Dawn POV
My hands shook, the phone almost slipping out of my hand as I stared at the message.
My heart thud so hard it hurts, and my eyes laced with unshed tears.
I don’t know why I’m at the brink of breaking down, but seeing my Dad’s message is enough to give me a heart attack.
Alright! I know he’s going to take action soon, but something in me just wanted to ignore the fact, and shun my Dad.
Did the time come so soon? Or I forgot about what my Dad could do.
I took in a deep breath, my eyes closed, mentally wishing the message was nothing but just a hallucination.
But damn, I was wrong! When I opened my eyes again, his message was still glaring right at me.
Boldly!
“I’m in the company’s lobby, waiting for you, Dawn.”
I can accurately imagine my Dad gritting his teeth when he typed this message. His brows creased in anger, and his lips mushed in a thin line.
This is something he’s never done. Chasing after me because he wanted to get me married.
No! He’d rather have me locked up in the basement, alone and starving than to chase after me like a dog chasing a thief.
Ugh! He must have been damn mad.
Sucking in another deep breath, I ran a hand through my hair and rubbed my temple.
I didn’t know I was crying until I felt a drop on my phone.
That’s how scared I am of my Dad. He could be the cruelest man on Earth, and to think that my mom married such a man terrified me to the core.
Sighing, I dabbed my face and arranged my clothes.
Spending more minutes here after reading Dad’s message is never gonna end well with me.
I took a last look at Ethan’s office, my eyes constantly darting from his table to mine.
Alright… why does it seem like I’ll never be coming in here?
Of course, because it’s my Dad.
I blinked back my tears, swallowing past the big lump that had suddenly formed in my throat, I sauntered out of the room.
With my weak legs and my pounding heart, I found my way down the lobby.
The cold breeze slapped me harshly on the skin, but the eyes glaring at me under the square shapes spectacle was colder than the breeze.
I shuddered, my body recoiling in fear. I wanted to turn back and ran for my dear life, but I know better than to do so.
Mentally sending a prayer up, I made my way to him.
Without greeting him or making the slightest eye contact with him, I pulled out a chair and dumped my nervous ass on it.
“Ugh!” I heard him chuckle dryly.
Sorry! But I’m too nervous and scared to even mutter a slow ‘ hi ‘
“I see you’ve been doing well, Dawn…” Dad muttered.
His voice was low, almost inaudible.
Damn that tone! Fuck that tone. I prefer him yelling and shouting his tongue out in this damn low tone.
Yes! He meant business. He’s not here to appease me.
Perhaps, I need to remind myself of that.
“I guess you do not miss me…”
I flew my head up just in time to see a smirk on his face.
“All thanks to Ethan, he must have made you forget who you are.”
If Dad was looking angry before, then it’s nothing to what his face held now.
Hey! If a look could kill, then I’d be 10ft underground.
His gaze was contorted with fury, eyes laced with lava, burning a deep hot hole into my skin.
I let out a short gasp, my heartbeat increasing rapidly.
I know what’s coming next… I just don’t want to hurt myself by agreeing.
With a sizzling hiss, Dad threw a big brown envelope down the table, making me flinch back in fear.
God! I blame my Mom for getting married to this man before me.
“I’ll cut to the chase…” Dad hissed.
That’s so much like him… heck! He’s never the one to beat around the bush.
“You’re coming with me.”
I let out a short squeak. My tears slowly slid down my face.
I hate myself right now. The me who jitters and shakes in fright at the sight of her father.
“No…” I moaned in pain, shaking my head furiously.
For once… hey! Just for once, can I try to talk myself out of this shit?
“I don’t… I don’t… wanna marry him.” I hiccupped.
Dad stared at me, his facial expression turned between half exasperation and shock.
I’ve never talked back to my Dad… guess he’s shocked seeing me talking back now.
“How. Dare. You. Talk. Back. At. Me.!” Dad gritted out, punctuating his every word. He fisted his hand on the table and glared hard at me.
Hey! I know this is not him. The real him would have dragged me up by my hair and slapped me hard across the face.
But he won’t even do that, thanks to the lobby we’re in.
Sucking in a deep harsh breath, I wiped my tears.
I’m safe here. He won’t try anything funny with me in public anyway, would he?
I let myself a glimpse of a ray of hope, mentally cheering myself that I can do this.
“I want to marry someone else,” I breathed out.
Dad scoffed. “Ethan?” He laughed.
Alright! I don’t know why that’s funny or why he’s laughing, but I nodded anyway.
“I love him, Dad. Not Cole.”
Running frustrated lips over his tongue, Dad removed his glasses and inclined his head forward.
His gaze twinkled. The skin under his eyes twitched furiously, and his teeth gritted out.
Not today! I’m not letting him take over today!
No! I can’t always cower before him like a thief.
I’ve got to do this.
“You…” He gritted out. “Have no right to debate with me, Dawn.”
“And why is that, dad?” I mouthed.
I rested my hand on my lap, keeping my shaky finger from his sight.
My heart thudded and my legs shook beneath.
I know the consequences of what I am doing…
Horrible… terrifying!
Chuckling, he leaned back and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“You do realize,” he frowned. “That you’re wasting my precious time.”
Ugh! What’s more precious than my freedom.
Look at him bluffing, I’m the one who’s getting married and not him.
Dad sighed. He slapped his temple softly, but frustratedly.
“Ethan is no good,” he calmly said. “Apart from the fact that he’s a Playboy, he knows nothing about company management. You do know, don’t you?” He cocked his brows.
“Henry could do that,” I mouthed.
Dad hissed, he glared at the black envelope on the table, then back at me.
“I let you off once, but I’m not doing that again.” He wore his glasses and stood on his feet. “You do know where to find me when you rethink your decision. And note….” His lips broke into a devilish dark smirk. “I don’t like being kept waiting. You know what I can do, Dawn.”
As my Dad walked away, I released the breath I did not know I was holding.
His sight terrifies me. His presence was like having an affair with a ghost…. chilly and cold
He made me want to get on my soft bed and curled under my thick duvet
Of course, I know what he can do. And not even Ethan himself can protect me from him.
Wiping my tears, I blinked back the rest and steadied my breath.
Dragging the brown envelope toward my edge, I tore it open and removed its contents.
“No!” I almost screamed, but I was quick enough to clap my hand over my mouth.
No way! He had truly let me off.
My fingers scraped the photos, staring at them with quivering hearts.
They’re photos of me and Ethan.
Stepping out of the car.
Kissing.
Cuddling
I dragged on a deep breath silently, afraid that I’d burst into heavy tears right now.
Oh! Why won’t he just let me be? Why can’t I just enjoy my life?
The loud beep of my phone jolted me back to reality, and lifting my phone to my face, a message glared at me from an unregistered number.
“I guess we’re fated to be together after all. From Nicole.”