Before she could resist, two bodyguards grabbed her, ignoring her frantic gestures. They stripped off her coat and shoved her into the freezing chamber.
The air was sharp as knives, and the temperature was negative twenty degrees.
By midnight, Kevin stood outside the frosted glass window, a cigarette glowing between his fingers. Through the haze of smoke, his eyes were still dangerously beautiful, but his words cut colder than the air.
"I told you to be patient. Why do you always have to disappoint me?"
Be patient.
The same words he'd whispered years ago, when his hand had brushed over the scars he'd left on her back, his eyes full of guilt and tenderness.
"Venice, I swear I'll never fail you."
Now, those same eyes looked at her as if she were nothing.
When they finally dragged her out, her limbs were stiff and numb, her skin pale as snow.
She could barely stand when she saw the next blow waiting for her—all her belongings had been thrown into the backyard like trash.
Stefanie stood beside the pile, smiling sweetly.
"Miss Robles, I'm so sorry. Your things were taking up too much space, and I may have accidentally cleared them out."
She tilted her head innocently. "How much were they worth? I'll compensate you."
She's the only daughter of the world's richest person. She could buy as much as she wanted!
Venice's fingers moved slowly. [Don't bother.]
But the moment she turned away, her eyes froze.
Dangling around Stefanie's neck was a pendant—a simple silver locket.
Her pendant.
Venice's pupils contracted sharply.
That necklace wasn't expensive, but what was inside it was priceless—a small vial of her mother's ashes.
Her hand shot out, grabbing Stefanie's wrist, trembling with fury.
[Where did you get that necklace?!]
Stefanie's eyes lit up as she pulled her wrist free and leaned forward, showing off the necklace around her neck.
"I found it in your room," she said smugly. "When Kevin heard I liked it, he gave it to me right away."
She tilted her head, her smile was sweet. "Tell me, Miss Robles—does it look good on me?"
Venice froze, her entire body going cold as if she'd fallen into an ice pit.
That necklace... Kevin knew it was hers—one of the few things she cherished most. And yet he'd given it away so casually.
Her face went pale, but she forced herself to stay calm, her fingers moving in deliberate, sharp gestures.
[That's mine. Please give it back.]