Mary was mulling over what Bryan had said to her. She didn’t see him as a good man, but he was her sole lifeline. Only he could help her escape from the control and captivity of Andrew. Fighting one man sometimes required the assistance of another.
Mary paced back and forth in her tiny room. Bryan might be the key to escaping this predicament, but he could also lead her into another trap. Regardless of the outcome, she knew she had to take the risk.
Unlike Andrew, Bryan required no pursuit from her end, as he had declared his affection for her. Mary did not know why, but it seemed all she had to do was make a request, and he would instantly oblige.
If he was already so enthusiastic, how could she refuse this opportunity? The more Mary thought about it, the more she resented Andrew. Therefore, she saw the feelings Bryan had for her as a blessing in disguise.
After work, Andrew drove straight to his factory. His anger still hadn’t abated – this time, he was determined to clear up everything. He took out his phone and lightly skimmed the touch screen, his finger resting on the contact. “Younger brother.” Just as he hesitated, his phone rang. Coincidentally, it was “Younger brother” calling.
He chuckled ruefully to himself.
“Should’ve known.”
Steadily gripping the steering wheel, he slammed his foot on the accelerator, propelling the car down the asphalt road. Street lights illuminated the way, yet inside him, dark thoughts merged with his growing rage.
Bryan was already waiting in the living room, his face etched with worry. He seemed to have predicted what would happen and mentally prepared himself.
Andrew entered, looking at Bryan with irritation before letting out a taunt.
“Did you need something? I have not seen you around the office or our usual haunts lately. Has someone tied you down?”
As soon as Bryan heard it, he instantly grasped the implication, responding with a deliberate smile instead of getting angry, leaving his adversary perplexed.
“That’s true. Life is short. We should enjoy every moment and not waste it. Victories, deceptions – they only render our days meaningless.”
Andrew’s face instantly darkened, and his attitude shifted. He barked out,
“What’s gotten into you today? Save those words for the inexperienced. We understand all too well that it’s all a farce. We’ve risked our lives and endured hardship to get where we are today. You can’t just stop. The path we’re on only allows us to continue. There’s no stopping.”
Bryan gave a bitter laugh in reply.
“This path was your choice from the beginning. I would be leading a different life if I hadn’t met you. I’ve grown tired of this life of theft, deception, and brutality. I want to live normally. Everything is yours. I’m ready to leave with nothing but the clothes on my body.”
Andrew advanced, peering into the determined eyes of Bryan, his comrade, as though he wanted to devour him whole.
“This is not a story of leaving empty-handed. Do you want to protect her?”
Bryan couldn’t dodge the piercing gaze like a multidimensional ultrasound scanning his deepest thoughts. He stammered in reply.
“Indeed, She and I… we’re in love. I hope you can give us your blessings.”
Andrew laughed uproariously, his heart aching as he finally heard the dreaded admission. He couldn’t mask his rage and roared out.
“Love, huh? Do you even know what love is? Does she feel the same for you? I don’t believe it. Don’t let that wicked woman cloud your judgment. She’s just using you to escape this place; you’re naive enough to believe it’s genuine. A real fool, indeed.”
The sarcastic applause from Andrew irked Bryan intensely. Nonetheless, he stood his ground, firm in his resolve, undeterred.
“She has no family left, no wealth, no social status. She’s lost everything. What more could you want? Your plan has worked flawlessly. Why can’t you let it end?”
Andrew grew the more he heard, his words emerging ice-cold.
“Is it over? Can my parents, my family, return to how they were? I’ve suffered for many years while she’s only been a few months. How can it just end? As long as I breathe, she will never find happiness.”
Bryan couldn’t comprehend the man before him, so callous towards a woman. He was a man of honor, so why now this cruel madness? Bryan took another step forward, asserting his unwavering determination.
“No matter how much you try to stop me, I’ll take her away. She is the woman I love, and I will protect her for the rest of my life.”
The sound of a punch echoed as Andrew swung his fist. Bryan, unprepared, received the blow full-on. Blood smeared the corner of his mouth as he wiped it away with a grunt.
Bryan lunged to retaliate, but Andrew anticipated and dodged aside. He swung his hand, missing one hit, the quick succession finally landing a punch that made Andrew stagger. He quickly regained balance and retaliated with a thunderous blow. Bryan fell, but his spirit remained unbroken. He struggled to stand to fight back, but Mary held him back. She had listened to their entire conversation, her heart filled with an unbearable disgust.
Mary slowly approached Andrew, looking directly into his eyes, voicing the words born of deep-seated hatred in her heart, which would haunt him for life.
“I may be at your mercy today, crushed by you, but it won’t always be so. There will be a day when I make you realize that you are no better than a brute.”
Mary supported Bryan as they walked away, right before Andrew’s eyes. Seeing the pair, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, an explosive wave surged within Andrew, engulfing everything around him.
“Crash!!!”
With all his strength, a punch crashed down on the mirror table where they used to sit, chat, and drink some coffee, shattering the glass into countless pieces. His hand was bloody and trembling, but he seemed oblivious, for no physical pain could ever compare to the torments of the heart now wringing his soul.