DO OR DIE

The loud silence flooded inside the dining hall at the Butler's report. The older cousins, Blanche and Clair exchange glances with one another, and their gaze shifts to their younger cousin, Sumire.

His head started to throb, Chaise gently massages his forehead and his wife, Lunaire attended to him. Mort's presence at the family dinner made his veins pulse in anger. He thought the young hunk was thinking right and would give up chasing after his daughter. Chaise thought Mort would not dare cross the line after confronting him and letting him decide what's good for his daughter but he was wrong. The two of them, Sumire and Mort are giving him a hard time.

In a threatening look, Chaise gazed at his daughter menacingly who had now felt relieved in her seat after knowing Mort came for her. A glimpse of hope rose to her chest, she wants to jump in gaiety but her father's darkened face darted on her.

'I thought he'll never come...' the maiden uttered in her mind and hold her chest. She doesn't know how to leave the suffocating dinner. She was out of words. She didn't want to waste time but her grandfather was here whom she was afraid of. Even though her heart and brain know what to do, she is holding back with fear.

She waited for Blanche to come to her rescue and help her out of the situation especially since her cousin, Blanche, among them, is the bold one to cross and match with their grandfather.

Maddox didn't care even after knowing Mort arrived at the place. He is confident no one would dare break his marriage with the woman he loved, even Mort himself. Their marriage is already set. Maddox knew that when the Massoullèves made a decision, they don't take their words back, even if it means bloodshed. He trusted in Mischa's word. He knew that pretty young lassie would never let him down.

"Who is Mort?" Curious, Don Jadreus asked and eyed the maiden.

"Sumire's Closest Friend," Maddox answered his grandfather even though the question was for the maiden. Sumire throw a hostile glare at Maddox who didn't even cast a glance at her.

"Invite him in." Don Achaeus Severus smilingly commanded at the family Butler. Clutching her dress, Sumire could feel her heart skip a beat.

'No, no, no.' Lower lip bitten in extreme anxiousness keeps uttering inside in her mind. Her gaze shifted to Blanche wearing her pleading eyes who were teasingly smiling at her. 'Why are you smiling like a fool? Help me out here.' said Sumire in her mind and widened her eyes at Blanche which he abruptly noticed.

"Let them talk outside." Looking handsome and cute in his black turtleneck, Blanche mediated which surprised Don Achaeus.

"But he is a friend of your cousin and this is an important occasion. We should invite him in." Don Jadreus, Maddox's grandfather insisted. He had a clue as to who Mort is.

"But he's not a Massoullève and he won't be part of the Massoullève clan. We can't invite an outsider." Oozing an aura of a true Massoullève and using his cold and emphatic tone, Blanche silenced Don Jadreus. Maddox gulped hard on his place.

"Sumi, you go see Mort outside." Blanche's demeanor quickly changes like a chameleon and smiles at his cousin whose eyes sparkled with joy. But before Sumire stood up to leave the place, Don Achaeus Severus spoke.

"Let him in." Don Achaeus coldly commanded in a firm tone. Frozen like an ice statue, Sumire's nervousness doubled this time.

"Don't get me wrong. I agree with what Blanche said but I'm curious about your closest friend, my lovely dear. I want to meet him, so invite him in." The Don added and the Butler nodded and came out to let Mort in.

Sumire felt her time on earth come to an end. Even though the whole corner of the dining hall was flooded with deafening silence, the tension was very heavy and strong. The overwhelming pressure is too much to handle.

Laenyra looked worriedly at her son, Maddox. She may never have met or seen Mort in person, she could feel the power and capacity to cause ruin every person on his way. The mysterious man had almost completely taken over the company that Maddox's grandfather worked hard for.

Chaise was about to lose his mind. The moment they step in here inside the main manor of the Massoullèves, he was no longer in control of the situation. He no longer has control over what will happen next, especially since his father is in charge of the family decision. Don Achaeus Severus is the boss of the household and his word is a law. 'If only Chadwick was here.' said Chaise helplessly in his mind.

"He must be someone dear to you, my little pumpkin..." Cornelius said with a smile and broke the awkward silence as he looked at Sumire who was ghost pale in her place.

The maiden did not know what to answer her uncle. Sumire looked at her mother but Lunaire was looking in a different direction. Clair, on the other hand, was sitting quietly, feeling the surroundings and what will about to happen. Serious, Blanche is busy on his phone again, eyes darting on the screen while tapping on it. Maddox's family exchanged glances with one another and their gaze shifted to Sumire. They're all waiting for her response to her uncle Cornelius.

