Chapter 10 C10

Lucia put her hand against her stomach. There was cold sweat on her forehead. It hurts there.

She simply rested for a while. Then, she put her hands once again into the cold, icy water to continue with the laundry. However, it wasn't her clothes.

A bigger hand suddenly grabbed at her own. She looked up, a pair of dark eyes that could absorb a man's soul greeted her. It was so gloomy that she could no longer escape from his curse. As unfortunate as it was and as cruel as it seemed, she was resigned to that fate.

"You don't want to live anymore?" His voice was extremely deep but his gaze landed on her stomach. Was she unaware that her uterus had suffered a severe trauma? And that the one who had caused it was him?

"Isn't this what you wanted?" She pulled her hands out of his grasp. She continued to put both of them into the cold water in a fit of anger. Or rather, it was more from being wronged?

Now he was accusing her.

"You can rest assured that I will not die. I know you are not done torturing me."

She did not wish to sound like that, but she had said them out of anger. Regardless, those words still came out from her mouth even if she did not mean them. She was not usually that bold. She had gotten used to adversity. She had gotten used to days like that in her family. But today, she was done tolerating.

"Enough!" Daniel's dark eyes became darker. He suddenly grabbed her shoulders with both his hands. He could see the crystal-like tears forming on her bare face.

She had not cried when her mother beat her, nor did she cry when people bullied her. When she was in pain back then, she did not cry. But she started crying when he spoke about taking responsibility.

She was not a strong woman. She was not a block either. She had emotions and a heart.

They honestly thought she wouldn't feel hurt?

Daniel's eyes were so dark that she almost lost herself in its depth. He suddenly lowered his head and firmly kissed the woman on her lips. His heart was actually aching for her as he looked at her in her pitiful state.

To his surprise, he could not tolerate her attitude to abandon herself to despair. He knew where she went. Every action she did was completely under his control. She was bullied and beaten at her family's house. She wandered along the streets for several hours after that. When she returned to the mansion, she had to do the laundry. He had no idea what went through her mind. No idea at all.

He thought he would have felt happy or excited. However, he was wrong. He had experienced the thrill of exacting his revenge, but he also felt his heart ached.

Damn woman. He kissed her hard on the lips. The impact was so great that it might have worn her lips off. They could both taste blood between their lips. It had started bleeding when they met. Would it have ended with one of them dead?

Lucia could feel the surge of pressure between her lips. It was as though he had consumed her soul. She shook her head. She passively received his nearly frantic abuse.

He bit on her lip. After a long while, he finally released the woman. She could barely catch her breath.

"Do not make me angry the next time, woman." He placed his finger on her lips. There was something hidden behind his dark eyes. She blinked in confusion and an indescribable cold shiver went down her body.

"Was what I said clear? You won't be able to bear the consequences if you provoke me. If you want to live a decent life, listen well and be good." He lightly patted her face. His voice might be mild, but it sounded cold and hard. Rather than calling it a warning, one might as well say it was a command or even a curse.

Lucia pursed her lips. She felt some discomfort. There were scars, deep and shallow, hidden under her eyes. Was this his way of showing her his concern?

"Don't think so highly of yourself. I just don't want you to die so soon. Because if you die, then what will I do with my hatred? Who can I go to extract retribution?" Daniel seemed to sense her train of thoughts, and so he callously cut off her fantasy thoughts-he did not want her to even have the pleasure of fantasizing things between them. To have that kind of physical intimacy also depended on circumstances.

"I understand." The look on Lucia's face cleared up even more. She lowered her head. She knew beforehand that things would not change and yet she could not help herself from expecting more. Yes, he just doesn't want her to die so soon-that was all.

Daniel stood up and continued looking at the woman in a stand-offish manner. Finally, he walked out. From the moment he came until the time he left, it felt as though a gust of cold wind had passed through. It blew, and that was it.

Lucia hugged herself tightly. She placed her hand on her lips. This was his second time kissing her, and even if it was for revenge, she still had no desire to be treated as a replacement for Sophia.

All of a sudden, she laughed. It was a rather faint one. On her pale face, there was no hate, but the love was obvious.

She loved him-really loved him with all her heart.

Daniel walked out. His eyes narrowed, and his gaze became more brutal when he saw the maid standing at the doorway.

He was the only one allowed to torture that woman. No one else.

"You should know what to do from now on. Otherwise, I will not allow you to stay here. You will become a beggar for the rest of your life," he coldly stated. The tone of his voice caused the maid to cower in fear. She shuddered as her fantasy bubbles froze into icy dregs before it shattered.

