Chapter 3 Dancing with sadness

One year was wedded to Gunner Greystorm, but it seemed yesterday for IreneThe last scene sticks out in her mind, especially the day Gunner comes to rescue her.

She reminisces about everything while sitting in the gazebo in the garden's center.

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(FLASHBACK)

"Uncle... Please tell me why my parents did that," Irene is sobbing. Her mind recalls the scene in which her parents jump from their house's rooftop..

Since living abroad, she knows nothing. Irene's relatives from both clans did not show up, so she went to her father's brother to find out what was going on after burying her parents.

"How dare you come to my house! Your father is a thief! He has brought shame to the entire family!" her uncle exclaimed angrily.

"Uncle! I know my father would never do that!" retorted Irene. She hadn't expected to hear that from his uncle because she remembered her father encouraging him when he was younger.

"Then you are mistaken! He has already done so, and worse, your father stole from the company for which he worked; so, if I were you, leave the city and never come back!"

Irene was about to answer when the door opened, and a group of men entered.

"Well ... well ... well, looks like you have a visitor?" "Well... well... well, it appears you have a visitor," one man said, staring at Irene.

"She is the daughter of my brother..."

"Yes, I recognize her... We went to the cemetery and saw her there,"

"Uncle, who are they?"

"He is the guy your father robbed!"

Irene was stunned and terrified; looking at the men, she was certain they had done terrible things.

"Uncle, I'll talk to you later, I have to leave," she hurried, but one man grabbed Irene before she could.

"Because your father killed himself, I don't have the luxury of torturing him! That's why you'll take his place!" exclaimed the man.

"What are you doing?! Let me go! Uncle, do something!" exclaimed Irene. But the man he had hoped would assist him did nothing. He just stood there and watched as the man yanked her up to the car.

Irene has no idea where they are going because the man continues to assault her and she loses consciousness along the way.

Irene recalled being led to the mansion, thrown into a freezing room, and tortured.

Fortunately, Gunner arrived... If he came a minute later, she would freeze to death.

(END OF FLASHBACK)

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She stretched after taking a deep breath. Irene went inside because it was already dark.

A year had passed, but Gunner had kept Irene imprisoned in this mansion.

She never attempted to flee for fear of repeating what happened the last time she ran away.

Fortunately, the estate is too large for Irene to get bored, and Gunner gave her access to everything, so she knows everything...

"Hmm, the new book will help me with my sleeping problem," Irene said quietly as she walked down the hall to the study room.

But as she got closer, Irene heard a Latin tune; it was harmonious, so it captivated her interest.

"It's coming to the study room?" her forehead furrowed as she carefully opened the door.

It's Gunner! Irene covered her mouth, afraid of being heard by the man who was concentrating on his move.

Is he dancing salsa by himself? Gunner's hand rises, pretending to have a partner while performing his sexy spin.

However, Irene noticed something...

Gunner's eyes are depressed... They've been together a year, but Irene has never seen him like this...

Gunner looks vulnerable right now.

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After the scene in the study room, Irene couldn't sleep, so she was out early.

"Looks like my beautiful sister-in-law is deep in thought?"

Irene immediately smiled. "Raven! Finally, you are here ..." she greeted him with a hug.

"Well, hearing your problematic voice in the middle of the night tortures me... So speak, what is the problem?" Raven asked, sitting in front of Irene and pouring coffee into the cup.

"The thing is ... Does Gunner have a lover?" Irene asked. Raven is Gunner's half-brother, but the latter treats him very well. In fact, Gunner is so protective of his only sibling that he never involves him in illegal activities.

Raven burst out laughing and made Irene frown. "A lover? You're asking me if Gunner was cheating on you? Are you insane?" Raven asks, her eyes welling up with tears as he chuckles.

Irene frowned because of Raven's open amusement. It seems like her question is a big joke. "What's the big deal? Your brother is handsome, wealthy, and powerful... surely many women adore him," Irene reasoned.

"You're right... He's every woman's dream, but he married you," Raven retorted as she sipped his coffee.

Irene did not respond ...

"Tell me, why are you asking such a stupid question? Did you catch my brother with another woman?" Raven asked suspiciously. But he doubts that ...

Before responding to Raven, Irene took a deep breath. "Last night, I saw Gunner in the study room dancing alone, and his eyes-I can tell he's sad... so I thought Gunner missed his lover," Irene looked away in embarrassment.

"He misses his mother... Yesterday was his mother's death day, and every time this day comes, Gunner will lock himself in his study room and play music." Raven paused with a sad smile. "Gunner loves his mother so much; he is there and watching whenever his mother dances. Sometimes they dance together ..."

Irene was stunned. He has been married to Gunner for a year but doesn't know that side of his life. How will you know if you don't try to understand your husband? She mutters to herself.

"And, like you, he witnessed the deaths of his mother and our father..." Raven continued, clenching his fist.

"They also committed suicide?" Irene asked in disbelief. She put her hand on the lap to hide its trembling.

"No, murdered... That night, a group came into the house and slaughtered everyone, except Gunner, who was lucky to survive with three bullets penetrating his body and miraculously no vital organ damage," Raven responded.

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Irene couldn't sleep that night. She was still thinking about Gunner's personality discoveries. "Perhaps Gunner's family has an underworld problem, so that happened..."

Knock on the door...

"What do you want?" Irene asked as Gunner entered.

The edge of Gunner's lip rose as he continued to walk and stopped beside the bed.

"If I said I want you ... Will you willingly give yourself to me?" Gunner teasingly answered as he touched Irene's chin and pulled her closer.