He Quit for Me, I Came Back to Him

Chapter 6

The cold iron lock clicked shut, cutting her off entirely from the world outside.

The confinement cell had no windows. The only light came from a single incandescent bulb hanging dead center on the ceiling.

Silas had given strict orders—the light was to stay on twenty-four hours a day. No breaks.

Whenever sleep started to creep in, that harsh glare from above would jolt her right back into a daze.

Guards would slam on the door from time to time. "Get up! Silas said no sleeping!"

She was forced to keep her eyes open, watching the pale white light flicker before her eyes until she was nearly hallucinating.

The whole cell reeked of mildew. There was no food, no water. Hunger gnawed relentlessly at her stomach, and after seventy-two straight hours with no rest, Vivian had been worn down to nothing but skin and bone.

Just as her consciousness was about to slip away, she finally saw that familiar figure.

"Vivian, I've been far too soft on you in the past. Have you done some reflecting yet?"

He stood with his back to the light, dressed in a sharp, tailored suit, making her crumpled form on the floor look like a heap of mud.

She shook her head weakly, her voice so hoarse it was barely recognizable. "I... I did nothing wrong..."

Silas's eyes darkened. He seized her chin, squeezing hard enough to crush her to dust. "Still running your mouth?"

Vivian tried to lift her head, but it felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. She couldn't move it at all.

She curled her lips faintly, a thin streak of blood seeping from the corner.

The one truly in the wrong had never been her.

If he'd already made up his mind to cover for the guilty and throw in his lot with scum, why even bother asking her?

"The only thing I did wrong... was not killing that b***h Gwen sooner!"

Vivian forced the words out through gritted teeth, her voice barely a breath.

The air froze in an instant.

Silas's brows sank low, the shadows in his eyes deepening.

"Not a shred of remorse." He tossed out those words and turned to leave. "Keep her locked up!"

The iron door slammed shut. The confinement cell turned back into a living hell.

Vivian collapsed limply onto the ground, her sweat-soaked clothes clinging to her skin, sticky with dried blood.

Her eyelids kept dropping shut against her will. She wanted to just slip into that endless sleep and never wake up.

But soon, a woman's soft moan from the next room jolted her awake.

"Mmm..."

Gwen let out a coquettish laugh. "Silas, there's still someone next door..."

"Let her listen if she wants to."

Silas's voice was husky, thick with undisguised desire.

Every delicate whimper pierced straight into Vivian's ears.

She clenched her fists tight, nails biting deep into her palms, forcing herself to hold onto consciousness.

Click!

Just then, a faint sound came from the door lock.

The footsteps were extremely light, and the figure darted inside in a flash.

"Who's there?!" Vivian tensed, scanning her surroundings on high alert.

"Shh—Vivian, it's me!"

The familiar voice sent a jolt through her heart.

It was Jay Yeager, her former partner.

Seeing Vivian so weak and emaciated, Jay's eyes reddened against his will.

"Vivian, we received your emergency signal and arranged the rescue mission immediately! I never thought we'd still be too late..."

As he spoke, he gently untied the coarse ropes binding her, handling her with care as if she were a fragile butterfly.

Seeing an old ally, Vivian could barely contain her excitement. "It's you! Thank god. Is there any news on my brother?"

Jay nodded, his expression serious. "We've located him. The agency is already preparing to send in a rescue team."

Vivian's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"

"Absolutely confirmed." Jay pulled a photo from his chest pocket. "Our insider witnessed him being transferred to the Payne family's private smuggling dock!"

He steadied Vivian as she struggled to stand and urged her gently. "Give me the key you've obtained. I'll go rescue your brother—you get out first."

Vivian shook her head firmly. "No. I'm coming with you."

"You're in no condition—"

Seeing that her mind was made up, Jay sighed and finally gave in. "Fine. Let's evacuate first."

Outside the confinement cell, several bodyguards lay unconscious on the ground.

Jay took her hand and slipped quickly out through the basement's back exit.

A black off-road vehicle was parked outside, its engine already warmed up and ready.

"Get in!"

The next second, the truck tore out like an arrow, leaving a long trail of exhaust in its wake.