Pretty Lies, Perfect Revenge 의 모든 챕터: 챕터 11 - 챕터 20

**UNKNOWN PLACE**The room was completely dark except for the cold blue glow of a single computer screen. Fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard, the only sound in the silence. Lines of code and surveillance photos filled the monitor.A door opened quietly. A tall male figure stepped inside, his silhouette cutting through the darkness.“Have you seen any news yet?” the man asked, his voice low and tense.The person at the computer — a woman — didn’t stop typing. “No. Not yet.”“It’s been twenty years,” he said. “How long are you going to keep digging?”The woman finally paused. Her voice was cold and bitter. “I won’t let it go just like that. I can’t.”She leaned back slightly, the chair creaking. “But I recently found out that Cassian Hale has taken a girl under his wing. It looks very suspicious.”The man crossed his arms. “Maybe he’s finally having an affair? The Ice King getting soft?”“I don’t know,” she replied. “I haven’t gathered enough evidence yet. But there’s something o

The sky was very dark now, but the entire mansion was covered in light though. I had lost count of how many times I passed out, but each time I did, the guards would beat me awake again. I knew I had wanted Cassian to come back and find me broken, but right now, all I wanted was to go inside. The cold seeping into my bones was chilling me to the core. The fountain water had gone icy, far too cold. I didn’t even know what time it was anymore. My knees had gone completely numb. I had no feeling left in my legs. I had cried and begged Hanna to let me in, but she never came. I was dying out here.I looked weakly at the guards holding their sticks, standing guard like statues. I felt so frail I couldn’t even open my mouth anymore. Then, a horn blared at the gate. The massive iron gates opened automatically, and the sleek Black Maybach glided into the garage. I weakly turned my head just in time to see Victor stepping out and opening the rear door for Cassian.Cassian stepped out, his tall

I lowered my hand, and turned to walk out. She whispered, voice cracking, “I’m hurting, Cassian… I just thought you were trying to replace me.”I turned sharply, anger flaring hotter than before. “You’re hurting? You’re freaking hurting?” My voice rose, echoing off the walls. “What about the girl lying under an oxygen tube right now? Isn’t she hurting too? She’s fighting for her life because of what happened in this house, and all you can think about is yourself?”Hanna’s lips trembled, but no words came out.I ran a hand through my hair, trying to steady my breathing. “I’m sleeping outside tonight. I’ll be by Hazel’s side—at least to atone for you.”“You can’t leave me to be with another woman,” she said, stepping forward, desperation thick in her tone.I smiled, cold and bitter. “Watch me.”I took one step closer, lowering my voice to a dangerous whisper. “And Hanna, if you continue with this attitude… maybe, just maybe, you’ll start pushing me straight into the arms of other women

**Hazel’s POV**I stared at the pristine white ceiling for what felt like an eternity, the soft beeping of the heart monitor the only sound breaking the silence. My body ached—knees throbbing with a deep, persistent pain that radiated up my legs—but inside, something else entirely was blooming.I turned my head toward the nurse who was quietly arranging some medications on the tray. “What was my exact diagnosis yesterday?” I asked, my voice deliberately weak and fragile.The nurse paused, offering me a sympathetic smile. “You had a severe cold bordering on hypothermia, Miss Hazel. Your knees are badly affected from the prolonged exposure and kneeling. The numbness and stiffness may take weeks, even months, to fully heal. There’s also the risk of long-term physical trauma. And emotionally… this kind of ordeal can affect you mentally. You could be traumatized for life if not handled carefully.”I nodded slowly, letting my eyes fill with just the right amount of fear and vulnerability. “

I woke up to the beautiful morning sun filtering through the curtains of the guest house. When I opened my eyes, the young nurse was still sitting beside my bed, looking exhausted.“Aren’t you going back home?” I asked softly.She shook her head. “Mr. Hale said I should stay and take care of you full-time.”I noticed the unhappy look on her face and asked gently, “What’s wrong?”She hesitated before whispering, “My son is sick at home. I can’t go back because I’m scared of Mr. Hale. He might get angry if I leave.”I sighed visibly in front of her, pretending to feel sorry. “If I give you a plan, will you follow it?”She nodded so fast I thought her head might fall off.I lowered my voice. “Tell Mr. Hale that I’m doing fine now. I don’t need too many medical check-ups, just occasional ones. About the numbness in my knees — say it throbs badly when it rains and that I shouldn’t move around much. Can you say that?”She nodded eagerly. “Yes, I can. Thank you so much, Miss Lett.”I smiled