Chapter 134: Chapter 134

Chapter 134 Audrey seethed with rage, wishing she could tear Danielle apart. Her whole life, she had basked in the praise and flattery of others-until Danielle appeared. Ever since returning, Danielle had been using her blood ties to the Darling family to overshadow Audrey and make her life unbearable.

Audrey forced a tremble into her voice, her expression a mask of hurt. "Danielle, it’s my fault. Please don’t misunderstand me."

Danielle’s eyes narrowed, her voice cutting through like ice. "Audrey, I don’t get how you manage to act this fake every single day. You hate me so much it’s practically written on your face, yet here you are, playing the victim. Honestly, it’s exhausting just watching you. Stay away from me-you’re nauseating."

Audrey clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. How dare Danielle look down on her? Her lips quivered as she glanced at David, tears welling in her eyes. "Danielle, I..." Danielle interrupted coldly. "If you want to keep enjoying your cushy life with the Darling family, you’d better stop with these petty stunts. Because if you don’t, you’ll lose more than just their goodwill."

Audrey’s facade finally cracked. Her face burned with humiliation, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she turned and ran.

Danielle didn’t spare Audrey another glance and climbed into the car. David followed her, closing the door behind him.

"I didn’t even say a word to her," David said immediately, his tone defensive, like a child pleading innocence.

Danielle gave him a sidelong glance, her tone half-teasing. "Good. You wouldn’t be dumb enough to give her the time of day."

David reached out to tousle her hair, his eyes soft with affection. "I brought you something good to eat." He opened the container he had brought, revealing a spread of her favorite dishes, meticulously prepared by his chef. Danielle’s eyes lit up. "It smells amazing! All my favorites!"

As she started eating, David watched her with a smile, marveling at how she ate with the enthusiasm of a little squirrel. "You’ve lost weight. Is the food at your school that bad?"

Danielle rolled her eyes. "What are you talking about? I’ve actually gained a few pounds. You’re imagining things."

Nathan, sitting in the driver’s seat, chimed in to support his boss. "Mrs. Charrington, since you started school, the boss has been worried nonstop about whether you’re eating and sleeping well."

Danielle waved a hand dismissively, her mouth full of food. "I’m fine! You don’t need to fuss over me like I’m a kid. Besides, you’re the one who skips meals when you’re busy. Take care of yourself first."

David chuckled, reaching into the bag to pull out another container. "I even brought your favorite strawberry cake for dessert."

Danielle’s eyes sparkled as she dug in. David’s gaze softened as he watched her eat-so content, so unguarded.

"Sweetheart, next month is Giancarlo’s eightieth birthday. Want to come with me?" David asked, his tone casual yet affectionate.

Danielle, her cheeks stuffed with food, nodded. "Sure. Training should be over by then, and I won’t have anything else going on."

"Good girl." David leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek, leaving her flushed and muttering under her breath.

Nathan sighed inwardly. ’Not again. Do these two think I’m invisible? Next time, I’m letting Patrick drive-I need a break from all this sugar.

"Can the servants at Joshua’s house be found? Do you have time to go check it out later?"

Danielle glanced at her watch, noting that there was still plenty of time before the school closed for the day. She nodded and replied, "Sure."

Elsewhere, the Hill family had officially declared bankruptcy. Their properties were seized, and the once-proud family now found themselves crammed into a dingy motel room.

"She’s still not answering?" Alexis barked, his bloodshot eyes glaring at his phone.

Hope slumped in a corner, her disheveled hair a far cry from her once-polished image. "She blocked my number."

"Keep trying. Use different numbers. Tell her if she doesn’t respond, we’ll march into the Darling estate and make a scene. We’ve got nothing left to lose," Alexis growled.

Tina, sitting nearby, nodded in agreement, her face twisted with rage. "It’s all her fault. She used my daughter as a pawn, and now look at us. I won’t rest until she pays for this."

At the Barnes Estate, the butler greeted them at the door, bowing respectfully. "Mr. Charrington, Miss Darling, this way, please." David held Danielle’s hand as they were led into the estate. The butler escorted them down to the basement.

He said, "Mr. Charrington, Miss Darling, Mr. Barnes is inside."

As soon as they stepped inside, the metallic tang of blood hit their noses. Danielle’s gaze sharpened as she took in the scene before her.

A woman lay on the floor, her body battered and bloodied. Her limbs were grotesquely twisted, her tendons cut to ensure she couldn’t escape. The room reeked of despair. Joshua rose from his chair, greeting them with a faint smile. "David, Miss Darling. You’re here."

"Has she confessed yet?" David’s tone was low and commanding.

Joshua shook his head, his casual demeanor masking the grim nature of the situation. "Not a word. Tough as nails, this one. Took down several of my men before we subdued her."

Danielle stepped forward, pulling out a slender silver needle. Without hesitation, she jabbed it into the woman’s pressure point.

The woman let out an ear-piercing scream, her body convulsing in pain. "You... you can kill me if you want. But if I get out... I’ll snap your necks myself!" the woman spat, her voice trembling with defiance.

Danielle’s lips curled into a chilling smile. "Kill you? That’s too easy. I want you to suffer."

The woman’s bravado faltered as Danielle produced another needle. The fear in her eyes grew as Danielle moved closer, the glint of the needle reflecting her growing dread.

The maid’s eyes widened in fear as she realized the seriousness in Danielle’s gaze. She could tell from the coldness in her eyes that the woman wasn’t bluffing-she was here to get answers.

’Have I been locked up just to reveal my mastermind?’ the maid thought. She had refrained from speaking, calculating that if she told the truth, she’d be killed immediately.

However, by staying silent, she only had to endure physical pain, and at least she could still live, hoping that her master would find a way to save her.

But now, Danielle said she wasn’t interested in information-she just wanted to torture her to death.

Danielle kept smiling, pulling out a slender silver needle that gleamed with a cold, silvery light.

The maid, her tendons and ligaments already severed, was now scrambling backwards in a panic. "Don’t come any closer."

Every time the maid moved back, Danielle stepped forward, as though playing a twisted game of cat and mouse.

"I swear, I don’t know anything! I’ve been wronged..." The maid began sobbing uncontrollably, her fear finally overwhelming her.

With a flick of her wrist, Danielle sent the silver needle flying through the air, landing perfectly on the maid’s pressure point. The next moment, the maid’s mouth fell silent, unable to produce any sound.

Frantic, the maid tried to mouth something, but no words came out.

Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David)

Chapter 133 Joshua, standing nearby, was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Danielle to be so fearless. Not only was her medical expertise exceptional, but her composure in this moment was unnerving-like torturing someone was part of her everyday routine. His surprise grew as he realized just how much more complex she was than he’d initially thought.