Betrayed, But Not Defeated novel Chapter 8

Sergio was no stranger to violence. With a simple wave of his hand, two of his men pulled out knives and charged forward.

Terrified, Scarlet screamed, too scared to witness the bloody scene about to unfold. But in the next moment, two crisp sounds echoed through the room.

The two men who had rushed at Daniel were sent flying, each receiving a brutal slap across the face. Their heads cracked open instantly.

Two loud thuds echoed as they hit the ground, motionless.

They were dead.

The sudden brutality stunned Sergio. He was a ruthless man, but this… was something else entirely. Daniel had killed two of his men without hesitation. His expression was calm, and his gaze was steady, as though he had just swatted a couple of flies.

Who was this young man? How could he kill so easily without batting an eye?

Scarlet shrieked again, overwhelmed with fear, before retching violently.

Daniel shot her a glance, his tone laced with irritation. "Get out."

She turned and bolted out of the room without hesitation, still gagging as she fled.

Daniel then turned back toward Sergio, his gaze icy and cold as death.

Sergio swallowed hard. Gritting his teeth, he smiled and said, "Sir, you're something else. I respect you! Let's not escalate this any further. I'll take the loss today—we can even be friends."

Daniel's voice remained indifferent, but his words carried a deadly weight. "You think you can just walk away after trying to kill me? I live by one rule—leave no loose ends."

With that, he stepped forward and, with a single slap, shattered Sergio's skull.

The other henchmen tried to flee, but Daniel kicked over a table, sending knives, forks, and bottles hurtling like deadly projectiles. Each hit its mark, lodging themselves deep in the necks of the fleeing men.

Five years of living in the cultivation world had hardened Daniel's heart into cold steel. Mercy was a liability in a world where the weak were prey to the strong.

Just then, Ishaan hurried into the room with a group of men, only to freeze at the gruesome scene before him.

After a brief pause, he quickly recovered, a flattering smile appearing on his face. "Mr. Ashcroft, rest assured. I'll take care of everything here. Sergio was a regular troublemaker, and more importantly, he was Zak's lackey. Getting rid of him is a service to the people."

Daniel glanced at Ishaan but didn't bother explaining himself.

Carrying the unconscious Charlene, he left Sakuna Bar without a word.

…

Once they reached Charlene's villa, Charlene suddenly began retching violently again. Disgusted, Daniel carried her into the bathroom.

In a matter of seconds, he stripped her bare and dumped her into the temperature-controlled bathtub.

Scoffing, he muttered, "Not only is she as venomous as a snake and shamelessly promiscuous, but she even associates with trash like Sergio. A woman's beauty means nothing when it hides such an ugly soul."

Daniel gave her a cold glance and turned to leave. "Stay in there until you sober up."

Charlene, still dazed, reached out feebly. Feeling unbearably hot, she clawed at her chest, leaving bloody marks in her desperation.

Daniel frowned, shaking his head. "Look at you! So eager for attention. It's hard to believe you were a virgin this morning."

He no longer paid any attention to Charlene. Though she was undeniably beautiful, she left him feeling cold and disappointed.

With no place to stay for the time being, Daniel sat cross-legged in the living room and quietly began to cultivate.

Five years of cultivation in a harsh world and surviving countless deadly encounters had forged his will into something unbreakable.

Killing Sergio and his men was just another mundane task for him. In this world, power and influence were everything, while strength was the only path forward.

With his eyes closed, Daniel took deep breaths, focusing entirely on his practice.

…

The morning light streamed through the windows the following day, casting a gentle glow over the bathroom.

Charlene slowly regained consciousness, blinking her eyes blearily. Shaking off the lingering dizziness, she froze, startled to find herself naked in the bathtub.

"H-How did I end up here?"

Staggering to her feet, she caught sight of herself in the mirror, her delicate features pale but still breathtaking. However, her chest bore several deep red scratches, stark against her fair skin.