---- Chapter 13 Alexandra Smith POV: Edward was discharged before | was. He returned to my hospital room not with police officers, but with Carla' s brother and two burly security guards. My blood ran cold. "Take her to the villa," Edward commanded, his voice flat and emotionless. He was pale and his side was heavily bandaged, but his eyes burned with a cold, vengeful fire. They dragged me from my bed, ignoring my protests and the alarmed cries of the nursing staff. | was thrown into the back of a black SUV and driven not to the main house, but to a small, secluded guesthouse at the far end of the estate. They hauled me inside and down a set of steep stone steps into a damp, musty basement. The air was thick with the smell of earth and decay. A single, bare bulb cast long, menacing shadows on the stone walls. Carla' s brother threw me into a corner. My head slammed against the rough stone, and for a moment, the world went black. "I'll deal with you in a minute," Edward said from the top of the stairs, his voice echoing in the small, cavernous space. He dismissed the guards, and the heavy wooden door slammed ---- shut, plunging me into near darkness. The sound of a heavy bolt sliding into place sealed my fate. | was his prisoner. Footsteps descended the stairs. Edward emerged from the shadows, a long, thin leather whip dangling from his hand. My heart leaped into my throat. "Edward, what are you going to do?" | whispered, my voice trembling. He didn't answer. He just flicked his wrist, and the whip cracked through the air, the sound like a gunshot in the confined space. | flinched, scrambling backwards until my back was pressed against the cold, damp wall. "You've been a very bad girl, Alexandra," he said, his voice a low, terrifying purr. He took another step closer. "You don't listen. You don't obey. You cause trouble." The whip snaked out, its leather tip catching the sleeve of my hospital gown and ripping it open. "Please, Edward, don't," | begged, tears streaming down my face. "You stabbed me," he said, his voice rising. "You tried to kill me. The whip cracked again, this time catching my shoulder. The pain was a searing, white-hot agony that made me cry out. "But what's worse," he continued, his voice dropping back to ---- a whisper, "is that you embarrassed me. You humiliated me in front of my family, in front of my friends." He raised the whip again. "You think you're so smart, don't you?" | taunted, my fear momentarily eclipsed by a surge of defiant rage. "Letting that psychopath Carla and your evil stepmother play you like a fiddle. You murdered your own child for a woman who hates your guts. You're not a monster, Edward. You're a fool." His face contorted in a snarl. "Shut up!" he roared, and the whip came down again, this time across my back. The pain was so intense, so all-consuming, that | blacked out. | came to with the shock of ice-cold water being thrown in my face. Edward was standing over me, a bucket in his hand. "Wake up," he said. "We're not finished." He continued to whip me, his rage unabated. | screamed until my throat was raw, until | was coughing up blood. | begged, | pleaded, but he was deaf to my cries. He was a man possessed, a vessel for Carla's poison and his own deep- seated demons. "Apologize," he grunted between blows. "Say you're sorry." | bit my lip, the coppery taste of blood filling my mouth. | would not give him the satisfaction. | began to count the blows, my mind detaching from the agony of my body. One. Two. Three. ---- | knew Gabriel would be looking for me. The three days I'd asked for were up. He would come. | just had to hold on. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Just as Edward drew back his arm for another blow, a thunderous crash echoed from above. The basement door splintered, then burst open. Light flooded the dark, musty space. Silhouetted in the doorway was a figure, tall and broad-shouldered. "Get your hands off her." The voice was low, calm, and filled with a lethal authority. It was Gabriel. Title: A Princess? No! I'm the Female General! In "A Princess? No! I'm the Female General!" by CrushReel, Adela Taylor, a noble family's daughter, disguises herself as her brother to secure their Duke title by joining the army. Despite facing obstacles, she achieves remarkable success. However, upon her triumphant return, her brother betrays her, setting off a chain of events that will test her resolve and reveal hidden truths. This captivating novel delves into themes of secrets, reincarnation, revenge, murder, and drama. Adela's journey from deception to betrayal is filled with intrigue and suspense as she navigates through a world where power dynamics and family loyalties collide. What sets this story apart is its strong female lead who defies expectations and challenges societal norms in a quest for justice and redemption. Experience the riveting tale of Adela Taylor online at CrushReel and witness the transformation of a princess into a formidable female general.