Chapter 14
Reed kept thinking about how to make Avery forgive him.
Then he thought of Sugar.
For Sugar’s sake, Avery had been so angry with him.
He immediately sent people to the animal shelter Victoria had mentioned.
“Go bring Sugar back.”
But the people sent returned quickly, saying Sugar wasn’t there at all.
The final investigation results hit Reed like ice water, chilling him to the bone.
Sugar was already dead.
Victoria had turned him into a stew.
Reed recalled Avery’s heart-wrenching screams that day, grief and remorse instantly overwhelming him.
He rushed into the basement.
By now, Victoria was curled naked in a corner, covered in blood and other filth. Her once-delicate face and body were marked with bite marks and scratches, emanating a sickening stench.
The men had tortured her beyond recognition.
Hearing footsteps, Victoria raised her head. Seeing Reed, she immediately crawled over.
“Reed! Please let me go!”
She repeatedly banged her head on the floor. “I know I was wrong! I’ll never dare again! I’ll go abroad and never come back!”
Reed just looked at her silently, finally speaking coldly: “Where’s Sugar?”
Victoria froze, her pleading expression instantly turning panicked. She stammered, “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
“Think carefully before you answer.” Reed’s voice held no warmth. “Lie to me, and I’ll flay you alive.”
Victoria’s entire body trembled. Seeing the murderous intent in Reed’s eyes, she finally broke down sobbing: “I was wrong! I was so wrong! That dog bit me, and you said I could handle it however I wanted, so I… I had it killed!”
She banged her head until it bled, blood mixing with tears streaming down her face.
“I didn’t mean to, I was just so angry. Please forgive me!”
Reed turned and left without another glance.
The next day, he purchased the finest plot in the suburban cemetery, specifically building a small tombstone for Sugar.
He buried Sugar’s favorite treats and bought new toys identical to the ones Sugar had loved.
The photo on the tombstone was the only one of Sugar he had kept in his office.
Because he discovered that not only were all of Avery’s belongings gone from home, but everything Sugar had used had also disappeared.
Reed made Victoria kneel before Sugar’s grave.
“Kneel down and keep vigil for Sugar for seven days.”
Hearing that, Victoria’s entire body shook. “Reed, I’ve already…”
“While keeping vigil, slap yourself and apologize to Sugar.” Reed’s voice was ice cold.
Security guards and a top medical team stood nearby.
If Victoria dared stop, the guards would slap her instead.
If she passed out, doctors would immediately inject her with adrenaline to keep her conscious.
For the next seven days, the cemetery echoed with continuous slapping sounds and apologies.
Victoria’s face swelled beyond recognition, her voice hoarse to the point of speechlessness. After several adrenaline injections, she was barely clinging to life.
Reed had every single thing Victoria had done investigated, without missing a single detail.
The results were quickly laid before him.
Besides killing Sugar and making him into a stew, framing Avery for kidnapping, and finding men to violate her, Victoria had also bribed a server to plant tulip pollen in Avery’s bag at the banquet.
In the detention center, Victoria had paid people to put Avery through three days of hell.
Her father’s memento was safely locked in her home safe, completely intact.
What infuriated Reed most was that Victoria had dug up Avery’s parents’ graves and forced their ashes into Avery’s mouth.
So the family heirloom jade bracelet-there was no need to explain further. Victoria must have smashed it herself to frame Avery.
Learning all this, Reed’s vision blurred, nearly making him collapse.
“AAAHHHH!”
He let out a beast-like roar, frantically smashing everything around him.
What was he doing while Avery endured all this torture?
He had force-fed her peanuts that triggered her allergies.
He had personally sent her to the detention center.
He had ignored her grief over losing Sugar, coldly accusing her instead.
He had abandoned her in that abandoned building, leaving her to be violated by those bastards, ultimately driving her to jump.
He hadn’t just failed to protect her-he’d actually blamed her, believing her injuries were a calculated ploy for sympathy.
Now he realized that Avery landing on that safety net rather than dying was pure luck.
But what had he done?
He had believed Victoria’s lies, forcing Avery to kneel at Victoria’s father’s grave, giving Victoria another opportunity to hurt her.
Everything Avery had suffered was entirely his fault!
SLAP!
Reed violently struck his own face.
13.05
Chapter 14
SLAP!
Another blow.
He finally understood why Avery had completely given up on him.
That’s why she had removed every trace of herself from their home.
Even all evidence of their love was gone.
She must have been utterly disillusioned with him.
Reed remembered Avery’s final look-that disappointed, despairing, cold gaze-and felt a pain so acute he could barely breathe.
He recalled how she had repeatedly asked if he truly remembered nothing, while he had pretended not to see.
Wait.
Reed suddenly froze.
When had Avery started asking, over and over, if he had really lost his memory?
Could it be…
She had known all along that he was faking his amnesia?
This thought struck like lightning, leaving Reed feeling as if he’d been plunged into an icy abyss.
If that were true, how could Avery ever forgive him?
Just then, his assistant called:
“Sir, we have a lead on Mrs. Bennett’s whereabouts.”
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