's body, making her vision blur. Her porcelain skin turned ashen as the unbearable pressure continued, her hand going frighteningly numb beneath Victoria's designer shoe.

After an agonizing eternity, Victoria finally lifted her foot, her crimson lips curling in cruel satisfaction. "Who mentioned anything about authorities?" she purred, tilting her head like a predator examining its prey.

Releasing Olivia's mangled hand, Victoria crouched low, gripping Olivia's chin with manicured nails. She drank in the tears welling in Olivia's striking emerald eyes, savoring each shudder of pain.

"You took my mother from me," Victoria hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "Did you truly believe you'd walk away unscathed? This estate will be your gilded cage until you draw your last breath." A cold laugh escaped her lips. "Let's see how captivating you find yourself without an audience."

With a careless gesture, Victoria motioned to the guards, who dragged the trembling Olivia away. The basement swallowed her whole - a lightless void where even her own limbs disappeared in the oppressive darkness. Sinister shapes lurked in the corners, whispering of unspeakable torments to come.

Olivia flexed her injured hand, wincing at the stiffness. She swallowed back tears, forcing steady breaths through cracked lips. Victoria had clearly lost all reason - a dangerous woman with nothing left to lose.

Hours bled together as Olivia racked her brain for potential rescuers. Only one name surfaced - Liam. Her last flickering hope.

The rusty hinges screamed as the door swung open. Victoria's silhouette filled the doorway, something glinting in her hand. Blinding light flooded the space, making Olivia recoil with a pained gasp.

Even in her disheveled state, Olivia's ethereal beauty remained untouched. This realization made Victoria's blood boil. "How fortunate for pretty little things like you," she sneered, twirling a water bottle between her fingers. "Men would move heaven and earth for that face. Pity it won't save you now."

"What do you want?" Olivia croaked, her throat raw from thirst and disuse.

Victoria's smirk widened as she shook the tantalizing bottle. "Thirsty? Beg for it. On your knees, where you belong. Apologize for murdering my mother."

Olivia shut her eyes against the temptation. During her captivity, Victoria had sent dry biscuits - cruel mockeries of meals without water to wash them down. The thirst had become a living thing, clawing at her throat, but she refused to break.

A weaker woman might have crumbled. Olivia bit her tongue until copper flooded her mouth, using the pain to sharpen her resolve.

"You want my surrender on camera," Olivia rasped. "Evidence for your twisted game. Tell me, Victoria - who put you up to this? Who's pulling your strings?"