They carried Renee to their tribe in the dark while singing a war song.There were thatched cottages with many human or animal skulls hanging at the front. The women had thick and heavy ivory bone locks on their mouths. It seemed they were prohibited from speaking casually. It was clear that they were inferior compared to the men. A campfire had been lit at the center, while a group of people danced merrily around the fire. Nearby, someone was bowing while sharpening a knife using a sharpening stone. Renee was carried there. By this point, she had come up with her last words. 'Damn it!' she thought 'I've thought of the many ways I might die, but I never expected barbarians catching me like prey and sharing me among them!'"Hey, why don't you reconsider this? Human flesh isn't tasty at all! Plus, it comes with prions. If you eat me, your whole tribe will be infected and killed! I'll give you money and let you have roast lamb instead. That'll taste much better!"As they were a
"Mr. Osborne, what should I do about these people?" a dignified-looking man asked Liam softly as the latter walked away quickly. He should be the leader of the team."Catch them and get rid of them. And…burn down this tribe!" Liam instructed solemnly.Renee found it unacceptable. "Get rid of them? How are you going to do that? Is it what I'm thinking of? And this tribe isn't small. There are old people and kids. What should they do if you burn this tribe down?""They nearly roasted and ate you. I've already gone easy on them since I didn't roast them." Liam looked solemn and serious. He didn't find his actions outrageous at all. "They roasted me because it was the norm for them. They weren't taught by the society, but you want to exterminate them. It's too cruel!" she argued."No, it's not. It's a crime. It was you today, and it might be someone else tomorrow. The superiors wanted to handle this, but failed. I'll take it upon myself to eliminate their worries forever!" Liam said
Helpless, Liam got into another car.Amber sat close to Renee and bowed to check Renee's foot, which had been injured by a beast trap. Feeling sorry for Renee, she tried to blow at the injury. "This tribe is used to hurting and roasting people. I'm sure you're in a lot of pain.""I'm fine." Renee looked calm, feeling as though her previous experience was a dream. "I'm tough. Plus, I've run into more ridiculous things and suffered more serious injuries. This isn't a big deal."Leia listened nearby, and muttered, "You can't compare it that way Those were old injuries. And you're injured now, regardless of how big or small it is. It'll bring you pain no matter what. You can't quantify them like that."She felt very sorry for Renee, so she didn't try to stop Liam when the latter declared that he wanted to burn the tribe down. She herself wanted to massacre the entire tribe. They were siblings as well as Renee's loyal friends. They would make anyone who mistreated Renee pay a heavy
"Does Liam act like a child?" Amber bandaged Renee's wound with a beautiful ribbon, indicating her girlish nature. She yearned to see the kind of man Renee had described."He's a mature older guy, and he's been with me for such a long time. I've never seen him act immature. Though, I'd like to see that!" She shook her head self-deprecatingly. "But I don't think I'll get the chance to see that. I heard that men would only show their childish side in front of the women they truly loved. He probably likes you so much, he behaved like a child around you.""No, you've misunderstood again," Renee said quickly.She intended to get rid of Amber's misunderstanding, but only succeeded in complicating her relationship with Liam even further. She hurriedly explained, "He just sees me as his friend! I don't feel anything for him. There's nothing indecent about us. Really, we're just close friends.""Nah, that's not true," Leia intervened. She ignored her future sister-in-law's feelings
The car ride was bumpy. At last, they arrived at Benjamin's fort. Liam quickly got out of the car and eagerly opened the door where Renee was. "Don't move. I'll carry you inside."Without hesitation, he carried Renee in his arms and instructed his subordinate, "Get Dr. Holmes. Hurry!""Liam, put me down! I can walk," Renee protested.She patted Liam's shoulders, awkward. She didn't care if she could walk or not, for she found it very inappropriate for him to carry her that way. She felt she should keep some distance from him, regardless if it was for her or Amber's sake."No, I'm sure you can't walk unless you want to give your legs up," Liam said, ignoring Renee's words. He carried her and walked straight ahead, leaving Amber and Leia behind.Speechlessness overcame Renee. Amber watched Liam's hurried figure from afar and quietly clenched her fists. She looked downcast. Although she was generous, seeing it still saddened her.Leia didn't care about Amber, and even hated the
Liam was unstable and couldn't be considered a good man. He was unsuited to be one's husband. "I know he dislikes being bound. That's what I like about him, so I never intended to control him," Amber said. She kept looking at Liam ahead of her. However, her smile grew fainter. "Liam and I have different lives. I grew up in this fort. I spent all my life here, and I rarely went out. Sometimes I found myself a pet kept by my dad. I don't have my own life."After I got to know Liam, I learned for the first time that people could lead their lives freely. At that time, Dad occasionally saved him. He was recuperating here. I sometimes helped take care of him and he would tell me stories about himself. He told me about the things he learned while traveling the world. He even told me that he liked a beautiful woman very much."I wondered what kind of woman she was to make such a carefree man like him fall for her. Then, I got to meet her. She was brave and smart. She stood against ever
