chapter 10
Hate
Liam was the first to enter the cafe, his eyes scanning the room as he made his way to the counter. When Kelvin saw him, his face twisted into a sneer, his lips curling up in a cruel smile. "I knew you couldn't survive without this job," Kelvin said, his voice dripping with malice.
Kelvin was a man in his early thirties, with a lean, angular body that seemed to be all sharp edges and pointed bones. He stood at around 5'8" with a mop of messy brown hair and a scruff of facial hair that made him look like he hadn't shaved in days. His eyes were a cold, calculating grey that seemed to bore into Liam's skin like a drill.
Mark watched Kelvin with a keen eye, his gaze taking in every detail of the man's appearance. He looked at the way Kelvin's eyes seemed to gleam with sadistic pleasure as he talked to Liam, the way his lips curled up into a sneer. Mark's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. So this was the man who had made Liam's life a living hell, he thought.
Mark walked towards Kelvin, his long strides eating up the distance between them. Kelvin looked up, his eyes flicking to Mark's face, but he didn't seem to recognize him. Kelvin, meanwhile, had already served the customer and was walking back to his office, closing the door behind him.
Mark pushed open the office door and walked in, his eyes locked on Kelvin's face. "So what made you think you had a right to mistreat my baby all this long?" Mark asked, his voice low and even, but with a hint of steel underlying it.
Kelvin's eyes flicked to Mark's face, a look of confusion crossing his features. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice hesitant.
Mark's smile was cold and calculating. "I am Liam's husband," he said, his voice dripping with possessiveness. "So answer my question already."
Kelvin's eyes widened as he took in Mark's domineering figure, his broad shoulders and chiseled features. He looked like a man who wouldn't hesitate to use his fists to get what he wanted. Kelvin's face went pale, and he looked like he was about to bolt.
"Are you the owner of this cafe?" Mark asked, his voice firm. "I would like to buy it."
Kelvin's eyes went wide with terror, and he looked like he was about to pass out. "Oh God, I've messed with the wrong person," he thought, his mind racing with panic. He knew that he had underestimated Mark, and now he was facing the consequences.
"P-please forgive me," Kelvin stuttered, his voice shaking with fear. "I am sorry for what I did to you, man."
Mark's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing as he watched Kelvin's demeanor change from sneering contempt to cringing fear. He could see the calculation in Kelvin's eyes, the realization that he had underestimated the situation and was now facing a formidable opponent.
Kelvin's apology was hastily offered, but Mark could see the insincerity behind it. He knew that Kelvin was only sorry that he had been caught, not for the actual harm he had caused Liam.
Mark's voice was low and even, but it sent a shiver down Kelvin's spine. "You think a simple apology will suffice?" Mark asked, his eyes glinting with a cold light. "You think you can just mistreat my husband, make his life a living hell, and then apologize and expect everything to be okay?"
Kelvin shook his head, his eyes wide with fear. "No, no, I didn't mean it like that," he stammered. Mark's gaze never wavered, his expression unyielding. "I want to buy this cafe," Mark repeated, his voice firm. "And I want you to sell it to me. Now."