Casting a look at N’s pale visage, Lucinda handed her over to one of Graham’s men.


    “Escort her to our secluded vi atop Peace Mountain.


    The basement will serve as her new quarters.


    ”


    “Consider it done.


    ”


    With Lucinda’s safety confirmed, Graham’s squad whisked N away, vanishing into the night.


    Lucinda herself then departed for Peace Mountain, pondering the choice not to involve the police.


    Direct police involvement would see N behind bars, subjected to formal inquiry.


    Yet, Lucinda trusted neither N’s words nor the formalities ofw; her instincts and the quest for truth were her sole guides.


    As such, she decided to confine N in the basement before anything else.


    She nned on doling out punishment ording to the family’s strictws once N’s identity was confirmed.


    She saw no need to involve anyone else in this matter.


    With this in mind, Lucinda drove her limousine, reaching Peace Mountain in just thirty minutes.


    Graham’s private guards had already secured N in the basement by the time she got there.


    Upon her return, Lucinda’s first order of business was to head straight for the old vi’s basement.


    She opened the hefty basement door, and gradually, light from the corridor seeped in, illuminating the space.


    There, in the center of the dusty, barren floor, sat N.


    The bruises on her face were evident, lending her a pitiable appearance, especially her sorrowful eyes that painted her as a victim.


    Lucinda, in her high heels, approached N and looked down at her.


    N, lifting her gaze defiantly, retorted, “Yes, I kidnapped you, but isn’t imprisoning me just as criminal?”


    Lucinda bypassed N’s question, posing her own instead.


    “You seem quite at home in this basement, don’t you, N?”


    N responded with a perplexed smile, “Wh


    at are you implying, Lucinda? This is my first encounter with the Simmons family’s basement.


    ”


    Lucinda let out a scoff and slowly crouched to meet N’s level.


    “Do you honestly think you can fool me by denying everything? Every word you say, every look you give, betrays you,” Lucinda countered.


    The confident smirk on N’s face slowly faded.


    “What are you getting at?”


    Lucinda thenid out her thoughts.


    “I’ve done my homework on N.


    Despite losing her parents, she led a worry-free life, buoyed by grants and schrships.


    Her father was a sessful businessman, and she grew up in luxury, undoubtedly cherished by her parents.


    Someone with her background would react much differently if this was truly their first time trapped in a basement-fear and desperation would be evident.


    ”


    Lucinda took a moment, then, with a calcted move, grasped N’s chin and looked down at her with disdain.


    “However, when I entered, there wasn’t a trace of fear in your eyes.


    You seemed unnervingly calm and collected, almost as if you’ve been through this ordeal before.


    ”


    N returned the sneer.


    “So, you’re jumping to the conclusion that I’m Valerie based on that alone? Don’t you think you’re rushing to judgment?”


    Lucinda responded coolly, “True, without solid evidence, all I have are theories.


    But do you honestly believe your denial leaves me powerless?”This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    N met her gaze, momentarily taken aback by the intensity and sharpness in Lucinda’s eyes.


    But then, Lucinda’s grip shifted, grabbing N by the hair with a sudden ferocity, yanking out strands with sheer force.