CHAPTER 99: I AM THE LORD
NIKOLAI’S POV:
“Let’s cut to the chase. Was it you who kidnapped my daughter?”, The detective snarled.
“No”, I replied. It was the truth, wasn’t it?
“I don’t believe you Mr Nikolai. My daughter went missing around the same time I called you in for questioning at the station”, He accused and I chuckled.
“So, that makes me the kidnapper?”.
“My Lily has no enemies. She doesn’t party or kept late nights or start up a fight, so who could it have been?”, He glowered at me and I chuckled.
I can understand his frustration, if someone so dear was taken away from me and I couldn’t do anything to find them, blood would spill and head will roll.
I sat on the sofa and crossed my legs, not taking my eyes off him.
“You know, I don’t really care about what you think of me. But, for Lily, I will be nice to clear your doubts”, I said.
“Still haven’t answered my question Mr Nikolai”.
“I’m the wrong person you should be asking these questions Mr Detective”, I smirked.
“What does that mean?”, He furrowed his brows.
“Your interrogations should be directed to your daughter’s best friend”, I uttered.
“Olivia?”, He was more confused.
“Ex-best friend, I mean. They don’t keep in touch anymore”, I replied.
I saw his stern look morph into confusion and uncertainty.
“What do you know?”, He suddenly asked.
“It isn’t my place to say. It’d be better you hear it from your daughter”, I insisted.
He nodded and laid back down, I could imagine what was going on in his head.
Then he suddenly sat straight again.
“What is your relationship with my Lily?!”, He asked and I grinned.
“We are–“.
“PA!”.
I didn’t get to complete my words before Lily barged in and interrupted me. I am aware she did that on purpose.
He father grim look immediately changed when he saw her, he had fondness on his face.
“Lily dear”, He called out and I almost rolled my eyes.
“I can see you’re strong enough to be having company!”, Lily uttered and walked up to her father, giving him a loud kiss on his cheek and he chuckled.
My expression the whole time was neutral. Lily turned to me and passed me a small smile.
“Yeah, I just needed to ask him a few questions. That’s all”, The detective said and I almost scoffed.
‘That was a ‘few’ questions?’, I asked myself.
“And… what did you guys t-talk about?”, Lily flattered.
Is she scared of her father finding out about us? Was that why she ran down here?
I tightened my jaw and leaned into the chair.
“We were just talking abo–“.
“HE was just asking me what I was… to you”, I cut in.
I saw Lily’s face turn white like she just saw a ghost. I smirked and sucked my teeth.
“An-and what did you say?”, She asked me, giving me signs with her eyes to find a lie but I was too pissed at her to give in to her request.
“Oh, why don’t you tell him”, I responded and her eyes grew wider.
“M-me?”, She asked, pointing at her chest.
“What’s happening honey? Why wouldn’t you tell me?”, The detective was starting to get worried as Lily was stuttering.
Someone might even think I had a gun pointed to her head.
I scoffed and angrily stood up. If I was making her uncomfortable or if she was ashamed of us, it was better I left.
Without a word, I reached for the doorknob when I heard Lily’s voice and stopped.
“He’s my boyfriend”, She said in a whisper but the hospital room was quiet enough for her to be heard.
“What?”, The detective asked.
Lily turned to me for some help, but she wasn’t getting her way out today. She murmured ‘shit’ under her breath, stood up and walked towards me.
She grabbed my hand and I was surprised. I followed her steps back to her father’s bed and she gave him a tight smile.
“Papa, meet Nikolai Vladimir. My boyfriend”, She introduced and I just kept staring at her in awe. At that moment she was too hot and beautiful.
“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!!”, The detective roared.
“Pa”, She called out in a whisper.
“No Lily. Can never be him! Do you know who he is?! Who his family is? What he’s into?” The detective fumed and I was starting to get angry at him.
“I know Papa. His likes, his dislikes, his flaws, his issues, his temper, his secrets… I know all Papa and I love him. I really really love him Pa”, Lily confessed and her father busted out in laughter.
“Hahaha! Love? You think you love him? He’s in the Russian Mafia and probably the one who kidnapped you!”.
“No Papa, he saved me!”, Lily defended.
“That’s what he made you believe dear! Is he blackmailing you? What does he have against you for you to take his side. You can tell me honey, I’ll protect you this time”, The detective said.
He struggled to stand on his feet, wincing in pain and Lily tried to help him.
“He wasn’t the one who kidnapped me Papa. Olivia did!!”, Lily blurted out and the detective just stood in shock.
Lily broke out in tears and I went to her side to calm her down.
“Oli… Olivia?”, The detective asked in shock.
“Yes Pa! She had me kidnapped and sold”, Lily replied, shaking in my arms.
“B-but why? I don’t understand”, He muttered the question, staring in shock.
I patted her hair, trying to calm her down as she sobbed.
“Because of Troy. She and Troy have been having an affair and I found out, then she wanted me out of the picture”, Lily managed to say. She cleaned her tears with the back of her hand.
“Why would she do something like that to you my dear?”, The detective asked.
“Because of greed and jealousy”, I cut in. Lily was in no state of mind to answer his questions as she was still not over the betrayal.
“What?”, The detective asked, looking to my direction.
“I’ve seen how greed and jealousy can destroy friendships. It’s like a poison that consumes people, making them hurt those they care about. They become obsessed with what others have, resenting their happiness and success. Like Olivia obsessing over Lily’s life, boyfriend and family…”, I paused and looked at him. I continued when I fully got his attention, “This obsession can lead them to betray their closest friends… of family”, I trailed off, remembering what happened between Roman and I.
“But Olivia never showed any signs of jealousy with Lily. She comes over to the house everyday and we never make her feel like she’s an outsider, we treat her like one of us. So why?”, The detective explained, sadness written all over his face.
I chuckled, replying, “Someone who’s consumed with greed and jealousy need no reason to betray their closest friend”.
There was silence after that.
Lily has calmed down a bit, she sniffed in and wipes her eyes. She walked to her father and made him sit on the bed.
“Stop stressing over it Papa, it’s okay. Take a rest”, She whispered to him.
“How can I rest when someone almost ruined my child’s life?! What if you had gotten hurt, or worse… died?”.
“Pa, please just rest–“, Lily tried to calm him down and make him lay down but he wouldn’t. He immediately stood up and headed for the door.
“No! I must make her pay! I would have her arrested and jailed for a very long time!”, He declared and my lips curled in a mischievous smile.
“I can help with that!”, I uttered and both father and daughter turned to look at me in confusion.
When it comes to punishing those who deserves it, I am the master. When it comes to punishing those who wronged someone I love, I am the Lord.
I have been looking for excuses to pay that Olivia and Troy a visit and I just got it.
“Nikolai”, Lily called out.
“What will you do?”, The detective asked me.
“Pa! Don’t encourage him!”, Lily blurted out.
“Let’s just say, I know how to break people and make them regret ever walking this earth”, I responded.
“Then you have my permission”, The detective replied and I smirked in satisfaction.