Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Watching Her T…

treachery, especially from women

who dared to cross him.

“Playing dumb? Fine, let’s see how long you can keep it up. Sebastian,

take her to Earl’s room.”

Earl? Was Alexander’s punishment to

offer her to someone else?

Confused, Isabella looked at

Sebastian, who couldn’t hide a flicker of sympathy as he led her to a room at the end of a hallway. Inside, she was greeted by a surprising sight: a large, black figure lounging in the corner. It was an adult black panther!

Alexander, the madman, had a black panther as a pet!

Sebastian pushed her inside and locked the door, leaving her with a look that said, “Good luck.” Now, Isabella realized ‘Earl‘ was the name of the panther staring indifferently at

Chapter 5: Watching Her T…

her.

The panther, seemingly uninterested and recently fed, made no move towards her. Its glossy coat and

muscular build indicated a life of

luxury, rivaling a five–star hotel’s

accommodations.

Isabella was certain there were

hidden cameras in the room.

Alexander, that sadist, was probably

watching, waiting for her to

embarrass herself or be mauled.

Retreating cautiously, she reached

for the door handle, only to find it securely locked by Sebastian.

Luckily, the panther appeared disinterested, likely satiated from a recent meal. Isabella hoped

Alexander would release her before the beast’s next feeding time.

She crouched down, refusing to give

Chapter 5: Watching Her T…

Alexander the satisfaction of seeing

her break down.

Upstairs, in his study, Alexander lounged in an armchair, watching the live feed from Earl’s room on his

computer. The scene unfolding

before him was exactly as he

intended, a test of character under

extreme pressure.

Isabella wasn’t the first woman Alexander had brought before Earl. The last one, a minor celebrity who had foolishly attempted to drug him, met the same fate.

Such individuals found no mercy in Alexander’s world and were unhesitatingly offered to Earl as a form of punishment.

Earl had no patience for the overly dramatic, and that woman had been

terrified, enduring a harrowing

ordeal before barely managing to

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Setting

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Chapter 5: Watching Her T…

escape The Windsor.

Isabella seemed smarter than her

predecessors, sitting quietly, her face set with determination as though bracing herself for a high–stakes

gamble–a gamble with her very life

on the line.

“Boss, if she makes it through this, will you let her go?”

Sebastian’s question, asked with a

cautious tone, reflected his interest

in the outcome for Isabella. Unlike

the others who had tried to get close to their boss, Isabella didn’t seem as objectionable to him. She appeared special, even though it was their first

encounter, he could sense it.

Alexander remained silent, his fingers rhythmically tapping on the desk, creating a sound that seemed both ominous and anticipatory, as if marking time for Isabella’s ultimate

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Setting

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Chapter 5: Watching Her T…

test.

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