---- Chapter 8 Athena POV: Asplash of ice-cold water shocked me back to consciousness. | gasped, sputtering, the frigid liquid soaking my clothes and hair. My hands and feet were bound. | was in the mansion's vast, damp wine cellar, locked inside a large, wrought-iron cage. Carina stood outside the bars, a triumphant smirk on her face. "Awake already? | was just about to have them add more water. You looked a little thirsty." Water was already pooling around my ankles, seeping into the thin fabric of my slippers. The needle mark on my arm was leaking a thin trickle of blood, the crimson drops swirling into the murky water at my feet. "They took my kidney," | whispered, the words a raw accusation. | stared her down, channeling every ounce of my remaining strength into my glare. She sauntered closer, her painted nails gripping the iron bars. "| didn't steal it," she purred, her eyes alight with cruel amusement. "I just... borrowed it. It looked better on my aunt, anyway." She laughed. "You fought me so hard in college over that stupid little project. Look where it got you. You're a rat in ---- a cage, and I'm about to become a global icon." "You're a thief," | spat. "You have no real talent. You're an insult to the art form." Her smile vanished. She slapped me hard across the face, the force of the blow snapping my head to the side. "Don't you dare talk to me about art," she hissed. "Look at you. Pathetic." She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You know, those men in the alley? That was my idea. | paid them. I'm just so disappointed Hardin got there before they could really... finish the job." My eyes widened in horror. "You... you monster." She just laughed. "He'll never know. He thinks he's your knight in shining armor." Acold, calculating calm settled over me. Deep in the pocket of my sweatpants, my fingers brushed against the cool metal of the tiny recording pen Eliot had given me years ago. I'd grabbed it out of habit before leaving the hospital. | pressed the button. "Aren't you afraid he'll find out?," | asked, my voice steady, goading her. "About any of this?" She waved a dismissive hand. "Hardin loves me. He's blinded by it. He'll believe whatever | tell him." She straightened up, her victory lap complete. "Enjoy your swim," ---- she said, turning to the guards. "Keep the water running. But don't let her drown. Hardin still needs her for... spare parts." She walked away, her laughter echoing in the damp cellar as the heavy door slammed shut. The water level rose. It was up to my waist now, chilling me to the bone. The world began to tilt, the darkness at the edge of my vision creeping inwards. | was so cold. So weak. My head slumped forward, and | gave in to the encroaching blackness. When | woke up, | was in my own bed. Sunlight streamed through the window. My phone was on the nightstand, buzzing incessantly. Dozens of messages. Missed calls from Eliot. | glanced at the date. | had been unconscious for three days. | typed a quick reply to Eliot. "I'm okay. On my way." My body screamed in protest, but | forced myself to move. | went to the hospital for my final check-up. The doctor removed the last of the stitches from my wrist. | flexed my fingers. The tremor was gone. For the first time in three years, my hand was steady. A genuine smile, the first in what felt like a lifetime, touched my lips. | picked up the new passport and ID Eliot had arranged, then went back to the mansion one last time. | packed a small bag. | found the photo of Hardin and me on my nightstand, his arm around me, both of us smiling. With methodical precision, | cut it into tiny, unrecognizable pieces and dropped them into ---- the trash. Every memory of his kindness was now tainted, revealed as a calculated move in his long, cruel game. My new phone rang. It was Hardin. "Athena, something's come up at work. | won't be home tonight. Be a good girl and stay put." My eyes narrowed. How did he know | was awake? | scanned the room, my gaze landing on a small, decorative floral arrangement on my dresser. Tucked amongst the silk petals was a tiny, black dot. A camera lens. A wave of revulsion washed over me. He had been watching me. Everything. With a cry of disgust, | grabbed the vase and threw it into the trash can on top of the shredded photo. | placed the recording pen on his desk, right in the center, where he couldn't miss it. Then, without a backward glance, | walked out of that house, out of that life, forever. At the airport, the boarding lounge TVs were all tuned to the same channel. A live broadcast. A lavish wedding. It was Hardin and Carina. A murmur of envy rippled through the people around me. "He's so handsome." "She's so lucky." ---- | didn't feel a thing. | just stared at the screen, at the man who had systematically destroyed me, and the woman who was now wearing his ring and my future. My flight was called. | stood up and walked towards the gate, never looking back. Goodbye, Hardin, | thought, as the plane lifted off the runway, carrying me towards my new life. And thank you. You've just made the biggest mistake of your life. Title: A Princess? No! I'm the Female General! In "A Princess? No! I'm the Female General!" by CrushReel, Adela Taylor, a noble family's daughter, disguises herself as her brother to secure their Duke title by joining the army. Despite facing obstacles, she achieves remarkable success. However, upon her triumphant return, her brother betrays her, setting off a chain of events that will test her resolve and reveal hidden truths. This captivating novel delves into themes of secrets, reincarnation, revenge, murder, and drama. Adela's journey from deception to betrayal is filled with intrigue and suspense as she navigates through a world where power dynamics and family loyalties collide. 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