March 23rd, 6:05 PM — Third Floor, Gu Tianhao's Mansion
Mu Qinglan POV
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It was cold.
Not just the stone pressing into my spine, or the metal links biting at my wrists. It was something deeper, crawling through my bones. I'd lost track of time. Day and night didn't matter anymore, not inside this room, chained to a bed like a dog.
My wrists ached, skin rubbed raw from the cuffs.
My hair stuck to my cheeks.
The taste of blood filled my mouth, but it was nothing compared to what John must be enduring.
'I miss you...'
There was nothing here for me to do but glare at the wall, and outside the window, there was nothing but the room where that bastard stayed.
If only the moon would rise, spilling pale blue light across this dark room. I heard every sound in the hall, every footstep. Sometimes, Gu Tianhao's men would laugh just outside my door. Sometimes they just listened, as if waiting for me to break.
I refused.
