Chapter 16 The Ashford basement was pitch black, only seeing light when guards checked in.[] Two days in that hellhole was enough to break Leona completely.[] Dominic's footsteps echoed down the stairs. Leona huddled in the corner, shaking like a leaf. Click. The door opened.] She met Dominic's bloodshot eyes and started trembling harder.[] "What the fuck are you gonna do to me?!" Her voice cracked with hysteria.[] He didn't answer. Just stepped aside and nodded to bodyguards.[] They hauled in an industrial oven. The second Leona knew exactly what was coming. The guards opened it up and tied her hands and feet with rope.]] The moment the door slammed shut, scalding heat hit her.[] "AHHHH-!" Her screams filled the basement. It felt like a million needles stabbing her skin. Sweat turned to steam before it could even form.[] She was literally cooking alive.[] Leona clawed at the door, sobbing and begging for mercy. Dominic just stood there, listening to her agony without a flicker of emotion. [] When time was up, they dragged her out. Her skin was bright red and blistering. The guards' rough handling made chunks of burned flesh peel away. Before she could even process the pain, ice water crashed over her head.]] The temperature shock sent fresh waves of agony through her body.[] Heat, ice, heat, ice-they kept cycling until Leona collapsed in a broken heap. " Don't let her die."]] Those four cold words were all Dominic said before walking away.[] For days, he put her through everything Vivienne had endured.[] Guards tied her to posts while cars slammed into her body.[] They forced her to crawl up stairs lined with rusty nails, kowtowing to Vivienne's memory with every bloody step.[] Chapter 16 Every torture Vivienne had suffered, Leona experienced tenfold.[] When they finally dragged her out of the basement, Leona thought it was over. Until they brought her to the hospital and Dominic walked in with a group of men.[] Her blood froze. She knew exactly what this was.]] "Dom, please, don't do this,, please-"[] His expression didn't change. " Isn't this exactly what you arranged for Vivienne? What are you scared of?" "I handpicked these guys-same type as the ones you hired. Don't worry, it's just a lesson."[] His voice was almost gentle, which somehow made it more terrifying. This was Dominic's private hospital. His men surrounded the building.[ ] No one was coming to save her.]] They gagged her, slapped her around, and tore her clothes apart with brutal efficiency.[] When it was over, she lay there like a broken doll.[] "Dominic."]] Half-naked and destroyed, Leona managed to speak. "You' can torture me to death, but it won't bring Vivienne back. She's gone. Forever!"]] The day of Vivienne's memorial service, the Carringtons converted the estate's main hall into a shrine. Guards forced Leona to her knees before the altar.[] Their mother clutched Vivienne's photo, sobbing in their father's arms.]] Cameron stood nearby, eyes bloodshot and hollow.[] Seeing their grief, Leona started laughing. "Jesus, you people are Oscar-worthy. When she was alive, you treated her like garbage. Now that she's dead, you're putting on this pathetic show."]] "Anyone watching would think you actually loved her. But we all know you're the ones who killed her."] Cameron's hand shot out, wrapping around her throat. "Don't you feel even a shred of guilt?"] Leona's laugh was like nails on a chalkboard-raw and unhinged, echoing through the memorial hall.[ ] She stared at Vivienne's portrait with pure malice.[] "Guilt? You're the ones who should feel guilty."]] "I don't regret shit. She's never visited my dreams. Not once."]] Chapter 16 "I wasn't her childhood sweetheart. I wasn't family who she almost died protecting. Trust me-she hates your guts way more than mine."] With a burst of adrenaline-fueled strength, Leona broke free from her restraints. She grabbed a heavy candelabra and hurled it at their parents. The old mansion was all wood and antique fabrics-perfect kindling. The memorial hall went up like a matchbox instantly.[] Flames erupted everywhere.]] Leona stood there with the candle holder, watching them panic as fire closed in.[] "If we're all so guilty, then let's burn together. No one gets to escape!"] ) (0) (0)