Leandro’s glare sliced into me. “Over a vase? Are you serious? What’s wrong with you?”
I stared at him, incredulous. “That vase was Gwen’s! She made it—”
“And why are you packing?” His voice grew harder, suspicion twisting his features. “Seriously, Emerald? Was this your plan? To run away? Is it because you found out I agreed to send half the ransom?”
My breath stopped. “You… you agreed to send half?”
“Yes.” He sneered. “And now you’re pretending you didn’t know? Don’t lie to me. You’re running.”
“No—I didn’t know, I swear—”
“You don’t deserve my trust.” His voice rose, cruel and final. “If anything, Gwen might not even be mine. For all I know, you’ve been cheating on me.”
The air rushed out of my lungs. “No! Of course not, Leandro—”
“Don’t deny it!” His eyes darkened. “Come here. You deserve punishment. Since you’ve been toying with me, you’ll never see your child again.”
Terror slammed into me. I tried to step back, but his men appeared in the doorway. My scream lodged in my throat as he barked the order.
“Take her. Remove her toenails—one by one. Let her feel what Gwen felt. Let her know pain.”
“No! Leandro, please—” My voice cracked as I struggled, thrashing against the guards’ grip. “Don’t! Don’t do this—”
But my cries were useless. His eyes were cold, merciless, a stranger’s gaze in the face of the man I once loved.
The first rip of pain came like fire. They forced me down, pinning my arms, and I felt the sickening pull as one of my toenails was torn away. My scream echoed through the walls, desperate, ragged.
“Help me!” I cried, choking, my vision blurring with tears. “Please—someone, help me!”
But no one came. Not a single soul. Nadine’s silence was louder than any mockery. Leandro’s expression never softened—he only watched, as if my suffering was entertainment.
The second nail. Then the third. Every tear of flesh sent lightning bolts of agony racing up my legs, wracking my body with violent sobs. My voice grew hoarse from screaming until it was nothing but broken gasps.
And then—darkness. My body couldn’t take it anymore. I fainted.
When I woke again, pain throbbed through me like a living thing, every breath trembling against it. My feet were bandaged, my body cold and weak. But even through the haze, a thought anchored me.
It’s okay… just a few more days. Just hold on.
Soon, I would be gone. And I would never look back.