The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet novel Chapter 1821

"Watch your mouth!" Lysander's voice rose in anger, his words laced with fury.

Susan really had no idea what she was messing with, spewing such venom at Thalassa! Every word she said was a direct hit to Lysander's breaking point. Thalassa's life was something he had fought tooth and nail for, and no one had the right to hurt her.

No sooner had Lysander's words faded than a bodyguard grabbed Susan by the hair, delivering two sharp slaps that whipped her head violently to one side. The first slap dislocated her jaw, and with the second, her neck twisted, leaving her face permanently skewed, unable to turn back. Pain exploded in Susan’s jaw like a bone had snapped, agony so intense it felt like her brain would burst. Her twisted neck sent waves of pain so severe it felt like her head might fall off, sweeping through her nerves. Susan cried out in agony, "Ah, it hurts so much!"

Even as she screamed, she didn’t hold back, gasping, "Lysander, how dare you resort to vigilante justice! I’ll sue you, sue you till you’re behind bars!"

"Vigilante justice? You clearly have no idea of the sins you've committed!" David snorted coldly.

At that moment, a man around thirty-five entered, his authoritative presence instantly filling the room. "Sorry I'm late, Lysander," he said, his voice carrying a formal yet intimidating air.

Thalassa looked at the newcomer, recognizing him at second glance. It was Payne! She remembered him well; he was Lysander's friend. Once, in over her head trying to investigate something, Thalassa had sought out Payne. Even then, she had sensed that Payne was no ordinary man. Seeing him again sent a shock through Thalassa, realizing Lysander must have called him.

Without much small talk, Lysander’s gaze shifted back to Susan, stating, "An habitual criminal. She kidnapped Thalassa before, the one I had you put on the wanted list. Then she tried to swap real jewels with plastic ones at a jewelry contest, and now, God knows who she's persuaded to frame Thalassa for plagiarism."

In just a few sentences, Lysander laid all of Susan's crimes bare.

Payne looked at Susan with a hint of amusement, seeing her pitiful state, unable to straighten her head, crying miserably. With a slight chuckle, Payne said, "So it's you, huh? I’ve been looking for you for months. A woman, making my team run around."

Approaching Susan, Payne tried to force her face to turn towards him, to look him in the eye. She had been avoiding eye contact, keeping her head turned away, which wasn't acceptable.

"Ah, it hurts, stop, my neck's going to break!" Susan screamed in pain. Her neck was already twisted, and keeping it in one position was bearable, but any attempt to force it back was excruciating.

Far from letting go, Payne exerted more force, turning her head towards him, "Didn’t think about how much it hurts others when you were framing them, did you? Now it's your turn, and you know pain?"

Payne's voice was cold and unyielding. As he forced her head to turn, a crisp "crack" sounded from Susan’s neck.