Love Unspoken

Alexander lounged in his chair, legs crossed, casually smoking a cigarette. Flanking him stood about a dozen burly bodyguards, all stoically gazing at Sebastian.

To Sebastian's left stood David, a middle-aged woman nearing sixty with silvering hair, her eyes welled with tears as she watched Sebastian's agony.

She dared not intervene to staunch Sebastian's bleeding, for Alexander had warned her earlier any attempt would lead to more than just severed fingers. With plenty of children in the nearby house, she couldn't risk it and could only watch helplessly as Sebastian suffered.

Glancing at his wristwatch, Alexander remarked nonchalantly, "Ten minutes are up."

Kyle, upon hearing this, felt a shiver down his spine but signaled silently to the bodyguards on the side. They understood, and one of them drew a dagger from his waist, crouching before Sebastian.

Without a word, he swiftly severed Sebastian's remaining digits, causing Sebastian to awaken from his faint, screaming in utter agony, the sound reverberating through the silent warehouse for what seemed like an eternity, a chilling echo to everyone's ears.

In the distance, as Orion sped along the road, a sharp pang pierced his heart. He glanced at the dashboard clock, tears swirling wildly in his now crimson eyes.

Quinn's fingers clenched tightly, the force of Orion's acceleration nearly throwing her off her seat. Despite her racing heart, she still couldn't believe the depth of cruelty Alexander had descended to, a stark contrast to the man she once knew. Quinn's mind flashed back to that indifferent face, and she shut her eyes. Indeed, the current Alexander was no one she recognized the man with Alexander's visage had become someone else entirely. The road lay quiet, as did the warehouse.

Sebastian had now passed out for the second time, lying on the ground with a face drained white from excessive blood loss.

Even Kyle, standing nearby, couldn't help but wipe his palms; his anxiety was palpable, his gaze fixed on the warehouse door, silently praying for Orion's swift return.

The third set of ten minutes was upon them. The ticking of the watch's hands seemed like a death knell, counting down Sebastian's remaining moments.

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Leaning back, Alexander lazily tapped the chair with one hand, calm and composed amidst the tense atmosphere. "Kyle, has the time come?" Alexander suddenly spoke, breaking the silence in the warehouse. Kyle snapped back to reality, glancing at his watch. Swallowing hard, he replied, "It has. It's time."

Without further words, Alexander's intent was clear:

Adhere to the rules of the game.

Kyle sighed inwardly, offering a moment of silence for Sebastian before nodding to the bodyguard.

The bodyguard nodded in return, drawing the blood-stained dagger, just about to take action.

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"Wait!"

David could bear it no longer. She rushed forward, trembling as she knelt before Alexander. With tears streaming down her face, she looked up at him desperately, "Alexander, Sebastian is just a child. Spare him. You can chop off my fingers instead. I'm old, do it to me!"

Alexander gazed calmly at her, unmoved by her plea. "Why the rush? Soon it'll be your turn."

A cruel smile played at the corner of his lips, "I doubt he'll last until Orion returns."

The blood on the ground had pooled significantly, almost submerging Sebastian entirely. Overwhelmed by what she heard, David collapsed to the ground, her first encounter with such cruelty and madness in all her years. As Alexander looked towards the still bewildered bodyguard, he inquired, "What are you waiting for?"