Chapter 67: Punish Him
Zethan strode into the dark room, his presence commanding and absolute. As he stepped forward, the lights in the vast hall flickered on, one by one, illuminating the space in a cold, eerie glow. Each step he took seemed to summon the light, making the once-dark hall unnaturally bright—almost blinding in contrast.
The air in the room was heavy, thick with the scent of damp wood and something else—fear. A devilish smile played on his lips as he approached the chauffeur, who stood frozen in place, his body trembling despite the warmth of the hall.
The man's disheveled hair clung to his damp forehead, and his wide, terrified eyes betrayed his growing horror. He knew who stood before him now. And he knew there was no way out.
Zethan tilted his head slightly, amusement dancing in his gaze.
"Oops," he murmured, his voice laced with mock innocence. "Hope I didn't intrude."
Then he laughed—a sound so quiet, so cold, that it sent a violent shiver down the man's spine. It wasn't the kind of laughter that comforted. No, it was the kind that stole the air from the room, suffocating, inescapable.
The chauffeur remained silent, lips trembling, unable to find his voice. His instincts screamed at him to run, to flee while he still had the chance. But he knew better. There was no escaping Zethan Lyall.
No one had told him it was Zethan Lyall. They had known. They had set him up.
They knew that he would be finished the moment Zethan walked through those doors. They had used him as bait.
Zethan's gaze sharpened as he took another step forward. "Are you cold?" he asked, his voice smooth, almost gentle, as though he were speaking to a friend. "It seems the rain is merciless tonight... don't you think?" He chuckled darkly, the sound twisting into something far more sinister. "I could warm you up."
At the snap of his fingers, the massive doors swung open. A man entered, pushing a cart laden with wood, the wheels creaking as they rolled across the marble floor. The clatter of logs breaking the tense silence sent the chauffeur's heartbeat into a frenzied rhythm.