Chapter 10: Don't think I won't kill you.

Words : 1892 Updated : Oct 23rd, 2025

Franco Balam clutched his cheek. Franco shuddered at Diego Santee's icy tone. "Diego Santee, are you out of your mind?" Persephone Shadboult reacted first. She shot to her feet and stepped in front of Franco, shielding him. Then she rounded on Diego, fury blazing in her eyes. "Do you have any idea how hard I worked to get a meeting with Mr. Balam? The Santee family was hanging by a thread. If we don't secure this loan, Junos Group is finished. You wouldn't lift a finger for your own family, and you still had the nerve to barge in here and ruin everything?" Diego let out a cold snort. "I'm not crazy-you are, thinking you can borrow from a guy like him." "You…" Color drained from Persephone's lovely face. Still, she forced herself to recover and salvage Franco's goodwill. "Mr. Balam, my brother acted without thinking. He struck you by accident. I'm truly sorry." She shot him an apologetic look. "Please don't hold it against him. I'll make sure he's properly taught a lesson." Franco's face twisted with rage. His voice was ice. "Don't hold it against him?" "Persephone Shadboult, you expect me to just take that slap and act like it never happened?" She let out a thin, nervous laugh. "Mr. Balam, that's not what I meant. Please, calm down. I'll have him apologize to you right now. You're the bigger man. Don't stoop to his level." She grew flustered, flicking a look at Diego to urge him on. "Diego Santee, don't just stand there. Apologize to Mr. Balam. Now." "An apology isn't enough." Franco rubbed his swollen cheek, bared a cruel grin, and tipped his glass of red wine into the ashtray. The wine swirled with gray ash and turned into a disgusting blackish sludge. "Persephone, have him drink this. Then I want him on his knees, banging his head on the floor three times-loud enough to hear the thumps. If he does that, I'll let him go." "Otherwise, there's no loan." "This…" Persephone hesitated. A flash of pity crossed her eyes. Even if Diego had struck first, Franco's demand was pure humiliation-meant to shame Diego and the Santee family. But the family was in dire straits and needed that cash to keep it alive. She couldn't think of anyone else who could come up with the money. She ground her teeth and glared at Diego, her tone hardening. "Diego, don't just stand there. Apologize to Mr. Balam and let him cool off. Mr. Balam, he can't hold his liquor. Please, for old times' sake, spare him the drinking part…" She softened her posture and pleaded in a near whisper. "I'll drink one in his place to make amends." "Spare him?" Franco laughed, cold and slow. "Then I'll spare my money." "Who wants your filthy money." Diego's voice was sharp as a knife. "Franco Balam, you've got some nerve. You spiked the wine with a drug to set up my sister-in-law. For that alone, you got off easy with a slap. Don't think I won't kill you." "You like to drink? Today, I'll let you drink your fill." He moved before Persephone could stop him. He surged forward and grabbed Franco by the hair, slamming his face down into the ashtray brimming with wine and ash sludge. Franco had no time to brace. He gagged and sputtered, limbs flailing wildly. No matter how he thrashed, even using every ounce of strength, he couldn't break Diego's grip. Diego's smile turned cold. His fist rose and fell. Thud, thud, thud. He drove punch after punch into Franco's head. A scream split the private room, high and raw, like a slaughtered pig. Persephone stared, numb, rooted to the carpet. She had asked Diego to apologize. He did the opposite-doubling down, his fists merciless. One eye caved in. A dozen teeth flew from Franco's mouth. His bellows dwindled to a broken whimper. Panic flooded Persephone's face. She rushed in and pulled Diego off him. "Mr. Balam, are you... are you all right?" She stared at the ashtray, at the streaks of blood swirling in the black muck, and sighed to herself. It was over. There'd be no loan after this, no matter what he said. "Persephone, don't listen to that punk's nonsense. I didn't drug the wine. He's slandering me." Blood seeped from the corner of Franco's mouth with each word. "I've always treated you as a friend. Why would I do that? He did five years in prison and it messed with his head. Now everyone looks like a villain to him." "I understand, Mr. Balam. I believe you wouldn't do such a thing." Persephone kept nodding, then glared at Diego, pure hatred in her eyes. The anger she'd held back finally erupted. "Diego Santee, have you made enough of a scene?" Her disappointment cut like ice. "The Santee family is on the brink, and you still can't control your temper. Weren't five years in prison enough for you? Do you know how hard it is to get this money? Grow up, Diego." "Easy there, sister-in-law." Diego's brow tightened. He raised his voice. "He spiked the wine with an aphrodisiac. I came here to save you." "Shut up." Her whole body shook with rage. "Diego, he opened the bottle in front of me, and the glass never left my hand. If there were drugs in it, would I still be standing here? You're selfish. I'm here drinking with Mr. Balam for the family's sake, and you cause a scene. Is the Santee family not miserable enough for you? Would you only be happy if it collapsed?" "You really disappoint me." He saw the tremor in her shoulders and gave a bitter smile. An unopened bottle doesn't mean much to someone who planned ahead. Franco could have used a dozen tricks to dose it before it ever reached the table. But she wouldn't listen now. "All my work for nothing…" Persephone's voice trailed off. Heat bloomed under her skin, a rush that left her limbs limp and her head swimming. She swayed and stumbled back two steps. "Easy, sister-in-law." Diego moved fast. He caught her under the arms and guided her into a chair. "I... I'm so dizzy. Did I drink too much?" Persephone pressed her palm to her forehead. Her voice grew thin, her eyes glassy with a sudden, feverish heat. "It's the drug-aphrodisiacs take time to kick in," Diego said, his tone cold and flat. "Aphrodisiac?" The word hit Persephone like a splash of cold water. She jerked her head toward Franco. The memory of his loaded smile when he urged her to drink slid into place, and dread crept up her spine. "Mr. Balam, you-" "Persephone, shut your mouth." Franco snapped at her. "You come to me for a loan and you don't even know how this works. What's wrong with making you drink a couple more? I chased you for years and you strung me along. You only come running when you're in trouble." He shot her a hard look, then turned a vicious glare back on Diego. "Diego Santee, you dared ruin my fun. If you had gotten on your knees and kowtowed earlier, I might have let you walk. Not anymore. I'll show you what 'worse than death' really feels like." His words had barely fallen when the bodyguards downstairs, roused by the commotion, rushed into the room. They froze at the sight of Franco's blood-smeared face, puffed up like a pig's head, then scrambled to form a wall in front of him. "Mr. Balam, what happened? Who was the moron who touched you?" Seeing his men, Franco grew bolder. He jabbed a finger at Diego, his voice dripping venom. "That punk. Teach him a lesson he won't forget." "Diego Santee, you hit me. Today I'll not only cripple you. I'll make you watch while I have my way with your sister-in-law."

Chapter 10: Don't think I won't kill you.

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