Written Off as Trash, I Activated My Hidden Queen Mode novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25 The Village’s Dark Pact

He thought Stella was a monster.

“Anything else? Spit out everything you know about Luna,” Stella demanded.

“That’s it! We beat her if she disobeyed, locked her up, and fed her well when she was pregnant,” the old woman sobbed, staring at her son in agony. “Let him go! Please!”

Stella closed her eyes.

Damned human traffickers.

Derek must have found out she wasn’t his child when he needed her blood for a car accident–then sent

her to the convent.

So after her mother was captured…

Stella couldn’t bear to think about it.

She unlocked the chains, tossed them to Tess, and locked the man up in their place.

“Are you okay?” Stella asked the emaciated woman.

A quick check revealed the woman was mute–her voice stolen by recent injuries.

“Those bastards! They’re not even human!” Tess snarled. She prided herself on being cold–hearted, but her eyes burned with anger.

“Can you write? I’ll help you find your family,” Stella said gently.

The woman just shook her head, urging them to leave with a desperate gesture.

Tess‘ phone buzzed with a message.

“Boss, Ruby’s in the village,” she whispered.

Stella nodded. She wanted to take the poor woman with them, but she refused to budge.

Stella and Tess prepared to leave the old couple’s house–only to find the entire village mobilized.

Stella’s brow furrowed.

“Boss, they’re heading to greet Ruby,” Tess said.

Stella decided to sneak into Derek’s old home while everyone was distracted at the village entrance.

“Doggy’s wife is back!” someone shouted.

“Haven’t seen her in years. We tried visiting Lucky Town, but couldn’t find them!”

“Got rich and forgot about us folks back home!”

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Chapter 25 The Village’s Dark Pact

Finished

“Doggy’s lucky–married two wives even after turning forty!”

“You’re out of the loop. The first one’s dead.”

“Dead? He’d never let her go. She was his cash cow!”

“Lloyd snuck into Lucky Town in a security guard’s uniform. Heard she had a kid but still refused to sleep with Doggy. Probably beat her to death.”

“Serves her right for being ungrateful!”

The villagers‘ casual cruelty cut Stella to the bone.

“I came here with cash to ask questions,” Tess gritted out. “I should’ve brought a machine gun and mowed them all down.”

Once the crowd left, Stella and Tess slipped into Derek’s house.

“Boss, this is it,” Tess confirmed.

Photos of Derek and Ruby hung on the wall like trophies. The furniture was far too nice for a poor village home.

“Ruby’s here to buy them off,” Stella said coldly.

Tess suddenly agreed with Stella’s “violent solution” approach–asking nicely would get them nowhere.

They hid in the cow shed, watching as Derek’s yard filled with villagers.

Ruby handed out envelopes stuffed with cash.

“Ruby, why isn’t Doggy with you?” someone asked.

Ruby’s face tightened. She’d never wanted to return to this godforsaken place, but she had no choice. She’d only been back twice since marrying Derek: once for his father’s funeral, once for his mother’s.

“He’s busy. I’m here to warn you–someone’s investigating White Pit Village. Hide your ‘wives‘ well. If they’re found, swear you took them in out of kindness. Otherwise, you’ll all end up in jail. And I heard a film crew’s shooting on the next mountain–leave them alone. Messing with celebrities is asking for trouble,” she ordered.

The villagers took her money and nodded, but they weren’t worried.

“They’re our wives now. No one can take them!”

“Ruby, can you get us jobs in the city? We’re family!”

Ruby sneered, “If anyone asks about Luna, say you’ve never heard of her. Otherwise, we’re all finished.”

Stella, you underestimated how tight–knit these people areand how evil they can be. You dared to come here? I’ll make sure you never leave.

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Chapter 25 The Village’s Dark Pact

“Ruby, wait! We’ll prepare a feast to welcome you!” the village chief said obsequiously.

Finished

Ruby barely acknowledged him. She hated being here, giving these leeches a chance to mooch off her.

“Lloyd, come with me. We need to talk,” she said.

Lloyd Barnett rubbed his hands nervously and followed her into the mountains nearby.

Stella and Tess slipped after them.

Stella’s eyes narrowed–this wasn’t the real Lloyd. He was an imposter.

“Ruby, what do you need?” Lloyd asked, grinning.

“Who else knows about what happened back then?” Ruby demanded, her voice sharp.

“What happened?” he feigned confusion.

“The night Luna was killed.”

Stella’s hands clenched so hard her nails dug into her palms. Her eyes widened in shock.

“I never told anyone! Only you and Doggy knew!” Lloyd insisted. “It wasn’t murder. She refused to sleep with him, and they fought. She tried to kill Doggy, so he defended himself! Isn’t that self–defense in the city? Why are we talking about this now? Are they investigating?”

Ruby narrowed her eyes. “Luna attacked first?”

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