Chapter 3 I've Never Seen A Woman's Insides Before

Thick droplets of sweat gathered on Adeline's forehead and slowly traveled downward.

Waylon grasped her foot with one hand, reaching out with the other.

A bodyguard quickly presented Waylon with a dagger, already drawn from its sheath.

Waylon sat still, the cold edge of the blade resting on the top of Adeline's foot. He gently dragged it upward, following the curve of her smooth calf, his eyes gleaming with a twisted sense of excitement. He murmured, "I've never seen a woman's insides. They must be more delicate than a man's..."

Adeline's mind raced in shock, her thoughts spinning as she wondered if he intended to dissect her while she was still alive. She trembled uncontrollably, her voice barely a whisper. "No, please..."

Despite being confined at home for the last five years, Adeline was well aware of Waylon's infamous reputation.

Waylon, 25 years old, stood as the eldest heir of the Holden family, a household that reigned at the top of Kaiphia's most dominant business empire, renowned for its grip over the country's major industries. Since his birth, expectations were high for him to accomplish great things. Tragically, a car accident at the age of five claimed his mother's life and led to his disappearance. It wasn't until he was 20 that the Holden family found him. But by then, he had become a notorious enforcer at an underground casino, known for his murderous demeanor and ruthless actions.

In the five years that had passed since Waylon returned to the Holden family, his behavior had grown increasingly wild, characterized by insolence and being at the center of every scandal faced by the Holden family. He carried the arrogance expected of a wealthy heir, but it was sharpened by a kind of cruelty that set him apart. He spent his time preying on actresses, tormenting those who worked beneath him, and once left a senator severely injured. When the urge hit, he plunged into high-speed street races, smashing into cars and striking pedestrians as though it were just part of the thrill.

Each new offense he committed seemed more horrible than the last, forcing the powerful Holden family to declare that Waylon suffered from a mental illness in an attempt to mitigate public outrage and avoid imprisonment.

Adeline was aware that Waylon was a depraved, infamous member of a wealthy family, yet his level of corruption was beyond her expectations. Being the last remaining member of the Sullivan family, she couldn't afford to die in such a manner.

Adeline fought to break free, but with Waylon's grip locking her foot in place, there was no way to escape. All she could do was endure the chill of the blade as it slid across her skin.

Abruptly, the dagger slipped beneath the edge of her white dress and began to lift the fabric.

A sharp knot formed in Adeline's chest as her breathing faltered, and every bit of color vanished from her face.

"Mr. Holden," the sudden voice interjected sharply, bringing the dagger to a stop.

Zain stood by the car door, tucking his phone away with measured ease. "Your grandmother just called with clear instructions. She told me to remind you not to do anything reckless and to marry Ms. Sullivan immediately. According to her, the Holden family's baby must be born legitimately, with the family name to match."

"Has she lost it? Telling me to marry a woman who schemed her way into my bed?" Waylon sneered. "I'll deal with it on my own."

Zain was momentarily speechless.

Meanwhile, Adeline seized the moment of Waylon's distraction to swiftly withdraw her foot. As she did so, her blindfold fell, and a surge of white light momentarily blinded her, causing a slight sting.

Shock overcame her as she began to see again. The world around her, once thought to be perpetually dark and void, was now tinged with colors through a haze of white. A man's blurred shape started to materialize through the fog. Her eyes... Was her vision returning?

Seated at an angle, Waylon offered her nothing more than a hazy glimpse of his profile-sharp lines and harsh angles. Adeline strained to focus, but her vision refused to clear.

Standing just beyond the car, Zain went on relaying Ruby Holden's directives. "Three days from now falls on a date favored for weddings. Your grandmother plans to oversee the arrangements herself, complete with every proper ceremony."

Waylon seemed amused by Zain's audacity to continue. As he twirled the dagger in his hand, he fixed a half-smile on Zain. "Step closer and repeat that."

Zain eyed the dagger, perspiration forming on his forehead as a chill ran down his spine. "Mr. Holden, I am obliged to deliver this message, even at the risk of my life," he said. "Your grandmother also mentioned that if you refuse, she and her husband will hang themselves at your doorstep."

Silence enveloped Waylon, his complexion turning livid.

"And this," Zain continued, extending his phone to Waylon. "Your grandmother believes that once you watch this video, you will consent to the marriage."

Waylon looked down at the phone with an increasingly cold stare.