Chapter 455 It's Gerald!
Mary headed straight down.
The basement was even colder than upstairs, and as she walked in, the lights flickered on one by one.
She stopped in front of an iron-barred door, frowning. "Who's in there?"
"Is that you, Mary?" The man's voice came through, incredibly weak.
Mary could faintly smell blood in the air.
Her expression tightened. "Who are you?"
"It's Gerald," the man replied.
Mary was stunned. "Gerald, is that really you?"
She grabbed the bars, trying desperately to see inside, but it was pitch black.
"It's me, Mary. Please, you have to help me. They're torturing me. I don't want to die. Please, save me," Gerald's voice was filled with desperation.
"I..." Mary hesitated. She wanted to help, but she remembered that even Gerald's own father had given up on him. She was just an outsider; did she have the right to intervene?
"Did you really steal from the Montagu family?" she asked.
"I didn't!" Gerald's voice was suddenly agitated. "I was framed! I did owe gambling debts, but I never thought of stealing anything!"
Mary frowned. "What exactly happened?"
Gerald's breathing was heavy, like it took all his strength to speak. "I'm just a driver; I don't even have access to the manor. But one day, a maid asked me to deliver something to a room. When I went in, I found stuff scattered all over the floor. I picked it up and put it on the table, then left. A few days later, the Montagu family accused me of stealing and selling Mr. Samuel Montagu's belongings!"
"I never did such a thing. I tried to explain, but they wouldn't believe me!" Gerald yelled, his voice filled with desperation. "Mary, please save me. They're going to beat me to death!"
Mary's expression was serious. "Gerald, is everything you said true?"
Gerald gritted his teeth and swore, "I swear, if I'm lying, may I fall into hell!"
Mary thought back. Gerald never seemed like the type to steal. They had spent a lot of time together in high school. He was honest, gentle, and always willing to help others.
"How did you get into gambling?" Mary asked.
Gerald's voice grew hoarse. "I never meant to gamble, but the other driver for the Montagu family often did. He took me along once. When it was his turn, he had a stomachache and asked me to take his place for a few rounds. I ended up winning, and I..."
Once someone got into gambling, it was hard to stop. Gerald had won a lot at first, and the easy money excited him. But then he started losing and couldn't accept it. He wanted to win it back, and it spiraled out of control.
As Mary listened, a faint doubt crossed her mind.
Why did it feel like someone was pushing Gerald into this mess?
"Mary, please get me out of here. I'm begging you," Gerald pleaded.
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