Chapter 10 - The Slaughterhouse
Sophia woke up strapped to a metal chair. The room smelled of rust, old blood, and damp concrete. A single bulb flickered overhead, casting long, terrifying shadows against the tiled walls.
Victoria Sterling stood a few feet away, holding a heavy iron fireplace poker. Two armed mercenaries stood by the heavy steel doors.
"Finally awake," Victoria sneered, stepping closer. "You know, when I spilled that coffee on you, I thought you were just a pathetic little servant. I didn't realize you were a manipulative whore trying to steal my throne."
"I didn't steal anything," Sophia rasped, her throat dry. "He took the ring off because you’re a monster."
Victoria’s eyes flashed with rage. She swung the iron poker, striking Sophia hard across the cheek.
Sophia’s head snapped to the side, blood instantly pooling in her mouth. She gasped in pain, but she didn't cry out. She forced herself to look back at Victoria, defiance burning in her eyes.
"Julian is going to kill you," Sophia whispered, blood dripping from her chin.
May you like
Victoria laughed, raising the poker again. "Julian is signing over his entire empire right now to save your pathetic life. And once he signs the papers, I’m going to kill you anyway."
Before Victoria could bring the iron rod down, the heavy steel doors of the slaughterhouse blew off their hinges in a deafening explosion of C4 and smoke.
