Chapter 13

Claudio was presented with the unadulterated truth in no time. He saw in the footage how Carmen had been knocked unconscious at the villa gate and taken away on the same day. It wasn't until nightfall that she came home, bruised, bloodied, and limping. Her hair had been ruthlessly hacked off, and her traditional dress was stained entirely in blood. Shortly after, Carmen emerged from the villa again with a small suitcase. When she walked away, there was a fierce determination in her gaze, and she didn't even look back once. Claudio's hands trembled as he brushed against Carmen's image on the screen. His eyes reddened, and tears soon followed. "I'm sorry, Carmy. You mean the world to me, yet I hurt you so mercilessly!" A total of 99 lashes, and he had been the one who delivered every single one. He had even ordered his men to drug her with an aphrodisiac and get 100 beggars to harm her. Claudio suddenly clutched his chest. It felt like someone had stabbed him in the heart. If he h