Chapter 16
Sophia had just finished her $500 facial treatment, still wearing an expensive mask, finally starting to feel a little better.
She was humming as she pushed open the front door of her place, but froze the second she stepped inside-
Kerian was sitting in the dark living room, a lit cigarette between his fingers.
The red glow lit up his face in harsh shadows.
“Kerian?” Her eyes went wide with excitement, not even bothering to peel off her face mask “Oh my God, you came to see me!
“You finally realized you’re in love with me too, didn’t you?“]
“I knew it! After everything you did for me… there’s no way you don’t have feelings for me!
Kerian slowly looked up, his eyes cold as ice.
The next second, he shot up and backhanded her across the face so hard she went flying.
“CRACK!”
The sound echoed through the empty house. Sophia hit the floor, her face mask sliding off to reveal her rapidly swelling cheek.
“You… you just hit me?” She pressed her hand to her face, staring up in total shock.
“You actually fucking hit me?!”
Kerian’s eyes were bloodshot as he grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her head back:
“Where the hell is Victoria?“]
Sophia’s pupils went wide, then she started fake crying: “I don’t know… owwwr
He yanked her hair harder, making her scream. Kerian leaned down, speaking each word slowly.
Tm asking you one last time. What Did You Do. To. Her?”
“I seriously don’t fucking know! Sophia was full–on sobbing now
“She just disappeared on her own! It’s not my fault!”
“I didn’t even get the chance to do anything to her!“]
Kerian let out this cold laugh, released her hair, and nodded to his security guys at the door: “Take her.“]
“What the fuck are you doing?! Let me go!” Sophia fought like crazy as two massive guys grabbed her arms, dragged her out of the house, and shoved her into a black van.
The doors slammed shut and they peeled out toward the industrial district.
An hour later, in an abandoned warehouse.
Under dim lighting, Sophia was tied to a metal chair.
In front of her was this huge cage with three vicious Rottweilers snarling and barking at her through the bars
“Word is….these dogs haven’t eaten in three days.” Kerian stood in the shadows, his voice eerily calm.
“What do you think happens when they smell blood?
Sophia went white as a ghost, shaking all over: “You can’t do this to me… my brother saved your life…“]
“Oh, right.” Kerian gestured casually, and his guy immediately unlatched the cage.
“You think you can just mention your brother and I’ll forgive everything?”
The dogs charged out, circling her feet, drooling all over her expensive silk dress.]
“GET THEM AWAY FROM ME!” She was kicking like crazy, snot and tears streaming down her face.
“Kerian! You’re fucking insane! I really don’t know where Victoria is!
One of the dogs hanged, its teeth tearing through the hem of her dress.[
“OKAY! OKAY! I’LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING! Sophia completely lost it
“I did hire those guys to grab her last week, but I was so focused on graduation! I wasn’t even thinking about her before that, and then you caught my people anyway! I never got the chance to do anything“]
Sophia was hyperventilating, her face a mess of terror
Another dog jumped up, leaving a bloody scratch on her leg
“AHHH! That’s all I know! She was screaming hysterically. “You can let these dogs kill me and I still won’t have anything else to tell you!”
Kerian stared at her for a long time before finally waving his men to get the dogs back in the cage.]
Sophia collapsed in the chair, her perfect makeup completely destroyed, her expensive dress covered in dirt and blood.[]
She looked up at Kerian with hatred in her eyes:
“You’re the one who hurt Victoria the most! What’s with this devoted hoyfriend act?!”]
Kerian went rigid[]
“Who stood her up nine fucking times? Who chose to save me over her in front of everyone?” Sophia’s crying turned into this twisted laugh
“Kerian, you’re the one who destroyed her! Not me!”
Those words hit him like a knife to the chest.
He saw Victoria’s final look again-
That hollow region
resignation that was more painful than any anger could ever be
“Boss, want us to teach her a lesson?” one of his guys asked.
Kerian held up a hand, his voice rough: “Waste of time.”
1
He headed for the exit, looking more exhausted than ever: “Leave her here. She can walk home.“]]
“KERIAN!” Sophia screamed behind him. “You’ll FUCKING regret this! I hope you never find her! I hope you-
The warehouse door slammed shut, cutting off her crazy rants.
Cold night air hit Kerian’s face as he stepped outside.
He looked up at the city lights in the distance, suddenly remembering when he was sixteen and had confessed his feelings to Victoria.
He’d promised her he’d never let anyone hurt her, not even a little bit
She’d smiled like he’d given her the world: “I believe you, Kerian. We’re gonna be together forever.
He’d laughed and ruffled her hair: “Of course. You’re the only one I’ll ever want.”
The irony was killing him.
He was the one who’d pushed her away.
