These recent days had brought Kyle Astor a newfound understanding of Alexander''s unppable demeanor.


    In the midst of turmoil, allowing anxiety to take hold served no purpose.


    If he fully immersed himself in the search for Quinn, the matters at hand would surely be neglected.


    And even upon locating her, what next? Would he be coerced into relinquishingpany shares in the face of Walter''s threats? Or would he bepelled to engage in a high-stakes confrontation, ast-resort strategy that promised mutual destruction?


    In that scenario, Alexander wouldn''t stand to gain anything.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    The more Kyle Astor considered it, the chillier he felt, yet he admired Alexander''sposure, his clear-sighted assessment of risks and rewards.


    Men like Alexander were meant for greatness, unfettered by the snares of emotion. The art of making choices was all about bnce.Night fell upon them.


    The temperature at the countryside farmhouse dropped to just above freezing. Quinn was wrapped in a men''s ck down coat, likely belonging to Walter, its length reaching down to her ankles. She huddled close to the fire pit indoors, while Walter reclined in an armchair nearby.


    This time, her ankle was shackled not with rope but with a chain fastened to the foot of the bed, just long enough to allow her to move around within the house. It was eerily quiet, save for the crackling of the fire and the sound of Walter flipping through the pages of his book.


    Walter read by the fire, its warm orange glow softening the features of his already tender face.


    Quinn''s feet grew numb from squatting, so she silently shifted to kneel on the floor. Walter nced her way but said nothing.


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    She watched the mes dance, casting flickering light in her eyes while her longshes veiled her emotions. Squatting there, beneath his feet, she indeed resembled a docile, obedient puppy.Lost in thought, Quinn suddenly felt a hand atop her head.


    Her neck stiffened; she held her body rigid, daring not to move. As Walter petted her hair and continued to read, Quinn nearly convinced herself she was nothing but a hound. But she dared not stir, knowing full well that angering him would lead to more than mental torment-physical pain was a currency he was all too familiar with.


    And she had already learned that from experience. Since escape was impossible, why not make things a tad easier for herself?"


    Add some coal," Walter abruptlymanded.Quinn hurried to her feet, dragging the chain over to a box of coal, shoveling some into the pit.


    After she finished, she stole a nce at Walter. A mere flicker of his eyes was all it took for her to press her lips together and resume her crouched position in silence.


    Quinn alternated between squatting and sitting, fatigue dictating her position. Though there was a bed and stools in the room, Walter wouldn''t allow her the respite of sitting on them.


    Time passed indistinctly until Quinn, struggling to keep her eyes open, slumped forward unexpectedly, plummeting straight towards the fire pit. The searing heat surged at her, but it was toote to dodge.


    Suddenly, Quinn felt a tight grip around her neck, her head dangling in the air. With a slow turn of her head, she saw Walter pinching her cor.Walter pulled her back, and her legs gave way as she slumped to the ground, her gaze fixed on the fire pit as a cold sweat broke across her forehead.


    With a chuckle, the man said, "Falling asleep like that, you must have some nerve."Quinn lowered her eyes, staring at her toes, motionless.He squatted beside her again, lifting her chin with two fingers. "Quinn, do you still want to go back?"She looked into his eyes, which were filled with amusement. She pursed her lips, not sure if he was testing her.


    So, she remained silent."Hmm?"At the dangerous tone in his voice, she immediately shook her head."Really?"Quinn nodded. The smile in Walter''s eyes deepened as his finger suddenly slid downward. "Good kids shouldn''t lie."