Jade’s face gradually twisted in pain, but this only made the scar on her face appear even more horrifying. She stepped closer to Tina. “You said that if I brought them to you, you would fulfill any request made…”

Tina looked at her scarred face in disgust and took a step back. “You want money?” she asked.

Jade shook her head. “I don’t want money. I want you to give Quentin back to me.”

Tina scoffed as if she had heard the biggest joke. Her expression grew contemptuous, sneering, and utterly pitying. “He’s nothing but a skeleton now. Because of you, he’s resting at the bottom of this cold pond. How can you still have the audacity to ask for him?”

Jade’s face turned ghostly pale. Her hands trembled as she gripped the knife in her pocket, her eyes bloodshot with rage. She muttered, “It’s not me. It’s not me…”

Tina said, “How could it not be you? Did you lose your memory? Do you want me to help you remember?” She reached out and lightly touched the scar on Jade’s face, feeling a sense of satisfaction. The once-admired campus belle had… transformed into this… olesque figure standing before her. She circled behind Jade and leaned in almost affectionately, on her shoulder. “I remember that day you came to find me. You begged me to spare your poor father.”

“I told you I wanted to meet Quentin, and you called him here. You knew I liked him, and you brought him here anyway. You knew why you were bringing him, yet you selfishly betrayed him.”

“Later, I gave you a choice—either break up with him or strip down. You chose to break up with him. You betrayed him again.”

“And you even yelled at him, blaming him for ruining your life. You didn’t just betray him, you abandoned him.”

Tina shook her head with a mock sigh. “Well, it’s his fault. He had too much pride.” Tina’s expression darkened as a look of disappointment crossed her face. “It was his luck that I took an interest in him. He insisted on liking someone as selfish and pathetic as you. I tried so hard to win his favor, but he just refused. I had no choice but to show him your true face. Do you remember?”

“I gave you the choker. He dies or you die. You were so scared, crying, begging me to spare you, and asking for him to die in your place.”

“Quentin’s death is your fault. You’re the real killer.”

“Jade, don’t you feel any guilt? He was such a fool. Do you remember? When your face got scratched, he didn’t turn away from you. In front of him, you let a bunch of men have their way with you, and he never rejected you.”

“He begged me to let you go. But you were too busy enjoying yourself to care whether he lived or died.”

“He died calling out your name.”

Tina’s voice cut through the air like a knife, each word more chilling than the last. Jade’s palm was sliced open by the blade, cutting all the way down to the bone. Yet, there was no sign of emotion on her face.

A moment later, Tina calmly looked at her and said, “I just want to see him one more time. Will you come with me?”

“You’re not even angry? Pathetic.” Tina found it dull that Jade didn’t break down in tears or show any sign of pain. “Fine, you want to see him? Let’s go, I’ll take you there.”

She took a few steps, glanced at the unconscious people on the ground, and called Denton back. “Tie them up. If they dare to plot against me, fertilizer right here. Especially Vespera, I want her shredded into pieces.”

Trembling slightly, Denton nodded. He had been working for the Sowle family for years, helping with their dark deeds. Although he hadn’t directly killed anyone, his involvement made him an accomplice. He replied, “Understood.”

Claire, exhausted and near the house, listened to Tina’s terrifying words. Fear and helplessness washed over her. When she saw Tina leading Jade toward the wooden plank, she quickly turned to Denton. “Don’t let her kill anyone else.”

“They already know about what happened years ago.”

“That doesn’t mean they need to die!”

“Yes, you’re right. So many lives already lost.”

“I think… just tie them up,” Claire waved her hand impatiently.

As Denton went to tie the others, Claire’s mind raced. If Vespera died, things would escalate. Luke would never forgive the Sowles, and Dominic had shown interest… with both of them involved, this couldn’t just be swept under the rug.

Her mind was in turmoil when she heard Denton’s voice behind her. “Mrs. Sowle, how would you like them to be tied?”

“Just do it however you want,” Claire replied, her voice strained.