Chapter 1761: Chapter 1975

Casting a look at Nala’s pale visage, Lucinda handed her over to one of Graham’s men.

“Escort her to our secluded villa atop Peace Mountain.

The basement will serve as her new quarters.

”

“Consider it done.

”

With Lucinda’s safety confirmed, Graham’s squad whisked Nala away, vanishing into the night.

Lucinda herself then departed for Peace Mountain, pondering the choice not to involve the police.

Direct police involvement would see Nala behind bars, subjected to formal inquiry.

Yet, Lucinda trusted neither Nala’s words nor the formalities of law; her instincts and the quest for truth were her sole guides.

As such, she decided to confine Nala in the basement before anything else.

She planned on doling out punishment according to the family’s strict laws once Nala’s identity was confirmed.

She saw no need to involve anyone else in this matter.

With this in mind, Lucinda drove her limousine, reaching Peace Mountain in just thirty minutes.

Graham’s private guards had already secured Nala in the basement by the time she got there.

Upon her return, Lucinda’s first order of business was to head straight for the old villa’s basement.

She opened the hefty basement door, and gradually, light from the corridor seeped in, illuminating the space.

There, in the center of the dusty, barren floor, sat Nala.

The bruises on her face were evident, lending her a pitiable appearance, especially her sorrowful eyes that painted her as a victim.

Lucinda, in her high heels, approached Nala and looked down at her.

Nala, lifting her gaze defiantly, retorted, “Yes, I kidnapped you, but isn’t imprisoning me just as criminal?”

Lucinda bypassed Nala’s question, posing her own instead.

“You seem quite at home in this basement, don’t you, Nala?”

Nala responded with a perplexed smile, “Wh

at are you implying, Lucinda? This is my first encounter with the Simmons family’s basement.

”

Lucinda let out a scoff and slowly crouched to meet Nala’s level.

“Do you honestly think you can fool me by denying everything? Every word you say, every look you give, betrays you,” Lucinda countered.

The confident smirk on Nala’s face slowly faded.

“What are you getting at?”

Lucinda then laid out her thoughts.

“I’ve done my homework on Nala.

Despite losing her parents, she led a worry-free life, buoyed by grants and scholarships.

Her father was a successful businessman, and she grew up in luxury, undoubtedly cherished by her parents.

Someone with her background would react much differently if this was truly their first time trapped in a basement-fear and desperation would be evident.

”

Lucinda took a moment, then, with a calculated move, grasped Nala’s chin and looked down at her with disdain.

“However, when I entered, there wasn’t a trace of fear in your eyes.

You seemed unnervingly calm and collected, almost as if you’ve been through this ordeal before.

”

Nala returned the sneer.

“So, you’re jumping to the conclusion that I’m Valerie based on that alone? Don’t you think you’re rushing to judgment?”

Lucinda responded coolly, “True, without solid evidence, all I have are theories.

But do you honestly believe your denial leaves me powerless?”

Nala met her gaze, momentarily taken aback by the intensity and sharpness in Lucinda’s eyes.

But then, Lucinda’s grip shifted, grabbing Nala by the hair with a sudden ferocity, yanking out strands with sheer force.