Ethan's world was consumed by it as fire seared his skin.

He screamed, his throat raw and broken. His entire body convulsed as agony spread through his chest like wildfire. His hands, shaking and weak, clawed desperately at her wrist, trying to pry it away from his burning flesh. But it was useless.

Her grip was like iron—unyielding, unshakable.

"No—No! Please... stop!AHHHH!"

Tears streamed down his face, mixing with sweat as his struggles grew weaker. Every nerve in his body screamed in protest, his mind barely able to process the overwhelming pain. The flames licked at his chest, searing his skin, sending waves of unbearable heat straight to his bones.

And she only laughed.

A cruel, mocking laugh.

The girl stared down at him, golden eyes filled with sadistic glee, her lips curling into a smirk. She wasenjoyingthis.

This is hell.

"How does it feel?" she asked, her voice dripping with scorn.

Ethan barely heard her, his mind reeling. His thoughts blurred together, scattered by pain and panic.

"To be at someone else's mercy?" she continued, her fingers pressing harder against his burning skin, making him scream even louder. "To not know what they'll do to you? To not know your fate?"

His stomach twisted with horror.

No. No, no, no.

He writhed, trying to escape, but the pain had sapped his strength. His knees buckled beneath him, and he barely managed to keep himself upright against the wall. His breath came in ragged, desperate gasps.

"Please... someone, anyone!" he choked out. "Help me!Guards!"

But she only smirked.

"Screaming won't do you any good," she said, her voice cruelly amused. "This room is soundproofed with magic. No one will disturb us for two whole days. I made sure of that."

Ethan's breath hitched.

His blood ran cold.

She leaned in closer, her golden eyes burning with contempt. "Don't you remember your own words, Ethan? You said the exact same thing to me last night. You were so proud of yourself."

No...

His heart pounded violently in his chest. The reality of the situation crushed down on him like an avalanche.

I—I'm going to die.

"How does it feel now," she whispered, "knowing you've doomed yourself with your own arrogance?"

Hopelessness crashed over him, suffocating. He had never imagined he would experience such agony—let alonenow, just after the night he had lost his virginity. The situation was so bizarre, sowrong, that his mind refused to accept it.

The girl's expression darkened as she stared at his contorted, pain-ridden face.

"You're not just a monster to me," she spat. "I bet I'm not your first victim, am I?"

Her grip tightened, her nails digging into his flesh. The flames roared, licking at his already burned skin.

"How many lives have you destroyed?"

She pressed harder.

Ethan's vision blurred.

No more. No more.

His legs trembled violently as the adrenaline rush faded. He had never experiencedrealpain like this before. His body wasn't used to it—his mindwasn'tused to it. The burning, the fear, the suffocating heat—

It was too much.

His screams weakened, turning into choked gasps. His vision darkened at the edges.

I... can't...

His legs gave out.

His eyes rolled back as his consciousness wavered.

The girl let go.

Ethan collapsed forward, his body crumpling to the ground. His face hit the cold stone floor with a dullthud, his mouth open, his breath shallow.

The scent ofburning fleshfilled the air.

The girl stood over him, her expression unreadable as she stared at his trembling, barely conscious form. His skin was pale, his hands twitching slightly. His face was frozen in a look of pure, unfiltered terror.

He looked like he had just barely survived death.

And for a moment—just a moment—her anger wavered.

She had wanted this. She had wanted to watch him suffer, to make himfeelwhat she had felt.

But looking at his pitiful, terrified form... she felt—

What am I doing?

She clenched her fists.No. No, he deserves this.

But then... why did she hesitate?

She bit her lip, her golden eyes flickering with uncertainty.

Shewantedto wake him up anddo it again. She wanted him tobeg. To scream. To suffer.

But shewasn't insane.

No matter how much she hated him, she couldn't lose herself completely.

And more importantly—she couldn't kill him.

Not here. Not now.

He was still a noble. His family was powerful, and this mansion was filled withdozensof people stronger than her. Even if she burned him alive right here, she wouldn't escape.

She had to think.

Her jaw clenched.I need to get out of here.

But more than that—I need to find my brother.

Her expression darkened. That washerreal priority.

Last night, Ethan had been arrogant enough to reveal all his plans to her, but evenhedidn't know exactly where the mayor had sent her brother.

And that worried her.

Her brother was strong—strong enough to protect himself.But what if something happened? What if they did something to him that even hecouldn'thandle?

She shook her head.I have to trust him. But I also have to be ready.

Her golden eyes flickered back to Ethan's limp body.

She could kill him now and risk everything.

Or she could use him.

A cold smile touched her lips.

No. I'll make him suffer in a different way.

She turned on her heel and strode toward the door.

As she reached for the handle, she paused—and glanced back one last time.

Ethanstirred.

A faint, broken whimper left his lips. His body shuddered, curling inward, his fingers weakly gripping the floor as if trying toprotect himself. His burnt chest rose and fell in shallow, shaky breaths.

His eyes fluttered open—then widened in horror.

He sawher.

His entire body jerked as if struck by lightning. He scrambled backward on instinct, his breath coming in frantic, ragged gasps.

"No—no, no, no—stay away—stay away!" His voice was hoarse,frantic.

She blinked.

He's terrified.

His crimson eyes darted around wildly, his entire body trembling like a caged animal. Sweat dripped down his face, his burnt skin twitching from the phantom pain still lingering in his nerves.

Hecouldn'tthink.

Hecouldn'tbreathe.

All he could see washer—the flames, the burning, the laughter—

He wasn't in control anymore.

He had no idea what he was saying. No idea what was real.

His hands clenched into fists—then immediately flinched back, as if afraid they would be burned again.

The girl tilted her head.

For the first time...he looked weaker than her.

She exhaled slowly.

"Pathetic," she muttered.

----------------

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com