The Heiress With Seven Secret Identies (Stella Shaw) novel Chapter 24

24 The Hidden Truth in the Hut

“Honey, lock the door! Grab the chains!”

“Got it!”

As soon as the door slammed shut and the sound of chains echoed, Stella opened her eyes. Her sharp gaze made the woman stumble back in fear.

Stella stood up, clamped a hand over the woman’s mouth, and yanked her backward–crashing her into the wall.

Tess delivered a brutal kick to the old man’s jaw, silencing his scream. His face twisted in terror.

Moments later, Tess had both of them chained up in the corner.

“Boss, I’ll keep watch outside,” Tess said.

“Go.”

Stella crouched down, her eyes cold as she stared at the couple.

“I’m asking questions. Answer honestly, or your precious son might not make it out of this alive. It’s up to me,” she said flatly.

The pair nodded frantically.

“Do you know Luna Harlow?” Stella asked.

When they shook their heads, she pressed on, “Doggy Harlow’s wife.”

Their eyes widened. They exchanged a panicked glance–and Stella knew she’d hit the mark.

“Tell me everything about her. No detail is too small,” she ordered.

Stella pulled the rags from their mouths.

The old man’s eyes darted nervously. “Doggy Harlow’s wife isn’t named Luna. Her name’s Ruby.”

The woman nodded quickly, catching on, “Yeah, Ruby! That’s right!”

Stella smiled, but her eyes turned as cold as ice.

Fr

She stuffed the rags back into their mouths, grabbed each by the head, and smashed their skulls together without hesitation. Their foreheads bloomed red instantly.

“Lie again, and I’ll stab you once for every lie,” she warned.

They shook their heads violently, tears of fear streaming down their faces.

“Boss! Someone’s coming–heading this way!” Tess called from outside.

7:23 pm P ppp.

Chapter 24 The Hidden Truth in the Hut

“Shove them into the back room,” Stella ordered.

Tess froze when she opened the door.

Finished

A putrid stench hit them first. Huddled on a pile of straw was a woman–skin and bones, her hair matted like a sewer mop. Her hands and feet were caked in blood, the chains around them stained crimson.

Stella and Tess dragged the chained couple behind the straw pile, hiding them from view.

Stella’s gaze fixed on the emaciated woman, her heart sinking.

“Mom! Dad! We’re home!” a man’s voice shouted from outside. The old couple’s faces lit up with relief.

Stella and Tess remained calm, unflinching.

“Mom! I found a city guy for little sis–handsome! Real handsome!” the man yelled.

When no response came, he marched straight for the back storage room.

“Mmm! Mmm!”

The chained woman thrashed, her eyes wild with terror.

Crack!

The sound of a belt filled the air. The woman struggled desperately, the chains clanking as her wrists were rubbed raw again. The stench of blood grew stronger, thick with despair.

“Why can’t you just behave? Life with me is good–so why fight it?” the man snarled.

“Mmm… mmm…”

Tears of hopelessness rolled down the woman’s cheeks.

Before the belt could strike again, Stella lunged forward and kicked the man to the ground.

“Angel…”

The man stared up at her, drool dripping from his mouth.

Stella kicked him again and again, her expression cold as frost. A terrible suspicion began to form in her

mind.

“Take care of him. Find out where this ‘city guy‘ is,” she told Tess.

“On it.”

Tess didn’t hold back. She knew how to make people talk.

Stella turned back to the old couple, her voice deadly calm. “Whether your family line dies out depends on how honest you are. Don’t even think about screaming. Do you really believe your ‘rescue‘ can get here before my knife?”

7:23 pm P P P P

Chapter 24 The Hidden Truth in the Hut

She pulled the rags from their mouths once more.

Til talk! I’ll talk!” the woman sobbed, watching her son get beaten.

Finishe

“Doggy’s wife… that college girl… she was a stray he picked up and made his wife,” the old man gasped.

“And?” Stella pressed.

“Then they moved away. That’s all!”

Stella’s fists clenched so tight her knuckles whitened.

She’d guessed it–but facing the truth still sent a wave of agony through her chest.

“Did Doggy treat her like this too?” she asked, pointing to the chained woman. Her once soft eyes blazed with fury, as if she could set the straw in the room on fire.

“What’s wrong with beating a woman who won’t obey? It’s normal!” the old man snapped.

Stella felt her breath catch in her throat.

“What else? Tell me everything you know.”

“There’s nothing else!”

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