"That's none of your business." Liam's gaze turned icy as he stared at Mateo's outstretched hand. He added fiercely, "Let me repeat—get out of the way!""Then, I'll repeat too—you can go in, but you can't carry her!" Mateo barked. He had no intention to withdraw his hand, and refused to yield.The two fell into a stalemate. Although they were a few feet apart, Renee could sense their intense wrath. She felt like she was roasted above a fire, like she had been when she was with the cannibals. In fact, this was even more torturous. She hurriedly moved and tried her best to jump out of Liam's arms. "It's fine. I can go into the room on my own. One of my feet is clamped, but the other is fine. I can walk."Then, she bent her clamped feet in front of them and hopped into the room."Boss!" Liam blurted out, wanting to support her. He felt very sorry for her."Stop!" Mateo grabbed Liam's arm and watched Leia and Amber, who were slowly walking over. He gnashed his teeth and hissed, "S
"What's wrong, Matt?" Amber was confused. She looked at the room where Renee was. "I want to see Ms. Everheart. She's a guest. Plus, she got hurt because she wanted to attend my wedding with Liam. I have to take care of her.""Oh, please!" Mateo felt sorry for Amber. At the same time, he was angry because of how uncompetitive she was. "Do you know how much Liam cares about her? How could you agree to let her come to your house? You're inviting your enemy. Don't you know that?""No, you're wrong." Amber shook her head. "Ms. Everheart and Liam know each other. Plus, he liked her long ago. My dad just forced him to marry me. It's normal if he doesn't like me and is still in love with Ms. Everheart. I'm the one to be blamed because I'm selfish. I know that he doesn't like me, but I manipulated my father to get together with Liam.""What are you talking about, silly girl?" Mateo clutched his chest, furious. "He was the one who suggested the marriage to Master! It proves that he wants to
Disgust overcame Renee. She found Macsen pathetic."You claimed that you love your girlfriend, but you married Luneth. You married her and got a kid. Now, you want to be intimate with the woman you've just met. Do men think that love is just a trivial thing?""How could you…" Macsen was stunned. He didn't expect her to say that so directly. Guilty, he retorted, "You don't know anything! Men's love is different from women's love.""What's the difference?" Renee snorted and shot him a disdainful stare. "Yeah, it's different. Women are superior human beings. Once they fall in love with someone, they'll never sleep with another man. But men are different. Men are simply animals. They can love many people and sleep with different women. Maybe men and women shouldn't exist at the same time. Then, there won't be so many heartbroken women.""I disagree!" Macsen rolled up his sleeves, turning competitive because of Renee's words. "You make it sound like only men will have a change of heart.
"What kind of condition? I'm listening," Renee said curiously."It's very simple. The best way to take revenge on a man is to humiliate his beloved in front of him, especially by making her a slut in front of him. So…"After a pause, Macsen sized Renee up and cracked a wicked smile. "Turn on your social media, go live, and show everyone how you and I fool around. Let them see how you enjoy my lovemaking. Then, I'll consider letting you guys live!""That's outrageous!" Leia snarled, unable to tolerate it any longer. "You're out of your mind! Your woman is humiliated, so you should find fault with the culprit! Why do you want to hurt another innocent woman? If you love live shows, you should go shoot that kind of video yourself and sell it worldwide. It'll satisfy your special tastes!"Her sarcasm angered Macsen, who turned to his subordinate beside him.The subordinate immediately walked forward. Without hesitation, he grabbed Leia to the large ship behind Macsen."It's finally qu
Renee interrupted Leia for fear that the latter's words might drive Macsen up the wall.Macsen's intense reaction proved that he wasn't lying. Stefan had probably done something outrageous to his girlfriend.However, there might be some hidden clues in that incident. Given Renee's understanding of Stefan, he wasn't so ruthless even though he was abominable."No, she's right." Macsen took a deep breath and sneered. "I should make myself clear. If not, you'd never know how wicked someone could be… When I found my girlfriend, she was naked and had all kinds of bruises. She cried and told me that Stefan had assaulted her for several days and nights. In the end, she jumped off a building and died in front of me because of the utter humiliation!""What?!" At that point, Leia expressed her disbelief. "That can't be! There must be some misunderstanding! Stefan's a scumbag, but he's not a skirt-chaser or a deviant. That kind of thing would never have happened. Given his identity and sta
