BOUND BY REVENGE

Helplessness

Day after day, Anna lives in the shadow of fear and helplessness. Every night was a new torment for her, where Finley capitalized on her pent-up anger and despair. Today, Anna's guilt had exceeded the limits of Finley's patience.

Inside his quiet office, Finley stared at the tablet screen with a sharp look in his eyes. On the CCTV footage reflected there, he saw Anna secretly making a call to someone. Finley quickly grabbed his cell phone to listen to the conversation between Anna and Alden, making his blood boil.

"What an ignorant woman!" he muttered with suppressed rage, his hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white when Anna and Alden's call ended. He felt a burst of anger roaring through him.

"How dare she call Alden behind my back?" he said through gritted teeth, fists tightening and gaze sharpening.

Lexi could only watch his boss, not wanting to ask questions because he knew what was going on.

Finley shifted his finger, zooming in on Anna's image on the screen, her anxious-looking face after the call making him even angrier. Even though he knew that Anna hadn't said anything bad to Alden, he felt as though Anna was playing him, trying to undermine the power he had held so tightly. Anna's every gaze, her every agitated gesture, made Finley feel betrayed.

"If she thinks she can get away with it, that's a big mistake," he said in a voice trembling with menace. "She'll find out soon enough." Finley said as he slammed the tablet down hard on the table, causing a loud, echoing sound. His eyes were blazing, highlighting a hatred that was ready to explode.

One goal filled his mind. Anna had to be taught a lesson, so that she would never again dare to contradict his words, let alone contact Alden.

Finley was furious and decided to teach Anna a painful lesson. When he entered the room, Anna had just finished making a phone call, her face happy and full of hope because she had received news that Alden was fine. However, that hope was dashed when she saw Finley standing at the door with a menacing look.

"You think I don't know what you've done?" he asked in a voice trembling with visible anger and strode over while rolling up his shirt sleeves.

Anna was stunned, "How do you know?" she asked with a frightened look on her face.

"I've told you many times, Anna. Don't ever make me angry! Aren't you tired of being tormented by me, hmm?" he asked as he continued to move forward.

"Finley, I-I just want to know how Alden is doing," she replied.

"Shut up!" Finley shouted, making Anna stagger back. In an instant, he grabbed Anna by the neck, leaving her unable to breathe. His face showed a burning hatred. "This is all because of you! You dared to contact Alden." Finley said as he removed his hand from Anna's neck.

Before Anna could explain, Finley pulled at the belt he was wearing. "I'm going to teach you real pain, Anna," he said coldly, with a sardonic smile.

Anna stared at him in fear, realizing what Finley was about to do.

Without warning, Finley began hitting Anna with the belt, each time it landed on her skin, she felt a radiating pain. "Do you feel pain?" he asked with a mocking look and a smirk.

Ana screamed, in pain. Finley repeated what he had just done, beating Anna without mercy.

"Finley, please forgive me," Anna whimpered.

However, her request only made Finley more excited. "The more you scream and are in pain, the more I enjoy it," he replied as he increased the force of each blow.

Anna could only whimper, feeling tears running down her cheeks as the object touched her body, Finley's blows were quite hard and she felt like her body was being torn apart. The pain that tore through her body made her think of Alden.

"Forgive Finley. I promise I won't do it again," said Anna who again asked Finley to stop while trying to endure the pain.

With every beat of the belt that landed, Finley imagined Alden's suffering face. Imagining how Anna's pain could be felt by Alden, it was as if it was Finley's way of showing that no one could defeat him. "Every bit of this pain will remind you not to fight back, let alone break rules that could make me angry, Anna." Finley growled and continued to repeat each blow to Anna's body.

Anna's screams of pain continued to echo in the room, but they did not make Finley feel sorry for her, in fact, he was eager to continue hurting Anna.

"I really didn't mean to make you angry, Finley. I just want... to know about Alden's condition," Anna tried to explain, but her voice was weak. She knew there was no point in defending herself.

"I don't care Anna!" shouted Finley, increasing the intensity of the attack on Anna. "He's not here, and you'll never get back to him!" Finley said as he swung the belt again and he delivered one more blow, slamming the belt again, knocking Anna to the floor.

In her desperation, Anna tried to get up, but her body was already too weak. She felt everything around her spinning, helplessness enveloping her mind. "Please... stop, Finley. I beg you," she pleaded, but Finley was not listening at all. The man was immersed in the hatred and pain he had created.

Without saying much, Finley raised his hands high and then delivered the final blow to Anna. This time the blow not only hit her body, but also Anna's cheek making the pain overwhelming. Anna could no longer whimper as her consciousness began to decline, even her breathing seemed to stop.

Finley looked satisfied seeing Anna helpless like that. A glimpse of Feya's image was present in his memory. He imagined the seconds of Feya's death, surely also feeling the fear and pain that Anna felt. It feels like this is not satisfied, life must be paid with life. He promised to finish off all the Wesley family members without a trace so that Feya could rest easy in death.

Finally after a series of countless blows, Anna fell unconscious, drooping on the floor, helpless. Finley looked at her with cold eyes, satisfied. "Now, let this be a lesson you remember forever," he whispered as he lowered his body halfway, before turning to leave.

In silence, Anna lay there, her body badly injured. Consciousness slowly faded away, while the pain deepened, making her feel as if there was no longer any hope of living.

Finley left, leaving Anna in the darkness. Anna slumped in grief, wishing there was someone who could hear her, hoping with every beat of her heart that Alden would come to her rescue. But, at that moment, there was only darkness and pain waiting.