“I… I…” Helene's words caught in her throat. She couldn’t get anything out.
“Can’t say it?” Julian’s voice was icy.
Helene’s face turned pale. She just stood there, silent, not a single word coming out.
“Miles, take her away. Finish her quietly.”
The moment Julian said that, Helene’s eyes went wide in terror. She stood frozen, unable to believe what she’d just heard. When someone grabbed her arms, reality finally hit her, and she started to beg.
“No, Julian, please, no! I don’t want to die. Please, I don’t want to die.”
“Then tell me who it was. Who told you?” Julian’s eyes narrowed, sharp and unforgiving.
Up above, Claire was still hanging, her whole body trembling with fear. She could barely breathe from the tension.
But Helene just clenched her jaw and stayed quiet.
Julian let out a cold laugh. “Take her away.”
“No! Please, no! I’m begging you, Julian, don’t do this. Please, just let me go…”
“Julian! Julian! Please, help me…”
“I don’t know anything! I swear, I don’t know anything…”
A wail tore from her throat. “Fine! I’ll talk, I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything! It was her, she’s the one who told me, she said everything…”
Helene collapsed, sobbing and screaming, puddled on the floor.
Claire shuddered. She didn’t hesitate for a second. “Don’t you dare lie just because you’re scared. I’ve never even met you. Why would I say anything to you?”
“Alright then.” Julian’s grip got even tighter.
Miles was standing right there, watching Julian go through with it, but he didn’t try to stop him.
This was all on purpose. Julian wanted to see what mattered more to Claire—her secrets, money, or her own life.
The room was under surveillance. If Claire said a word, it would mean admitting who she really was. That would be all Madeline needed to get her identity back.
The pressure in Claire’s head was too much. She could feel her consciousness slipping as she looked into Julian’s murderous eyes. He really was going to kill her.
She thrashed, desperate to break free. She didn’t want to die. She couldn’t die now.
A horrible, strangled sound came from her throat. Right before she blacked out, her will broke. She rasped out in a hoarse whisper, “I’ll… I’ll talk. I’ll talk…”
Just then, the doors burst open.

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