I Swapped His Fake Gift for a Real Life novel Chapter 13

Chapter 3

Grayson dropped me off at Highridge Monastery Retreat, spun the car around, and vanished without a second glance.

He never noticed the fear in the retreat leader’s eyes.

The iron gate slammed shut behind me with a heavy clang.

A group of men slouched out from the shadows, cigarettes hanging from their lips, wearing sick smiles that made my

skin crawl.

“Well, well… Look who’s back. Missed us, sweetheart?” The one in front gave his belt a tug.

“Didn’t get enough last time?” another said, reaching for my collar. “Don’t worry–we’ll make you feel real welcome.”

“Quit stalling. Take it off!” a third snarled, already fumbling with his belt buckle.

Their breath grew louder, heavier. I kept my head down, body coiled tight like a spring.

I didn’t move.

The third man laughed and cracked a leather whip against the ground. The sound snapped through the air like a

gunshot.

“Still got that attitude, huh?” he spat. “Maybe a beating will fix it.”

The whip lashed out toward me.

I caught it. Midair, Barehanded.

He froze, stunned.

I yanked hard.

He stumbled forward–and I slapped him.

Once.

Twice.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Slap. Slap. Slap.

Chapter 3

The sound of palm against skin echoed like a drumroll across the stone courty

The others laughed at first.

“Caleb, you serious? Can’t even handle a girl?

Then Caleb turned toward them, face ballooned and bloodied teeth rattling loose in his mouth

The laughter died

Silence dropped like a curtain

Then the retreat leader screamed panicked That’s Lily Moore! She’s supposed to be dead”

Every head turned toward the ground

Toward my feet.

Where my shadow lay sharp and solid beneath the noon sun

“Shit,” someone whispered “She’s alive.”

The thug leader spat, straightened his back. “So what? She’s just a woman. She can’t do anything”

They stepped forward, cracking their knuckles, grinning like predators.

They had no idea.

I kept my head down, lips curving into a slow, deliberate smile.

They didn’t know what I was. Didn’t know what I’d done. Didn’t know what I was capable of

I was born different. Strong Dangerous. The kind of dangerous that wiped out an entire family when I was twelve

Violence runs in my blood

If it hadn’t been for Lily… I never would’ve held back.

But now?

There was nothing left to hold me.

The screams lasted through the monastery for three days. This mountain retreat was built for silence. No one could hear

them. No one came.

When Grayson finally returned, Highridge Monastery was nothing but a smoking ruin.

Ash clung to the air like fog

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