Aoife refused to look, so Finn grabbed her chin and made her face the screen. He deliberately turned up the volume of the video so that everyone in the room could hear it.
“Aoife, open your eyes and watch the video. You’ll like it,” he said with a malicious smile.
The professional photography team had captured perfect angles in the video, only showing Aoife’s face while Finn remained in the background or with a blurred profile. There was not a single clear shot of his face.
“If we sell this video, you won’t have to worry about money. It’s worth at least five million, enough for you to spend a lifetime,” Finn remarked.
As Aoife suddenly opened her eyes, she saw herself in the video being pushed into a bathtub. The warm water couldn’t bear the weight and spread out, creating a misty atmosphere. Her skin looked delicate and alluring in the hot water, radiating with temptation.
Any man watching the video of Aoife would be captivated, and Finn’s breath involuntarily became heavier.
Feeling Finn’s body react, Aoife’s eyes reddened even more, her breath becoming shaky and weak, appearing pitiful.
“Finn, please… can you delete the video? I promise… I won’t leave, I’ll always stay by your side as a servant…”
“No,” Finn bluntly refused. “This is our first commemorative video, and I intend to keep it.”
The video was indispensable. Besides being a source of visual pleasure, it also served as a threat to keep Aoife by his side. If she attempted to escape, he wouldn’t be lenient.
Despite being honest, Finn didn’t believe her words. The only thing that could make him believe her was his own methods.
Putting down the tablet, Finn wrapped his arms around Aoife like a child.
“Be good and stay by my side. Then, this video will remain hidden and won’t be leaked.”
Stay by his side? How else could she stay? Wasn’t she obedient enough? Initially, she had willingly stayed by his side, only to be driven away by him.
“If I obediently stay by your side now, will you let me go in the future?” Aoife asked.
“I’ll let you go only when I grow tired of you,” Finn replied.
For the first time, Aoife felt profound sadness, so intense that even her tears were silent.
She had thought of Finn as a candle in her darkness, but now she realized that those who dwelled in the darkness for too long craved the light yet were also hurt by it.
Glancing at the clock, Finn saw that it was already half past two in the morning. After watching the video, he dismissed the staff.
The room, once crowded, became eerily empty once the staff left with their equipment. The silence was terrifying, even the trembling breaths were audible.
Finn’s biological clock was precise, and he rarely slept so late. After a night of revelry, he felt exhausted. He laid Aoife on the bed, and for the first time, he had someone next to him to embrace as he fell asleep.
“Go to sleep,” his voice was gentle, as if going back to the beginning, when he possessed humanity and kindness.
Aoife laid still, silently closing her eyes.
Finn’s hand encircled her waist under the blanket, and Aoife tensed, her entire body stiff. She couldn’t fall asleep, plagued by the memories of being pinned down on the bed, in the fish tank, against the wall, and on the sofa, crying.
She felt sick to her stomach, unable to relax enough to fall asleep.
Grabbing the blanket tightly, she could hear Finn’s heartbeat clearly as he held her close.
Although Finn’s body was warm, his heart felt ice-cold inside.
“Can we stop recording in the future?” Aoife asked.
“Only if you behave yourself. I won’t have someone record such videos of you again,” Finn replied calmly.
Forcing Aoife to record such videos was not easy for him either. Despite the numerous spectators, he harbored some selfish desires, not wanting anyone else to see Aoife in that state.
“How should I behave?” Aoife questioned.
In the darkness, Finn couldn’t see Aoife’s face clearly, but he could imagine her expression-cautious, fearful, not only nervous but also in pain.
Unable to resist, Finn drew closer, his hand moving upwards slowly to grasp her cold hand.
It was only early autumn, and the room was heated. Despite lying in bed for so long, Finn still held onto Aoife to keep her warm, but her hands remained icy cold, as if his warmth couldn’t reach her.
“Treat me as you did before you left,” Aoife stated.
Being patient, making breakfast early in the morning, understanding his preferences, every action taken was considerate of him, worrying about his health, caring for him. If he furrowed his brow, she’d worry… And now, an additional task – to cater to his needs properly.
She desired so much. He not only wanted her body but also her unwavering affection since the beginning. Was this too greedy?
Such thoughts flashed by, and Finn didn’t have time to dwell on them. After all, he was accustomed to selfishness…
Do you know how a person who scavenges for food in trash cans can change after tasting a delicious dessert?
They become determined to savor the sweetness of that dessert, even if they get tired of it; that sweetness becomes an irreplaceable part of their heart.
Finn desired all these things, and Aoife understood. She smiled wryly at herself, realizing that Finn had already obtained it. If she could turn back time a week ago, when Finn hadn’t driven her away, she would have done anything willingly.
Unfortunately, there are no ifs in life.
If there were, she would choose to go back to the time before she met Finn.
“How is that even possible?” Even if Finn could delude himself, Aoife couldn’t.
“It is possible, as long as you’re willing.” Throughout this process, Aoife had been passive. If she obediently complied, wouldn’t everything remain the same?
Finn touched Aoife’s face, recalling the slap he had delivered earlier in frustration. “If you had listened earlier, you wouldn’t have received that slap,” he said. This wasn’t the first time he had resorted to violence, but a slap was nothing compared to the immense pain he inflicted on others. So, from a different perspective, he was relatively kind to Aoife, refraining from abusing her.
Feeling heartbroken, the sourness in Aoife’s heart became unbearable, the sour bitterness rising to her throat. She struggled to hold back the urge to vomit, her hoarse voice trembling as she asked, “What am I to you by your side?”
After contemplating, Finn replied, “A lover.”
He planned to marry Lily in the future, leaving Aoife as a hidden lover.
Considering her as a lover was already an overestimation. Being a lover to a wealthy person nowadays meant receiving a hefty sum. Although her status was lowly and clandestine, she would be well-compensated, living in a luxurious mansion with servants. When not serving the employer, she could leisurely drink tea, visit beauty salons, and be worry-free for the rest of her life if the employer decided to end the affair and provided a generous severance fee.