Chapter 1014 The Price of Blood
What good was reclaiming the Ashen Pact?
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Even if he managed to seize it, he wouldn’t hold it for more than a few days before he met his end.
After finishing his call with Artemis, Manny dialed Dale’s number. It was picked up almost instantly.
“Speak,” Dale commanded.
“I’m sending over some documents. Sign them. And don’t try any tricks,” Manny said, his voice cold and sharp.
“Fine,” Dale replied.
Manny hesitated. When he heard Diana say “fine” over and over without a moment’s thought, it hadn’t affected him much. But hearing Dale agree just as readily sent a wave of dark, bloodthirsty laughter bubbling up from his throat.
“You really do love Tessa, don’t you? Too bad she’s just a girl,” Manny sneered, his malice crackling through the line. “What use is she to the Ashen Pact? You’ve really become a senile old fool, Dale, actually thinking of handing the entire organization over to Diana and her mother.”
As he spoke, Manny’s tone spiraled into madness.
All of this was supposed to be his. That unconditional protection, that unwavering loyalty—it should have belonged to him. Why was it all being handed to Tessa now? What had she done to deserve it?
He was the one who had spent years by his father’s side. Was blood truly that significant? Was it so vital that a successor be biological? Did years of shared life and shared memories mean absolutely nothing compared to a DNA test?
In the cage, Tessa simply rolled her eyes at Manny’s blatant sexism.
“I’m not interested in discussing this with you,” Dale interrupted. “Do not hurt her. If you do, you won’t get a single cent of what you’re asking for.”
The threat in Dale’s voice was absolute.
Manny let out a mocking huff. “Don’t worry. I won’t touch her. She’s my prize right now–the golden key that’s going to get me everything I want.”
He had known he wouldn’t snatch the wrong person this time. Look at the results: he had Tessa,
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9:48 Tue, Feb 3 d.
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Chapter 1014 The Price of Blood
Finished
and suddenly everything that had been stripped from him was being returned on a silver platter.
Manny hung up and walked over to the cage. Seeing Tessa locked a profound sense of accomplishment.
away
like an animal gave him
“So, how does it feel?” Manny taunted. “Being the Princess of the Ashen Pact isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, is it?”
He hurled his mockery at her, venting the same humiliation he had endured from others over the past few weeks.
Tessa merely watched him with a frigid, silent gaze.
Manny leaned in, meeting her indifferent, fearless eyes. “Tell me… what do you think Victor will sacrifice for you?”
Victor. The man who had been with Tessa for such a short time, yet had already left his mark.
“Would he die for you?” Manny pressed.
Tessa looked at him flatly. “You actually have the time to gossip about my love life right now?”
Manny choked on his next words. Gossip?
Damn it… did this woman have any idea what kind of situation she was in? He felt a sudden, violent urge to rip those words right out of her mouth. Her tongue was every bit as infuriating as Diana’s.
“Heh, still got some fight in you? Let me tell you something, Tessa–they’re all going to die. I want to see if they’re really willing to trade their lives for yours.”
Tessa’s expression turned icy at his words.
“They’ve done so much to dismantle the Ashen Pact and they think they’re going to walk away?” Manny ranted. “This time, not a single one of them escapes.”
Tessa remained silent, thinking to herself: What a delusional idiot. The man was as stubborn and foolish as a mule. He had managed to escape, yet instead of fleeing Noctarth for good, he was still here playing games. Did he really think his luck was so infinite that he could afford to keep gambling with his life?
Manny, seeing the strange look in her eyes, felt his temper flare again. “Why aren’t you saying anything? You don’t agree?”
“It’s not that,” Tessa replied. “Everything you’ve said is right. I’m scared, okay? Is that better?”
9:48 Tue, Feb 3 d..
Chapter 1014 The Price of Blood
She figured she might as well play along.
:
“Scared?” Manny scoffed. “You certainly don’t look it.”
“Ugh, I’m terrified! Please, just let me go, okay?”
The tears came instantly, followed by loud, dramatic sobbing.
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