บท 76: Not even worth the dirt on her toes

Astraea's whole body exploded with pain as Leandre's grip on her throat was unrelenting, his fingers digging into her delicate skin. She gasped for air, her voice barely a whisper as she pleaded with him. "Please...leave me..I can't...breathe..." She desperately clawed at Leandre's iron grip, using all her strength to pry his fingers away from her neck. But he acted like a possessed man consumed by some unseen force. "Where did your voice go now? Bark like you did at the hospital."

The maid and the watch guard stood frozen, eyes locked onto the madman's attempt to murder their young miss. But fear rooted them to the ground, preventing them from taking action to protect her. 

"Did I ever give you the right to call yourself my girlfriend?" Leandre growled, his voice cold and hard as ice. "Answer me!" 

Astraea meekly shook her head, cowering.