His voice sounded like it was hell's wrath. It was not something to be taken lightly. He never jokes, so it was needless to question him for he always means what he says.

He sneered when he looked at Lucia across the doorway. The chilled look of vengeance flashed in his eyes and it intensified.

One must not assume that he gave that kiss because he felt sorry. His heart was already cold.

He had willfully neglected some special things when he was insanely trying to think of ways for his revenge. When the perfect timing arrives for him to exact his revenge, he will destroy her. At the same time, he will destroy himself as well.

The maid was scared stiff. She scrambled to get in. She snatched the bundle of clothes and started washing. She dared not do that, ever. The master's eyes could consume a person. Now that she thought about it, his gaze was so cold and profound. That voice sounded like it was a fall in an ice cellar.

Lucia gripped her hand tight. Her fingers lightly touching her lips. The man was nowhere to be found outside for he had left.

She merely glanced at the woman who was doing the laundry. She did not smile as she walked past her. She just went to the direction of her room. If it was possible, she would rather sleep in the guest room. She did not wish to sleep in that room.

It reminded her of his cruelty and his love. However, she was not the one whom he had loved.

The door opened. It was so dark that there was not a bit of color. It felt so depressing. The only thing that brought life and color to this room was the wedding portrait hanging on the wall.

She walked under the exquisite portrait. She looked up and admired the couple who looked so compatible. The man looked dignified and mature, while the woman was adorable and beautiful. No matter how you compare them, looks-wise or family background-wise, they were a match made in heaven.

"If I was the one who died, would everyone be happy? Your Father, Mother, and Daniel." She scoffed, and then she gently caressed the portrait. The woman in the portrait remained smiling.

*********

Sophia was supposed to be the one alive while Lucia should be the one dead. Right. Some were born to be a princess while others were just redundant-like her.

She slowly lowered her eyes and placed her hand on her stomach. Her fingers tightened. It felt like it was snapping.

Haven't she paid enough? She lost the chance to be a mother! Wasn't it enough?

Was it really enough? In fact, she was ridiculously wrong. She had much to pay, so much more that she could not even imagine.

She looked around. The place really resembled a prison. It not only imprisoned her body and everything she had, but even her soul was stuck here.

She lay down and coiled her body up. It was the only way she could feel herself alive. Her fingertips were already frozen.

She had no idea how long she had slept for she had awakened in the same position. It was dark outside. She was alone in the huge room and her only audience was herself.

She walked out of the room and turned on all the lights. She had long gotten used to that kind of life. There was nothing to be afraid of.

She sat on the sofa and began reading the day's newspaper. After a glance, she felt her heart spasming. On the page was her husband-not anyone. He had one of his arms around a woman's waist in an intimate fashion wear. Beneath the photo was others' speculation as to when his wife would fall, be abandoned, and become his ex-wife.

She put the newspaper down. Her eyelashes fluttered. She was feeling slightly dizzy and lost under the milky white lighting.

As it turned out, he was perfectly capable of treating another woman well-except her.

She stood up and all of a sudden, she could not tolerate the atmosphere in the room. It was stuffing and she couldn't breathe. She locked herself up and stood with her back against the door. Despite that, she could not stop the anger. Her hand was clutching the chest part of her blouse as she lifted her head.

It was indeed agonizing.

Bitter.

Intolerable.

And endless pain.

She sprawled on the bed once more and buried her face in the blanket. No one could hear the sound of her suppressed cries that resounded from within the room.

A privately-owned black sedan parked at the doorway. A man in a black suit emerged. It seemed that the suit perfectly blended into the night, as did the man himself. His lips were slightly pursed together.

He was a man who belonged to the darkness.

He fished his keys out. The card reader beeped and he walked in. All the lights inside had been turned on. His lips curled up a little in a more sarcastic way. He thought, "That woman is afraid of the humans or ghosts?"

He removed his necktie, sat on the sofa, and casually picked up the newspaper on the table. His eyebrows raised ever so slightly. Another woman who did not know what was good for her. Would he, Daniel, be manipulated that easily? She had only spent a few nights with him, but she thought that she could get into his good books. With the exception of Sophia, for only she could be his wife.

He callously crushed the newspaper. When he stood up, he noticed how quiet the room was. He opened the bedroom door. He had prepared everything here for Sophia. However, the one who came was Lucia.

He smiled. The curve on his lips was as cold as ever.