Love the Second Time Around Novel

Chapter 76 As long As He Does Not Violate Me

The sound seemed very close to me, and I wondered whether Julius was back.

Roughly discerning the direction in which the sound originated, I pinned my gaze there without even blinking once.

A few minutes passed, but still, no one came into sight despite the continual noise.

“Is that you, Julius?” I couldn’t help asking in a holler.

My voice reverberated around the space, yet there was no sign of anyone.

Subsequently, I felt something scurrying across my lap even as squeaks drifted into my ears.

Oh my God, it’s a rat! Fear struck me, and I shuddered violently.

I inexorably tucked my legs closer to my body.

Ugh! I’m most terrified of rats! I’m not even afraid of whatever Julius might do to me now, be it hitting me or tearing into me. At least he’s a living person, and it’s way better than being here alone with those creatures!

At the thought of him, Coraline came to mind.

Jeez, how stupid am I that I was duped again? As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy. Everyone knows that except me. Despite having been sabotaged by them both countless times on end, I was still dumbly eager to put myself in the line of fire. Gah! Oh well, Coraline’s acting skills were truly top-notch as well, even surpassing that of Nicholas and Scarlett’s.

I lifted my head and stared up at the infinite sea of pitch-black darkness above me. A sense of utter helplessness inundated me.

If only I’d known that things would come to this, I would’ve immediately told Dominic where I was when he phoned me. Why the hell did I act so childishly? I wonder if he would be able to find me when I only said Ho for Horington. Argh!

After an indeterminate amount of time, a sound snagged my attention again. This time, I could tell that it was the sound of footsteps.

my line of sight with a bag in his hand

tablet from the bag, he placed

he wants to see you again. Also,

He must have really lost his mind! If he wants his initial five hundred thousand, Dominic will probably be willing to pay, but he has actually jacked it up tenfold! Putting aside the fact that Dominic

spend even a single penny of your five hundred thousand, so they can probably give you that much. But don’t you think

Slap!

crisp smack interrupted me before I could finish.

yanked it backward, jerking my

Why? Are you that distressed on behalf of your lover? Liliana, you should actually thank me. This is

and ominous voice, he threatened, “Later, just repeat

feel my scalp stinging, and his threat echoed in my ears, so I truly didn’t dare

I’ll repeat whatever you say.

saw that I was being all docile and

the tablet, he brought it close to my mouth.

the time had already started ticking. After casting him a glance, I began repeating everything he said earlier under his intent scrutiny,

final word, he

it for a long moment before putting it away. Then, he took out a bottle of mineral water from the bag and unscrewed the cap. I saw him dropping a pill into the water

Is he kidding me? I saw him drugging

my lip hard,

without a single word. Hauling me up,

excruciating pain assaulted me, my mouth instinctively opened from the agony. That was my downfall, for he instantly started

throat while streaming down my neck, almost choking

so you’ve got to

floor, panting. All of

much better without the rope restraining me, I didn’t think he

after I got an inch off the floor, my knees went weak before I collapsed