Howe, the man in the red suit, looked unsettlingly like a pervert.
Nicole eyed Howe warily and asked crossly, "What are you doing here?"
Rumors about Howe's cruel treatment of his sexual partners had reached Nicole.
Some even whispered about a woman who died during an encounter with him.
Howe approached Nicole with a leering look and said, "This is my house.Why can't I be here?"
Nicole's heart raced.
Despite the gnawing fear in her heart, she forced herself to remain calm and said, "I'm sorry.I must've gone to the wrong place."
She then turned to the door and yanked on it a few times but it wouldn't budge.
"No, you're not in the wrong place," Howe said.
He came so close to Nicole that she could hear him breathing.
His voice made Nicole feel sick to her stomach and made her hair stand on end.
Moreover, her hand on the doorknob shook.
"What do you mean?" Nicole stammered in fear.
"Don't you realize what's going on?"
Howe responded.Nicole’s heart sank.
While trying her best to stay calm, she clenched her fist and feigned ignorance.
"I don't understand.Please open the door.I want to go back."
Howe burst into laughter.He placed his hand on Nicole's shoulder and slowly slid it down.
"Do I really have to spell it out for you? Jarrod sent you to me."
As he spoke, his hand crept toward her collar.
Nicole slapped his hand away and stepped back.
With her eyes fixed on him, she asked in disbelief, "Did Jarrod really say that?"
Howe's hand stung from the slap.
Annoyed, he scoffed, "Of course! Who do you think you are? Jarrod sent you to me after I mentioned you once."
Nicole coldly chuckled to herself.
What Jarrod had done didn't surprise her.It was something he would likely do, after all.
“Even if it was Jarrod, he has no right to send me to you.Open the door now, or I'll call the police!"
She took out her cell phone, ready to call the police.
Smack! Her phone suddenly clattered to the floor.
Howe approached her, his eyes narrowed sinisterly.
Nicole sensed the danger and quickly stepped back.
Upon realizing she couldn't escape through the door, she instead bolted upstairs for a room to hide in.
Unfortunately, Howe caught her hair just as she reached the stairs.
The pain was intense, and her scalp felt like her hair might tear off.
"Ouch!"
Nicole cried out, tears springing to her eyes.Howe firmly gripped her hair and cursed, "You shameless piece of trash! You should
feel honored!"
To Nicole, it felt like entering hell.
Howe then proceeded to tie Nicole to a chair.
The ropes were specially designed.
The more she struggled, the tighter they became.
Trembling with rage, Nicole shouted, "If you touch me, I won't let you get away with it! I'll press charges and make sure you pay!"
"I'm curious.How do you plan on making me pay? You know, I don't care even if you don't consent.Give it a try with me and you'll
like me," Howe taunted.
"Bullshit!"
Nicole bellowed at the top of her lungs.
"Don't even think that you are above the law!"
With a terrifying smile, Howe approached Nicole and remarked, "Miss Lawrence, you're quite stubborn.Let's see if you can
remain sol"
As he spoke, he raised his hand and slapped her across the face.
Smack! The sound of the slap was crisp and harsh.
Nicole's head jerked to the side, and her ears buzzed because of the impact.
Howe then grabbed her by the hair yet again and repeatedly slapped her face.
A mouthful of blood escaped Nicole's lips.
Her scalp felt like it was being torn apart, and pain radiated through her entire body.Howe let out a maniacal laugh, seemingly
pleased with himself.
"Let's see how stubborn you are now!"
Tears blurred Nicole's vision, but she could still make out the figure of a despicable figure approaching her.
With a malicious look on his face, Howe mumbled to himself, "This isn't enough..."
That was just the appetizer.
The main course hadn't even been served yet.
Meanwhile, Nicole felt that the pain she was enduring was building up.
Tears cascaded down her face as she faced the grim reality.
As moments went by, her mind drifted away and the world seemed to have quieted down.
She couldn't even utter a word nor move her arms.
It was as though she had lost control of her entire body.
For what felt like forever, Nicole felt like a puppet on strings.
Her gaze was vacant, and blood smeared in her lip from biting.
By now, she looked like her strength had left her.
On the other hand, Howe seemed to have calmed down.
He took a little white pill from the cabinet and swallowed it with a sip of water.
He had an erectile dysfunction, so he had to take a pill before having sex.
Nicole's figure was undeniably exquisite.
Despite her slender frame, she had perky breasts and a full ass.
Howe's breathing quickened as he imagined what he planned to do.
Nicole felt as if she had descended into a pitch-black abyss.
She felt sick to the stomach and felt the urge to throw up.
Sadly, she was weak and helpless and didn't even have the strength to struggle.
She could only watch as Howe approached her.
“Damn it!"
Howe suddenly cursed, frustrated with his own lack of control.
He hadn't even started, but he had already ejaculated.
In his mind, Nicole's incredible body and long-held fantasies about her were to blame.
"Argh! Fuck!"
Howe grumbled to himself.
He went to take medication again.
This time, he increased the dosage by popping seven pills into his mouth.
Then, he pressed a button on the remote control, and the room's projector played the footage of the torments he had inflicted on
Nicole earlier.
Howe, twisted as he was, loved watching people in agony.
Of course, he was aware he'd be better off doing something.
But since Nicole wasn't physically strong, he feared he'd kill her if he went any further.
He wanted to have fun with her while she was alive.
It wouldn't feel the same if she died.
Therefore, he prolonged his fantasies by replaying the video of her suffering again and again.
Nicole's eyes widened upon realizing that the video being played was of her getting beaten.
Her lips quivered, and tears streamed down her face like a relentless storm.
"You bastard!"
Each word felt like a sharp blade, slicing through her heart.
If her hatred was an inferno, Howe would've turned to ashes already.Meanwhile, Jarrod was with Jamie for their pre-wedding
check -up..
Their wedding was just a week away.
The venue was arranged, the hotel bookings were done, and the invitations had been sent out.
Every detail had been meticulously organized.
During the lengthy examination, Jarrod sent a text to Nicole but received no response.
His brows furrowed in annoyance.
He knew she had no sense of gratitude.
How foolish he was for having gone to the lengths of hiring a cardiologist for her father? Jarrod had his plans for Nicole well
thought out, especially after his marriage with Jamie.
Nicole's father's illness required more than just one surgery.
As long as Nicole needed his help to save her father, she would have to comply with his demands.
In other words, Nicole had no way to escape his grasp.
After waiting for about 30 minutes, Jarrod received no reply from Nicole.
He tried calling her, only to be redirected to her voicemail.
This only added to his frustration.
He sneered at the thought that she was ignoring his calls.
Infuriated, Jarrod called Alec and instructed, "Find out where Nicole is."