Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Enchantress Medusa

"I suppose you know that being massaged by the opposite sex stimulates the secretion of female hormones, making a woman's skin more radiant," Maria said as she rose, her bare body exposed to the air, the very embodiment of femininity displayed perfectly before Shadowmoon’s eyes. Embarrassed, Shadowmoon blushed furiously and turned her head away.

Maria laughed seductively, slowly lifting her arms. At once, an attendant draped a rose-colored veil over her shoulders. Clad in the delicate fabric, Maria walked toward Shadowmoon, scrutinizing her from head to toe. After a moment, she let out another soft, mocking laugh, then turned and returned to the sofa.

"So, his taste is not so remarkable after all," Maria’s alluring laughter brimmed with disdain and regret.

Hearing this, Shadowmoon felt her anger flare. She turned to glare at Maria, fists clenched at her sides, reminding herself repeatedly to hold back.

Maria noticed Shadowmoon turn her head. Despite Shadowmoon’s coarse and worn clothes, her slender and graceful figure could not be concealed. Though she wore no makeup, her beauty was as fresh as a lotus emerging from clear water. Maria’s scrutiny filled her heart with jealousy and bitterness, but her face remained smiling, as lovely as a peach blossom. She was about to speak when she caught a fleeting look of amazement in the eyes of her two handsome male attendants as they glanced at Shadowmoon. It was brief, but Maria’s sharp gaze did not miss it. Her face darkened, and she spoke in a thin, chilling voice:

"Come here."

The two attendants realized trouble was brewing. Quickly, they stepped forward, bending their knees to kneel before Maria.

"Please punish us, miss."

"Punish you? Did you do something wrong?" Maria said, lifting her long, shapely legs. The rose-colored veil slipped down to her hips as she stretched toward one attendant. Her toes, as white as jade, gleamed with crystal-like nails. With her big toe and forefinger slightly apart, she pinched the attendant’s smooth chin and, exerting a little force, lifted it.

"Do you fancy her?" she whispered, her voice tantalizing. The attendant’s face went pale, his lips trembling uncontrollably.

"No, no, miss, how—how could I possibly think that…" he stammered incoherently.

Maria flicked her ankle sharply, tossing his head to the side. Without support, he fell to the floor but did not linger there; in a flash, he climbed up and knelt properly before her again. His once fair chin now bore a dark bruise.

"Please punish us, miss!" Both attendants touched their foreheads to the ground, prostrating themselves to beg for Maria’s judgment.

"See to it yourselves," Maria said coldly.

Though they kept their heads bowed, the two attendants trembled violently, remaining kneeling and unable to rise.

Maria’s brows knitted. She pressed a button at her side, and the door swung open. Two burly men stood at the threshold.

"Miss," they said.

"Take them away," Maria commanded.

The men stepped forward, hauled the attendants to their feet, and marched them out. One attendant began to protest, "Miss—" but a swift blow to the back of his neck sent him unconscious, carried off without another word.

Shadowmoon’s face turned pale as she watched. So, she was never the gentle, charming woman she appeared to be; her kindness was nothing but a mask for the world. No, she was gentle only for one person. For everyone else, she was a devil, a demon who decided life and death with a smile.

"What’s wrong? It’s as if you’re seeing me for the first time," Maria looked at Shadowmoon’s frightened expression, feigning surprise, though her eyes betrayed a barely concealed triumph.

Shadowmoon stared at Maria’s toxic smile, regaining her composure. Her expression became calm as she said, "At last, I understand why he doesn’t like you."