Resurrecting the Genius Within

Chapter 356 Punishment "Marial" Josh exclaimed Finished her band Melissa, overcwith fear, pressed her hand over her mouth, her complexion drained of color.

Maria, in a moment of agony, gasped and clenched her teeth as she withdrew the dagger, then prepared for another thrust.

The onlookers observed, a mix of shock and familiarity crossing their faces. Punishments like this were not unfamiliar, but witnessing a young girl endure such brutality was a first.

One couldn't deny her courage, nor her remarkable resilience, evident in her stoic silence.

Drenched in cold sweat, Maria's clothing clung to her body, her hands trembling as she grappled with the pain. Yet, after a pause, she gritted her teeth and extracted the dagger once more, poised for another strike.

This time, Maria swiftly withdrew the blade, a spray of blood splattering across her sweaty, pallid features.

Three strikes, six punctures.

Melissa stood, utterly stunned by the harrowing spectacle before her.

Clutching the dagger tightly, Maria shot Jim a penetrating glance, the emotions swirling in her ambiguous, whether brimming with hatred or something else entirely.

cyes Then, with her right arm drenched in blood, she turned on her heel and departed, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.

In that moment, Josh fixed Isabelle with a meaningful stare and uttered, "Hey, Ms. Jenkins, you'd better peel your eyes out for the people you call friends." His eyes conveyed a warning, as if cautioning her about unseen dangers.

Isabelle narrowed her gaze, locking eyes with Josh for a fleeting moment, and deftly retrieved the concealed dagger from her sleeve.

For an instant, she poised to advance towards Josh, but he sensed the impending threat and quickly averted his gaze.

Isabelle paused, watching as Josh retreated, the tension palpable in the air.

With the Warners' affairs resolved, Isabelle turned to Jim and remarked, "I'll be heading to Melfrey cmorning." Jim's glasses mirrored the blood-red puddle left by Maria on the ground, his expression marked by confusion. Concerned, Melissa queried, "Mr. Carter, are you okay?" Jim redirected his attention to Melissa, offering a reassuring nod, "I'm fine, thanks for asking. Ms. Holmes." Then, turning to Isabelle, he inquired, "Do you have matters to attend to?" 1/3 08:40 Fri, 28 Jun Chapter 356 Punishment Jim acknowledged her response with a nod, "Alright." 92% #Finished Casting a final glance towards the doorway, Jim swiftly composed himself and addressed Isabelle, "Did you manage to talk to Yves?" Meanwhile, as Josh settled into the car, preparing to address the situation with Maria, he was caught off guard by her sudden appearance, a bloody dagger pressed against his neck.

Upon hearing her tremulous inquiry, "Who's behind Ryan's death?" Josh responded, "When Ryan passed, he taskedwith a mission. It was his crew who let slip that Jim had been around with a buddy before the tragedy struck." Maria issued a stern warning. "You better not be pulling a fast one. If I find out you had a hand in this, you're finished!" Defending himself, Josh stated, "He's my blood, Maria. Why would I want harm for my own kin?" Maria shot back. "Just kin? That doesn't mean much!" Josh sighed. “Alright, Maria, no need to hash this out now. Your hand's been bleeding; you need to wrap it up quick to stop the bleeding, or you'll risk losing too much blood." Josh fetched the first aid kit from the driver's seat and inspected Maria's injured arm, a pang of regret washing over him. "You've always been stubborn, even as a kid. Lettake sof that pain off your shoulders." Maria, utterly ungrateful, retorted, "You don't deserve to." Despite her coldness, Josh skillfully tended to her wound before setting course for the hospital.

Maria's eyes brimmed with disdain for Josh as they drove.

After a while, she broke the silence icily, "You're the only one my father sent?" Josh nodded, "Yeah, that's it." Maria remained silent for the rest of the journey.

Arriving back at the Warners' turf, Maria, her arm still throbbing, returned with a stony expression.

Suppressing her trepidation, she arrived at her father's leopard sanctuary, only to witness him reveling in the spectacle of two leopards locked in combat, flanked by two women.

"Back already?" her father greeted casually

Though Maria's arm was swathed in thick bandages, her father displayed no hint of concern. m supposed to Kom be his favourite, but he isn't worried at all. All he sent to my rescue was that piece of trash, Josh Love and resentment mingled in Maria's gaze as she regarded her father, who seemed oblivious to her silent reproach.

Finally acknowledging her presence, her father's words dripped with accusation, "If you capture someone, ensure they're swiftly dealt with, leaving no trace. Waiting until matters escalate is a failure to neutralize the threat.", 2/3 08:40 Fri, 28 Chapter 356 Punishment Maria interjected, "He didn't do it. Dad." 92% #Finished "I couldn't care less about who offed Ryan. I just wanna know you're okay and not stirring up any trouble for the fam," her father responded.

"Uncle nearly tookout, Dad," Maria protested.

"Got it, Maria. Head on back and get srest," her father instructed.

Maria's gaze lingered on her father, who continued to laugh with the women, the triumphant roar of the leopard reverberating in her ears. Refusing to meet the beast's eyes, she instead clenched her fists, her glare fixed on her father. At a bustling international airport in Melfrey, within the hall, a formidable contingent of black-clad bodyguards stood in disciplined formation, emanating an air of gravitas and order.