Andrew and Chloe were sitting with their foreheads touching outside the medical room. Dan was still unconscious, and they wished for him never to regain consciousness. They were silent, utterly lost in each other’s presence, their eyes closed. There was sadness on their faces, knowing Dan could do anything to them. Yet, despite the distress, being together provided some solace. They were slightly relieved to be together.
“Andrew, I want you to promise me something,” Chloe said, breaking the silence, still with their foreheads joined.
He opened his eyes and asked, “What?”
She sighed deeply and placed her hand on his face. “I want you to do nothing until we find my aunt. You have to promise me you won’t fight with that bastard, even if he hurts me in front of you.” She was asking him to do something nearly impossible-promising not to protect his beloved.
He shook his head. “No, this is impossible. I can’t see him hurting you, Sunshine. He has already hurt you so much. You know how much it pains me to see your bruised face and the marks of his brutal bites on your neck. I’m ready to do anything, but I won’t let him hurt you anymore. I will set the whole world on fire if he even touches you.” His voice was filled with outrage, his eyes burning red with anger.
“I know it’s difficult, Andrew. But we don’t have any other option. My aunt is suffering because of me. He cut her finger, and now I don’t want him to hurt her more. Please, for me, promise me that you won’t do anything until you find Aunt.” Chloe implored, tears trickling down her cheeks. She knew she was asking something nearly impossible, but she had no other choice. She didn’t want her aunt to suffer more because of her.
“No, Sunshine, I can’t promise you this.” He shook his head again, tears rolling down his cheeks as well.
“Please, Andrew.” She pleaded. “Promise me, please.” She held out her hand and stared at him with pleading eyes, brimming with tears.
“Please, I can’t promise you this.” He pleaded too.
“For me.”
Neither was ready to back down.
“You think it’s easy for me not to fight for myself? My aunt is suffering without any fault. If she dies because of this, I will never be able to forgive myself. Please, I want your promise, Andrew.” Chloe tried hard to convince him.
“Okay, I promise I’ll try to do nothing, but only if it is possible.” He finally promised, placing his hand over hers.
“It will be over soon, Andrew. Everything will be fine.” She reassured him, wiping his tears with her thumbs.
“I hope so, Sunshine, as it is getting unbearable to see you in pain.” He touched his face with hers. They both closed their eyes, getting lost in each other, tears coursing down their cheeks.
“So this is happening behind my back,” Dan’s voice startled them, and they pulled apart. They looked at him with anger in their eyes. He was sitting in a wheelchair.
“So what’s your decision? Are you both ready to follow my orders if you want to see Zia alive?” Dan asked.
Chloe composed herself and warned him, “We’re ready, but if something happens to her, first I’ll torture you, and then I’ll burn you alive.”
“Oh, I’m scared,” Dan chuckled evilly, and they glared at him.
“Now come and stand with me because from now on, you’re my girlfriend, and you’re not allowed to talk to Andrew.” As Dan instructed, they both sneered at him.
She reluctantly stood up and walked toward Dan, giving one last glance at Andrew.
As she stood beside Dan, he held her hand tightly, digging his nails into her skin. Andrew fumed with uncontrollable anger. He was witnessing his Sunshine being hurt in front of his eyes, and he couldn’t do anything.
“Now take me to the room,” Dan ordered Chloe. “And Andrew, you come with us too, because I want to punish you for putting me in this condition and bringing me to this wheelchair.” He now instructed Andrew.
Andrew and Chloe exchanged helpless glances. Chloe led Dan to the room, with Andrew following reluctantly.
As they all entered the room, Dan issued a shocking command. “Chloe, remove your dress now. I want you to show Andrew the wounds I’ve given you.”
Chloe looked at Andrew, who shook his head, silently asking her not to comply. Fresh tears trickled down her cheeks. She didn’t want to do this, but she had to for her aunt. Her helplessness was breaking her apart from the inside.
“Do it fast; I don’t have time,” Dan shouted, and Chloe scowled at him.
She stood in front of him and slowly removed her dress, keeping her eyes closed as she couldn’t bear to see Andrew’s reaction. Now she was only in her undergarments. Andrew’s heart ached, and more tears rolled down his cheeks as he saw the deep wound on her belly, inflicted by Dan with a knife. He stared at the wound with sorrowful eyes.
“Are you seeing this wound? I gave it to her when she wasn’t respecting me.” As Dan pressed his hand on her wound, Andrew hissed. Chloe squeezed her eyes shut and pursed her lips to endure the pain without screaming. Andrew clenched his hands in fury, staring at Dan darkly.
He raised his hand to punch Dan but stopped midway, recalling the promise he made to Chloe a few minutes earlier. As he closed his eyes in defeat, fresh tears trickled down his cheeks. He couldn’t bear to see his Sunshine being hurt; it was breaking him inside. The helplessness he felt was overwhelming. He wanted to protect her and kill Dan.
“Now turn around and show the marks I’ve given you on your perfect round buttocks,” Dan commanded.
Chloe turned around, facing away from Andrew without opening her eyes. Andrew’s heart almost stopped beating, witnessing the welts from the
belt on her buttocks.
“You know why I welted her buttocks? Because I caught her romancing with you. I love giving these marks to her. They make her body even more beautiful.” Dan squeezed her buttocks harshly. A scream of pain escaped Chloe’s mouth, and Dan smiled triumphantly. Andrew’s heart broke listening to her scream, and he couldn’t control himself any longer.
He grasped Dan’s hand and threw it away before grabbing Dan by the collar. “Don’t you dare hurt her more,” he roared with rage, and Chloe instantly turned towards them.
“Andrew, stop, I’m fine.” Although Chloe was shattered, she still tried to calm him down, placing her hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt her,” Dan said, and their brows furrowed in confusion. “Because you will hurt her.” Dan laughed evilly, and Andrew felt a surge of fury.
“You think I’ll hurt her? Not even in your dreams. Anyone who harms her will face the consequences,” Andrew’s lips quivered with outrage as he spoke.
“You have to hurt her because I can’t do it since I’m in a wheelchair. This is your punishment. You have to hurt her. If you don’t follow my orders, I’ll kill Zia. Chloe, make him understand.” Dan shifted his eyes to Chloe, who stood behind Andrew, helpless and distressed. She prayed for the torture to end.
“Andrew, we have no other option. You have to hurt me, please,” Chloe pleaded, and Andrew stared at her in disbelief, glancing over his shoulder.
“No, I can’t take this anymore, Chloe.” He shook his head as he turned towards her.
“Okay, then I’ll call my man and order him to cut Zia’s throat,” Dan warned, pulling out his phone.
“Stop!” Chloe shouted. “He’ll do whatever you say. I give you my word.” Andrew stared at her incredulously.
“Okay, then he has to welt your breasts the way I welted your buttocks,” Dan smirked, crossing his arms. Andrew’s eyes widened in horror, but Chloe’s expression remained unchanged as she braced herself for the pain.
Andrew marched toward Dan to punch him, but Chloe stopped him by holding his hand. He looked at Chloe in anger, and she looked back at him with pleading eyes, while Dan smiled mischievously.