Chapter 411: You’re Asking for a Beating

“Adjutant Parker, I’ve been tailing Ms. Beaumont since she left Halfmoon Manor,” Callum reported, his voice low and urgent. “She went into an image design studio and spent hours inside. I have no idea what she was doing or who she met with.”

Callum paused, choosing his words carefully. “The studio’s owner was the only one I saw, and he seemed to be waiting for her. I didn’t see anyone else enter or leave the building. I didn’t want to risk blowing my cover, so I kept a safe distance.”

“After about three or four hours, Ms. Beaumont came out and hailed a cab. She headed to a secluded mansion on the outskirts of Kingstown. I’ve sent you the address. The place is a fortress—there are guards at the door and surveillance cameras everywhere. I didn’t dare try to sneak in.”

Callum’s voice was laced with concern. “Can you look into the owner of the mansion and what they do? I’ll keep watching the place and see if I can gather any more intel.”

As soon as Caroline disappeared into the mansion, Callum dialed Richard’s number. Richard listened intently, his eyes narrowing as he took in the information.

“Got it,” Richard said curtly, before dispatching someone to investigate the mansion’s owner.

Inside the mansion, Caroline stumbled out of the cab and onto the driveway. Her legs still felt like jelly, but she forced herself to walk towards the front door. She had no idea what awaited her, but she steeled herself for the worst.

As she entered the living room, Zachary looked up from the couch, his eyes blazing with fury. He was lounging with one leg crossed over the other, exuding an air of superiority.

The moment Caroline walked in, Zachary snatched a glass from the table and hurled it at her.

“You think you can just waltz in here after keeping me waiting for hours? You’ve been screwing around with God knows how many guys behind my back, and now you have the nerve to show up late?” Zachary’s face twisted into a snarl. “You want to play with fire, Caroline? You want to die? I’ve got news for you—I’ve got plenty of guys who’d be happy to make your death a wild ride. Just say the word, and I’ll make it happen.”

The glass shattered against Caroline’s head, sending shards of pain through her skull. She was caught off guard, and her body was still reeling from Jay’s earlier assault. She tried to defend herself, but it was too late. The impact sent her stumbling backward, her vision blurring.

“Zachary, what’s going on? I would never make you wait on purpose,” Caroline said, forcing a bright smile onto her face as she approached him. “I was just trying to come up with a surprise for you.”

Zachary’s expression remained icy, his eyes scanning her up and down. “Oh yeah? What kind of surprise?”

Caroline’s gaze darted to the basement door, her eyes locking onto it for a moment before she looked back at Zachary. “Can we… can we go downstairs to talk about it?”

But Zachary was having none of it. “No way,” he snapped, his patience wearing thin.

Caroline hesitated, her eyes flicking to the henchmen standing nearby. She seemed to be weighing her options, unsure of what to do next.

“Well? Are you going to show me this surprise or not?” Zachary’s impatience boiled over, his voice rising.

Caroline nodded, a resigned look on her face. With a deep breath, she began to strip off the outer layer of her clothing, revealing the black lace lingerie underneath. The sheer fabric hugged her curves, showcasing the black silk threads that wrapped around her body like a second skin.

Zachary’s eyes widened, his pupils dilating as he took in the sight. For a moment, he seemed to forget his anger, his body responding to the provocative display.

“How’s this? Do you like the outfit I picked out for you, Zachary? And, as you can see, I’m not wearing anything underneath,” Caroline said, batting her eyelashes as she took a step closer to Zachary.

Zachary’s eyes lit up with excitement, and Caroline could tell she had him right where she wanted him. She smiled to herself as she leaned in, her body pressing against his.

“I can see it, you little slut. You’re getting more and more promiscuous by the day, aren’t you? It looks like you’ve been with a lot of men lately, and they’ve been teaching you some new tricks.”

Zachary’s eyes gleamed with excitement, but despite the spark of arousal, his desire seemed lukewarm at best. Caroline’s face fell, and she looked up at Zachary with a mixture of fear and pleading in her eyes. “No, Zachary, I swear it was just a game. I didn’t want to go with them, they just took me. Nothing happened, I promise. You’re the only one I’ve ever really wanted.”

Zachary’s expression didn’t change, but Caroline could see the excitement in his eyes. She reached out and started touching herself, her hands roaming over her body as she spoke. “You’re the only one I’ve ever loved, Zachary. You were my first, and I’ve never forgotten you. I dream about you every night.”

Zachary’s breathing quickened, and he looked like he was about to lose control. “Oh yeah? What do you dream about?” he asked, his voice low and husky.

Just as it seemed like things were about to get out of hand, Zachary’s phone rang. He pulled it out and answered, his expression changing from lust to anger in an instant. “What? Yes, okay. Don’t worry, boss, I’ll take care of it.”

Zachary’s voice was obsequious, and he nodded enthusiastically as he listened to the person on the other end of the line. As soon as he hung up, his expression darkened, and he turned to Caroline with a look of fury. He strode over to her, his face twisted in rage, and slapped her across the face with a resounding crack. Caroline’s head snapped back, and she crashed to the floor, stunned. “You filthy bitch!” Zachary spat, his eyes blazing with anger. “You think you can spy on me and get away with it? You’re asking for a beating!”