<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Eagle King nced at Rory who was losing herposure and clicked his tongue. He thought, ‘If it weren’t for her trafficking people and using live humans to raise poisonous insects, she could have been an inspiring one!</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Yvette squinted slightly. Her hair fell across her forehead, partially veiling her cool gaze. She said calmly, “The moment you decided to leave with a man, you should’ve been ready to take consequences for your choices.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“When he started staying out all night and you discovered he was cheating, you should’ve left him without hesitation instead of pretending everything was fine. The suffering you endure today is the consequence of your own decisions.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Rory red at Yvette, furious. She had expected her to empathize with her and acknowledge that her downfall wasn’t her fault but the men’s.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Instead, Yvette’sck of sympathy struck her like a de. To Rory, Yvette was nothing more than an animal.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“You’re heartless!” Rory shrieked at Yvette, her voice trembling with bitterness. “Do you even know what love is? That man manipted me, broke me down, and made me fall in love with him. I gave up everything for love.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Before Rory could say another word, Jeremiah shot, and the bullet pierced her right arm. “How dare you call her an animal?” Jeremiah’s voice was cold and dripping with killing intent, leaving everyone shivering on edge.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Emmett’s lips twitched. He thought, ‘Seriously, who gave Rory the nerve to call Yvette an animal right in front of Jeremiah? She’s making things worse.’</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Eagle King had been ready to move, but Jeremiah acted faster. Now, his gaze toward Rory was filled with killing intent because he wouldn’t allow anyone to be so rude to Yvette.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Charles shared the sentiment. His expression darkened as he stared at Rory. Just uttering the words “animal” was enough to seal her fate.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Samantha red at Rory as she stepped in to defend Yvette. “What gives you the right to call her that? You let your obsession with love lead you to a tragic end. It’s entirely your own doing.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Comining and ming others won’t change anything. If you had just had a little courage and left him the moment you found out he was cheating, you wouldn’t have ended up in this mess.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Rory looked at the group, all genuinely standing up for Yvette, and a surge of jealousy mingled with a flicker of admiration rose in her chest. She thought that if she had had people like this by her side, things would have turned out differently.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Clutching her wounded arm, Rory started pouring out everything she had kept buried all these years. It was the first time she had ever voiced these feelings in front of anyone.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">She said, “I used to be very proud of my face, but after I got pregnant with the drug dealer’s child, I couldn’t satisfy him anymore, and he started ignoring me and found another lover.</font></font>
“When that woman gained power, she pushed me down the stairs when I wasn’t paying attention. Imiscarried–my son, already formed, was lost. That woman, relying on her newfound position, faced no consequences. After that, I swore I’d make them pay.”
Rory’s eyes were wild with madness. “I slept with his subordinates to bribe them. When he found out, he set me on fire and tried to burn me alive. I barely escaped, but I was left scarred and turned into the monster I am now.
“Luckily, I met Holden. That’s when I learned about poisonous insects–how they could control people’s minds. We struck a deal. I used the insects he gave me, and that’s how I rose to where I am today and became the so–called Ms. Miller.”
By the time she finished telling her story, tears were streaming down her face.
Yvette stepped forward, the sunlight catching her features and casting a glow around her. Rory stared at her, lost in her stunning beauty.
Yvette’s deep gaze locked with hers, and then she said indifferently, “All your misfortune? It was never caused by others. It was always your own doing. One wrong step led to another: Do you know how each of those poisonous insects you used was created?”N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
Rory shook her head slowly. “All Holden told me was that a human was used as a vessel for them and that the insects need human blood to survive, I don’t know anything more.”
Yvette kicked a small stone by her foot, her gaze falling on Rory without the slightest hint of warmth.
She said, “Humans are used as vessels. They’re ced in arge jar, filled with dozens of the most venomous and toxic creatures. The insects slowly eat away at the person’s internal organs and skull. At first, the person doesn’t die.”
With every word Yvette spoke, Rory’s face grew paler. She had never imagined the process of creating the insects to be so horrifying. Yet, even if she had known, she was certain she would still choose to work with Holden.
To survive and reach the pinnacle of power, she had to sacrifice everyone. There was a struggle in her eyes but not a trace of regret.
Rory met Yvette’s gaze calmly. “It doesn’t matter now. What’s done is done, Yvette. I wasn’t as lucky as you. Is that man with the gun your boyfriend?” she asked, pointing toward Jeremiah.
Jeremiah stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Rory’s. His entire demeanor was chilling, a stark warning to anyone watching.
Seeing his reaction, Rory burst into crazyughter. “This man loves you now, Yvette, but who can be sure about the future? “One day, he might deceive you, betray you, and push you to the edge just like I was. And if you ever find yourself in my shoes, you’d make the same choices as I did. You would–mark my words.”
Rory repeated herst sentence as if trying to convince herself.
Yvette lifted her gaze slightly, her deep eyes showing no emotion. Her voice was as cold and steady as ever. “No, I wouldn’t”
Rory sneered. “Don’t be so sure. You’ve never faced such a moment. When that dayes, you’ll know you are just being na?ve now.”
Yvette’s next words, delivered with indifference, shattered Rory’sposure entirely. “If he betrays me, there will be only one oue for him–death.”
Jeremiah’s hand tightened briefly around Yvette’s fingers as a slight smile curved his lips. His icy gaze bore down on Rory. “I swear on my life–never will I betray her. If I do, I’ll end myself.”
He turned his head slightly toward Yvette, his expression softening. “There would be no need for you to make a move. Just tell me how you’d want it done.”
Jeremiah’s solemn vow struck a nerve with everyone present. For no apparent reason, they all felt he was showing off. Samantha looked over at Eagle King with a wry smile. “Look at Jeremiah’s devotion. I’m a little jealous now.”
Eagle King, chewing on a piece of grass with a roguish air, smirked. “Trust me, if Yvette did it herself, Jeremiah would die tragically.”
Emmett cast a nce at them, his tone calm. “Watch your words
Meanwhile, Rory stood there, stunned. She gazed at Yvette and Jeremiah, unable to speak for a long moment. Finally, she broke down in an instant and murmured softly, “All my life, I longed for love, but in the end, I lost everything.”