"Of course he is." Suddenly, Blanche butts in and groans without taking his eyes off the phone. He has a feminine face and a very delicate body as beautiful as the female models.

"Oh, have you met him already?" Cornelius smiled at his niece who was restless in her seat. His attention has shifted to Blanche who is still busy on the phone.

"Yes." Blanche shortly replied. Sumire's eyebrows knitted narrowly. She couldn't remember ever introducing Mort to Blanche in fresh and flesh. All she remembered was that she told them about the first chaotic encounter with him.

"So, what was your first impression of him?" Cornelius asked making Blanche burst to laugh.

"Come on, Uncle. We're not teenagers anymore to talk about impressions, geez." Blanche laughingly responded, trying to get rid of the tension reigning over the place.

"Well, lemme act like a teen right now. So, you better tell me your impression about our little pumpkin's guy friend." Cornelius stubbornly insisted as Blanche rolled his eyes at his uncle.

"He is sca - scorching hot." Clair laughs boisterously when Blanche suddenly takes back his word. Her laughter caught everyone's attention at the table. All eyes darted on her and Clair cleared her throat.

"Aherm, I'm sorry." Clair apologizes as Aireinna, her mother, raised an eyebrow at her. She didn't like her daughter's sudden chortle and find it rude.

"Clair, this is a serious matter." Aireinna scolded her daughter who just nodded at her and motioned her mouth is now zip.

"Back to the topic, Blanche. What I mean is his attitude." Cornelius ask once more that Blanche cleared his throat.

"He is uhmm..." Blanche suddenly remembered the day Narco introduced him to the man named Mort. His presence scream power and danger at the same time. He is the definition of hot and cold. If Narco wasn't by his side, he might have fallen to the floor because of the overwhelming pressure around the man. Fortunately, Narco didn't leave him during their entire meeting with Klauss, who was kind to him.

"kind?" Blanche responded in a form of a question when suddenly the massive door of the dining hall opened.

A striking hunk with a pair of emerald green orbs appeared to them with a strong build and defined muscles. He entered inside oozing an aura of danger and authority. His face was perfectly sculpted, with a thick eyebrow that slightly narrowed and a strong jaw that he looks dangerously cold. His short dark hair is sexily wet and normally messy slicked back leaving a few strands of his hair in his sight. The man stands so tall and formidable big in the place. His eyes landed on no one but Sumire alone. Like slow motion, he sauntered to the place eyes locked on the maiden who felt a sense of safety and ease. Mort's presence was cold as an ice but it gave her a comforting warmth. Her nervous gone vanished after seeing him in the place.

Gaped, Maddox's mother Laenyra, and her husband did not expect Mort's appearance. The hunk looks so expensive in his suit and watch. She felt belittled in her seat. Her son Maddox doesn't match the man in front of them and is clearly out of his league. The feeling of shame and insecurities twine together inside of her. Silent, Don Jadreus eyed the hunk who quickly noticed Mort was no ordinary man.

"That's what I said," Blanche uttered in a low tone and look at Clair who was now awestruck at Mort's presence and gaze shifted to Sumire, asking her for an explanation. The couple, Cornelius and Aireinna felt the same way as their daughter.

Don Achaeus Severus critically scrutinized Mort like a robot. He studied the man's status based on his outward appearance and strong aura.

"He's the one." Don Achaeus whispered under his breath that it didn't escape from Blanche's keen hearing. No one seemed to hear him but Blanche alone.

"Make yourself comfortable." Don Achaeus said and without a word, Mort sat next to Sumire where he was between Chaise and the maiden.

Eyes widened, Chaise was stunned by Mort sitting next to his daughter. He balled his fingers into a fist and clenched his jaw. He is now mad. If only his father had known how dangerous Mort was, Don Achaeus might have not invited the young man in. If only he had known Mort's family background, he might have sent Sumire out of the country just to get her granddaughter away from the most dangerous man on the planet. 'I'll tell him everything later.' said Chaise in his mind while eyes now narrowed at Mort.

"I thought you'll never come. What is taking you so long?" Sumire uttered in a whisper to Mort but everyone heard her as the silence reign the air.

The way Sumire behaves to the handsome hunk, Don Achaeus Severus knew right away what Mort was in his granddaughter's life. Sumire's face brightened after seeing his presence and she heaves a sigh of relief. Her face and complexion also gained color unlike earlier, she was morose, paled and reticent.

"I'm sorry." Mort sincerely replied that Sumire's question was left unanswered.

