The silence in the basement was bone-chilling. The iron chain around Anna’s left leg clanked loudly every time she shifted on the slightly damp floor. Her back still throbbed with pain from the whip marks, but she chose to ignore it.
The lock on the iron door was roughly turned from the outside. The footsteps—which she was beginning to recognize—echoed as they drew nearer, piercing the darkness. Dim light from the hallway swept across Anna’s pale face.
Finley stepped inside calmly. In his hand, he held a covered container filled with cold rice and tough pieces of meat. His face was expressionless, full of arrogance.
“You’re not dead yet, Anna?” Finley asked coldly, standing directly in front of her.
Anna slowly raised her face. Her eyes stared straight ahead, devoid of any remaining fear.
“Good,” Finley sneered. “I don’t want my new toy to break too soon.”
Finley flung the food container against the wall right next to Anna’s head. The food inside spilled onto the dirty, dusty floor. A tough piece of meat rolled right up to Anna’s chained feet.
“Eat!” Finley ordered flatly. “Finish it before I let you starve until the day after tomorrow.”
Finley crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for a reaction from the woman in front of him. He hoped to see Anna cry, whimper, or refuse to eat.
However, Anna didn’t give him that satisfaction. Instead, she shifted closer to the food scattered across the floor. Without hesitation, Anna grabbed the dirty piece of meat, brushed off some of the dust, and devoured it quickly. She chewed voraciously, paying no attention to Finley’s presence.
Finley furrowed his brow, shocked by the scene before him. “Don’t you have any self-respect left?”
Anna swallowed her food with difficulty before looking up at Finley. “Self-respect won’t keep me alive, Finley. I need the strength to see the day when you kneel and beg my forgiveness.”
Finley’s expression changed drastically. His eyes narrowed, signaling danger. “What did you say?”
“You heard me clearly,” Anna replied, shoveling the remaining rice from the floor into her mouth. “You’re locking me up here not because you’re strong, but because you’re a coward. You’re too afraid to face the reality that you failed to protect the person you love.”
Finley lunged forward and gripped Anna’s jaw so tightly that her cheekbones felt as if they were about to crack. His brutal grip forced her face upward, bringing her eyes directly into his.
“Watch your mouth, Anna!” Finley snapped loudly, his breath coming in short gasps as he leaned over her face. “Feya died because of Alden. He’s the one who set her up!”
Despite the pain in her jaw, Anna managed a faint smile.
“You believe black-market rumors instead of looking for evidence yourself,” Anna whispered hoarsely. “The feared Finley Maxwell turns out to be nothing more than a fool easily manipulated by his enemies.”
“Shut your mouth!” Finley screamed furiously. His right hand hovered in the air, ready to strike Anna’s face.
“Hit me!” Anna challenged without blinking. “Kill me right now! But that won’t change the fact that Feya’s real killer is laughing as you torture the wrong person.”
Finley’s hand suddenly froze in midair. His eyes trembled. A flash of confusion and doubt quickly crossed his gaze, which was usually filled with vengeance.
His grip on Anna’s jaw loosened, then released abruptly. Anna was shoved aside, but she immediately straightened up and continued eating calmly.
“You’re just spouting nonsense to save Alden’s life,” Finley hissed, his voice strained as he tried to hide his uncertainty.
“Think whatever you like,” Anna replied casually without stopping her chewing. “But remember my words. When the truth comes out, your guilt will rot you from the inside.”
Finley stood frozen in place. His chest rose and fell as he held back his anger and an unfamiliar tension he had never felt before. He turned sharply toward the door.
“Lexi!” Finley shouted, calling for his assistant.
Quick footsteps sounded, and Lexi immediately appeared in the doorway. “Yes, sir?”
“Double-check all the black-market transaction data from the night of Feya’s death,” Finley ordered sharply. “Find out the names of everyone who was in the vicinity that night—without exception.”
Lexi froze for a moment upon hearing the order, then glanced at Anna, who seemed to be casually eating, before bowing his head obediently. “Yes, sir. I’ll look into it right away.”
Finley stared at Anna once more with a cold, piercing gaze. “Don’t get too comfortable just yet, Anna. I’ll prove you wrong.”
“I’ll wait for that day to come, Finley,” Anna replied calmly as she wiped the food residue from her hands.
Finley walked away, and the sound of the steel door slamming shut rang out clearly. The lock was turned from the outside, plunging the room back into total darkness.
Anna leaned her back against the cold concrete wall. Her body was trembling and exhausted, but a faint smile played on her lips. She had succeeded in planting a seed of doubt in Finley’s mind. His defenses were beginning to crack.