Chapter 3 Alexander stormed out , and slammed the door behind him . He snapped coldly before leaving . " Victoria , don't ever beg for my affection ! " I changed into clean clothes with tears . Only a few minutes after Alexander left , a shrill scream came from upstairs in the villa . The alarm at my waist blared again . I rushed out the door , and the assistant guarding the entrance ran in . He complained in annoyance . " Must Miss Linda mess with us again ? " My sprint faltered . Was this just another trick ? I hesitated for only a few seconds , but years of experience made me sharp enough to tell - this time , someone really was breaking in . I managed to go upstairs against difficulties . But what greeted me wasn't an enemy's fist - it was Alexander's slap . Instead of enemy fists , Alexander's furious slap struck me . " Victoria ! A hundred drills proved you reach this bedroom in thirty seconds from downstairs . Today ? Five seconds slower ! " " Because of that , Linda got kidnapped ! " My head snapped to the side , and my mouth was bleeding . When I looked up , I saw Linda being choked , dragged to the window , and thrown down . I ignored the pain in my face , and joined in the fight . But there were too many enemies ; they pinned me down , and I couldn't break free . Suddenly , dizziness hit me . The nearest guard yelled in shock . " Victoria ! Your neck ! " I touched my neck . The spot where Alexander had put the necklace was badly swollen - like some poisonous bug had bitten me . 0.0 % 07:50 Chapter 3 The necklace engraved with Linda's name ... realization chilled me . There was something wrong with that necklace ! But by then , the car that had taken Linda had disappeared in early morning . Alexander noticed something was wrong with me too . He growled through gritted teeth . " All Hartwells ! Prioritize Linda's rescue ! " " I'm staying here to fight with Victoria . " Seeing Alexander stay to be with me , other guards roared . " Mr. Hartwell ! We'll bring Miss Linda home safe ! " What fools . They all thought Alexander had stayed for me , and finally chosen me . But even though I was dizzy , I still knew his purpose clearly . Alexander knew . If he stayed , the guards would risk their lives to protect Linda . He also knew . I'd never let him get hurt - I'd even die to be the attacking target of the enemies from him . And that way , Linda would be safe , of course . His gamble paid . The second an enemy swung a knife at him , I got there just in time - even though I was ten meters away . I took the fatal hit for him . When I woke up again , Linda was back safe . The spoiled heiress clung to Alexander and came to " check on" me . " Victoria , you saved my fiancé . Name your reward , darling . " Alexander scoffed . " Reward ? Victoria , do you even know ? That five seconds you wasted scared Linda . She had weeks of nightmares ! Must she exhaust herself worrying over you now ? " " Hartwell rules - if you mess up , you take responsibility . Go get yourself three lashes ! " 34.2 % 07:50 288 iVouchers Chapter 3 288 iVouchers A guard hurried to beg for mercy . " Mr. Hartwell , Victoria's reflexes are unmatched in the industry ! If not for Miss Linda's mess last night- " Alexander kicked him so hard . The man spat up blood . To ease his rage , I knelt and accepted the punishment . My heart became a frozen wasteland . Had he forgotten ? He'd retired me to be a cleaner . So where exactly did I mess up ? The Hartwell's three lashes live up to their reputation . The first lash tore a wound from my shoulder to tailbone . The second lash sent flecks of my flesh flying through the air . By the third lash , I collapsed to the ground and spat up blood . After those three lashes , all affection I held for Alexander was gone . In a daze , I overheard a butler speaking with Alexander . " Mr. Hartwell , you've confirmed the intruder was sent by Linda . The poisoner was also Linda . Why punish Miss Moore ? " " Three lashes might kill Miss Moore ... " Alexander's voice remained icy . " Linda finally came back to me . I'll cooperate with anything - as long as it doesn't take Victoria's life . " " The executioner works under Victoria . He knows restraint ... " Really ? I was too weak to turn my head , but I recognized the executioner - the one working for Linda . He tossed a phone recording before me : Alexander's voice played : " Darling , to avenge you , I ordered someone working for you to wield the whip . Satisfied now ? " 67.9 %