Chapter 7
Truth was, except for that one meltdown, Alaric seems pretty normal.
1/5
Around me, he was just an average emotionally–stunted guy who couldn’t read women.
But his assistant wouldn’t stop warning me not to set him off.
“Has he gotten worse lately?” I finally asked.
“No.” The assistant paused. “Actually, he’s better. Doesn’t even need sleeping pills anymore.”
“Then why keep bugging me?”
“It’s because of you. He’s better because you’re here. If you leave…” He swallowed. “It would destroy him.”
He’d die.
I didn’t say that part out loud.
“Relax,” I squeezed his shoulder. “I care about him more than you do.”
I was no savior or shrink.
I just wanted to make him hurt less.
Chapter 7
Maybe even smile sometimes.
Fix his head, and everything else might fall into place.
I was a bit surprised when Alaric’s father came to see me.
After all, it was the first time I heard he had family.
2/5
He dressed in a sharp suit, with a face similar to Alaric’s but a completely different demeanor.
That sinister vibe sent chills down my spine.
He got straight to the point. “Ms. Rodriguez, leave my son.”
My tea cup froze halfway up. I took a sip, keeping cool. “What’s the offer?”
“Two hundred mil. Enough to fix your family’s cash problems.”
I looked down…
Since when did we have money troubles?
After thinking for a while, I looked up with a smirk. “We’re true. love, that’s kinda cheap.”
“Last month, he gave me a necklace worth three hundred mil. You’re lowballing your son’s feelings.”
He sneered, “You think being with him is some fairy tale?”
Chapter 7
3/5
Leaned in, his Rolex catching light like a knife. “Called your exes lately? Check how many are still breathing.
“How long you think Marvin’s got? Think Alaric’s playing nice?
“And your brother-” he dragged it out, “think blood ties mean shit to Alaric?”
My nails bit into my palms. I kept my voice steady, “I believe him. He won’t do this.”
“Believe?” He laughed like it was the best joke ever. “You can just check it out.”
He continued, “Like father, like son. He’s gonna do everything I did to his mom to you. Just wait.”
“So your wife’s dead?”
“No. We’re doing good now.” His smirk made my skin crawl.
“She can’t run. Accepted her fate. She’s got too many family ties to abandon everything.”
“She’s all about me now. Listen to my orders, waiting at home every day…”
“Soft, gentle. All her fight is gone. Depends on me completely. Like a pretty caged bird.”
I jerked awake.
Chapter 7
Another nightmare.
4/5
Wind howled against the windowpane, snapping me out of my daze. My back was soaked in cold sweat now.
I’ve never met anyone as disgusting as Alaric’s father. His smug “wife–taming” bullshit made me want to puke.
Checking the time on my phone, I found I’ve slept for three hours.
There were sixteen missed calls from Alaric.
I called back. He cut me off before I could speak. “Why didn’t
you answer?”
“You saw my father, didn’t you? What did he say?”
“Are you leaving me? Breaking the engagement?”
“Stop.” I had to interrupt. “I just fell asleep. That’s all. Don’t spiral.”
Silence. Heavy breathing. Then, broken. “Eileen, I’m too
scared.”
His pitiful voice just made my heart crack.
“Relax,” I sighed. “He might be your father, but he’s nothing to me. I trust you, okay?”
Chapter 7
No answer.
Then he whispered, “Eileen, I need to see you now.”
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