When I woke again, I was in the villa, lying in bed. A scream came from the living room. I dragged myself up, cracked the door, and froze. Argus sat on the sofa, expressionless, while a pile of bloodied dogs cowered before him. He pointed at the bodyguards, and they cut off the dogs’ paws, then tortured them to death, methodically.
I stared, heart hammering. Was this real? Everything felt like a nightmare I couldn’t wake from. My back screamed as old scars split open. I gasped, leaning on the doorframe.
Argus finally walked over, his steps calm, his face softening just a little. But his words were cruel, sharp. “This was an accident by Celine. You’re safe now, so don’t blame her, Dahlia.”
I blinked, still trembling. Safe? Was I ever really safe around them? My hands shook as I sank to the floor.
Argus tossed a letter at me. “Sign this and swear you won’t use this against Celine in the future. I can make sure you don’t have to pay back the 52 million and I’ll make the doctors do their best for your dad.”