Her first horse, a gift from Graham on her eleventh birthday from Aldoria, was cherished until a fateful accident drove her to Forden, marking the end of her riding days.
As Lucinda lingered in her reflections, the bodyguards swiftly procured a whip.
With a respectful bow towards her, they opened the door to proceed with their task.
Inside, Graham continued his writing, undisturbed by the sound of approaching footsteps.
âMr.
Simmons, I regret to inform you, but by Miss Simmonsâ orders, you are to be lashed twenty times.
â
Graham, pausing his writing, set his pen aside with a composed gesture.
His response hinted at a grim familiarity with such ordeals, perhaps a dark reflection of his past self-inflicted penances.
Swiftly, he shed his suit jacket, donning only a thin shirt to brace for the impending lashes.
Carefully, he moved the small tea table, ensuring the papers he had painstakingly worked on remained undisturbed.
Lucinda, however, found herself rooted at the doorway, unable to turn away as the first crack of the whip shattered the silence.
Each lash echoed, a stark and harrowing sound that seemed to pierce the air.
Fists clenched, Lucinda battled a turmoil of emotions, her departure from the villa a slow, heavy procession.
She slid into her Luxury car, the grandeur of Peace Mountain receding in the rearview mirror.
Within the sealed quiet of the car, the whipâs echo haunted her, an unnerving reminder of the
deed.
Nathanâs words echoed in her mind, a bitter truth acknowledging Violetaâs inextricable bond with her family, unaffected by Grahamâs actions.
Lucinda realized her misplaced anger towards Violeta was unjust, a misdirection of her anger for Grahamâs mistakes.
This realization prompted Lucindaâs decision to reach out to Violeta.
She refrained from visiting the villa, choosing instead to connect with Violeta through a phone call.
Over ten minutes had passed when Violeta approached the luxury car with a trot that belied her elegance and composure.
Her grace, undiminished even in haste, lived up to her former acclaim as the most stunning stewardess.
Sliding into the passenger seat, Violeta greeted, âLucinda, whatâs on your mind?â
âIâm concerned you might be perplexed by my decision to discipline Graham.
â
Violeta was candid in her response.
âYes, Iâve had my doubts.
Yet, I trust youâre not one to act rashly without cause.
Your actions, I believe, are driven by meaningful reasons.
â
Lucinda felt a wave of relief at Violetaâs understanding.
âYour insight is comforting to me.
â
The Bentley, a pinnacle of luxury with its bulletproof glass and fortified metal chassis, was a fortress of privacy, safeguarding their discussion from the outside world.
This vehicle, fortified following an incident in Aldoria, boasted advanced anti-surveillance capabilities, reflecting its significant investment.
Within this secluded space, Violeta listened intently to Lucindaâs explanation.
After grasping the full context, Violetaâs support was unwavering.
âYour judgment has always been impeccable.
Proceed as you see fit; Iâll neither hinder nor complicate matters for you.
â