Chapter 19
The warehouse was cold. The air reeked of rust, gasoline, and something far more sinister- something metallic and old, like dried blood that never really left.
Kevin groaned as he opened his eyes, his vision flickering in and out. His hands were bound behind him, wrists raw from the ropes. He was tied to a metal chair bolted to the ground, the only source of light a single hanging bulb that swung slightly above him.
Then the first blow came.
A sharp jab to the ribs. Another to the jaw. A boot slammed into his shin. He cried out, coughing blood, spitting it onto the floor. His head fell forward, chest heaving.
‘Please…” he gasped. “Please, I-I don’t even know who you are. What do you want from me?!”
Silence.
Then another strike.
Kevin choked, his screams echoing through the hollow room.
Stop! Please! I’m sorry! I don’t even know what I did-”
voice finally answered.
You destroyed her.”
ootsteps echoed in the dark.
rom the shadows, Lucas stepped into the light. He looked calm. Too calm.
Kevin stared, confused. “You…?”
ucas didn’t blink. “You hurt my daughter, Kevin. Over and over again. You chose anothe /oman. You abandoned Isabella when she needed you the most. You let her bleed alone. You
nocked her. You broke her.”
evin coughed, more blood dribbling from his lips. “I-I was wrong. I know that. I want to fix it- ist let me see her. Please-”
ucas walked up to him, expression unreadable. “You don’t get to see her. You don’t even get to ay her name anymore.”
Kevin thrashed in his seat, desperate, pathetic. “I love her! I swear to God-I still love her! Just
ne chance-just let me explain! I’ll do anything-anything!”
.ucas lowered his voice, almost a whisper. “You had your chances. All of them. This is her eace. I’m just delivering it.”
Kevin screamed as the next hit came-a crack of a steel rod against his thigh. Bone splintered. He wailed in agony, tears and blood mixing.
Lucas watched.
‘This is the last time,” he said. “If you ever show your face to her again… you won’t walk out alive.”
And then the darkness closed in again.
Meanwhile, deep in the Gregory estate, Jasmine sobbed on her knees.
Her body was weak. Her hands trembled. She had pleaded for hours now, but Gregory-her real father-watched her with the same cold, calculating expression he gave to enemies.
“You humiliated us,” he said slowly, his voice cutting like a blade. “You brought shame to our name. And for what? A man who never wanted you? A baby you used as leverage?”
“I was hurting,” she cried, clutching her swollen belly. “I didn’t mean to-I was angry-he left me- | just-”
“You tried to kill someone,” he snapped, slamming a cane against the marble floor. “You disobeyed me. You failed me. You failed this family.”
She fell to the floor, sobbing. “Please… I’ll change. I’ll raise the baby. I’ll leave the country. I won’ speak to anyone again-just don’t hurt me.”
But Gregory didn’t respond. He gave a nod.
Two guards stepped forward.
Jasmine screamed as they dragged her to her feet.
NO! PLEASE! I’m your daughter-your own blood!”
You are a mistake,” he said coldly. “A stain I’ve allowed to live too long.”
The punishment wasn’t quick.
t was drawn out, methodical-enough pain to make her remember. Slaps, strikes, bruises orming over bruises. And then-
A scream unlike any other echoed through the room.
She fell to the floor, clutching her stomach.
Blood.
So much blood.
No-no-no-my baby! My baby!”
The guards stepped back in silence as she howled, sobbing, collapsed in a puddle of crimson. Gregory said nothing.
He simply turned and walked out of the room.
And Jasmine… was left in ruins.
As the hours passed and no one came to help, she realized this was it-her karma, finally served
cold.
Everything she had taken from Isabella…
Had come back to take everything from her.
