Chapter 32 Handed Over To The Enemy

• "You idiot, dimwit, simple task?! Why couldn't even finish it! Trash, get out and bring my money back!!"
• The weight of failure pressed down on Simon like a physical burden. The harsh words of his boss echoed in his ears, the demand for compensation a constant, gnawing threat. Seeing Belle and Nero's faces plastered across wanted posters in the marketplace, far from stirring any protective instinct, ignited a different kind of desperation in him. The reward offered was substantial, more than enough to cover his debts and appease his furious employer.
• A cold calculation replaced any lingering loyalty. Belle and Nero were pawns in a larger game, expendable pieces in his desperate bid for survival. He wouldn't protect them; he would betray them. The thought sent a chill down his spine, but the fear of his boss’s wrath was far greater.