Of course.

Sylvia had recognized Yves long ago—or rather, she recognized who he''d been in her previous life.

Back then, Yves was known as the most terrifying heir in high society.

It was all because Yves had been diagnosed with a rare superhuman syndrome as a child.

The Hanson family had spent years covering up his condition, throwing money at problems and making them disappear.

He''d hurt a lot of women. Some were paid off, and those who couldn''t be silenced with cash had their lives ruined by the Hanson family''s influence.

Everything changed when an anonymous source handed over a full chain of evidence, catching Yves red-handed just as he was about to strike again.fn867d ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? /fn867d

The news at the time released a few details.

Like the kind of lock he used to trap his victims.

So from the first day she saw Yves, Sylvia started teaching herself how to survive

if she ever ended up in his clutches.

But the rest of the investigation was never made public.

No one knew exactly who Yves had hurt.

Or what really tied him to Kay.

Thinking back, Sylvia realized the details that were never released were probably erased by Rupert on purpose.

Otherwise, how would Kay have ended up happily married to her so-called "mystery husband," living the good life overseas?

For the longest time, Sylvia had yed along, desperate to understand the connection between Kay and the Hanson family.

Now, finally, she understood everything.

Except...what role did Edwin y in all this?

Lost in thought, Sylvia didn''t notice the cold voice behind her until it was toote.

"Ms. Winslet was right about you. I really shouldn''t have underestimated you. You let me catch you on purpose, didn''t you?"

Yves, who she thought had left, was suddenly back.

Panic shot through Sylvia. She dropped themp she''d been holding, plunging the room into darkness.

Relying on memory, she scrambled behind the operating table.

But this was Yves'' territory. There was no way she could outmaneuver him.

A secondter, the lights zed on.

Sylvia looked up and found herself facing a human skeleton. She couldn''t help the scream that tore from her throat.

She tried to run, but Yves grabbed her by the hair and mmed her onto the table.

Yves'' superhuman gene meant he was huge-much stronger than most grown men. It took almost no effort for him to pin Sylvia down.

He lifted her like she weighed nothing and mmed her back onto the table. Her vision swam.

That''s when she realized why there were four extra restraints on the table.

They were for holding people down. The scratches etched into them were from others who had struggled desperately.

Once she was tied up, Yves loomed over her, looking down coldly.

“Ms. Winslet told me, if you''re gone, Reese can finally be happy.”

"I was going to wait a few more days, at least until everyone knew we were married. Then I''d take care of you, make up some excuse. After

all, who''s going to question a

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husband? But since you''ve figu everything out, I guess theres no use waiting." Content befongs to s

He said it like he was discussing a board game, his face nk, empty of emotion.

He shrugged off his suit jacket, pulled on a waterproof apron, and beganying out his tools.

Sylvia listened as metal clinked against metal, her teeth chattering.

But panic wouldn''t save her now. She had to help herself.

Maybe Yves was in too much of a hurry, or maybe he''d just gotten careless-one

of her hands wasn''t tied tight.

Sylvia wriggled, feeling the rope loosen. She needed more time.

So she started to stall.

"If I''m going to die, what''s a few more minutes?" she said, forcing her voice to sound casual. "This is your

ce anyway. How about letting me Say a few words  fo s

Yves paused, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “What could you possibly have to say? Begging''s not going to help you."

"Not begging. I want to talk about you." Sylvia took a shaky breath and kept going. "Is this how you dealt with all your girlfriends? Your wives, too?"

"Let me guess. You started off torturing animals. In college, you got interested in women. First, just a punch. Then you realized you could buy their silence."

"Next thing you know, you put someone in the hospital. She tried to press charges, but your family paid her off. She even thought she''d struck it rich."

"After that, you couldn''t stop. You even hit your own mother, didn''t you? That''s why Mrs. Hanson always wears those sunsses, always covers up. She''s desperate to marry you off so someone else can share her pain."  s