Chapter 6

Sophia POV

With a shattered right hand, I received no medical treatment. Instead, Adrian had me transferred overnight to a secretive private psychiatric hospital.

"Mr. Blackwell instructed that Ms. Sterling suffers from severe mania and persecution delusions, requiring mandatory treatment measures."

In the cold hospital room, a white-coated doctor emotionlessly read Adrian's orders.

I was roughly strapped to a frigid treatment bed, my limbs secured tightly with reinforced leather restraints. My right hand was swollen like a purple-red loaf of bread, every breath accompanied by excruciating pain.

"What are you planning to do?" I looked at them coldly, my voice hoarse but eerily calm.

The doctor didn't answer, just waved his hand. Two nurses approached and attached cold electrode pads to my temples.

"Begin electroshock therapy. Set voltage to maximum."

As the switch was flipped, a powerful current instantly surged through my brain.

Indescribable agony blanked my mind completely, my body convulsing violently beyond my control. The restraints cut into my flesh, drawing blood. I bit my lip hard until my mouth filled with the thick taste of blood, but I never begged for mercy.

Once, twice, three times...

I don't know how long it lasted before the electroshock finally stopped. I lay there like a dying fish, gasping for air, my body soaked in cold sweat, lacking even the strength to move a finger.

"Ms. Sterling, Mr. Blackwell said that as long as you sign this equity transfer agreement and core formula authorization, you can suffer less." The doctor held out a document before my eyes.

I weakly opened my eyes, looking at that document, a mocking smile curving my lips.

So this was his ultimate goal.

Drain every last drop of use from me, then let me die like a madwoman in this sunless place.

"I'll... sign."

I forced out those words with difficulty.

Surprise flashed in the doctor's eyes, seemingly not expecting me to surrender so quickly. He unfastened my right hand restraint and shoved a pen into my hand.

Enduring the agony of shattered bones, I used that nearly useless right hand to sign my name crookedly on the document.

The moment I finished signing, it felt like all my strength had been drained. I collapsed limply on the bed.

The doctor left with satisfaction, document in hand.

The hospital room returned to deathly silence.

I closed my eyes, silently calculating the time in my mind.

Three days until the final deadline for the "Abyss Project" evacuation.

Adrian, you think you've won?

What you took is just garbage I don't want. And I'll let you taste what it's like to fall from heaven to hell at your moment of greatest triumph.

Over the next two days, I became abnormally quiet. I no longer resisted, no longer spoke. Like a true puppet with its soul extracted, I let the doctors and nurses do as they pleased.

My compliance gradually made the psychiatric hospital guards lower their vigilance.

Deep in the night, I used an extremely small blade hidden under my tongue to slowly cut through the leather restraints on my wrists.

This was my last chance. I couldn't afford any mistakes.