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.

with a

a tablet from the bag, he

your lover to prepare five million if he wants to see you again. Also, warn him that he’s not allowed

but he has actually jacked it up tenfold! Putting aside the fact that Dominic might not have that much money, our relationship doesn’t

of your five hundred thousand, so they can probably give you that much. But

Slap!

 interrupted me before I could finish. In the next moment, my cheek

hair and yanked it backward,

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

the heels of that, his tone abruptly changed. In a cold and ominous voice, he threatened, “Later, just repeat whatever I tell you. Don’t you dare utter a single word more, or I’ll

feel my scalp stinging, and his threat echoed in my ears, so

you say. S-So, how

that I was being all docile and meek, he

on the tablet, he brought it close to

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

final word, he yanked the tablet

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 before he brought it to my

Is he kidding me? I saw him drugging the water, so why would

lip hard,

and grasped my chin forcefully without a single word. Hauling

from the agony. That was my downfall, for he instantly started pouring the water into

into my nostrils and down my throat while streaming down my neck, almost

somewhere else now, so you’ve got to behave!” Julius declared

the floor, panting. All of a

better without the rope restraining me, I

wall and stand up, but just after I got