Chapter 3

The servants thought I had enchanted Dominic with some kind of potion.

In truth, I had.

During my time in the mental health institute, I thoroughly studied the pills I took every day.

After moving into the mansion, I ground various pills into powder. I secretly mixed them with food and fed them to Dominic.

I felt a rush of excitement every time I prepared the medication. I felt like an all-powerful magician.

I poured the mixture into Dominic’s seafood porridge.

“What are you doing?”

Suddenly, I felt a tight grip on my hand. I turned to see Dominic behind me.

His face darkened. He blinked in agitation when he saw the packet of powder in my hand.

I knew these were signs of rage. I smiled and said teasingly, “What else can I do? I’m just making your favorite seafood chowder!”

As I said that, I gave the packet a shake. The powder poured into the bowl of chowder and disappeared without a trace.

He still looked doubtful, and his face grew darker. He gripped my hand tighter.

“You’re so ungrateful! Fine, I’ll just eat them myself.”

I pouted my lips and pretended to be angry. I then took a spoonful of the chowder and ate it.

When he saw that, he was stunned. He loosened his grip on me, and his face softened.

I ignored him and continued eating. He finally spoke up when I was about to finish the whole bowl.

“Lila, I—”

I did not let him finish. I interrupted him with a kiss.

He must not stop taking the medication. He obediently ate the chowder.

His mood improved greatly after that. He held my hand and led me to his secret studio.

I observed my surroundings in the dim light. I noticed the rumored paintings of beautiful women on the walls.

The paintings had a diverse range of poses and expressions. They made the women appear almost lifelike. Each woman’s legs were uniquely distinct.

Dominic took off my clothes. Soon, I stood completely naked before him.

He looked at me with excitement in his eyes, as if he were admiring a sculpture.

After a long while, he finally picked up a paintbrush. He wanted to paint my portrait to put it on the wall.

“I don’t want to be with them.”

I rushed over, snatched the brush from his hand, and threw it to the ground. The paint splattered all over me.

“What do you want, then?”

The desire in his eyes grew almost tangible. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he spoke in a hoarse voice.

I laughed loudly. Then I picked up the paint bucket from the ground and splashed it against the wall. The beautiful paintings were stained with vibrant colors.

Dominic laughed and chased after me. He knelt at my feet and kissed my long legs.

“Those are the prettiest legs I’ve ever seen. If only your face were a little cuter, I’d die with a smile!”

I pointed to the painting of Ava and scoffed, “What if I become her?”

He called for a doctor and told him to make me look like Ava.

Dominic was more nervous than I was on the day he removed the bandages from my face. He was afraid I would not turn out the way he liked.

He sighed in relief when he saw my face.

He excitedly shouted to the doctor, Logan Reed, “I’ll give you a generous tip!”

Logan smiled. He frowned when he noticed I was staring at him blankly.

I instantly switched my expression and said with a smile, “Dr. Logan, thank you so much.”

Only then did he visibly relax. He exchanged a few polite words and left.

As I watched him leave, I reached out my right hand and aimed it at his neck. I gently squeezed it as if I were crushing an ant.

Logan was the doctor who had suggested leg-lengthening surgery for Ava.

He had been Dominic’s loyal lackey for years.

Sometimes, when Dominic went too far, Logan was called in to clean up the mess.

Ava was not the first woman to disappear from Dominic’s side.

Similar things had happened to many women in the past. When their family members came looking for an answer, Dominic compensated them generously and made them leave.

The families had no choice but to take the money and walk away. They did not have enough evidence to report him to the authorities.

Logan was surprised when Ava showed up at Dominic’s mansion. She did not have long legs.

He had suggested that Ava get leg-lengthening surgery when he sensed Dominic’s displeasure.

Dominic was overjoyed when he heard this. He generously rewarded Logan.

That was when Ava’s misfortune had begun.

Logan and his team cut through the bones in her legs. They inserted steel plates, pins, and screws inside.