Chapter 7 Alaina let out a painful whimper . The cloth stuffed in her mouth fell out , and she sobbed , " Leonardo , please . Save me ! Save our baby !" At that moment , Leonardo felt like he couldn't breathe . He shut his eyes tight After a while , he finally managed to say in a rough voice , " Alaina . " At that instant , all the strength seemed to leave Gabrielle's body . Wyatt laughed maniacally , " Nice one ! What guts you have , Mr. Ferney ! " He grabbed Gabrielle by the hair and tossed her into the freezing seawater . Once ... twice ... three times ... until it hit ten times . Leonardo couldn't take it anymore . His eyes were blazing with rage . " Are you really going to torture her to death ?" " Isn't this your own choice ? " Wyatt sneered as he enjoyed watching Leonardo's furious face . " The second punishment is 99 lashes . So tell me , Mr. Ferney . Who are you going to save this time ? " Leonardo's fists were so tightly elenched that blood was dripping from them , and his chest was heaving like crazy . Gabrielle was still coughing hard , with seawater flooding her insides- every single cell in her body felt like it was on fire . 288 Vouchers Chapter 7 She had been thrown to the ground , barely able to breathe . It was clear she couldn't hold on much longer . But then , in the next second , Leonardo's words sent her spiraling into despair . " Alaina . " Alaina next to him burst into tears of joy . She pressed her lips together and glanced nervously at Gabrielle . " Gabrielle , you've been through so much . wwwww Gabrielle ignored her completely . She just stared at Leonardo in disbelief , her heart aching almost to the point of numbness . In an instant , the whip struck her body . She let out a muffled groan as cold sweat broke out all over her skin . The unbearable pain made her ten slender fingers dig into the rough ground tightly, leaving behind ten shocking bloodstains on the gravel . One lash ... two lashes ... three lashes ... fifty - five lashes ! Blood poured from Gabrielle's back as she teetered on the edge of passing out . Leonardo watched the scene unfold in front of him , his heart feeling like it was being ripped apart . " Stop hitting her ! I told you to stop ! " he shouted in desperation , breaking free from his restraints and lunging toward Gabrielle . Suddenly , Alaina let out a piercing scream . Clutching her stomach , she looked pale as a ghost , " Help me ! I - I think I'm having a miscarriage ! " 50 % 100 Chapter 7 259 ( Vouchers Leonardo froze mid - movement . Without thinking , he grabbed her hands tightly . " What's wrong ? " In that split second of hesitation , another heavy lash came down . Gabrielle spat out blood . The man's eyes widened in shock . " Gabrielle ! " Wyatt stood back watching this crazy scene unfold , laughing loudly . " Mr. Ferney , I've got a medical team right here with me . But you can only save one person . " So tell me ... Are you still picking Alaina ? " Whip after whip landed on Gabrielle's body . All she could hear was this sharp ringing in her ears . She couldn't even catch what Leonardo said in response . She struggled to keep her eyes open and caught just a glimpse of Leonardo and Wyatt seemingly talking to each other . Wyatt nodded and agreed . Right after that , he scooped Alaina up into his arms and rushed off . He walked away quickly with the woman in his arms , not even bothering to look back at her . " Haha ... " All she felt was the blood on her body turning cold , and her laughter came out desperate and broken , The 99 whip marks on her skin couldn't compare to the gut - wrenching pain in her chest Chapter 7 The setting sun looked as red as blood on the horizon . Seagulls landed around her , their white feathers getting soaked in blood right away . 268 Wouchers She thought , " Leonardo - this so - called ' perfect match ' and ' bond forged through life and death ' you always talked about ? Turns out it's just this pathetic situation . " She struggled with what little strength she had left . Everything in front of her started to fade away slowly . She thought to herself , " Leonardo , if there's an afterlife , I swear I'll never love you again . " + In "A Lady Hard to Please" by CrushReels, a single mother makes a poignant return to the city she fled seven years ago. Her mission: to secure treatment for her son's leukemia, setting the stage for an emotional journey of love and resilience amidst past heartbreak. As her ex-lover reenters her life upon hearing of her return, old wounds resurface, sparking a complex web of emotions and decisions that delve deep into themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the enduring power of love. This modern romance novel stands out for its raw portrayal of familial bonds tested by adversity, offering readers a compelling exploration of human strength and vulnerability. With a captivating blend of heart-wrenching moments and tender revelations, "A Lady Hard to Please" promises a captivating read that lingers in the heart long after the final page. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a tale that transcends boundaries and speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.