Chapter 539

Hannah drew in ragged breaths, yet her voice carried unyielding steel. "As long as I live, as long as I draw breath, I'll never stop seeking a way out!"

"Hah, quite the backbone you've got." Brixton's tone carried amusement. He rose, crossed the space, and with the cold kiss of his dagger's tip, tilted her chin upward. "Alright then, let's make this a game with rules.From now on, every time you attempt an escape, I'll carve a mark on that pretty arm of yours. Fair trade,don't you think?"

He paused, as though lost in recollection. "Let me think... You've tried three times already. That means three cuts you owe me."

Before the echo of his words faded, his wrist flicked, and the blade danced. In the blink of an eye, three swift slashes seared across Hannah's left arm.

The motion was too quick for her to resist. Agonizing pain struck, and crimson welled immediately.

Hannah bit hard on her lower lip and swallowed her cries, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a scream.

Leaning closer, Brixton drew the blade to his tongue, tasting the blood with eyes grown darker still. A low chuckle slipped from him. "Tsk... Sweet as honey."

"Pervert!" Hannah hurled the word like a dagger of her own, teeth clenched.

Yet, Brixton wore the insult as though it were a crown, his grin widening with delight. "I like that."

He gestured lazily to the man at his side. "Take her away. Patch her up. Don't let her bleed to death."

Hannah was led to a chamber on the second floor of the main building, just a wall apart from Brixton's own quarters. Compared to the suffocating cell before, this room was a world apart-there was even a window that opened toward the restless sea.

Her arm received a crude rinse and a gauze wrap. It wasn't the touch of a healer, but it stopped the bleeding.

Standing by the window, Hannah's thoughts sharpened like glass. Running around aimlessly, apart from angering that perverted Brixton and getting herself hurt repeatedly, was utterly meaningless and a waste of time. Brixton was the undisputed master of this island and the organization that thrived here. Her security wristband's signal was completely blocked. Even if Vincent had the skill enough to move mountains,locating her swiftly would be nearly impossible. No-she had only herself to rely on.

To truly walk free, brute force alone would not open her cage. She needed another path. She had to earn Brixton's trust-at least, a shadow of it.

That very day, while her gaze wandered over the horizon of waves, the door suddenly flung open without the slightest knock.

Brixton strode in, his mood lifted, eyes roaming over her with a mischievous gleam. His lips curled. "Not plotting your escape today? Changed your tune?"

Hannah turned, her face carved into stillness, her tone flat as a board. "I'm afraid of pain."

"Afraid of pain?" Brixton chuckled, amused by her reply.

In an instant, his hand seized her injured arm, fingers pressing deliberately against the tender wound beneath the gauze.

A sharp wave of pain shot through her, draining the color from her face. She gasped but held the sound in her throat, cursing silently, "You wretched fiend!"

Brixton's eyes gleamed as he watched her tremble yet endure without a single cry. His brow arched. "If you fear pain, then why stay silent when I cut you?"

Hannah resisted the urge to jerk free. She lifted her gaze, mockery lacing her voice. "I held back. If I screamed too loudly, it might sour your mood. And then you'd carve deeper, wouldn't you? That would be a greater loss for me-not worth the price."

For a heartbeat, Brixton looked taken aback. Then, as though the logic tickled him, he let out a booming laugh,releasing her arm. "Ha-ha! Clever woman! You increasingly amuse me by the day!"

His laughter still hanging in the air, he suddenly nodded to his subordinate at the door. "Bring me my phone."

Hannah's heart clenched. Wariness shadowed her eyes as she watched,uncertain of his intent.

The subordinate returned quickly, placing an encrypted phone into Brixton's hands.

Brixton unlocked the phone, lifted it, and to her shock, began recording a video of her.

Stunned, Hannah instinctively stepped back. "What are you doing?"

A sly smile curved Brixton's lips as he looked at her, mood buoyant. "Relax. I'm in a good mood today. Your Mr. Jones is moving quicker than I expected. Seems your time here will end sooner than you think."