Chapter 1531:
Hearing this, Corrine’s smile grew chillier, a glint of defiance sparking in her eyes.
Amelie continued nonchalantly, “I must admit, I tampered with your wine earlier. You’ve had three glasses, Miss Holland. I doubt you’ll be able to leave tonight.”
Even before the words left Amelie’s lips, Corrine felt it.
Her efforts to maintain control faltered as her consciousness dimmed. “What do you want?” she managed, clutching the table’s edge for support. Her legs trembled, barely holding her upright until she finally collapsed forward.
As she fell, the tablecloth and all its contents were pulled down with her.
Amelie towered over Corrine, her smile wide and mocking, much like a predator playing with its captured prey. “I only want to help you confront the truth,” she said, her voice dripping with faux compassion.
With the last flicker of awareness, Corrine slid something into her clothing—one final act of defiance—before everything went black.
It was impossible to tell how long she’d been out when her eyes fluttered open. Her lips were sealed with tape, and her vision obscured by a black cloth bag. Her limbs were bound tightly with rough ropes, rendering her motionless. The drug’s effects lingered, sapping her strength and leaving her prone and vulnerable on the cold floor, much like a fish laid out for slicing.
It was evident that Amelie had gone to great lengths in her scheme against Corrine.
But Corrine had no plans to go down quietly.
Fighting through the fog of her drugged state, she managed to retrieve the dinner knife she had hidden in the folds of her dress earlier.
With determined, subtle movements, she sawed at the ropes, gradually loosening them. As the sound of footsteps approached, growing louder, Corrine feigned unconsciousness, her breaths shallow and even.
The iron door creaked open, and two men entered.
One of them prodded Corrine with his boot. “Why isn’t she moving? Think she passed out for good? Should we check?”
“Are you looking to get us killed? Didn’t you listen to Miss Hamilton’s orders?” the other responded. “I’m just curious—”
“Curiosity killed the cat, remember? We do our job and follow orders. Let’s pick her up and move on, unless you want our heads on the chopping block.”
“Alright, alright.”
As one bent down to lift her, Corrine seized her chance. With a swift, fierce motion, she broke free of her remaining bonds and lunged at him, plunging the dinner knife into his neck.
The knife wasn’t exactly sharp, but it was better than fighting with bare hands.
“Damn it!” the man snarled, slapping a hand against his neck. When he pulled it away, his fingers were streaked with red. The burn of the wound twisted his face into a mask of fury. “She’s vicious!”
She had acted with both speed and deadly intent.
Now, he realized why Miss Hamilton had stressed the importance of efficiency and tying up loose ends.
ore c𝐡apters @ gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⩸𝖼𝗈𝗺
Corrine ripped off the black cloth bag and tape, gripping the dinner knife with steady resolve. Her voice was calm, yet it carried a threatening undertone. “Let’s talk.”
The men froze, glancing uneasily at each other, their attention locked on the blade in her hand. “What do you want to talk about?”
Corrine maintained her composed demeanor. “How much did she pay you? Whatever it is, I’ll double it if you let me go.”
Under normal circumstances, these men wouldn’t merit negotiation, but the drug’s remnants weakened her, making a direct confrontation too perilous.
She was outnumbered, and the odds were not in her favor.
.
.
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