Chapter 31

As Sally pulled a cart full of clean laundry back to the annex, the sky was tinged with the colors of the sunset. Perhaps the unusually blood-red hue was due to the arrival of another 'guest' in the torture chamber.

“Phew...”

She had a lot to do on her last day, yet the laundry maids wouldn’t let her go. They started chatting, expressing their reluctance to part, and as the conversation went on, they began prying into the rumors about her and Winston. She had to act the part of a naive and pitiful maid who had been toyed with by a nobleman for an hour, which left her utterly drained.

Sally pushed the cart up the ramp at the entrance of the annex and began to list her tasks.

First, she needed to sort the laundry and then head down to the basement to check if a 'guest' had arrived in the torture chamber. If so, she would identify who it was and inform Jimmy directly. Then, she had to secretly call Fred and brief him on the necessary precautions.

After dinner, she would go up to the maids' room, double-check her packed belongings, and try to get some sleep. The next morning, she would wake up before dawn and head to the back gate of the mansion. She planned to hitch a ride on the milk delivery carriage to Haywood and then take a tram to Winsford to catch a train. She intended to visit 'Sally Bristol's' hometown for a day or so before heading home.

‘Maybe I can think of it as a well-deserved break.’

It was probably a dull village with nothing to see, but at least it would be a breath of fresh air compared to this place.

‘After that, I should be able to meet Jimmy in 2-3 days.’

Then, she could finally get rid of the name 'Sally Bristol,' which she found so distasteful, forever.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, the cart was pulled forward, causing her to stumble. Someone emerged from behind the cart and reached out, catching her by the waist. She knew who the owner of the spicy cigar scent was without even looking up.

“Captain, stop it.”

The more she struggled, the tighter Winston held her waist. She had a feeling he wouldn’t let her go easily. Just as she was about to kick his left shin with her right leg, he released her.

“You really know how to fight. Did you get some training somewhere?”

She glared at him as he chuckled and reached for the cart. However, her hand didn’t reach it. Winston grabbed her hand as if they were lovers and nodded to the soldiers standing behind the cart.

“Let go.”

As the soldiers pulled the cart away, Sally tried to wriggle free. Winston, however, forced her fingers apart and interlocked them with his, grinning slyly.

“We’ve kissed before, so holding your hand is fine, right?”

Sally hesitated as Winston brought up the moment she had been trying to erase from her mind.

“...I have a lot to do with these hands.”

“Alright. You have somewhere to go with me.”

Sally was dragged into the annex and asked, “Where? Not to your bed, I hope?”

Winston looked down at her and snorted.

“My bed is too good for you.”

His overtly condescending attitude genuinely hurt her feelings. She stopped, and Winston’s expression softened as he looked down at her.

“We’re going to my office. I’ve prepared a farewell gift for Sally Bristol, who has worked so hard.”

What’s his game?

It was a long-standing tradition for the Winston family to give a small farewell gift to departing employees. However, it was also a tradition not to give gifts to those who had caused trouble and been fired.

‘So, is Winston preparing it himself? Could he really like me? No, who would treat someone they like so rudely?’

Her mind was noisy as she was led up the stairs by him.

‘I hope it’s money. I can use it for the resistance.’

But, considering his quirks, it was unlikely to be something normal.

When they reached the office, soldiers were guarding the door. It was a common sight, but today it felt particularly uncomfortable, as if they were staring at her intently. Sally suspected they were imagining what had happened in the study and shot them a sharp look.

“Go in.”

One of the soldiers immediately opened the office door, and Winston gestured for her to enter with a gentlemanly bow. Sally stopped in her tracks. If she went in, she would be alone with Winston.

“I’ll take the gift in the hallway.”

She stood with her hands clasped, looking up at Winston. He stared at her for a moment with a derisive look, similar to when he had mocked her about going to his bed, and then turned to the soldiers in the hallway.

“She’s picky because she’s so important.”

The soldiers awkwardly smiled and then frowned. Winston puffed out his cheeks and glared at Sally, placing his hand on her shoulder.

“I’ll leave the door open. Is that okay?”

