Chapter 48
Angus said, “Even if I marry Hallie, I can still make space for you outside of my family.“”
He said that like he was doing me a favor. Like he was granting me the privilege of being his mistress.
A sharp, unbearable pain spread through my chest. For the first time, I refused him. “I won’t be your mistress.”
His expression darkened. “This is my hundredth wish. Isn’t this what you wanted?”
I had wanted to fulfill all one hundred wishes. But if I agreed to stay by his side, I could never go home. So, I couldn’t say yes.”
It was the first time Angus had ever been rejected. His face twisted between shock and anger before he finally spat, “I’m not falling for your little push–and–pull games.”
“This is your last chance. Walk away now and you’ll never get another one.“}
As I left, strangers on the street whispered, pointing at me.”
“Look, that’s the girl from the leaked video. You think she’s some kind of sex addict?“}
A man walked up without hesitation, groping me. “Why act all shy now? You didn’t hold back in that AV, did you?“”
Panicked, I shoved him away and ran home, slamming the door shut behind me.”
I collapsed onto the couch, shaking. And then, finally, I broke.
“Angus, what gives you the right to treat me like this?! What right?!“”
Despair crashed over me, suffocating. I just wanted to go home–just go home…”
Since the scandal broke out, I hadn’t stepped outside once. All I was waiting for was Angus to make his final wish–then I could finally leave.
Yet, he refused to let go, insisting I become his mistress. I couldn’t agree.
We fought, over and over, neither of us willing to back down. He wouldn’t change his wish.
And I wouldn’t compromise.\
Eventually, Angus‘ patience finally snapped. “I already buried that scandal. If anyone dares to bring it up again–I’ll break their damn neck.”
“Isn’t this what you wanted? Haven’t you been clinging to me this whole time just so you could stay? So drop the act.“}
Then he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Not long after, another message popped up on my phone.
[Fine. I’ll change my wish. Bring Hallie back to her husband.]}
Chaos erupted within the Davidson family. Word spread quickly and soon, I learned the truth.\
Years ago, Hallie had married a powerful crime boss from one of the Northern Countries. A man with wealth, influence and absolute control. After the wedding, she realized something–money was all the crime boss had.”
The man was a monster, his violence unimaginable. When Hallie escaped, she was barely human–her body covered in wounds, not a single patch of her skin was uninjured.”
Those adult videos? It was the crime boss who forced Hallie to film them.
He had always known where Hallie was. Yet, in Northern Continent, the law reigned supreme. Even with all his crime–boss power, he couldn’t simply take her by force.”
Today, fate had handed him leverage.”
Angus’s grandfather had been taken hostage while conducting business near Astrait’s border.
The demand? Hand Hallie over him.”
However, Hallie had barely escaped with her life. If she went back, there was no telling what horrors awaited her.”
The crime boss was infamous along the border, his brutality unmatched. He had a sick hobby–mutilating women, severing their limbs, displaying their heads like trophies in glass vases.”
Angus knew that giving Hallie up meant sending her to certain death. So instead, he turned to the one person who looked just like her: Me.”
I was the perfect substitute. The perfect sacrifice.
When I saw Angus’s message, for one fleeting, foolish moment, I thought he was reaching out to apologize.”
Now, I realized how naive I was.”
For Hallie, he was willing to throw me to the wolves. Even if it meant my death.”
I thought I had grown numb to the pain, that nothing he did could hurt me anymore. Yet, Angus always found a way to prove me wrong.
Angus, I’ll do just as you wished. I’m finally done with you.”
11:58 AM s
Before I was handed over as a hostage, Angus leaned in close, his voice soft in attempt to comfort me. “Once my grandfather is safe, I’ll have Barcain’s police force rescue you.“%
“After that, don’t ever show up in front of Hallie again. I’ll arrange a new identity for you–you can stay by my side. I love you. You know that, Rose.”
I agreed to whatever Angus said.
With that, Angus‘ eyes lit up, as if truly pleased. Not that it mattered–this so–called 101st wish didn’t count anyway.
And I had to give him credit. To convince me to walk willingly toward my death, Angus had spun the sweetest, most affectionate lies. Lies so sickening they made my stomach turn.}
Once the hostage exchange was made, the crime boss’s men shoved me into a basement jail.
Severed limbs and decapitated heads lay scattered across the floor. The tools of the most brutal tortures ever devised hung from the walls.
I couldn’t even begin to imagine the agony these instruments could inflict.
I didn’t want to.
***
The next day.
Angus arrived in a frenzy, bringing an entire police force with him, storming into Northern Countries territory.
But the police only shook their heads. “The person you’re looking for? She’s already been taken. The gang packed up and vanished before we got here.“}
