Chapter 12
Kerian stood in the dim basement, the harsh fluorescent light stretching his shadow across the concrete floor.]
His designer suit jacket was tossed aside, sleeves rolled up showing his muscled forearms, dried blood still caking his knuckles
Three guys were duct–taped to metal folding chairs in front of him, faces beat to hell–black eyes, split lips, the whole nine yards.[
“Last chance, assholes,” Kerian’s voice was quiet but deadly, like a serial killer in a horror movie
“Where the fuck is Victoria?“]
One of them shook his head frantically, voice cracking: “Mr. Howard… we swear we never got her
“You saw it yourself–when we got to the room, she was already gone…
“CRASH!”
Kerian kicked the chair so hard it went flying, sending the guy crashing to the floor with a bone–jarring thud.
“Bullshit!” Kerian grabbed him by the shirt, his eyes deadly.
“You wouldn’t come here to kidnap someone without knowing where she is! Who’s paying you?!”
Another guy was shaking like a leaf, practically screaming: “Mr. Howard! We’re not lying!
“It was… It was Miss Lavirins! She hired us! Said she’d pay double if we snatched Ms. Wenmir… but we never even saw her, man!
Kerian’s grip tightened until his knuckles went white.[]
Sophia
How the fuck was she involved in this?!
He let go of the guy and said coldly. “Text that bitch. Tell her you got Victoria. Get her down here.
The men exchanged terrified looks before one pulled out his phone with trembling fingers:
[Miss Lavirins, we got the target. Meet at the warehouse.]]
After sending it, the basement went dead silent except for their heavy breathing
Kerian stood in the shadows, his expression unreadable.
He kept thinking about Victoria–how pale she’d looked in that hospital bed, the way she’d said “just go” like she didn’t give a shit anymore, all those times he’d ditched her and she’d just… taken it
Turns out there was way more shit going on behind the scenes.
Thirty minutes later, the basement door swung open.
Sophia clicked in wearing heels, a smug smile on her face: “Where is she? I
I want to see that bitch-“]
Her voice died completely.
Under the harsh lights. Kerian slowly turned around, his eyes like arctic ice.
“Kerian?!” Sophia went white as a sheet, instinctively backing up. “What are you doing here…]
Kerian smiled coldly, stalking toward her: “Surprised?”
Sophia forced out a shaky laugh: “I… I just heard Victoria was missing and wanted to help look for her…“[]
“Help?” Kerian suddenly grabbed her jaw, squeezing so hard she thought her bones might crack
“Hiring kidnappers is helping?”
Sophia was crying from the pain but couldn’t break free: “Kerian, you’ve got it wrong. I’d never do something like that…]
“Wrong?” Kerian released her and turned to the tied–up men. Tell her exactly what you told me.”
The guys didn’t dare hold back, spilling everything about how Sophia had ordered them to kidnap Victoria.[]
Sophia’s face twisted into something ugly: “They’re fucking liars! Kerian,
1, someone obviously paid them to set me up!“]]
Kerian’s expression was deadly as he pulled out his phone and played a recording-
“You idiots blew it last ti
time. This is your shot to make it right“||
“Til double your money. Howard’s not there. Grab that bitch and make her disappear for good.”
Sophia’s voice echoed clearly through the basement. All the color drained from her face
“Still gonna lie?” Kerian’s voice was terrifyingly quiet.[]
Sophia’s legs gave out and she collapsed, grabbing at his pants while sobbing “Kerian, I’m sorry! I just love you so much… Victoria doesn’t deserve you! She
“Shut your fucking mouth! Kerian kicked her away, looking at her with pure disgust. “You don’t get to say her name.”
“Jesus Christ, I had no idea you were this fucking evil.”
He looked down at her like she was garbage: “The bombing too–that was you, wasn’t it?”
Sophia’s whole hody trembled, eyes panicked: “No… that wasn’t me…]
0
“Do I need to keep digging? Want me to shove the evidence in your face? Kerian laughed coldly. “You think deleting security footage means no one knows?
Sophia completely lost it, screaming hysterically:]
“Yks! It was me! So fucking what?! Why does she get everything?!”
“I loved you first! My brother saved your life–you should be mine!“]
Kerian’s expression went stone cold
He turned to his bodyguards: “Get her out of here. She’s banned from Howard property permanently.”
“NO! KERIANI” Sophia tried to lunge at him but his guys dragged her back.
“You can’t do this to me! My brother saved you! You promised to take care of me forever!”
Kerian walked toward the exit without even glancing back: “Your brother’s delit just got paid in full, sweetheart.”
Outside the basement, Kerian stood in the pouring rain, letting the freezing water soak through his hair and clothes.[]
He pulled out his phone and tried Victoria’s number again–same automated bullshit.]
His chest felt like someone had ripped his heart out and stomped on it.
He finally got it–why Victoria had looked at him so calmly at the end.
Because she’d already given up on him completely
And he didn’t even deserve a chance to fix it.
