Chapter 89

"You act tough and ruthless, Dustin, but you're still terrified of the Wyatt family!" Bella's voice rose. "Maybe it's because my father has some hold over you, or maybe it's because you know the Wyatt family's hidden power. You're afraid of all of us, so you don't dare take real action against anyone! What's wrong? Did I hit a nerve?"

"You're nothing but a coward!" she sneered, laughing loudly. She looked self-satisfied, as though she had seen through Dustin completely.

Dustin's face darkened. Sealing her memories of the Verdant Gang incident had apparently made her arrogant and delusional. Did she not know Shadow One and Shadow Two were already dead? Rage surged within him.

He had been holding back out of respect for his adoptive father's kindness, therefore he hadn't harmed the Wyatt sisters despite his anger. He hadn't expected his consideration would delude Bella into thinking he feared the Wyatt family's power and prompt her to devise such a devious plan.

Dustin glared at her, his body radiating suppressed menace.

"Stop acting so tough! Do you really think you can scare me? Hmph! I'm not afraid of you at all. To me, you're nothing but a clown!" Bella snickered. "I'll stand right here. I want to see what you'll do to me," she taunted.

Dustin's fury exploded. In a blur of motion, he was before Bella, his hand seizing her throat and lifting her off the floor.

Bella's eyes widened in shock; her face paled. Disbelief and terror filled her gaze. She never expected him to attack. Was he really not afraid of the Wyatt family?

"Dustin, let go of me! Do you know the consequences of this?" she shrieked, her eyes blazing with rage.

Dustin's eyes glinted coldly. He tightened his grip. Bella gasped for breath, her vision blurring. She was on the verge of death. He wanted to kill her! How dare he?

Overwhelming fear flooded Bella's heart; she trembled uncontrollably. "No Don't" she panicked, her voice shaking.

Dustin nearly crushed her throat, but stopped. "I'm only letting you live because of your father's kindness," he said implicitly. "If you push me again, I will kill you, even if it means betraying my mentor's teachings."

The threat chilled Bella. She had never seen this side of Dustin, so different from the man who had served the Wyatt family on bended knee. He loosened his grip, and Bella gasped for air, her arrogance and fearlessness gone.

"If I recall correctly, you're left-handed," Dustin said, glancing at her left hand. "You must have drugged Camille with your own hands. Is that right?" A flash of light, then silence.

Bella shrieked in pain. Two of her fingers were severed. Dustin had cut them off.

Her screams were agonizing. As an A-list celebrity, her image was paramount. With two fingers gone, how could she face the world? The pain nearly caused her to faint.

"This is your lesson!" Dustin said coldly. He turned, picked up Camille, and left the hotel without looking back.

Chapter 90