Chapter 1028

Teresa’s unease grew with every passing thought, and she pressed the gas pedal harder. When she arrived at the designated spot, she found herself in front of an old, dilapidated factory, built right in the middle of a field of rubble. Before her car even came to a full stop, she leaped out, her heart pounding in her chest. A man led Teresa inside, and as the door swung open, she froze, her eyes widening at the scene before her. In the cordoned-off clearing, Lucas and his friend were tied up and hanging against the wall, with a floor full of broken glass beneath them. Yalena stood on the second-floor corridor, her eyes locked on Teresa as she let out a cold laugh. She said, “You’re here.” She then slowly walked down the stairs, each step unhurried and deliberate. Teresa snapped, “Let my brother down, right now.”

Yalena sneered, “And why should I? His friend racked up a debt at my casino–he owes me a lot.” Teresa shot back, “That’s his friend’s problem. It has nothing to do with my brother.” Yalena stepped right up to Teresa, her eyes blazing. She roared, “Nothing to do with him? Back then, your husband Jonathan did the exact same thing to me. I bled so much, all thanks to you. Now it’s your brother’s turn to feel that pain.” Teresa yelled, “You dare! Let my brother down, right now!” Teresa tried to rush forward, but the two bodyguards beside Yalena immediately pinned her in place. With a mocking smile, Yalena strolled over to Lucas, then turned back to look at Teresa. She sneered, “You really think I won’t do it? Since you care so much about your brother, I’ll give you a choice. “You can take his place and hang up there instead.” Lucas shouted, “Teresa, don’t worry about me. Just go–get out of here now.” But there was no way Teresa could just abandon Lucas. The floor inside the fenced-off area was littered with shards of glass right beneath Lucas’s feet. If that rope snapped, he’d fall straight onto the glass–Teresa didn’t even dare imagine what would happen next. She thought, ‘Yalena is out of her mind. How could anyone be this vicious?‘ Seeing Teresa hesitate, Yalena suddenly slammed her hand down on the first button. With a loud snap, the rope holding Lucas’s friend broke, and the man crashed down onto the shards of glass, letting out one agonized scream after another that echoed through the factory. “Get him out of here,” Yalena snapped impatiently. She hadn’t killed him, but she’d left him battered and bleeding. The man’s agonized screams still echoed through the factory. Lucas was soft and delicate–if he fell, he’d be lucky to survive without being crippled. Teresa took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She said, “Let my brother go. Name your price–how much do you want?” Yalena spat, “I don’t care about your pathetic money. Either you bleed for him, or your brother falls and bleeds for you. Pick one–there’s no third option.” Teresa said, “Let my brother down first. We can talk things over. Whatever you want, we can work it out.” Yalena shot back, “We have nothing to talk about. Your damn husband threw me onto broken glass–I spent half a month in the hospital and another half in detention. “Do you think I’m some pushover? I might not dare go after him, but you? You’re the one I can take it out on.” Yalena was the type to bully the weak and fear the strong. Teresa shouted, “If you’re trying to get back at Jonathan through me, let me tell you, it won’t work. Even if you do this, he couldn’t care less if I or my family live or die–we’re divorced.” “Do you really expect me to believe that? You two are divorced?” Yalena sneered. “Yes, we never got back together at all,” Teresa insisted. Yalena said, “He acts like you’re his everything. Call him–let’s see if he shows up.”

Chapter 1029