"So, you are Sumire's friend." Maddox's grandfather, Don Jadreus grabbed everyone's attention. Surprised, Mort shifted his gaze at the old man and looked at Sumire back with questioning eyes. How did he become a friend to his betrothed wife?

"Friend?" That's not a question but looking for an explanation for that word. He wants to know why his relationship with the maiden was just named that way. Sumire sighed heavily and eyed Maddox annoyingly.

"What's the matter?" Don Jadreus asked again. Now feeling confused.

"I am not just her friend." Mort unenthusiastically responded to which Don Jadreus burst laughing.

"Oh, right. You're not just her friend but a closer friend." Don Jadreus sarcastically said. Mort stared him coldly in the eye and Don Jadreus was taken aback.

"I am Mort Dmitriv Aslanov and Sumire Massoullève is my wife." Mort announces in a firm and authoritative tone. Possessive, he then hold her hands and entwined with his. He is marking his territory and claiming what is truly his. The moment he stepped inside the house of the Massoullèves, Mort left a mark and it is now his territory.

Don Jadreus was left speechless, and couldn't utter a word. So does Maddox couldn't find the words to counter Mort's claim.

"Wife?" Chaise laughed sardonically as he repeated that phrase.

"Don't make me laugh. Maddox and Sumire are getting married tomorrow. Today is their engagement dinner and we only invited you here because you're her friend. Don't joke around kid. We're not playing." Chaise crudely insulted Mort but the young man didn't even budge and remained unbothered.

Watching them in silence, Don Achaeus Severus was amused at what he just witnessed. It was as if he made the whole situation his pass time.

"I don't remember I gave Sumire to another man," Mort said and eyed Maddox who was now grinning victoriously in his seat.

"Because she was never yours." Chaise replied as Mort's face darkened. His penetrating gaze shifted to chase and look coldly at him.

"Sir, you are my wife's father, but you can't decide who she wants to be with for the rest of her life. She decided. We decided to be together, even death can't separate us."

Laughing halfheartedly and shaking his head, Chaise's tongue clicked soundly at what he heard. He wanted to blow Mort's face with his punch because of his audacity. The hunk seemed unafraid even though he was inside the Massoullèves property. It's like this place is his den.

"If I happened not to know your real identity. I might just let you and Sumire be together. But I know you. And I know that nothing good will happen in your relationship. You will bring nothing but harm to my daughter and I will never allow that. As long as I live, I will keep my daughter away from you as you are a walking danger." Chaise said in finality and cold tone. Everyone now understood the situation and could utter no words. They were just listening intently to the two men's arguments.

Sumire just shut her eyes closed, wishing her grandfather would say nothing. She was praying silently Don Achaeus Severus won't make a reckless decision that will lead to chaos.

"Who told you that I would put Sumire in danger?" Mort asked. As confident as he was in his abilities, he couldn't understand what Chaise was saying. Especially knowing that he can protect Sumire from any harm or threats. He believes in himself. As long as he is around her, no one would dare harm his girl. He will do everything to keep her safe, even if it means he sacrifices the world for her.

"Your existence. It screams death and destruction." Chaise said emphatically that Mort still didn't understand what he is trying to point out.

Mort knew that Chaise would never understand him either. He never regretted that he was born in a world where at any second he could die, but now he is having second thoughts. If his background and the kind of life he has is the reason why he can't be with Sumire. What's the point?

Maddox just grinned in his mind. No matter what Mort had to say, their marriage will take place and he was confident it would happen tomorrow. Even if it means war and bloodshed, he and his beloved Sumire will get married.

Mort was about to answer Chaise when his phone suddenly rang inside his pocket. He took it out and immediately answered it when he saw the Head nurse of his hospital was the caller.

"Sir, we need you here at the hospital. Only you can save him. Without your expertise, I doubt he can make it. You need information Sir, so we need him alive. But I can't guarantee that he will survive without your help, Doctor."

After the Head nurse reported, Mort stood from his seat without a word while looking at the maiden. Confusion stricken all over her face.

"Mort?" Sumire worriedly looks up at him. Her lips parted open and no words came out. She didn't know what to say especially since Mort just stared at her. Slowly, he leaned down, and when the tip of their noses touches, Sumire closed her eyes thinking Mort would kiss her but his lips traveled on her cheek and whispered something to her ears which made Sumire stop.

Mort then leaves the dining hall without Sumire even realizing. She was stunned and petrified in her place by what he said.

"Mischa is right," Maddox whispered with a big smile plastered on his face. 'The victory is mine.'

"Sumire, congratulations on your wedding tomorrow." Don Achaeus Severus announced when Mort's presence is no longer in the place.

"That was easy."