Chapter 16

                                    

                                          
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
As we made our way down the stairs, the familiar figure of my mom came into view. My heart skipped a beat, and I hastily tried to rush towards her. But before I could take another step, a firm hand clamped down on my arm, arresting my movement. I spun around, curiosity etched on my face, and met his piercing gaze. His eyebrow shot up, its upward curve a silent inquiry, as if asking, "What are you doing?
My mom's voice interrupted our stare, shaking the very foundations of the room. "Don't you dare touch my daughter like that!" she commanded, her tone fierce and protective.
My heart skipped a beat as I gazed at the man's hand still grasping my arm, his fingers like vice grips. My eyes locked onto his, and I saw the darkness lurking within. A chill coursed through my veins; I knew I was face-to-face with pure malevolence.
Adrik's voice dripped with exasperation. "Women can be so dramatic." He sighed, his shoulders sagging. "Let's go to the dining table before I lose my patience. You'll go hungry for a week if you don't shape up."
I darted a desperate look at my mom, my eyes imploring her to defuse the tension.
We were ushered into an opulent dining area, unlike anything I had ever seen. The table was laden with an array of exotic dishes, each one more tantalizing than the last. My mouth watered at the sight, but I hesitated.
Under different circumstances, I would have dove in with gusto, savoring every bite. However, given the tense atmosphere and Adrik's ominous tone, I restrained myself.
I glanced at my mom, seeking reassurance, but her expression remained guarded. Adrik's presence seemed to suffocate the room, draining the warmth from the lavish setting.
"Please, sit down," Adrik said, his voice low and controlled. "Let's enjoy this meal together."
I hesitated, unsure if I should comply. My mom's subtle nod encouraged me to take a seat. As I did, Adrik released my arm, but his gaze lingered, making my skin crawl.
The meal began in silence, the clinking of silverware against fine china the only sound. I picked at my food, my appetite lost amidst the tension.
Adrik broke the silence, his voice slicing through the stillness. "So, your time to repay me is out, isn't it?" His gaze locked onto my mom, his eyes glinting with malice. "Meaning that both you and your daughter are now under my control.
You are indeed a very cunning man," my mom said, her voice laced with venom. "You put my daughter in that position and later decided to render a solution to bring her out of the trouble you put her in. You used me as a license for your evil deeds, putting me in debt to you. But you know what? You'll never break me."
Adrik smiled, his eyes glinting with malice. "I don't plan on breaking you," he said, his voice dripping with menace. "But I do plan on breaking your daughter.
My engagement will soon be taking place, and we will be married," Adrik announced, his voice cold and calculating.
I felt a chill run down my spine as he gazed at me with an unnerving intensity.
"I actually don't need your blessing for that," he continued, his eyes locked onto my mom, "but your daughter will be needing all the prayers you can render to her."
My mom's face paled, her eyes wide with horror. "You'll never marry my daughter," she spat, her voice trembling with rage.
Adrik's smile grew, his eyes glinting with triumph. "Oh, but I will," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "And there's nothing you can do to stop it.
Kill me," my mother said, her voice laced with desperation.
"I don't think that would be necessary," Adrik replied, his tone eerily calm. "I wouldn't want to deprive our kids of having a grandmother."