——
Celine was invited onto the stage, but she wouldn’t even spare me a second glance.
She put on the special gloves handed to her by the host and raised her hand, landing slap after slap across my face.
By the twentieth slap, my eardrums were ringing.
Warm liquid dripped from the corner of my mouth, and I couldn’t tell whether it was saliva or blood.
Celine shook her wrist and turned to smile sweetly at Liam in the audience.
“Liam, would you like to come up and try? It’s really a great way to release stress!”
“After all, these people are all gamblers who can’t pay their debts, beating them really feels quite satisfying!”
Liam covered his mouth, shaking his head, but excitement flickered in his eyes. “Celine, you do it. Watching you beat them is enough for me!”
His eyes were filled with excitement and provocation, and I couldn’t help but wonder—did he know who I really was?
I struggled to open my eyes wider, making muffled screams through the tape sealing my mouth.
But Liam pointed at me and said, “Celine, it seems like he’s enjoying it. I think you should continue!”