Chapter 20
Calvin’s harsh words echoed through the cold basement.
Britney clutched her head and broke down, screaming and sobbing uncontrollably.
It was like she didn’t even recognize him anymore. The pressure in the air felt so suffocating, she could barely breathe.
“Calvin, what are you doing? Everything I did was just because I wanted to be with you!” Britney wailed.
“When did I ever say I would be with you? Avery has always been my wife. You could never take her place.”
His words crashed over her like a tidal wave. Britney shook as tears streamed down her face, her voice trembling with disbelief.
“That’s not true! If you cared about Avery, you wouldn’t have shared a bed with me! If you loved her, would you have let her get hurt? Would you have treated me so well? Don’t lie! Your heart has always had a place for me! You don’t love Avery as much as you say!”
She screamed herself hoarse, but all she got back was Calvin’s expression turning even colder.
“You think you could ever compare to Avery? Who do you think you are? Now, you’ll find out what it really means to pay for what you’ve done.”
With that, the rope slipped down, and Britney plunged straight into the scalding oil.
Her screams ripped through the basement, shrill and desperate.
After a couple of seconds, Calvin yanked the rope and pulled her back out.
Even in that short time, her skin was already scorched, and her once-beautiful face was covered in
blisters and blood.
She shrieked in agony. “I was wrong, Calvin! I was wrong!”
But he ignored her and let the rope go again, sending Britney plunging back into the boiling oil.
The pain was unbearable. Her skin scorched, and the stench of burning flesh mingled with the metallic scent of blood. Oil popped and splattered around her as she writhed in agony.
Over and over, he repeated the torture, pulling her out and dropping her in again. He became a living nightmare straight out of hell.
Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. With a final, desperate struggle, she broke free from the rope and threw herself into the oil, ending it on her own terms.
Her scream echoed off the walls. The sickening sound of flesh frying filled the room. Then, everything fell eerily silent.
Chapter 20
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Just like Henry, Britney’s body was left charred and lifeless. She would never come back to life again.
It was the punishment she deserved for everything she’d done to Avery and Henry.
Calvin didn’t even flinch. To him, it felt as though a stranger had died before his eyes, not the woman he
had once loved for so many years.
He stood there for a long time, only moving once the oil had cooled and Gabriel finally came in.
“Mr. Grant, the boys are awake. They’ve been crying for you.”
“I’ll be right there,” Calvin replied, turning away from the carnage. “Did you get it all on video? Avery needs to see this someday.”
“It’s all recorded.” Gabriel nodded. “Do you want me to handle Britney’s remains?”
“Yeah. Clean up this mess. Make sure Avery never has to see anything like this again.”
Without a backward glance, Calvin walked out of the basement.
As soon as he came out, both boys perked up and ran to him.
“Dad! When can we go find Mom?” Noah asked, now wearing clean clothes and sporting fresh bandages
on his injuries.
Simon didn’t speak, but his eyes were bright with hope.
Calvin smiled gently at them. “As soon as we find out where your mom is, we’ll go to her. You two have to
be good. She must be worried about you. She’ll come back.”
As he spoke, he felt his eyelids grow heavy, and his vision began to blur. “Avery will come back. She loves
- She loves you both so much…”
Before he could finish, he felt his legs give out, and he collapsed onto the floor.
A deep red stain spread across his shirt, blood seeping from the wound Britney had left in him. He’d held
on for this long, but the injury had finally caught up with him.
