Anna clutched her cell phone with trembling hands. She held it to her ear, listening to the ringtone sound three times before the voice of the man she missed finally came through.
“Hello, Alden,” Anna said, glancing anxiously toward the door.
“Anna? Is that you?” Alden’s voice came through on the other end of the line.
“Yes, Alden, it’s me. Are you okay?” Anna asked quickly, her voice soft and cautious.
“I’m fine, Anna. Don’t worry about me. Did Finley hurt you? You don’t need to be afraid. I’m trying to figure out a way to get you out of there,” Alden said, trying to calm Anna down.
“I’m fine, Alden. Don’t do anything risky. Finley is very dangerous. You have to be careful,” Anna said, shaking her head and glancing back toward the door from time to time.
“I won’t let him keep you there, Anna. I’ll definitely rescue you from that house,” Alden promised firmly.
A faint glimmer of hope suddenly welled up in Anna’s chest. “Alden, I—”
The bedroom door slammed hard against the wall. Anna jumped in surprise. The cell phone in her hand slipped from her grasp and slid to the floor. The call was abruptly cut off.
Finley stood in the doorway. His gaze was sharp, his face dark with rage. His footsteps were heavy as he walked closer, rolling the sleeves of his black shirt up to his elbows.
“You think I don’t know what you’re doing, Anna?” Finley’s voice was firm and cold. His intimidating aura made Anna break out in a cold sweat.
“Finley… I—”
“Who were you calling?!” he snapped. He yanked Anna’s hand, pulling her until their faces were only a few centimeters apart.
“I was just… I just wanted to know how Alden was doing,” Anna said. Tears of fear began streaming down her cheeks. “Finley, he’s innocent.”
“Shut up!”
Finley’s grip shifted to Anna’s neck. She felt the air catch in her throat. Anna’s eyes widened as her hands gripped Finley’s hard arm, trying to find a way to breathe. But she couldn’t.
“I’ve told you over and over again never to mention that name in front of me!” Finley growled. He shoved Anna so hard that she slammed into the bed and fell to the floor.
Before Anna could get up, the sound of leather scraping could be heard. Finley had unbuckled his leather belt.
“Finley, don’t! I beg you!” Anna pleaded, shaking her head and crawling backward.
However, Anna’s pleas fell on deaf ears. In fact, her screams only made Finley more excited.
The belt flew through the air, landing squarely on Anna’s back. A burning, stinging pain pierced her skin. Anna’s scream shattered the silence of the room.
“Well? Does it hurt?” Finley whispered. He smiled cynically as he watched the fear in the woman’s eyes.
The second blow landed on her shoulder. Anna’s fear reached its peak. She curled up, shielding her head with both hands.
“Please, Finley! Please… have mercy!” Anna whimpered through her tears.
“The more you scream, the more satisfied I am!” Finley shouted. He raised his arm to swing again. “Every time you whimper, I picture Alden on his knees begging me!”
The torture continued relentlessly. Anna’s skin stung. Her consciousness began to fade. Amid the excruciating physical pain, only one name remained in her mind: Alden. That man had never hurt her; he hadn’t even let her get the slightest scratch.
“I… I didn’t mean to make you angry…” Anna said softly. Her voice was almost drowned out by her sobs. “I just wanted to know…”
“I don’t care!” Finley cut in, swinging his belt even harder. “He’s not here to save you! You’re mine, Anna. And you’ll never go back to him!”
The final blow landed squarely on Anna’s left cheek. Anna’s vision went dark instantly. Her body slammed hard against the floor. She could no longer move, gasping for breath.
Finley stood over Anna’s helpless body. His breathing sounded heavy. His eyes fixed on the blood beginning to seep from the corner of Anna’s lips.
The image of Feya’s face flashed through his mind—Feya, who had met a gruesome end.
‘Feya must have felt the same pain before she died,’ Finley thought to himself. The vengeance burning within him remained completely unquenched.
“Blood must be paid for with blood,” Finley muttered coldly. “Every member of the Wesley family will face the consequences. Without exception.”
Finley crouched down, gripped Anna’s jaw, and forced her to look at his face.
“The first lesson is over, Anna. Remember this pain every time you try to defy me,” he whispered right into Anna’s ear.
Finley released his grip, then turned and walked out of the room. The door slammed shut with a loud thud.
Inside the room, Anna lay motionless. The pain in her body slowly turned to numbness as she teetered on the edge of unconsciousness.
Outside the room, Finley ordered Lexi to call the family doctor to treat Anna.
“Don’t let her die, Lexi. I’m not done toying with Alden yet,” he said as he walked away, leaving Lexi to nod obediently.