Chapter 145 Their Agreement
Daphne began to enumerate her conditions, her voice steady and firm. "Firstly, you must uncover the identity of the person responsible for the previous incidents," she stated, her eyes never leaving Charles. "Secondly, you must outperform me in a shooting match."Charles found the initial two tasks far from intimidating. "And the third?" he inquired, his gaze never wavering from hers."I have yet to decide," Daphne replied, her gaze lingering on him. "Once you've accomplished the first two, I'll inform you. However, be aware that if you fail to win all of them, you lose. And you will have to leave me alone, forever.""Agreed," Charles responded without hesitation.Daphne exhaled a sigh of relief, yearning for a moment of solitude.Casting a glance at her wristwatch, she noted it was already past ten. "Would you mind opening the door now, so I can return home?" she asked, enunciating each word with precision."Stay here tonight. We'll commence the shooting competition first thing in the morning," Charles suggested, his tone brimming with confidence. He turned to retrieve a bag, offering it to her. "Here are some clothes for you to change into."Daphne wanted to decline his offer, but exhaustion overcame her will to argue, and she accepted the clothes. She made her way to the room Charles had indicated, promptly locking the door behind her. Her coat was discarded onto the bed before she carried the sleepwear into the bathroom.The sound of the door locking resonated in Charles' ears. He was left to ponder whether this was a testament to her vigilance or a reflection of her deep-seated wariness towards him.Meanwhile, Daphne was in the bathroom, washing away the day's grime, her mind occupied with their earlier conversation. She hadn't initially planned to involve herself in such trivial matters, but considering the situation from Charles' perspective, she decided to intervene.Charles' sudden appearance in Gedser and his persistent attempts to engage her indicated that their adversary would inevitably target her. It was an inconvenience she could do without.Simultaneously, in a dimly lit basement overseas, a woman lay shackled in chains. Her hair was disheveled, her face marred with bruises and red marks. Dead snakes littered the floor around her.The echo of approaching footsteps filled the room. The woman, clad in white, shivered at the sound, a reaction born from prolonged torment and a deep-rooted fear of the noise.A man in a suit entered, his aura exuding danger. His skin was pallid, and he radiated an unsettling vibe. "Wake her up," he commanded nonchalantly, flicking ash from his cigarette as he glanced at Kayla in the corner.One of his henchmen promptly doused Kayla's face with a bucket of ice water. The shock of the cold liquid jolted her awake, her eyes snapping open in alarm. The water soaked her clothes, causing her to shiver uncontrollably.Extinguishing his cigarette under his shoe, the man approached Kayla. His face bore a striking resemblance to Charles', but his presence was akin to a venomous snake, unpredictable and perpetually dangerous."Have you made up your mind?" he asked, squatting before Kayla and lightly patting her face. "Yiyi."Kayla trembled in fear, her body reacting instinctively to the man before her."Eliminate Charles for me, and I'll forgive your past failures," the man proposed, his hand gently caressing her face. His lips curled into a sly smile, his tone soft and slow. "In return, I will bestow upon you wealth, glory, and everything you desire."Her mind screamed a silent response: I want you dead!
Kayla's hands were balled into fists at her sides, her body throbbing from the fresh agony inflicted by his relentless torment. Day after day, he had subjected her to his cruel methods, each time varying his approach, all because she had failed her mission, all because she had sought safety for her family. Throughout the ordeal, there were moments when she contemplated surrendering to death as her only means of escape. But she couldn't bear the thought—why should he be allowed to live?The man seemed to take perverse pleasure in the rage and madness reflected in her eyes, his smile broadening as he taunted, "Do you wish for my death?" Kayla's eyes trembled with terror, her body involuntarily shivering with fear. "You'll never achieve that," he declared, his broad hand resting on her cold, damp cheek. His touch should have been warm, but to Kayla, it was a chilling harbinger of danger."Do you think that just because your grandmother and brother are in hiding, you can defy me?" His thumb gently caressed her cheek as he spoke, his voice as soft as a feather. Kayla remained silent, but his words ignited a surge of anxiety and dread within her. "They are under protection," he continued, his tone deliberate. "But no matter who guards them, they won't be safe if I decide to kill them. Do you understand?""Why me?" Kayla’s eyes were bloodshot, a testament to the countless sleepless nights she'd endured under his control."Because you were Charles's first love," he said, lifting her chin with an air of indifference to her hatred. "You can get close to him, and he won't be suspicious. He would never suspect someone as weak and helpless as you could actually kill him."A thought echoed in Kayla's heart, one she dared not voice: "Daphne is more suited for this." She felt a pang of guilt about Daphne. She had already let her down once, yet Daphne had helped her without holding onto past grudges. Kayla couldn't bear to drag her into this dangerous and hopeless situation."You're overthinking it," Kayla managed to say, struggling to keep her voice steady. "After what happened last time, he doesn't trust me anymore.""Just do as you're told," he commanded, his voice deep and slow, strangely hypnotic. "Once you eliminate the target, I will arrange for you to come here. You won't face any retaliation or arrest, and you'll have a secure life ahead."Kayla didn't believe him. Murder was a crime that couldn't be avoided. Moreover, she simply couldn't bring herself to do it...In the past, under duress, she had tried to reconcile with Charles, attempting to sabotage his marriage with Daphne, pushing her own moral boundaries. But back then, she had no choice. For her family's safety, she had to act, even if it meant crossing ethical lines.But this time was different.This time, it would mean trading someone else's life for the safety of her family. If she went through with it, she would never be able to forgive herself, let alone expect forgiveness from her family."What will it be?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow as she remained silent for a long time.With a defiance that was deeply ingrained in her, Kayla responded, "I won't do it.""Is that so?" The man seemed neither anxious nor angry. "Then, I will have no choice but to reveal your mistress act, the one that tore a family apart, to your brother and grandmother. I wonder how the neighbors would look at them then.""Don't you dare go too far!" Kayla snapped, her temper flaring."The choice is yours," the man said as he rose to leave. "You have three days to decide: follow my orders or remain steadfast in your convictions. The choice is yours."After he departed, leaving her alone in the basement, Kayla was once again swallowed by the darkness and despair, her body a wreck.
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