Fanny inhaled sharply, immediately feeling nauseous.

Rosabella did not feel calm about the situation, quickly apologized, and left the couple alone.


As soon as it was just the two of them, Michel pulled Fanny into his arms and hugged her tightly.

"Are you ok?"

Fanny's gaze moved over her worried expression. She doesn't know exactly how to put her feelings into words as they constantly flood her system, causing her to suddenly feel fear.


"I guess it just feels so unreal, you know?"

Michel withdrew his gaze, one hand stroking her face gently while the other stroked her small back.


"Fanny, you don't have to do anything. I just want to give you the choice, if you want to face him. But we can also forget about it. It's always your call. We can forget I ever mentioned it. It'll be over soon anyway, beautiful."

When Fanny didn't answer but instead just rested her forehead against his chest, hiding her face, he understood that she couldn't do it.

And Michel wasn't surprised. Fanny is not like him.

She's innocent, even after all she's been through, she's still too pure to act on whatever negative sentiments she's experiencing.

Pressing a light kiss to her temple, Michel pulled back slightly to look at her again.

"I will take care of you."

He stared into her eyes and leaned forward to kiss her as a throat cleared considerably behind their backs.

Somehow, Charles suddenly entered the room and was standing there.

"Michel. Done. They're taking him down to the basement."

---

Fanny paced the piano room, not knowing what to do with herself.

Mr. Aiden was here. Right at the mansion while she felt too scared to face him.

She wants. She really did. But just the thought of seeing his face again made bile rise in his throat.

But how could she? How could she stay away from that?

No, she needs to do this. She owes it to herself. She owes her father.

When she went down to the basement, she found Mark and Kieran at the door. Their eyes widened when they saw her, immediately taking a step forward.

"Fanny. You shouldn't be here."

Fanny looked over their shoulders, staring at the closed door.

"I want to see him."

"The boss said no one was allowed in," Mark replied, giving her a strange look.

The air around them was colder as if it were heavy with the essence of death. The atmosphere felt vile and suffocating.

A shiver passed over her as she rubbed her arm, trying to get rid of the chill.

"Please let me in. I want to see him."

"But..."

A voice behind them interrupted them.

"Let her in. She needs to do this."

The speaker is Andy.

An apprehensive look appeared on their faces, and Fanny knew they were worried about Michel's anger.

If they disobeyed his orders, they would pay a heavy price.

"I'll tell Michel that I forced you. He won't say anything." Andy emphasized.

Mark and Kieran then break up to let her over.

Glancing back, she looked at Andy with grateful eyes as he responded with a glint in him telling her she got this.

The door opened, and her heart pounded. Fanny thought it missed a beat because of how hard it hit her chest.

Her hands trembled, but she clenched them into fists. She stepped inside and found Michel turning around, facing her in shock.

Fanny flinched at the sight before her. The first thing she noticed was how bloody his clothes were.

There was also blood on his hands. The second thing she saw was Charles, Carlos, and Vengo staring at her with wide eyes. They also have blood on them. And the last thing is Mr. Aiden.

He was tied to a chair, his hands tied behind his back. His head is low, his chin almost touching his chest. He looks dead.

But Fanny knows he's not. She could hear his gasps.

Blood everywhere. The smell of blood in the room made her nauseous, making her stomach curl in pain.

"Fanny," Michel sighed.

He took a step towards her as her lips trembled, trying to hold back tears.

"What..." He shook his head, dropping the knife to the floor.

Her eyes followed it. There is also blood on the blade. In fact, the entire knife was covered in blood.

Her gaze fell on Michel's hand. The same hand that had held her so gently just a few hours before. She was supposed to be scared, but she wasn't.

Because Fanny knows that Michel will keep her safe. These hands are bloody for her sake.

She looked at Mr. Aiden again. This time, he moved slightly, raising his head with great difficulty.

And when his eyes met hers, her heart immediately made its way to her throat. It felt like sharp knives were stabbing her.

His gaze made her sick. This man knocked her down. Humiliate her in the worst possible way.

He has been her nightmare for months now. Fanny trembled as she looked at him. He represents every ugliness in her life.

She wanted to sink to the floor. She wants to sink into a dark hole. To turn everything off. All pain. All the damage he did to her.

She wants to disappear into nothingness. She doesn't want to feel. Her legs felt numb, her whole body felt heavy. That's hurt. Everything is painful.

In front of her, she saw Mr. Aiden. But Fanny also sees every painful memory. Any rape. Every sinister laugh. All the torture she went through.

She remembers being pressed against a wall, being fed, beaten, and then raped. She has seen everything. Feeling everything. The pain almost made her dizzy.

All the emotions that were sleeping in her heart, all exploded. Anger, disgust, sadness, pain. They go through her, spurring something deep within her.

Something that kept her from even realizing she was capable. So, without thinking, she rushed forward.

Michel backed away in shock as she grabbed his gun. She took it in her hand and pointed it at Mr. Aiden.