The lost heiress never forgiven

The Lost Heiress 16

When the Flame of Love Fades

Chapter 16 Punishment

Being here meant following Shane’s rules.

Anyone who disobeyed faced something much worse.

Sierra had no idea what that lunatic had planned this time.

She quietly found a spot to sit, pressing her back against the wall, trying to make herself as invisible as possible.

When sight was taken away, other senses sharpened.

She thought she heard something–movement, maybe.

But when she strained to listen, there was nothing.

The unknown was always the most terrifying.

Was this his punishment for today?

Sierra wasn’t sure. She curled in on herself, but every muscle in her body remained tightly wound.

Silence.

No sounds.

Had she imagined the earlier noises?

Time passed, but she had no way of knowing how long she had been in there.

Her clothes were already soaked in cold sweat, yet she barely noticed.

This kind of torment could drive anyone mad.

She bit her lip, forcing herself to focus on something else–her grandmother, her research.

Anything to stop her mind from spiraling.

Then, a sudden click.

At first, she thought she was hallucinating again.

But the next second, the pitch–black room was flooded with light.

Footsteps echoed.

Steady. Unhurried.

Stopping right in front of her.

She looked up and saw Shane.

He gazed down at her, unimpressed.

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Chapter 16 Punishment

He almost sounded disappointed.

She was still holding it together.

“Get up.”

As his words fell, the rest of the lights turned on, glaringly bright.

Sierra knew this meant it was over.

For now.

She turned to leave.

she reached the door, Shane’s voice rang

Finished

love you so much. Why don’t you tell

Sierra didn’t stop walking.

Love her?

that naive

what Bradley and the others felt–maybe some

But love?

them?And

the end, she would be the

She wasn’t stupid.

Shane was too powerful.

just a

what his

His influence was everywhere.

one dared

And the Xanders?

wouldn’t risk going against someone

outside, the blinding sunlight hit

hadn’t realized until now–she had been

That lunatic.

body finally

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Chapter 16 Punishment

was exhausted, aching

to go

To see her grandmother.

out her phone, she saw that it had

before she entered the house,

more cautious

A car passed by.

reversed, stopping beside

thinking it was

window rolled

as calm

“Sierra? Need a ride?”

over her face,

looking like

“No.”

Her response was immediate.

need help from

She didn’t trust anyone.

in prison, there had been people who had asked

been naive

She had believed them.

to realize later that it had all been a

learned her

one could be

wariness

hospital,” he said after a

can call

had no idea how bad she looked–her face

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Chapter 16 Punishment

had no idea what had

some reason, he had

was

Bright.

Defiant.

refusing

Sierra wasn’t listening anymore.

voice blurred in the background,

She was already irritated.

step toward him,

before she could say

Everything spun.

Then, darkness.