Chapter 43

My eyes widened in shock and fear on what she was about to do. I squirmed, trying to beg her not to do it.

She looked at me through my eyes for a couple of seconds before she ripped the front of my shirt; buttons flew out at the force.

She tightens her hold of my neck when I try to squirm out of her hold. I would only lose my strength and fail to loosen her hand on my neck. I put my hands down to my sides in defeat knowing I couldn’t stop her or beg for my life.

I was surprised and amazed by the strength that this woman has. I guess it was to be expected from the leader of a renowned mafia.

I closed my eyes as she raised the knife. I expected her to stab me, when I felt the burn of pain in my chest. Turns out, what I thought wasn’t the case. Tears slowly fell to my cheeks at the amount of agonizing pain I was feeling. My entire face scrunched, eyebrows knitted together. I didn’t want to open my eyes and watch her while carving a mark on my chest.

Despite her hold loosening, I still didn’t stop her. I didn’t want to do something that would cause her to retaliate. What if she uses my family again? I’m just so tired. I’ve had enough. I just resign and let her do whatever she wants.

I fall down to my knees as soon as she finally withdraw her hold and she’s done with the torture. I clench my fists against the floor, frustrated and hurt at the turn of events. I feel like sobbing my heart’s out. I do not deserve this. I shouldn’t have let myself fall for someone as nefarious as her. I regretted taking that god damned job. I should have let myself be killed.

“This will remind you of who you belong to.” With that, she left.

I could only watch her heels clicking against the cold floor. I don’t dare look at her. It hurts. The anger I felt only ignited a spark of hatred towards her.

I stripped as soon as I reached the bathroom. Blood stained my shirt and torso. The wound wasn't that deep, only superficial and enough to draw out blood that stained my entire shirt. It will leave a scar that will never go away. I winced knowing the pain it will bring when I shower. Even the air makes it throb and it hurts like a bitch, but I endure it anyway.

Once I was done, I grabbed some first aid kit from the cabinet. I looked at the mirror and finally saw the mark she engraved. A crescent moon on my chest. I was stunned, realizing I knew what it meant. My heart thundered at the thought.

Shit.

—

The next day, I continued my plan to avoid her. I stick to the same routine as long as I do not meet her. I try to focus on my work as much as I can. It was so ironic how I needed to have piles of work but Hudson no longer demanded anything, let alone an overtime. I just spent the rest of the evening in the gym. Although the wound in my chest was making me uncomfortable, I tried to live with the pain knowing it was the only thing that could pull me out of my miserable thoughts.

I decided to visit the marketing team from the upper floor. I haven’t heard from Amilia ever since our date. She was pretty determined in pursuing me so I find it weird that she's suddenly quiet.

I looked around before setting my eyes on her cubicle where she's working. I waited for a long time but there was still no sign of Amilia. I waved my hand on Charlotte when I saw her pass by. She came to me with a huge smile on her face.

“Dylan, what brings you here?” She chirped.

“I was looking for Ami. I haven’t seen her though. Did she take a leave?” I asked while still looking around their office behind her.

Charlotte frowns. “Oh, didn’t she tell you? She quit a few days ago.”

“What?” I was taken aback by the news. How come she didn’t tell me?

“She came here early in the morning and gave her resignation letter to our manager. We were all shocked by her sudden decision. She said there was…”

I couldn’t hear her anymore. Her voice drowned out as I mulled over the fact that Amilia was no longer here. How come? The date went so well. If she had plans for her future, I’m sure she would have told me. I don’t think her confession was shallow. By the determined look in her eyes, I knew she was serious about me. And all of the sudden she’s gone without a single word to me.

My heart raced crazily. I have an inkling of how it happened and I suddenly felt scared. I asked for half of the day off. I was momentarily surprised when Hudson had no problem with my request. But I didn’t have time to ponder over it. I just want to go back to the penthouse and hope that Cara is there. For the first time, I wished she’s there.

I sighed in relief when I saw her sitting in her usual spot, staring at her phone with a serious look on her face.

“What did you do to her?” My voice came out harsh, the anger seeping out. I have been holding out my emotions for so long that I couldn’t control it any longer. Not this time. Not when she might have done something to her.

Amilia and I might not have an official relationship but she’s as important as Miles and Aiden to me.

She looks up. Our eyes met. For a second, I almost cower. It was cold, filled with controlled rage and overwhelming power.

She slowly rises and prowls towards me like a predator. Her head tilts up with arrogance and pride, her eyes looking down at me with vague irritation.

“Please do elaborate. I must have done something wrong for you to act this way.” She said mockingly.

“Don’t play games with me. Where’s Amilia? I swear if you ever hurt her-”

She then steps forward with her hand on my neck threateningly. My breath hitched, cutting me off from speaking. “You’ll what?” She growls. “I’ll watch what I say if I were you, love.” She spat. “Do I need to remind you again of your place?” Her other hand reaches my chest where she marked me. She then presses it, hard. “Because, hell, I will enjoy it.”

I wince at the pain. The wound is still pretty painful considering it’s only a few days old. I try to keep my eyes on her, glaring, but it is hard when the pain is overtaking my senses.

“Where is she? What did you do to her?” I asked slowly, my voice clearly in discomfort from the pain.

“Let’s just say she got what she deserved.” She said, letting me go roughly. The force added more pain to my wound. “ And I dare you to talk back.” She leaned her face closer towards mine, our faces inches apart. She was scowling the whole time. My heart skipped a bit at her expression. “You don’t want the entire solar system carved in your body.” She then whirled around, taking steps forward the other way, her back facing mine.

I don’t care if she even engraved the whole universe but I have had it with her shit. “What am I to you?” I clenched my fists as I asked. “Don’t I have the right to care for somebody else other than you?” She swiftly spun around, her hair whipped at the movement.

“Oh, like that woman who you’ve fucked while you’re enjoying me.” She spat.

“I didn’t sleep with her- I never slept with anyone my whole life other than you!” I scoff. “You know, for someone who knows everything, you certainly don’t seem to know that.” I couldn’t get her reaction. She was just looking at me unaffected. It’s like it didn't actually matter to her whether I slept around or not. “And if I did fuck someone else, who exactly are you to butt into my business? You have a fiance for god’s sake. Quite unfair, don’t you think? How am I supposed to know that you, too, didn't sleep with him? You played me big time, Cara. I get that you live in a different world from mine. I don’t know how your relationship with him works, that you’ve managed to handle two men at the same time. But do you ever… for once, think about my feelings?”

I take careful steps towards her. “I know I’m not more than a necessity you kept knowing someday I'll be useful, but this necessity is a human being who feels emotions. And I’m tired of these emotions. I’m tired of you trying to make me a fool. I’m tired of you always playing with my emotions and when things don’t go your way, I’m certainly tired of your threats, too.”

“Are you done?” She asked flatly. My shoulders slumped in defeat at her response. Why do I even bother? An arrogant prideful woman like her will never understand. “Because it will never change the fact that you are mine! I own you. I will keep repeating that until you fucking get that through you thick skull.”

With that, she left.