With that, he went inside alone. Once he was standing far from the door, next to his desk, Sally finally moved from the hallway.

Inside, Sally was shocked.

‘What kind of party is he throwing in broad daylight?’

The room was a mess. The coffee table was littered with whiskey bottles and crystal glasses, and the ashtray, which had been empty in the morning, was now full of ashes.

Surely, this chaos isn’t the gift.

“Where’s the gift?”

She planned to take it, say thank you, and leave. Standing in the middle of the office, she looked at the flat, wide box on the desk, tied with a black ribbon.

“I don’t need any more stockings.”

“Stockings?”

Winston, leaning against the fireplace with his arms crossed, snorted.

“It’s a gift you’ll never forget, something incomparable.”

Sally frowned as she picked up the box. What kind of sick joke was this? The 'black ribbon' turned out to be a very thin black rope.

Using the torture chamber’s rope to tie a farewell gift. Disgusted, Sally turned to leave with the box.

“Thank you for the thoughtful gift.”

She curtsied to the gentlemanly madman and tried to leave, but Winston’s arm blocked her path.

“That won’t do.”

Sally stopped just before his arm touched her chest and looked up at him. Winston was grinning widely.

“Don’t you think you should consider the pleasure of the person giving the gift? I’m dying to see your face when you finally realize what I’ve prepared.”

His smile seemed sinister. Had there ever been a day when he didn’t wear such a smile? The box likely contained something mischievous.

‘One last time, I’ll humor him.’

Sally sighed and began to untie the black rope, facing Winston.

Her hand paused as she opened the box. Inside was something she had never imagined.

A yellow file.

There was no name on the outside, so she couldn’t tell what was inside. Sally looked up at Winston, puzzled.

“Go on, open it.”

He urged her with a gentle smile, but her stomach churned.

“Is it a letter of recommendation?”

She suddenly remembered his promise to provide a letter of recommendation that would help her find a job anywhere.

“Not exactly, but close.”

Winston’s smile twisted.

“I wrote it myself to help you find a position suitable for you.”

I don’t need a new job. Sally placed the lid of the box underneath and lifted the corner of the file with her fingernail. As she flipped through the thick paper, three short words caught her eye.

[Nickname: Little Riddle]

Her breath caught in her throat.

‘Why is this here?’

Her rational and instinctive sides immediately raised a red alert in her mind.

‘It’s dangerous. Run. No, it’s too late.’

The moment she took a step, it would be over. Running was a poem, after all.

‘Maybe there’s still a way out. This is just one of Winston’s诱导 interrogations.’

Perhaps she was still speculating without certainty. To survive, she needed to find a gap in the information and exploit it.

“What is this?”

Pretending to know nothing, she feigned disgust at the strange gift. The man before her, enveloped in a deep black from head to toe, exuded a sinister aura.

She couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. Sally calmly read the document.

[Notable Fact: Last rebel of the Riddle family]

[Crimes: Infiltration of military facilities, leakage of military secrets, leading the attack on the governor...]

‘Governor? Please...’

[Skin color: Unknown]

[Hair color: Unknown brown]

[Eye color: Unknown green]

[Age: Unknown 26]

[Surname: Riddle]

As she read the sparse black text on the white paper, the color drained from her fingertips.

‘No...’

All the unknown information had been corrected, and it was all accurate.

[Known aliases: Sally Bristol]

[Name: Unknown Grace]

Sally, now Grace, felt her heart sink as she confirmed the last piece of information, written with a heavy, angry hand.

‘How does he know my name...’

There were no gaps. No way out.

He knew everything. How? Where? Who?

As Grace’s thoughts came to a halt, Winston moved quickly. He pressed his body against hers from behind. His heart pounded roughly against her, and just as his large hand reached forward to grab her neck, Grace closed her eyes tightly.

The sound of a holster being opened, followed by the cold barrel of a gun pressing into her back. Winston’s dry, angry lips whispered in her ear.

“Goodbye, Sally Bristol.”

A cold kiss landed on her ear, and a sweet whisper followed.

“Welcome, Grace Riddle.”