Chapter 163
As soon as Nina saw Jonathan, she stopped in her tracks. “Mr. Bennett, she called. Her feelings for Jonathan were complicated. He hadn’t given her his Heart Vote tonight.
Nina wondered, “What does that mean? Is Mr. Bennett trying to create distance between them, a boundary I never anticipated?” The thought pricked at her heart. And then there was Cynthia. Nina couldn’t shake the feeling that Mr. Bennett’s demeanor toward Cynthia was… different.
Tonight, memories came flooding back, especially what Celine had told her at the birthday party. Celine said that Cynthia was Mr. Bennett’s girlfriend in Roncrity and they’d been together for three years. Thinking about it now, it doesn’t seem like
a baseless rumor.
“Come here,” Jonathan said, glancing up at Nina. She obediently approached him, showing him what was in her hands.
“It’s a snake egg. Nina explained, recounting everything about Abby hiding it in Cynthia’s things. Jonathan’s gaze darkened as he listened, his expression turning icy, a chill almost palpable in the air. Seeing his mood, Nina swallowed the questions, realizing this wasn’t the right moment.
Just then, Alex stepped out of the tent. “Nina, I bet you’re still shaken up. How about a walk to clear your mind?” Nina wasn’t sure what time it was, the sky was still dark. Abby’s pleading voice echoed from inside the tent. She didn’t know how long Cynthia would take to vent her anger.
Glancing at Jonathan, Nina felt a pang of disappointment, she accepted Alex’s offer. “Sure, Alex, let’s go.” As she said this, Nina deliberately glanced at Jonathan.
However, Jonathan acted as if he hadn’t heard anything. His focus remained entirely elsewhere–his piercing gaze fixed on Cynthia’s tent, lost in thought.
Nina remembered when Alex had offered to peel shrimp for her, and Jonathan would immediately step in to stop it. But now, he gave no response, his attention far away, and it stung. She followed Alex, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness as they walked into the night.
At this moment, only Cynthia and Abby were inside the tent. Jonathan was outside. Abby’s cries were loud enough to pierce through the night, blending with the flickering campfire, creating an eerie scene against the quiet beach.
Jonathan waited outside, unflinching Meanwhile, Cynthia was finally worn out, seated back on her air mattress while Abby lay on the ground, barely moving, her voice hoarse from shouting,
The pain was unbearable to Abby like her bones had been crushed under a bulldozer. Abby had no idea why it hurt so much. “Just let me go… please…”
“You won’t get away with this, Cynthia! Once Fm out of here, I swear, I’ll.”
“I beg you, please let me go.”
Her threats turned to frantic pleas, “Please, I’m begging you
Abby was in so much agony that her thoughts had become muddled Cynthia leaned back, catching her breath, and smirked at the spectacle. She didn’t hit Abby, it was a technique Simon had once taught her–a brutal trick that involved mampulating someone’s joints and bones without permanent damage
Sumon has many quirky hobbies and taught her quite a bit. She’d practiced it on mannequins before but never thought she’d have a chance to try it on a real person. It was surprisingly effective.
Cynthia was exhausted and covered in sweat. She looked down at Abby, who was sprawled on the ground, barely clinging to
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Chapter 1631
consciousness, and asked, “Does it hurt?”
Abby’s response was almost a gasp, “Hurts… hurts so bad… please just kill me if you have to Abby thought she must be crippled, she’d heard her bones snapping.
To Abby, Cynthia was a monster. She was certain Cynthia had slittered every bone, leaving her as good as crippled. Death. seemed preferable. If Abby could move even a little, she would have thrown herself at Cynthia in a desperate attempt to take her down, no matter the cost.
Cynthia squatted down and finally set the bones in both her arms back in place. “Good. It should hurt. Next time you think about scheming against anyone. I’ll take those bones apart and leave them that way. Don’t expect me to piece you back together.”
A jolt of pain ran through Abby, but as it subsided, she was able to move. She quickly checked over her body–no fractures. no injuries, nothing but an eerie relief from the previous agony. It was as if the searing pain had all been a vivid hallucination.
“Get out,” Cynthia’s voice was ice–cold. Abby looked up, terror–stricken. This woman was a demon, a true nightmare. And staying here? Not an option. She bolted from the tent, still trembling
Abby hurried out of the tent, only to see Jonathan calmly stoking the campfire. As he looked up, she let the tears flow freely, racing over to him without a second thought.
“Jonathan, you have to stand up for me!” Abby pleaded, inching toward him, though his icy stare stopped her short.
Abby hesitated but continued, her voice quivering with anger and pain. “Look at my face, all swollen from Cynthia hitting me! How am I supposed to film tomorrow?”
“You can’t even imagine the torture I just went through–she’s like a monster, Jonathan. She toyed with me, pulling my bones apart and putting them back, again and again. I’m still a living person, and she nearly killed me with pain!”
Tears streamed down Abby’s face. Every word she said was genuine, free from pretense. The look of someone narrowly escaping a nightmare clung to her, fear and lingering dread casting a rare, pitiful light over her expression
Ably continued, Jonathan, you have to back me up when I speak to the director tomorrow. Cynthia is a walking time bomb. If she did this to me, she would do it to others too. People like her don’t belong on this show.”
Jonathan remained silent, watching her until her cries dwindled. Then, in a calm, even voice, he asked. “Are you hungry?”
Abby was surprised and deeply moved by his unexpected question. Feeling hopeful, she nodded eagerly. “Of course 1 am, I didn’t have dinner tonight, so I’m in pain and starving”
Jonathan pulled something and extended it toward Abby. His tone was steady, almost indifferent. Then, eat this.”