"Oh?" Macsen looked at Renee, interested. "Is there a way to cause him pain? Well then, I'm all ears."Renee looked at herself and Leia, then said, "I can tell you, but you need to let us go first. At least, let my friend go."Macsen grew cold, and snorted, "Hmph! You can't negotiate terms with me. I think killing you both is enough to cause him pain. Men, do it!""No!"Renee found Macsen's emotions to be very unsteady—he would turn hostile at any minute. Hence, she said patiently, "Okay, I won't ask you to let us go since you don't want to. At least tell us what terrible things Stefan has done that made you hate him so much. Maybe I'll pity you once you tell me. Then, I'll help you take revenge on him.""Don't take me as a fool. You, help me take revenge on him?" Macsen glared at Renee. Macsen wasn't so foolish to believe that a woman deeply in love with Stefan would betray him and work with his enemy to target him.Then again, it would cause Stefan greater pain if his beloved
At that point, Leia leaned backward and laughed heartily. Renee listened to the conversation and shook her head helplessly. They were doomed, alright.Their enemy wanted them dead later, but here Leia was, insulting and rebuking him fiercely. He would probably kill them on the spot.Just as Renee had expected, Macsen said nothing more. Instead, he waved and instructed his subordinate, "Do it now. I can't wait any longer.""Okay, boss." Macsen's subordinate nodded respectfully and glanced at the rest of the guards. They approached Renee and Leia with two sandbags and ropes. "W-What are you doing?" Leia swallowed, terrified at the sight of the sandbags and ropes. Masen sneered and said fiercely, "Didn't you say I'm a coward? I'll show you what a coward I am."The guards bound Renee and Leia tightly and secured the heavy sandbags around their ankles.Macsen's subordinate looked at Renee and Leia, now tightly bound, and asked him carefully, "Boss, it's done. Do we just push t
The man was stunned, then laughed heartily. "No wonder you're Stefan's most beloved woman! You're smart.""Huh? He's Macsen? How can you tell?" Leia looked at the man with confusion, her eyes widening. She never took this man as the amazing figure Liam had talked about."In the whole fort, other than Benjamin, the master, no one could offend Liam and snatch the hostages away from Mateo except for you, the one with an army. Plus, I hurt your dearest son. It's not hard to guess your identity," Renee said, her logic sound. "What a logical analysis! You think fast. I admire you for that." Macsen clapped, giving Renee an admiring look. The next moment, he turned cold. "Since that's the case, I won't beat around the bush. I took you here to settle the grudge between us." "It's fine if you want to take revenge on me, but you have to let my friend go." Renee stood in front of Leia, meeting Macsen's gaze boldly. "This incident has nothing to do with her. Don't hurt her.""No." Macsen s
"Divorced?" The man was surprised at first, but soon remained calm. He snorted, "That's not a big deal. We can't judge the love a man holds for a woman through marriage. Many men ignore their wives and are madly in love with their lovers. I'm sure Renee is the woman Stefan loves the most.""I'm telling you, he doesn't love her!" Leia insisted.She sighed. Filled with indignation, she added, "He divorced my friend for his mistress. Based on your words, his mistress should be the one he loves best. If not, he wouldn't divorce my friend and watch her date another man. Do you think a man would behave like that if he loved her?""Is that so?" The man narrowed his eyes, trying to ascertain the authenticity of Leia's words. If Stefan divorced Renee for his mistress, then from the perspective of a man, that meant he did have a change of heart. Renee was no longer the woman he loved the most.Then again, based on the information the man had found, Stefan was madly in love with Renee. He r
The man observed Renee carefully, his gaze complicated and unreadable. He remained silent for quite a long time. Terrified by his stare, Renee wrapped her clothes tighter around herself. "If I've offended you in the past, I'll apologize to you here. Tell me how I've offended you. I think we can figure out a solution. I'm sure I can do it.""A solution?" the man snorted, his lips a sneer. "Do you think the dead can come back to life? If you think that's possible, we can figure out a solution.""Does our grudge involve the dead?" Renee asked.No matter how much she racked her brains, she couldn't for the life of her figure out when she had met this man. She recalled accepting a mission when she was young and reckless, when she needed to kill a drug lord in Southeast Aeos.As an internationally top-ranked assassin, she hated murder the most. That, and she rarely got involved in such missions. If her younger self had willingly accepted that kind of mission, however, then her enemy
Leia swallowed and leaned close to Renee.She was as confused as Renee and wondered why they would get into so much trouble when she just wanted to visit Liam. Yet, everyone in the fort was out to get her and Renee killed. It felt like a dangerous adventure—there wasn't a single moment of respite!"I don't know, either," Renee said, "but I'm guessing it has something to do with the past and the recent events. They've long held a grudge against us."When Renee was trying to earn her living, she offended quite a lot of people since she was young and bold. Their enemies right now loomed over them aggressively, as if harboring intense hatred against them. Perhaps it was a long-held grudge. Renee couldn't imagine anything else."What should we do?" Leia asked softly.Since they were kidnapped and surrounded by armed guards, they were at their enemies' mercy. They had no idea the direction they came from. "I don't know. Let's act accordingly," Renee said, sighing.She had lost all