The Slave of Pleasure
Chapter 121

Rachel

My heart felt like it was about to explode as Veronica threatened Nancy. I could feel the blood drain from my face, my sweaty hands clenching my fists tightly. My mind was spinning, and all the possibilities were jumbled together in a desperate chaos. I couldn't let Nancy suffer for something that wasn't her fault.

"Please, let her go," I begged, my voice coming out weaker than I would have liked. "Nancy doesn't know anything. She only came because I asked her to. Please, Veronica, you don't gain anything by keeping her here."

Silence filled the room, as if the world had held its breath. Nancy, who had been serious and quiet until then, began to laugh. A loud, shrill laugh that echoed off the walls of the dark place. I froze, as did Veronica's henchmen, who exchanged nervous glances. Even Veronica looked momentarily disconcerted before approaching Nancy with firm steps.

She grabbed Nancy's face tightly, studying her as if she were trying to solve a puzzle. Nancy, however, didn't blink. There was something in her gaze that I couldn't understand.

"You're a mystery, aren't you?" Veronica murmured, squeezing Nancy's face even tighter before releasing her with a light push. "I know that look well... a disturbed, fragmented mind."

Nancy didn't react to Veronica's observation. She just kept staring at her with a mocking smile, as if she were provoking the most dangerous woman we knew.

"Let her go," Veronica said suddenly, turning to the henchmen.

The men hesitated, exchanging suspicious glances. One of them asked:

"Are you sure, ma'am?"

"Yes. She won't do anything. And if she does..." Veronica gave Nancy a sharp look, "it will be the last time you see Rachel."

My heart raced even faster, but this time it wasn't just fear. It was confusion. What was Nancy planning? Why was she acting like she was in control of the situation?

Nancy began walking toward the exit with a calmness that bordered on the absurd. As she passed Veronica, she did something that left me speechless: she ruffled Veronica's perfectly straight hair, running her hand through it with a dismissive gesture.

The silence that followed was piercing. Veronica gripped Nancy's arm tightly, her face contorted with anger.

"Don't test my patience, girl," she hissed.

Nancy, however, didn't seem intimidated. She simply stepped away, letting go of Veronica's hand, and continued walking toward the exit. But I saw it. I saw it clearly when Nancy held something between her fingers: a strand of Veronica's hair. My mind began to work quickly, trying to understand what Nancy intended to do with it. It was as if she had orchestrated an entire plan without telling me. As much as her attitude left me perplexed, a ray of hope arose in my chest.

One of the henchmen abruptly led Nancy out of the room, leaving me alone with Veronica. As soon as the door closed, the tension in the air seemed palpable.

"Your friend is weirder than I expected," Veronica said, fixing her hair with an air of disdain. "But I have to admit she has courage."

I didn't answer. My mind was divided between worry for Nancy and fear of what Veronica would do to me now that we were alone.

"So, Rachel..." Veronica began, walking slowly around me like a predator analyzing its prey. "Do you really believe you can save Vincenzo from me?"

"I don't believe you can, Veronica. I know I can."

My answer came out firmer than I expected. There was something in me that refused to give in. Vincenzo didn't deserve to be trapped in that situation, and I wouldn't let Veronica win. She laughed, a cold, cruel sound that made me shiver.

"You have spirit, I'll give you that." But spirit is not enough to win this game.

"This is not a game for me," I replied.

Veronica stopped walking and leaned slightly toward me, her eyes shining with a malice that seemed to want to destroy me from the inside.

"Oh, honey... everything in life is a game. You just need to learn to play better."

I kept my gaze fixed on hers, even though I felt like looking away. I couldn't show weakness now.

Meanwhile, Nancy

The last image of Nancy walking out the door wouldn't leave my head. I knew she had something in mind. Nancy never did anything without a purpose. But what if she was wrong? What if this only put more lives in danger? As Veronica continued talking, detailing her victories and humiliating Vincenzo, my mind was elsewhere. I needed to trust that Nancy knew what she was doing, but that didn't make my situation any less desperate. From the outside, I imagined that Nancy was already plotting something. Could Veronica's hair be a clue? Evidence? I didn't know exactly what she would do, but I was sure it wouldn't be something conventional.

"You know, Rachel," Veronica interrupted. stopped my thoughts. "Vincenzo is not the man you think he is. He has secrets... secrets that would destroy any love you think you have for him." "I don't believe you," I replied automatically. "You don't have to. Sooner or later, he'll show you himself. And when he does, I hope you survive the truth." Veronica's words hit me like a knife. Not because I believed her, but because on some level, I knew there were things about Vincenzo that I didn't know yet. And that scared me. Veronica stepped away and signaled for one of her henchmen to come. "Take her back to her room. I want to think about what we're going to do with her." As she was led back, I thought about Nancy again. Was she safe? Would she get help in time? Or would I ultimately be alone against Veronica and all her henchmen? Whatever was coming, I knew I had to be ready. Not just for me, but for Vincenzo. For us.