Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 1520

In the dimly-lit basement, a hive of activity buzzed around the frail figure of a woman. A doctor hovered over her, his medical expertise focused on the mystery of her condition, while the construction team's foreman examined the structure of the concrete tomb that had been her prison.

Two days had passed, and the construction crew had come up empty-handed. It was the doctor who had the slightest glimmer of progress to report.

"Mr. Sanders," the doctor said, the concern etched into his furrowed brow, "she seems to have lost the ability to communicate, almost as if she's forgotten how to interact with people. And it's clear someone has modified her body."

Beck stiffened. His connection with Cynthia, the woman before him, was tenuous at best—shared blood, but little else. Yet the news struck a chord within him, a pang of pain for a stranger who was family.

"Modified? What do you mean by that?" Beck's voice was tight with barely contained anger.

"It appears that several of her bones have been removed and replaced with some kind of mechanical devices. They've been integrated so long, they've practically become a part of her. The purpose isn't clear—could be for communication, maybe control. There might be a chip involved, but this tech's beyond anything I've seen. Even with the state-of-the-art equipment, it's a challenge."

The thought of Cynthia enduring such agony during the removal of her bones made Maja feel sick to her stomach. Without hesitation, she approached the bed and took Cynthia's hands in hers.

But Cynthia reacted violently to the contact, swatting Maja away and retreating into a corner, her body shaking uncontrollably.

The last time Ian's men tried to remove her, she'd reacted just as violently. She'd been locked away for so long, should fear not have faded? Why would she shrink from human touch?

The doctor, meticulously noting her reactions, adjusted his glasses.

The Sanders family had summoned the best in the field for this—a team of top-notch professionals, not just in medicine, but in every aspect related to the underground chamber's secrets.

The doctor gestured to the walls where over a thousand cameras were embedded, surveillance that captured every nuance of Cynthia's expressions. The tormentors behind the screens didn't wish for her death; they simply enjoyed watching her reactions, her punishment for every touch.

He pointed towards a spot near the door. "There's an electrical punishment device over there. Ms. Pennyfeather, are you aware of the effects of severe electric shocks on a person?"

Maja bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears. She knew all too well the humiliation of incontinence, a common result of intense electric shocks. And to think, Cynthia's most private agonies were on display, critiqued by unseen eyes.

The doctor, realizing Maja had grasped the horrific truth, sighed heavily.

"After examining her, I'm surprised she's not gone mad. Her mental clarity is intact despite the trauma. Her will is extraordinary—stronger than any soldier I've known. She must have a belief sustaining her, or perhaps her captor fed her information, bits that tied directly to her deepest convictions."