Chapter 1362 A Pawn Destined to Die
Victor had specifically targeted Layla for calculated reasons. First, Raymond had once used her as a stand-in because of her resemblance to Selena. More crucially, Layla shared Selena's background—education at Ridgefield followed by art studies.
Jason could easily verify these facts if he chose to investigate.
The photograph Jason received had been orchestrated by Victor well in advance. On the very day Raymond dismissed Layla, Victor's people had approached her with an enticing narrative: she was actually the long-lost daughter of a wealthy family, and compliance would bring her limitless luxury.
Having briefly tasted the privileged world through Raymond, Layla was thoroughly enchanted. She believed the story without hesitation, eager to reclaim Raymond and overthrow Selena.
Victor had her styled to resemble Octavia, with particular attention to the eyes. Unlike Octavia's natural intelligence and resilience, Layla was merely vain, but skilled makeup compensated for these shortcomings. Driven by ambition to escape her social class, she studied mannerisms obsessively.
Desperate to shed her identity and become the rumored wealthy heiress, Layla unquestioningly accepted everything Victor said. After arriving in Vistalia and witnessing its opulence, her trust in Victor deepened.
What she failed to realize was that from their first encounter, Victor had designated her as a disposable pawn—one that would inevitably be sacrificed.
Layla had accidentally entered this world through Raymond, but Victor exploited her thoroughly. His manipulative genius ensured that even at death, his victims died clinging to hopeful delusions.
Layla died believing she was on the verge of high society acceptance, never comprehending the unbridgeable gulf between her and Jason's world.
Victor smirked as the doctor extracted the bullet from his shoulder, placing it in a nearby dish. After the doctor applied medication and advised him to avoid water, Selena accompanied him back to the car.
"Feeling tired?" Victor asked. "You should rest when we get back. The Smith family's real daughter died tonight—Lawrence's doing. I imagine Mr. Smith has been taken to the hospital. Wonder how he'll retaliate against Lawrence."
Selena remained silent, her distaste for Lawrence intensifying. So he had actually harmed his own sister.
"Dr. Barnes, did Mr. Smith miss saying goodbye to his daughter?" she finally asked.
"Yes, cruel twist of fate," Victor replied, gently taking her hand and caressing her fingertips.
Selena tried to withdraw. Long ago, someone else had played with her fingers similarly—kissing them childishly, occasionally biting them.
She recoiled from Victor's touch.
"You don't like this?" he asked.
Selena couldn't articulate her feelings. Raymond's name surfaced in her mind, bringing not happiness but dread. She desperately tried to hold onto clear memories that were increasingly fading.
"Dr. Barnes, when will you take me to Raymond?"
"He's en route to Vistalia—should arrive in two days. I'll take you to him then."
Selena sighed with relief, trying to free her hand from his grip.
"Could you let go of me?"
"Selena, you need to get accustomed to this."
"Why?" she asked, confusion evident in her eyes.
Victor twisted the ring on his finger—a psychological trigger. A master hypnotist once transformed an ordinary person into an assassin within 72 hours. One of Vistalia's presidents had been killed by such a programmed assassin, in a case that shocked the nation. Such was the power of elite hypnotists.
"Have you forgotten? You promised to obey me," Victor said with quiet dignity.
Despite his injury, his presence remained commanding. An atmosphere of refined elegance surrounded him as he interlaced his fingers, regarding her calmly.
Selena lowered her eyelashes, suddenly becoming extraordinarily compliant.
"I understand," she said.
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