“Who was on the phone?” Mason looked at Ashley with suspicion. He hadn’t seen such a relaxed expression on her face in a long time.
“A friend. We made plans to go out in three days,” Ashley casually made up an excuse. In three days, she would be able to leave this painful place.
“Looks like little sister still hasn’t apologized to me. But it’s no big deal. Let’s just forget about it.”
Georgina deliberately brought it up and while Mason wasn’t paying attention, she shot Ashley a cold, mocking look.
Sure enough, Mason’s expression darkened. He called a few bodyguards over.
“Take her to the basement.”
At the mention of the basement, Ashley’s face changed. What she feared most were thunder and darkness.
“No, Mason, I’m afraid of the dark.”
She clung to the last bit of hope and broke free from the guards, rushing to Mason and grabbing his arm, refusing to let go.
Hearing her say she was afraid of the dark, a flicker of hesitation passed through Mason’s eyes. He didn’t push her away and let her hold on to his arm.
Georgina, standing to the side, was visibly annoyed. She picked up a cup of hot tea from the table and “accidentally” dropped it from her hand.
The tea splashed onto Ashley’s arm, scalding her so suddenly she flinched and let go.
Seizing the moment, Georgina stepped forward, pretending to care.
“Are you okay, sister? This tea is much hotter than that milk. You see, the milk burned my hand red.”
When Mason heard Georgina was burned, he hurried over to check, his face full of concern.
“Why didn’t you say your hand was burned? I’ll take you to put on some ointment.”
Georgina asked, “What about my sister?” on purpose.
Mason glanced at Ashley’s face, filled with despair, then at the burn on Georgina’s hand. In the end, he spoke. “Lock her in the basement. No one is allowed to let her out!”
Ashley closed her eyes and didn’t spare another glance at the man she had once loved so deeply. She would cut him out of her heart for good.
As Mason led Georgina away, he looked back one last time at Ashley’s lifeless face. An unexplained wave of unease and irritation rose in his chest. Not wanting to think about it, he quickly turned and left.
In the basement, Ashley stayed crouched in a corner, not crying or shouting. But anyone who came close would see her fingers torn and bloody from scratching herself and her pale lips bitten raw.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when the lights suddenly came on.
After a while, Ashley’s eyes adjusted to the brightness. She saw Georgina standing in front of her, eyes gleaming with smugness.
“Sister, I advise you not to go against me again. You’ve seen it yourself. Mason obeys my every word. Whatever I want, he’ll hand it to me on a silver platter.”
Ashley rasped in a hoarse voice, “I already said I would divorce Mason and give him back to you.”
“As long as you let me out.”
Georgina sneered. “Why should I believe you?”
Ashley’s face stayed calm. “Someone will come to pick me up in one more day.”
