Finn pulled the person up from the ground, laughing cruelly, “You think you deserve a new life? Are you even worthy of it?”
Aoife protected her stomach with her right hand and tried to distance herself from Finn, but he held onto her tightly. No matter how she tried to evade, her hand was twisted painfully, as if it might break. Aoife endured the pain and trembled, “What do you mean by not deserving? I am a human being just like you. I am not your possession, not some emotionless plaything, not something for you to vent on. I have made up my mind. I want to leave you, even if those videos are released and ruin my reputation. It’s not my fault.”
Finn smirked, “Aoife, you’ve been by my side for so long, yet you still haven’t figured out what you truly are.”
His gaze lowered, holding Aoife’s hand with his right hand, his left hand reaching towards her belly, “You better pray that the seed inside you turns out to be mine. Otherwise, I will treat you like an animal and make you understand what you truly are.”
Finn dragged Aoife out of the police station, opened the car door, and threw her in without any regard for her hitting or bumping against the cramped interior.
Aoife made sure Finn recognized what it meant to “provoke a rabbit.” She wasn’t docile – she started struggling as soon as she got into the car, even biting his arm when he tried to hold her.
The driver quickly put up the privacy partition.
Finn grabbed her by the throat, causing Aoife to release her teeth due to lack of oxygen. Her face turned from white to red, and just as her pupils began to dilate, Finn let go of her neck.
“So the food outside has made you bold, huh? You’ve even learned how to bite.”
The window prevented anyone from seeing inside, and the space suddenly felt enclosed. Finn bit into Aoife’s neck, marking her as his own, never easing his grip even when blood started to flow.
He wanted to hurt Aoife to the brink of death, but without causing too much commotion – dealing with a pregnant woman was tricky.
He kissed and bit Aoife’s lips, breathing heavily, his hand still on her neck, feeling her pulse.
Tears streamed down Aoife’s face. This time, her fear and despair were slightly less but she also gained a small trace of courage.
After Finn released her, Aoife’s mouth and neck were bloodied, her clothes disheveled and revealing skin. She slid down from the car seat, her gaze filled with resentment that sent shivers down Finn’s spine.
The timid and weak Aoife now showed hatred in her eyes?
“Finn, if you have the guts, just kill me.”
Finn wanted to torment her, not kill her – there was a difference in meaning and approach.
“Kill you? Do you think that by dying, you can escape me? When you were alive, you were mine, and even in death, you will still be mine.”
Aoife sneered, coughed softly, and a metallic tang rose in her throat.
Finn, looking at her pain and discomfort, mocked, “Are you suffering now? You could have been by my side, living a good life. Despite being a kept woman, what have I not provided for you? You had everything you needed, better than when you were a waitress earning $300 at a restaurant, taken advantage of by older men. Aoife, why can’t you be grateful? I kept you because I valued you.”
“I regret it,” Aoife said coldly, “I regret not leaving you sooner. I regret meeting you, I regret holding onto illusions and staying by your side knowing what kind of person you are. Finn, I regret falling in love with you. What about you is worth my love?”
“Even though you threw me away like trash, why are you trying to pick me up again? I have never done anything despicable or wrong to you, but what about you, Finn?”
“Should I be grateful for you forcing me to film humiliating videos or for making me a mistress? Taking me abroad and locking me up, is that your idea of kindness? I cannot bear your idea of kindness, you should try being good to someone else.” She was truly exhausted, having lost all expectations of Finn.
This was the first time Aoife had spoken so much in one go, almost tearing open her chest to show Finn her bleeding heart.
Aoife had changed so much in just over five months. Previously timid and weak, she now stood before Finn with eyes full of hatred. The once luxurious flower in Finn’s hands had turned into a prickly cactus, warning to stay away with danger in every corner, her words sharp and cutting.
Finn felt extremely uncomfortable after hearing her words. Why was she so stubborn now?
Any normal person fears pain, especially Aoife, who couldn’t bear any suffering. In bed, she would cry out for mercy at even the slightest discomfort. So why was she so brave today?
Finn concluded that two factors played a role in this change: someone had influenced her, and he hadn’t hurt her enough. Maybe if he made her feel more pain, she would submit to him.
During the five months of Aoife’s mysterious disappearance, Finn outwardly showed no reaction. His daily routine remained unchanged, going to work and resting as usual.
On September 3rd, in a rush, he left his engagement celebration to look for Aoife, traveling abroad for just a week before returning.
Upon his return, he went straight to Old Burns’ place, kneeling to receive fifty lashes on his back, rendering him wounded. He endured the pain in silence.
Old Burns asked if he dared to repeat his actions.
What was there not to dare? Finn remained silent, certain of his intentions. Even if he knew he would be punished, lose his wealth and power, he would still leave the engagement celebration to search for Aoife, even if she hadn’t been found yet.
Once he found her, he wouldn’t allow her a chance to escape again.
After the punishment, he rested for a day before visiting the Dankworth family to apologize, not seeing Lily.
Finn didn’t need to see her. He apologized, showing his remorse openly, giving the Dankworth family the attitude and face they sought.
…
During the day, Finn sent people to search for Aoife, and at night, he dreamt of finding her. Once he captured her, he would beat her mercilessly until she couldn’t run anymore.
When he finally found Aoife, he hesitated at the hatred in her eyes, unsure of how to proceed.
Deep down, Finn knew he cared for Aoife – otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to find her.