John crumpled to the cold stone ground, his body trembling as he grasped onto Oliver McCarthy's leg, barely able to hold himself up. His eyes, swollen from the beating, looked up at Oliver with desperation. "Please… don't hurt her. Don't hurt Sarah," John gasped, his voice hoarse and weak. His grip on Oliver's trouser leg tightened as he begged for the life of the woman he loved. "She doesn't deserve this… please…"
Oliver, clearly relishing the sight of John broken and pleading at his feet, sneered down at him. The power in the situation was intoxicating to him. Here was John West, the man who had taken Sarah from him, now reduced to begging like a dog. But beyond the satisfaction of seeing John's misery, Oliver had no real idea what was going on.
He tilted his head and glanced over at Taylor, who stood watching with his arms crossed, a smug grin playing at the corners of his mouth.
"What's this all about, Taylor?" Oliver asked, his voice dripping with amusement. "I thought we were just bringing John here to rough him up a little. Seems like there's more to this than I realized."
Taylor's grin didn't falter, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "We're handling things, Oliver. John's been nothing but a thorn in this family's side. He's been keeping Sarah away from us, and we've had enough."
Oliver looked down at John, still clutching his leg, and shook his head. "Look, I love the idea of him being beaten to a pulp, don't get me wrong," he said with a sly smile. "But this?" He gestured to John's battered form. "This isn't the way to go about things."
Taylor raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting Oliver to push back. "What do you mean? This was all set up to help you, to get Sarah back where she belongs,married to you."
Oliver waved a hand dismissively. "If she didn't want to marry me, you should've let her be." The words hung in the air, unexpected and, in that moment, even sincere. Oliver wasn't one to chase after someone who didn't want him. He preferred to be wanted for what he had , his wealth, his status, the power he wielded. "But I get it. Family pride and all that," Oliver added, trying to downplay his shift in tone.
John, seeing a potential opening, dragged himself up on his knees, clutching at Oliver's hand now. "Please… give me a job," John begged, his voice trembling. "I don't care what it is… a cleaning job… anything. I just need to be able to take care of Sarah."
Oliver looked down at John, his brows furrowing slightly. He wasn't used to people begging for work, especially not someone like John, who had defied the very world he came from by marrying Sarah. For a moment, he considered the broken man before him, then shrugged. "A cleaning job, huh? Alright, fine. I'll give you a job at one of my companies. It'll be menial work, but it'll pay enough to keep you off the streets."
Taylor scoffed, clearly displeased. "You're just going to let him crawl back into your world?"
Oliver chuckled. "Let's be honest, Taylor. He's no threat to me. If he's scrubbing floors in my company, what harm could he possibly do?" He kicked John lightly, pushing him away as if dismissing a stray dog. "You'll get your job, West. But you'll have to work under my terms"
John coughed, barely able to respond, but he nodded weakly, anything to survive this night.
Satisfied, Oliver straightened his suit jacket and turned toward the entrance of the mansion. "Now, let's finish this."
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The dim light in the basement flickered as Oliver descended the narrow staircase, following Taylor and Joker's men. The walls were damp, and the air was thick with tension. As they stepped into the large, cold room, Oliver's eyes fell on Evelyn Lance, standing beside Sarah, whose wrists were still tied to the chair. Evelyn, as always, looked immaculate despite the sinister situation, her steely eyes glinting in the dim light.
Oliver, ever the charmer when it suited him, approached Evelyn with a smile. "Mrs. Lance," he said, bowing slightly. "I must say, you're looking as radiant as ever, even in this grim setting."
Evelyn's lips curved into a tight smile, her expression betraying no emotion. "Always a pleasure, Oliver," she replied smoothly, though her mind was focused on more pressing matters. The Lance family had long respected Oliver because of his wealth and influence, and it was important to keep him on their side, no matter how chaotic things became.
As Oliver surveyed the room, his eyes briefly met Sarah's. She looked pale and disheveled, but there was still fire in her gaze. Her hands, bound to the chair, were red and bruised from the tight rope.
Oliver turned back to Evelyn. "I've been thinking, Mrs. Lance. Maybe it's time we let them both go," he said, lowering his voice. "You'll never gain favor with Sarah if you break her spirit like this. Show her you're reasonable, and you might just win her back."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow, momentarily surprised by Oliver's sudden shift in tone. But his wealth and charm had always been his saving grace. She knew the Lances couldn't afford to alienate him completely, especially not with the business on the brink of collapse.
"Perhaps you're right," Evelyn said coolly, though her voice remained calculated. She moved toward Sarah, loosening the ropes around her wrists. Sarah's eyes widened as her arms were finally freed, the circulation returning to her numb hands.
"Where's John?" Sarah demanded, her voice shaky but filled with urgency. "What have you done to him?"
Before Evelyn could respond, the basement door creaked open, and the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the room. Joker's men entered, dragging John's battered form with them. They tossed him onto the cold floor without a second thought, his body landing with a sickening thud.
"John!" Sarah screamed, rushing to his side. She knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she cradled his bruised face. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked down at the man she loved, broken and bloodied on the ground.
"Why? Why would you do this to him?" Sarah sobbed, her voice filled with anguish as she turned her tear-streaked face toward Evelyn, who stood silently watching.
John coughed, barely able to lift his head. "I'm sorry, Sarah… I tried…"
"Shhh," Sarah whispered, her hands gently stroking his hair. "It's okay. We're going to get out of this."
Evelyn stood still, watching the scene unfold, her cold eyes scanning Sarah and John. For a brief moment, a flicker of doubt crossed her face, but it was quickly replaced by her usual calculating expression. She had a plan, and she wasn't about to let emotions get in the way.
Oliver, watching from the shadows, sighed and adjusted his cufflinks. "Well, this is turning into quite the spectacle."