Chapter 781: Cannot Be Saved

Just then, several bodyguards rushed down. Seeing her there, they immediately stepped forward. "Ms. Yates, why are you here? This isn’t a place you can just wander into. If Mr. Quinn finds out, he’ll be furious."

Iris turned to look at them, her face full of urgency. "Who’s locked up in there? I heard someone call my name. Who is it? Open the door! I need to go in."

The bodyguards were in a difficult position, but they didn’t dare lay a hand on her. They could only try to persuade her. "Ms. Yates, you must have misheard. The only people locked up in here are those who have shown disrespect to Mr. Quinn. No one here would know you."

"No, I didn’t mishear. I definitely heard someone calling me." Iris remained exceptionally firm. A thick wave of panic began to rise in her chest, making her voice tremble. "Open the door! I’m going in!"

"We really can’t do that..."

The bodyguards were truly out of options. They exchanged a quick glance, and suddenly, one of them struck the back of Iris’s neck. Her body went limp, and she collapsed to the floor. Not daring to carry her themselves, they summoned a maid to haul Iris out on her back.

The night sky was shrouded by dark clouds. Deep in the woods, the basement lay like the gaping maw of an abyss, hiding darkness and madness within.

Inside one of the cells, a man dragged himself to the door with agonizing effort. He raised his voice slightly. "Iris...!"

Shouting just that single name drained him of all his remaining strength. With bloodshot eyes, he strained to look toward the entrance, but all he could hear was the sound of chaotic footsteps fading away into the distance.

He had heard them. Those men had called her Ms. Yates. His Iris was really here!

Nathaniel Monroe’s hands gripped the iron bars in a death-like hold. The pain wracking his entire body sapped his strength; crawling even that short distance had left him utterly exhausted. He was consumed by profound regret and self-blame. In his current state, how could he possibly rescue her? He had been far too reckless.

The fire in her bedroom had been extinguished, but the room was completely ruined. Since Iris could no longer sleep there, the maid had placed her in a different room.

When Iris woke up again, it was already the next morning.

She jolted upright and bolted outside without even putting on her shoes. However, the bedroom door had been locked from the outside.

"Open the door! Let me out!" Iris slammed her hands against the heavy wood. Her face was deathly pale, but her eyes were rimmed red. She had heard it! The voice was incredibly weak, but she had definitely heard it!

On this isolated island, no one would call her Iris like that. Someone she knew had come to rescue her. After so long, she was finally going to see a familiar face.

"Let me out!" Iris pounded on the door with all her might, but there was no response from the corridor.

Eventually, her palms turned red and numb from the beating. She slumped weakly onto the carpet, the surprise and excitement in her eyes slowly giving way to fear and panic.

Someone she knew had come looking for her, only to be locked in the basement by William Quinn. A voice that weak meant they were severely injured. William had tortured him!

Iris bit her lower lip hard, a look of deep hatred surfacing in her eyes. But soon, she was enveloped by an even greater sense of self-blame and guilt. She had dragged an innocent person into this nightmare. It was all her fault. Covering her face, she broke down completely as tears streamed uncontrollably through her fingers.

Meanwhile, Walker Grant received an email.

It contained only a single photo: an image of Nathaniel Monroe, beaten within an inch of his life.