Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Chapter 576 Encountering an Old Acquaintance

“I’m so sorry. I thought you were smart, but you’re a reckless woman.” Haris initially believed that Elspeth would be at least well-prepared, but she did not even make it past the first line of his trap. I told her about this secret passage, and she came alone and unprepared because she took my word for it. A trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes, but it quickly faded.

“Did you drug this place?” She felt her strength ebbing away from her. Even though she could not raise her hand, her mind remained sober.

“You must have been too nervous to realize the scent of the drug wafting throughout the room.”

“What a sly man you are.” Besides cursing under her breath, Elspeth couldn’t say anything else.

“Do you know why I lured you here?” Haris chuckled nastily. “Your mom is ideal for the drug testing, and so are you.” As soon as he waved his hand, two men emerged from the corner of the room. “You two put that woman back into the room and tie this woman in the inner room.”

After hearing that, a trace of coldness flashed across Elspeth’s eyes. “I won’t let you go.”

“I’ll be waiting for you.” Haris sounded regretful. “I can stay here longer because I’m used to it, but I’m afraid you won’t.”

She knew that being a drug tester was harmful to the body. However, she appeared to have no choice but to devise another escape plan.

…

On the other hand, Elspeth was shocked when she was tied up in the inner room she had never been to before and discovered it was full of drug testers. All of them had mottled skin, sunken appearances, and thin figures. Some even looked as if they were taking their last breath. The few who seemed reasonably lively saw her bound and thrown in there, felt sorry for her, and closed their eyes.

Nonetheless, her hands and legs were tied up and pushed toward a corner. However, there was another woman in the corner who appeared to be her age, but her temperament appeared to be calmer than Elspeth’s. Elspeth could tell the woman had been tortured because her body was abnormally skinny. The only thing that set her apart from the others was that she wasn’t bound, and she didn’t appear to be plotting her escape; instead, she lay on the ground in a submissive manner.

“You look better than the rest physically. Have you recently been sent here?” Elspeth believed that the woman was her best chance or could at least gain a brief understanding of the situation by conversing with the woman.

“If you feel that everything here is new and interesting to you, you won’t feel so curious anymore after you’ve experienced certain things.” That woman obviously didn’t bother to entertain her. Then, she turned over and faced her back against Elspeth.

“Why don’t you escape when you’re not tied up?”

“You don’t have to know that.” The woman sounded even more unfriendly.

Elspeth made an effort to initiate conversation but was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, she remained optimistic, knowing the woman would eventually converse with her.

Then, around dinnertime, someone came by and handed the meal boxes through the small window at the door. Unfortunately, those who had been here for a long time had lost their strength. They were all on the ground in exhaustion and the woman was the only one who stood up and went to get the meal box. So, Elspeth tagged along and took a box for herself. Even though they were drug testers, their food was pretty scrumptious.

Watching that woman eating with gusto, Elspeth approached her and sat beside her. “Is it good?”

The woman stuffed food into her mouth and ignored her.

Looking at the eggplants in the woman’s meal box, Elspeth inquired, “I like eggplants. Can you share half of them with me?” Every meal box had different food, so she stared at the eggplants as if longing to eat them.

The woman shot her a look of disdain before placing all of her eggplants into Elspeth’s box.

“Thanks.” Elspeth grinned. “I knew the daughter of the Rover Family is hot and cold.”

At the mention of the Rovers, the woman trembled. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

“Winter Rover. I remember you.”

It had been a long time since someone had called the woman’s name. She even nearly forgot what her name was. When she heard her name at a place like that, Winter suddenly felt tears welling up in her eyes. Nevertheless, she had always been a cold person. Even if she was moved by something, her eyes would redden at most.

“Why are you being locked in here?”

Winter Rover was one of her acquainted classmates when Elspeth was studying abroad back then. One of her memories of Winter was that her name accurately reflected her personality. Winter, like the winter season, was cold and indifferent.

that Winter’s outward demeanor was nothing more than a mask and that underneath

While everyone in the room watched her like a joke, the girl named

she noticed Winter’s name on the book’s cover, which was how she recalled

that they would run into each other again after all these years in

wanted to study traditional medicine, so after completing my studies abroad, I returned to learn from a famous teacher, and that’s how I met Old

took her on as an apprentice, then used her as a

doesn’t he tie

so he doesn’t dare to hurt me. I’ve been here for two years and have only tested

and suddenly found it appalling. She was afraid she would have ended up here if she

reveal the bruises and wounds on her arm.

Since her hands were tied, she hinted at Winter to pull something out of her pocket. “These are some ointments that I bring along everywhere I go. It’ll heal your

a grateful smile. “Thank

I have a

answered, “Go on. I’ll do my best

Chapter 577 Remaining Calm

more about this place?”

that there was

Mr. McGrath had the security cameras installed to keep

“What else?”

this room as well.

frowned. “That’s why he didn’t even

do is toss you into

found Elspeth pitiful. “How did they manage to kidnap you and throw you

pursed her lips. “He said I’m an exceptional drug tester. Plus, I have beef

with a recluse like him?” Winter began

no recluse. He’s just someone who’d do

of them carried

years, Old Mr. McGrath has been sending letters to my family that were written in my handwriting, so they

Winter felt rather helpless.

family wouldn’t have thrown her abroad if that hadn’t been the case. She

you disappear for long, I think plenty of people would come looking for

out a text before I was brought to this

find a way

were as smart as you. I

into the outside

gave her a warm

to leave, I’ll take

up with a trace of

mean

on the floor. Her eyes darkened. “I’ll find a way to take everyone out

…

seeing anyone coming back out, so he was certain that

something happened to both of them while they were inside?

got the hint and immediately led a group of people to

before someone finally came

Welson get out

and my master says he

him that he better come out and see me if he doesn’t want the McGraths

eyed Welson and commented indifferently, “And, who are you? How dare you spout such nonsense

“Welson Harley.”

soured the moment he

much influence that even the most powerful companies in Damoria had to concede to

McGraths… couldn’t hold a candle to the

a moment while I