Chapter 3

I had no strength left to resist. "Charlie will find out... he cares deeply about this child. If he learns that you killed his child, he won't forgive you!"

Fiona paused, and for a moment, I thought I'd finally struck fear into her. But then, with a merciless twist, she pressed harder, slashing down my cheek in a swift motion.

"How dare you mention Charlie, you wretched woman!" she snarled. "As if I'd let him know I did this. No, by the time I'm through with you, you'll vanish from his life completely."

I froze, a chill creeping over me as she carved more lines across my face. The stinging pain became so intense that it numbed me.

Seeing the state I was in, Fiona laughed with satisfaction.

"Destiny, you look horrible now. There's no way you'll ever be able to compete with me for Charlie again," she sneered. "I'll make sure you understand what happens when you cross me!"

My body was like a discarded rag doll as she unleashed her fury, slashing and tearing at me. I felt like I was drifting away, teetering on the edge of life.

Fiona's friends began to grow uneasy and watched her in fear. "Fiona, maybe that's enough. She's going to die if you keep it up," one of them said, voice quivering.

Fiona gave a cold laugh. "You're scared? Charlie promised to take care of everything, so what are you worried about?"

I spat out more blood as I lay helplessly on the ground.

She finally stood up. "Fine, we'll call it a day. I'm tired. Leave her locked up here; maybe I'll come back later if I feel like letting out my anger."

With that, Fiona and her group left.

I lay on the cold floor, clutching my stomach, struggling for breath. My world had gone dark, and I felt nothing from within.

"Little one... I'm so sorry. If it weren't for my ties to Charlie, you wouldn't have suffered like this," I whispered, barely holding on. "If I survive, I'll get justice for you, I swear."

Tears mixed with the blood streaking down my cheeks, each drop stinging as it met my wounds.

Time blurred. I don't know how long I lay there, slipping in and out of awareness, until a faint sound reached my ears—someone had entered the warehouse.

Through my haze, I recognized Nick Wesley, Charlie's assistant.

Fiona pointed at me. "So, Charlie really meant it when he said he'd fix everything, didn't he? I might have... gone a bit far," she muttered.

Nick took one look at me and then dialed Charlie. "Boss, this is serious. Fiona went too far... the woman is unrecognizable."

I struggled to stay conscious, realizing Nick was my only hope. I tried to call his name.

Fiona noticed and quickly silenced me with a brutal kick. "Stay down, you worthless thing."

On the other end, Charlie's voice was calm but clear. "How bad is it? Show me."

Fiona tensed, immediately refusing, "There's nothing to see. It might scare you, trust me."

I knew my chance had come. I reached out and clutched Nick's pants, whimpering, praying he'd understand my plea.

Fiona didn't want Charles to see me, afraid he might recognize who I was.

Nick glanced at me with hesitation. "Boss, the situation's a bit complicated. You should take a look."

But Fiona wasn't about to let me get away with it. She quickly grabbed Nick's arm and, with a pleading look at Charles, said, "Charles, you promised to help me handle this. You said so back then."

Charlie chuckled softly, reassuring her. "I did. But let me see the situation first, and then we'll decide how to handle it."

Reluctantly, Fiona had no choice but to let Nick turn on the video feed. He aimed the camera at me.

Charlie's face appeared on the screen, and he stared in silence for a moment.

Then he spoke in a low, steady voice, "Who is this?"