Chapter 17 1288 Vouchers Chapter 17 Arriving at the Buddhist temple, Alexander immediately spotted Olivia kneeling at the center, chanting sutras. "What are you doing here?" Alexander instantly connected Olivia to Sophie's disappearance, his tone turning harsh: "Where's Sophie?" Olivia kept chanting, murmuring under her breath without responding. Impatient, Alexander yanked her up by the arm. Only then did she stop chanting, eyeing him with biting sarcasm: "Alexander, in your heart, was Sophie ever just a child?" "Now that I've made her invisible to you, see how frantic you've become-even gripping my arm like this." Her words struck Alexander speechless. He glanced down at his own hand, still crushing Olivia's forearm. "See, Alexander? You're more disgusting than I imagined." "I've always been your decoy while you secretly longed for Sophie!" "She's ten years younger than you! Alexander, you're the very beast you condemn." Alexander felt a long-standing darkness within him begin to fracture. He'd only known he couldn't lose Sophie, but Olivia's words tore through his carefully constructed facade. "Do you remember how we met? Alexander." "At that banquet, you complimented my dress. I thought it was just small talk." "But doesn't Sophie's closet hold that exact same gown right now?" "Countless others, enough to make me sick with jealousy." "You probably never notice your own gaze." "The way you look at Sophie revolts me. But Alexander, I'm the one you promised to marry?" Olivia's voice broke on her final question, desperate for confirmation. "Why could you skin her alive for my sake, watch those beggars violate her without blinking..." 0.0% 12:40 U Chapter 17 1288 Vouchers "...yet refuse to marry me now?" "What have I even done wrong?" Tears streamed down the woman's face, her pitiful sight rendering Alexander mute. Still, he tightened his grip and flung her aside: "Fine!" "I am a beast!" "So where the hell is Sophie? If she's harmed, you'll pay." Seeing his admission, Olivia's eyes flashed with venom. Masking her anguish, she turned to the nearby abbot. "Devotee," the abbot approached Alexander, "once interrupted, the chant must restart to retain its power." "This female devotee left something with me. Follow me." Alexander practically dragged the abbot out without glancing back at Olivia. But Olivia resumed chanting, her face ghostly pale, lips trembling. Meanwhile, Sophie's spectral form floated beside Olivia's ear, exhaling a chilling breeze that deepened Olivia's terror. "I'm chanting for you already! Stop haunting my dreams." "This is the Prayer for the Deceased-it will free you." Please... stop coming. Floating Sophie seemed not to hear, continuing to blow cool breath at her ear, watching Olivia kowtow in terror. Meanwhile, Alexander finally sighed in relief upon seeing the corpse, preparing to drag it out. But the moment he touched the woven sleeping mat, the abbot struck his hand. "She can't reach the afterlife-it's all your fault!" The words nailed Alexander to the spot. 55.0% 12:40