The sharp pain nearly made Faye Sheffield pass out, but she still ran her mouth. "You bitch, my biggest regret is not putting a bullet in you that day!"

A sharp glint flashed in Annabelle Linton’s eyes as she kicked Faye in the chest.

Faye Sheffield went flying, her body slamming uncontrollably into the wall before she passed out.

Without a single glance at her, Annabelle Linton walked over to Wendy King and slowly crouched down.

Wendy King looked at her, so terrified she instinctively shuffled backward. She wasn’t defiant like Faye Sheffield. "Miss Linton... I was out of line that day, but it was only because Faye Sheffield wouldn’t stop pestering me. Miss Linton, you’re a bigger person than me, can’t you please let me go..."

"Heh."

Annabelle Linton’s crimson lips curled slightly. She lit a cigarette, took a light drag, and then arrogantly blew a cloud of smoke right in her face.

"COUGH, COUGH... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..." Wendy King, who was allergic to cigarettes, choked on the smoke. But when Annabelle Linton’s piercing gaze swept over her, she instantly stopped daring to cough.

Annabelle Linton reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind Wendy’s ear. A look of pity flickered across her otherwise indifferent face as she shook her head. "Tsk, tsk. Look at such a pretty face. Why did it have to get mixed up with people like them? Such a waste..."

The cold touch made Wendy King flinch back instinctively. "Miss Linton... A person of your stature shouldn’t concern yourself with the mistakes of someone like me. Please, I’m begging you, let me go..."

"Let you go?" Annabelle Linton stood up, then settled back onto the sofa, looking at her with an amused expression. "You hit me quite a few times that day. What am I to do? I happen to be the type who holds a grudge."

"Then you can hit me back! Hit me as hard as you want, I absolutely won’t say a word of complaint!"

It was obvious which was the better deal: her life, or a few slaps to the face.

Annabelle Linton took a light drag from her cigarette and blew out a perfect smoke ring. Then she uttered a single, quiet word: "Filthy."

"Then let your bodyguards hit me! As long as it lets you blow off some steam, I’ll do anything!" Wendy King said in a rush.

Charles King shot her a cold glance, a flash of disgust in his eyes.

Annabelle Linton chuckled and raised an eyebrow. "Anything?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Yes!"

"Alright then." Annabelle Linton put out her cigarette. She picked up a knife that glinted coldly and began to toy with it, her voice casual. "Tell me who instigated you to kidnap me... or, let’s say, who told you that I was the one who set you up."

"Well..." Wendy King hesitated, confused. It had clearly been Faye Sheffield, yet it felt like that wasn’t the whole story. "Miss Linton, it was Faye Sheffield! She’s the one who instigated me..."

"And?"

"That’s it. It was just her."

"Heh." Annabelle Linton sneered. Eyes downcast, she didn’t spare Wendy a glance as she took a slow sip from her wine glass. "Sorry, but I’m not satisfied with that answer."

Wendy King was startled.

Annabelle Linton’s gaze swept over her. Her frigid eyes, like a sea frozen three feet deep, betrayed a complete lack of concern. "I gave you a chance. Since you don’t know what’s good for you, you have no one to blame but yourself..."

The next second, her eyes turned to ice. With a CLANG, she slammed the knife down on the table and said coldly, "The hands she hit me with—chop them off!"

The color drained from Wendy King’s face. She stared at her hands, unable to imagine how she could possibly live without them.

"Yes, Miss Linton."

The bodyguards were well-trained, moving with swift and decisive action.

One moved to grab the knife, while another went to seize her.

Wendy King was so terrified she went limp, scrambling backward. "Don’t come near me! Stay away! I’m a celebrity—if this gets out, you’re finished! Get away from me!"

The bodyguards paid no mind to her threats, dragging her back into place.

One held her body while the other pinned her hand down, the knife poised as if it would fall at any second.