Chapter 3

I shook my head regretfully and was about to leave when Queenie suddenly shrieked, "Don't let her go! The ruby ring Lucas gave me is still on her hand!"

At her words, the bodyguards immediately moved under Lucas's signal and grabbed hold of me. Without another word, they began trying to take the ring off my finger.

But the ring had been specially adjusted to fit my size. No matter how hard they tried, it wouldn't budge.

"Queenie, if it's really your ring, why does it fit my finger perfectly?"

I looked at her with a teasing smile. Instead of answering, she grew even angrier and grabbed Lucas's arm, shaking it petulantly.

"It must be because she's fatter than me! She forced it on, that's why it won't come off!"

"Then use a power drill."

My expression changed instantly.

Damn. I hadn't brought any bodyguards with me today.

Lucas's guards were tall, strong, and far more numerous. I struggled for a while, but they quickly found an opening and forced me to the ground.

Queenie crouched down in front of me excitedly, her red nails digging into my chin.

"Still acting tough? Weren't you pretty arrogant just now?"

Then she slapped me as hard as she could. Grit scraped against my cheek as my face ground into the dirt, and several thin streaks of blood quickly appeared.

Lucas stared at me for two seconds, as if considering something, before curling his lips into a cold smile.

"Queenie, did your hand hurt from hitting her? Want to see something even more entertaining?"

Queenie's eyes lit up instantly.

"Tie her to the boat in the pond!"

My eyes widened as I looked at the faintly excited expression on Lucas's face.

Could it be… he knew something?

"No! You'll regret this!"

Queenie looked both scornful and thrilled.

"Regret? That word doesn't exist in my dictionary."

"On the contrary, today I'm going to make you regret ever taking my ring!"

The bodyguards dragged me toward the pond in the center of the garden.

They tied me up with thick rope and threw me onto a dilapidated old canopy boat rocking at the water's edge.

Before I could even open my eyes properly, they flipped me over.

Then a buzzing electric saw whirred to life and came straight for my finger.

The searing pain made me scream.

Soon, my blood began to stain the pigeon-blood ruby, giving it an eerie, sinister glow.

"Tsk, looks like another fool is about to die."

"She's such a pretty young girl, but she just had to be stubborn. Now look—Master Lucas won't let her off. At the very least, she'll lose a finger."

"This is too cruel. I can't even bear to watch."

The maids and servants chattered among themselves by the pond, whispering and gossiping.

But I could barely hear them anymore. The intense pain in my hand made me struggle wildly.

The small canopy boat was old and poorly maintained. Under my frantic movements, it rocked violently, bumping against the water with hollow thuds.

The scene suddenly mirrored the accident my parents had suffered at sea years ago.

The deep-seated fear buried in my heart was instantly dragged to the surface.

My face turned deathly pale. My hands moved uncontrollably, clutching my head as fresh blood ran down my cheeks.

"No! Stop! Let me get off—please!"

But Queenie and Lucas merely stood on the shore as if they were watching a show.

At one point, they even stretched out a foot and kicked the boat farther toward the center of the pond.

I forced my eyes open with difficulty and saw Queenie holding the ring triumphantly in her hand.

Lucas wrapped an arm around her shoulders and said gently, "This ring's stained with that filthy woman's blood. Just throw it away. I'll buy you a new one."

Then, amid my screams, they casually tossed the ring into the lake.

"Lucas! Aren't you afraid my grandfather will come after you for this?!"