Chapter 29

29 PAINS AND SHOCK ARIEL’S POV “What are these children doing in my house?” Mason snarled, stepping closer to me.

“This is my house.” I raised an eyebrow. “Last time I checked, Andre and I were the ones living here before you came along.”

“But he is my brother, and you’re just a stranger!” Mason focused his gaze on the little children, giving all of them a death stare. “Now all of you should get the hell out of here!”

“What did you just say?” I threw him an unfriendly look.

“Don’t pretend like you didn’t hear me.”

“Oh, I did.” I crossed my arms. “But I just wanted you to repeat that nonsense.”

Mason chuckled. “You’re talking as if you can do something about it.”

“We’ll see about that.” I generated a fake smile.

“What are you going to do? Beat me up.” He mocked. “Come on, Ariel, you know I have the upper hand. You don’t want to mess with me.” He curled his lips into a sardonic smile.

I fell silent, glaring at him. I knew exactly what he meant. He kept threatening me with my children. I felt an urge to choke him to death right now. To strangle him, stab him with a knife, or blow his brains out.

There were so many ways to end his miserable life, but he was lucky that I wasn’t as heartless as he was.

“Look, why do you have to be so cruel? I already agreed to your plan, right? Why are you being so mean to these children? They have no parents, nowhere to call home.”

冠 “Does this place look like an orphanage to you?” He gestured around the living room. “So, I think it’s best you get these filthy thing out of the house!”

tits words filled me with anger. “How dare you call them filthy? That’s so rudo!” I snarled.

“But it’s the truth.” Mason quickly grabbed Josh’s arm. “Take a look at this kid, Can’t you see how dirty he is? And he stinks, by the way.”

“St, please let go of me. You’re hurting my arm,” Josh pleaded.

“Shut up!” Mason barked at me. “You think you can just come into our house and get free food? You’re mistaken.”

Mason dragged Josh to the door, and as he opened it, he pushed the little kid outside. I continued to glare at him. He locked the door immediately and turned around. “Which one of you is next?”

“Miss, is he the owner of the house?” Chloe asked me, looking at Mason. Everyone in the living room was staring at him, and I could tell that no one liked him one bit.

I would have answered, but Mason’s gaze spoke volumes, conveying things only I could understand.

Going against him might unleash his malevolent nature, “And you, little girl.” Mason’s eyes narrowed down on Chloe. “Why are you asking her that?”

“I don’t know, but I can tell you’re also just freeloading here.”

“You little brat!” He marched toward Chloe and slapped her immediately. “Get the hell out of here!” He dragged her and threw her out of the house.

He swung the door wide open for the rest to leave, and with anger on their faces, they all exited the house, just as he wanted. I felt sorry for them, but I was glad they had finished their ineal.

I started walking towards the door, intending to discuss it with the children and come back later, probably when Mason was not around. But the scumbag seized my hand.

JO PAINS AND SHOCK “And where do you think you’re going?” He leisurely asked. I turned around, my glare intensifying. My rage had only grown.

“Are you happy now?” I questioned him, then I forcefully dragged my hands out of his. “I just need to let you know that I’m not your slave, okay? Stop acting like I am!”

“If you dare raise your voice at me, you’re going to regret it.” Mason warned.

“You’re going to kill my kids, right?” I looked him dead in the eyes; he didn’t give me an answer, though.

The angry look on his countenance was intense, but it wasn’t compared to the one on my face right now. He was taking things too far, making it seem like I was his slave or something.

“I can kill you as well. I can kill all of you.”

Π “If that’s the case, they kill me then!”

He gave me a hard slap immediately, causing me to look in a different direction. And when I fixed my gaze on him again after some moments, he slapped me for the second time. It was painful, but not painful enough for me to cry or start acting like an idiot.

He grabbed my neck and began to choke me so hard. My face was all red, and I could barely breathe. I tried to tug his hands off my neck, but his grip was too tight.

He elbowed my stomach in a vigorous manner, inflicting severe pain on me. And when I felt like I was about to depart from the earth, he let go of me.

With sweat all over my face, I was breathing heavily, and then he pushed me away. I landed on the couch.

“I was just showing you a preview of what I can do. You try to act smart with me next time; you’re going to get it.” Mason marched upstairs while I was still trying to catch my breath.

He should have just killed me; I think I would be free from all this stress and trouble.

LUKE’S POV “Please, Luke, this is a favor 1’m asking from you,” my grandfather said as he coughed.

Both of my eyes were closed as I was still mulling over these words. I didn’t know how I was going to act. If I should do as he said, or if I should follow my heart and keep my relationship with Harriet, This moment was really painful; it was so sad. And it was still tough because I was stressing my brain while trying to make a decision. On one hand, it was about being devoted to family. On the other hand, there was devotion to the lady I loved.

“I don’t know grandpa; this is a tough one. Harriet and I made promises; we made them.

My grandfather’s cough interrupted me. Okay, this one was fake.

“My death is near, and it might come anytime. But won’t you fulfill this wish? It could be my last.”

“Grandpa, I can’t actually promise…”

I was interrupted once again, but this time, it was my phone ringing. The number was unknown.

“Please excuse me,” I whispered, and I went outside the room to answer the phone call.

“Luke Reynold, right?” The caller asked.

“Yes,” I answered, curious to know who was calling me. “Can I please know who’s talking?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. What you should be worrying about right now is your girlfriend, who happens to be cheating on you.”

“Harriet?” I blurted it out instantly.

“Yes, I’m standing outside this guy’s house right now, and she’s having a wonderful moment with him.”

20 PAINS AND SHOCK “What do you mean by that?”

“Hold on,” he said, ending the call. And I received a video immediately.

When I opened it, I was shocked to see my Harriet kissing this man.