Chapter 1064:
Seeing she was awake, he tossed her a piece of stale bread and a bottle of water. Without hesitation, Elyse snatched the food and drink, eating ravenously. The man looked surprised by her composure and asked, “Why aren’t you crying?”
Elyse paused, then asked, “Would you let me go if I did?”
Without missing a beat, the man responded, “You’re worth money. Why would we let you go?”
“I know it’s pointless to cry, so I’ll conserve my energy,” Elyse replied casually.
The man fell silent and began pushing the cage out of the room. They moved down a long corridor. The walls were marked with dark stains, and the air was thick with the smell of decay. Elyse kept quiet, feeling as though she were walking into the depths of hell, destined to be offered up to some monster.
After leaving the hallway, they emerged outside. On the desolate ground, a plain car waited. The man unlocked the cage and gestured to the driver. “From here on, you’re his responsibility. He’ll take you somewhere nice.”
Elyse panicked and shouted, “No! I don’t want to go! Please, let me go home!” She never imagined she could be sold like an object. But she wasn’t an item—she was human! Ignoring her protests, a few men shoved her into the vehicle. As one of them closed the door, he chuckled and said, “Good luck with whatever comes next. Your future awaits you.”
Elyse was enraged. What future? She felt doomed! With her eyes closed, despair overwhelmed her.
There was nothing left but to accept her fate. The car drove for miles in silence. When they arrived, the driver dropped her off and left without a word. Elyse stood in the midst of a dense forest, her emotions in turmoil.
They had taken her through so many stops and handed her over so many times. How could Edward, or anyone else, possibly track her down? At this thought, Elyse felt herself sinking deeper into hopelessness.
“Hurry inside! What are you doing standing here?” Armed guards surrounded the house, keeping watch from all sides. Elyse felt like a defenseless rabbit compared to them—powerless.
She was shoved inside, her body tense with fear. The house was eerily empty. She glanced around nervously, unsure what to do or where to go.
She had no idea what fate awaited her, but one thought kept circling in her mind: if she could negotiate with the buyer, maybe she could convince them not to harm her. That would be the best outcome she could hope for.
As her thoughts raced, footsteps suddenly echoed from upstairs. A surge of terror shot through Elyse. She covered her face, trying hard to stifle her sobs. She was terrified, and this was an experience she never wanted to live through again.