Chapter 4 The Beginning Of The End

Alex woke up with a start as a bucket of cold water was poured over him. He coughed violently, gasping for air as the shock of the icy water jolted him awake. Blinking rapidly, he looked around, trying to make sense of his surroundings. He was tied to a chair in a dimly lit room with bare walls and a single flickering light bulb hanging from the ceiling.

Mark and his friends stood in front of him, laughing. One of Mark's friends, a tall guy with a sneer on his face, looked at Alex and said, "Looks like your brother-in-law is finally awake."

"What's going on?" Alex asked, his voice hoarse and shaky as he tried to mask his fear.

Mark stepped forward, a malicious grin on his face. "Since you don't want to divorce my sister, Selena, I've decided to take matters into my own hands."

Alex scoffed, despite the pain in his head. "Mark, let me go before the family finds out I'm missing."

Mark laughed, the sound cold and mocking. "No one cares about you, Alex. They wouldn't even be worried if they found out you were gone."

Alex stared at Mark, his words sinking in. He thought about Mrs. Gregory and the disdainful way she treated him, the mocking laughter of her friends, and the cold indifference of the household. He realized with a sinking heart that Mark was right. They wouldn't care if he disappeared. To them, he was just a burden, a nuisance.

The truth hit him hard, leaving him feeling more heartbroken and isolated than ever before. The realization that he had no allies in the Gregory family, and that his presence was unwanted, tore at his already fragile spirit. He lowered his head, the fight draining out of him as the weight of his situation settled heavily on his shoulders.

Alex's heart pounded as the cold truth settled in. He lifted his head, desperation evident in his eyes. "Please, Mark, let me go," he pleaded. "You don't have to do this. I'll leave the house; I'll stay out of your family's way. Just let me go."

Mark shook his head, his expression unyielding. "The only way I'm letting you go is if you sign the divorce papers," he said, pulling a set of documents from his coat pocket. He unfolded them and thrust them in front of Alex's face. "I'm giving you one chance. Sign these, and this can all be over."

Alex stared at the papers, his hands bound to the chair, unable to reach for them even if he wanted to. His mind raced. Signing the papers would mean giving up everything he had fought for, the hope of reconciling with Selena, and any chance of retaining some dignity. But refusing could mean his life, or at the very least, more pain and suffering.

Mark stepped closer, his face inches from Alex's. "One chance, Alex," he repeated, his voice low and threatening. "Sign them, and you walk out of here. Refuse, and we'll make sure you regret it."

Alex looked around the room, seeing nothing but cold, unfeeling eyes staring back at him. He knew Mark's friends were ready to do whatever it took to force his hand. He swallowed hard, feeling the walls of his reality closing in on him.

Mark was losing his patience. He clenched his fists and yelled, "Time is running out, Alex! Make your decision now!"

Alex, wet and shivering, looked up at Mark with new determination. Despite his fear, he knew he couldn't give in. Signing those papers would mean giving up his principles and his last bit of hope. Taking a deep breath, he said firmly, "I will never sign the divorce papers, no matter what."

Mark's eyes filled with anger, and his friends exchanged nervous looks. "You're making a big mistake, Alex," Mark said, his voice shaking with rage. "You think you have a choice, but you don't. This is your last chance."

Alex stayed silent, and he felt determined. He knew what might happen next, but he had to stand his ground. For once, he had to assert his own will, even against the odds.

Mark's friends moved closer, looking threatening. The flickering light cast eerie shadows on the walls, making the situation feel even more dangerous. Alex braced himself, his mind firm even as his body trembled with fear.

Mark, consumed by anger, reached into his jacket and pulled out a gun. His friends' eyes widened in shock as he pointed it directly at Alex's head.

Alex's eyes widened in terror as he stared down the barrel of the gun. His heart raced, and his breathing quickened. The cold metal of the gun gleamed menacingly in the dim light, and Alex could feel the intensity of Mark's rage.

Mark's hand trembled slightly as he held the gun, his face contorted with fury. "I'm done playing games, Alex," he growled. "Sign the papers, or this ends now."

Alex's mind raced, but his resolve did not waver. He knew he was in grave danger, but he also knew that giving in would mean losing everything he believed in.

Alex, despite the fear gripping him, acted brave and looked Mark in the eye. "I won't sign the papers," he said firmly.

Mark's friends, knowing how dangerous he could be, started to panic. They had seen him lose control before and knew the potential consequences. "Mark, put the gun down," one of them pleaded, their voices trembling with fear.

Mark's face twisted with anger. "Sign the papers now, Alex!" he yelled, his grip on the gun tightening.

One of Mark's friends moved closer, trying to defuse the situation. "Mark, lower the gun. This isn't the way," he urged gently.

Mark turned to him, his eyes blazing. "Stay back!" he warned, the gun still pointed at Alex.

Alex's unwavering confidence seemed to infuriate Mark even more. His face reddened with rage, and his hand shook violently. Suddenly, in a fit of blind anger, Mark pulled the trigger and shot Alex in the head. Alex fell lifelessly to the ground, his expression frozen in disbelief.

Mark's friends stood paralyzed, their faces pale and horrified. The room fell into a stunned silence, and the reality of the situation began sinking in.

Mark's friends stood frozen, their faces drained of color as the reality of what had just happened sank in. One of them finally found his voice, though it trembled with shock and fear. "Mark, what have you done?" he asked, his eyes wide with horror as he stared at Alex's lifeless body slumped in the chair, a bullet hole marking his forehead.

The other friend echoed the sentiment, his voice cracking. "This wasn't supposed to happen, Mark! We were just trying to scare him, not this..." He trailed off, unable to process the scene in front of him.

Mark, still holding the gun, seemed to snap out of his rage. His face turned pale as he realized the gravity of his actions. "I didn't mean... I just wanted him to sign the papers," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

None of them could believe what had just happened, especially Mark. His eyes were wide with shock and his body shook with fear as he gazed at Alex's lifeless body.