The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 2135

"I feel the need to remind you, Nine—"

Vargas was clearly losing his patience with her arrogant, make-yourself-at-home attitude. His genial facade dropped, replaced by a cold, murderous glare.

"I don't need your reminders." Charlotte tilted her head, her beautiful, obsidian eyes locking onto his with freezing intensity. "Threats and intimidation don't work on me."

"Either you play by my rules, or you put a bullet in my head right now."

"..."

Vargas's face turned a mottled shade of purple. For the first time in his life, he had been rendered completely speechless.

And by a brazen little girl, no less.

"But you'd do well to remember..." Charlotte stood up, unflinchingly staring down the most dangerous man in Latin America as her red lips curved into a smirk. "Hacker Nine isn't my only title."

"Before you think about laying a finger on me or my people, you'd better weigh whether your little Syndicate can survive the retaliation."

"..."

Vargas clenched his fists, his weathered face contorting with absolute fury.

He despised her arrogance, but he genuinely didn't dare test her bluff.

He had gone through all the trouble of baiting Captain L just to force Nine to the negotiating table.

The Stygian Syndicate had a massive shipment sitting at the docks. They desperately needed it moved through international waters and distributed globally within the week.

As the world's apex hacker, Nine had the keys to every major network on the planet.

She knew exactly how to bounce signals across dozens of countries to blind the grid and let the cargo slip through undetected.

Securing her cooperation was his sole objective.

He obviously knew she possessed other powerful identities and backers he couldn't afford to provoke.

But this shipment was quite literally a matter of life and death for the Syndicate.

He had no choice.

As long as she complied and guided the shipment safely through the blockade, he would happily let her walk free.

"Do as she asks," Vargas barked, swallowing his pride because he couldn't afford to burn this bridge.

"Yes, sir."

The guards didn't dare argue, quickly leading Charlotte away to the dining quarters.

Watching her receding figure, Vargas's trusted lieutenant couldn't help but ask, "Boss, do you really think she'll cooperate with us?"

Tansy stopped in front of Vargas, bowing her head in submission.

Smack!

Before she could say another word, Vargas's palm cracked violently across her cheek. Her face exploded in pain, and a trickle of crimson blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

"..."

The sheer force of the blow knocked the air out of her lungs, sending her sprawling to the floor.

She raised a trembling hand to her stinging cheek, staring at the blood on her fingertips as a hollow, broken smile touched her lips.

"Did you think my warnings were just a joke?" Vargas stalked over, crouching down to viciously grip her chin, his eyes blazing with wrath. "What were you doing in Brazil? Trying to tip him off?"

"..."

He was squeezing her jaw so hard it felt like the bone was splintering. Pain radiated through her skull.

Tansy endured it silently, not daring to defend herself.

It was true.

She had overheard her father's plan to use Donald as bait again.