Chapter 566



He had been watching her all along, his gaze sharp and unsettling. When their eyes met, the young man gave a slow, eerie smile that sent a wave of cold through Kallie’s veins.

Kallie sensed something amiss about him. His movements were too deliberate and poised, betraying an unnatural maturity for his age.

The bodyguards led Kallie through a maze of corridors before stopping at a room. The space was luxurious, but its opulence felt almost sinister. Lavish furnishings filled every corner, and a line of servants stood ready, including nutritionists who waited silently.

The sheer excess of care suffocated more than it comforted. Yet, something was unmistakably wrong. Every servant wore a mask, their eyes downcast, their lips sealed in an unspoken vow of silence. It was unsettling in a way Kallie couldn’t quite describe.

Unable to stay quiet any longer, Kallie turned to one of the bodyguards. “Why aren’t they allowed to speak? What is going on here?”

The bodyguard shot her a strange smile, one that made her skin crawl. “Ms. Nixon, just relax. You’ll find out soon enough.”

With that, he turned on his heel and exited, closing the door behind him.

All eyes were on Kallie, the room waiting in tense silence for her command.

The stillness was suffocating, pressing down on her like a physical weight. She took a slow, calming breath and nodded. “Alright. Go back to your tasks.”

With that, the servants and nutritionists moved with mechanical precision, dispersing to their various duties.

As they worked, Kallie’s eyes caught sight of a young girl, no older than ten. She was thin, and like the others, she wore a mask. But unlike the rest, her eyes weren’t blank. They held a flicker of fear.

Kallie felt a strange pull toward the girl. There, at least, she sensed a shred of humanity.

She glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, and then subtly gestured for the girl to come closer. “Come here for a moment,” she whispered.

The girl hesitated, her eyes darting around nervously. But after a brief pause, she approached, eyes filled with confusion as they locked onto Kallie. Yet, she remained silent, as if bound by some unspoken rule.

Kallie glanced around once more before slipping a few bills into the girl’s hand. It was a small risk. She was being watched, and her access to communication was cut off, but she still had some money with her.

“Hey, sweetie,” Kallie said softly, crouching down to meet the girl’s eye level. “Don’t worry, I just want to ask you some questions and understand what’s happening here.”

The girl shook her head immediately, her refusal clear and unwavering.

Kallie’s heart sank, but she didn’t push. She decided to try once more, her voice gentle. “Why don’t you speak? Is it because they told you not to talk to me?”

Again, the girl shook her head. Kallie waited, watching as the girl hesitated. Then, slowly, the girl pulled down her mask.

Kallie’s eyes widened in horror as the girl opened her mouth, revealing only half of a tongue.

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