She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother Chapter 423: Old Flames
Previously on She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother...
An oppressive atmosphere permeated the chamber.
Elyria remained rooted to the spot, her silvery hair slightly askew, her breaths coming in short gasps. Her gaze was fixed intently on the imposing man a few paces away, who effortlessly held both her pupils by their throats.
Viktor.
A name she hadn't anticipated hearing again... especially not under such alarming circumstances.
Her thoughts churned rapidly.
’Why was he here? What was his motive for holding her students captive? And, crucially, what was his connection to Alex?’
Viktor offered a serene smile, his hold unwavering. The students' faces were ashen, their lungs struggling for air as they looked pleadingly at Elyria.
"What troubles you, Elyria?" Viktor inquired smoothly, a note of playful mockery in his tone. "You seem less than pleased to find me here after so long. You’ve truly disappointed me."
Elyria’s jaw clenched. The fury that had previously consumed her had vanished, replaced by a far more complex emotion.
Without another word, Viktor released both women. Mrs. Blackwell and the younger woman stumbled forward, hacking and wheezing as they hurried away from him.
Viktor advanced, narrowing the space between himself and Elyria. She stood unmoving, her body rigid, but her eyes tracked his every movement with sharp vigilance.
He halted mere inches from her, inclining his head slightly. His voice lowered to a velvety whisper as he spoke close to her ear.
"But I have missed you dearly."
The utterance sent a tremor through Elyria’s frame.
Acting on instinct, she shoved Viktor backward with considerable force. He stumbled a couple of steps before regaining his balance, a low chuckle escaping his lips.
"Still as defiant as ever, aren't you?" Viktor remarked, a smirk playing on his face.
Before Elyria could muster a response, he moved.
His speed was so astonishingly swift that Elyria caught only a fleeting blur. In the subsequent instant, he was once again before her. Even before she could raise her defenses, Viktor seized her arm with a vice-like grip, immobilizing her.
Elyria’s eyes widened in sheer astonishment.
She was unable to budge. His hold felt like forged steel—cold, unyielding, and impossibly potent. She struggled to break free, but it was futile. For the first time in years, she felt utterly powerless against another.
’How…?’ she questioned inwardly, her mind in overdrive. ’How could he have surpassed my cultivation so rapidly?’
It seemed utterly impossible.
The last time she had encountered Viktor, his cultivation had been at the Middle Enhanced realm. Despite his considerable talent, he should have been, at most, at Peak Enhanced. Yet, the power emanating from him now far exceeded that level.
It was beyond belief.
Elyria gazed at him, her face a mask of disbelief and shock. Viktor simply smiled, his grip tightening fractionally as he met her gaze.
Elyria glanced around, a faint flush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. She noticed her two students observing her with bewildered expressions, question marks seemingly etched upon their faces.
Her annoyance intensified.
’How dare he…?’ she thought, indignation surging anew. She was on the verge of retaliating against Viktor when suddenly, he gripped her forcefully and spun her around.
The abrupt maneuver was so powerful that Elyria nearly cried out. Before she could react, Viktor leaned in close, his lips grazing her ear as he whispered:
"Might you glance forward?"
He even nibbled her earlobe lightly as he spoke.
’This scoundrel…’ Elyria thought, her eyes blazing with homicidal intent. ’How dare he behave this way in front of everyone?’
But the moment her gaze shifted forward, her eyes widened in utter disbelief.
Across the room, Heena was clinging to Alex with all her might, her face buried in his chest. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she held onto him as if her very life depended on it.
"Alex! Are you alright?" she sobbed, her voice cracking. "Please… please don’t blame my aunt. This is entirely my fault… I was the one who sought you out. Please don’t harm her…"
Elyria froze, stunned into silence.
She stared at the scene unfolding before her, completely bewildered.
’What in the world is happening?’ she pondered. ’Have I misinterpreted everything?’
Before she could fully process her thoughts, Viktor leaned in once more, his voice a low, teasing murmur.
"Must I elucidate every detail for you?"
Viktor breathed those words before finally releasing Elyria. She swayed slightly but quickly stabilized herself, her expression a mixture of shock and utter confusion.
Elyria’s gaze flickered towards the other side of the room, where Heena remained entwined with Alex, weeping in his arms. For a moment, her mind went blank.
Before she could gather her thoughts, Mrs. Blackwell stepped forward. She met Elyria’s gaze with a small, hesitant smile and stated,
"Indeed, Master… You were mistaken," she said cautiously. "When we arrived, Alex and Heena were… intimately involved. She was not coerced in any way."
The younger woman beside her quickly confirmed the statement. “Yes, Master, exactly,” she chimed in. Elyria was engulfed by a surge of shame, her cheeks heating as the reality finally dawned on her. However, before she could voice any thoughts, her eyes darted away and fixed on Howard. He was stealthily attempting a retreat towards the exit, hoping to slip away unnoticed. “Hold it right there!” Elyria’s sharp, commanding voice cut through the air. Howard froze mid-step, his body rigid with apprehension. In a blur, Elyria moved. Howard had no time to respond before Elyria was already before him. Gripping his collar with astonishing strength, she yanked him forcefully back to the room’s center. “You dared to try and fool me just now?” she snarled. He cried out as his body crashed onto the floor, skidding several meters before coming to a halt. “No! No… Please, pardon me! I was mistaken! I was mistaken!” Howard shrieked in sheer terror. He clumsily got back on his feet and bolted directly towards Heena, collapsing onto his knees before her. “Please… please rescue me!” he implored, his voice filled with desperation as he clutched the hem of her robe. “I’ve committed so many wrongdoings against you… but I was still your husband! Please… please lend me your aid!”