Punishments
Ella hugged herself. "G-Go find yourself another woman! Why must it be me?"
"It's cause I like you." the man sat closer to her.
"Leave them be. Killing them won't bring back anything."
"What?"
"Even if Nicholas never existed, I'd never fall for someone like you. Falling in love with you would be a nightmare."
"Say what you want. I don't give a damn about what you feel about him. In the end, you'll have—"
"I'd rather die than let Nicholas suffer because of me."
"Oh, is that how much you love him?" the man bursted into laughter. "How sweet!"
"Shut it." Ella flashed her eyes angrily at him. "I'm not who you think I am now, so don't get on my nerves or—"
"You'll what? Break my neck or something? How hilarious!"
"Done laughing?"
"You think you can beat someone like me?"
"You're old enough to know what's right from wrong. Don't act like a child."
"Just follow my instructions and you'll get what you want." the man took a sip of his wine. "The bigger, the better."
(In the states)
As Abigail's father, Jeffery, continuously slapped Abigail's face to let out his anger, his wife, Marisa tried to calm him down.
"Honey," Marisa said, "please, she's just a child!"
"A child?" Jefferey laughed, looking at Abigail. "I never raised you to be a whore! I didn't spend all that money for nothing!"
"Honey, maybe it was because you wouldn't allow Erick to date her..."
"Date?" Jeffrey slammed the table. "You want our daughter to date that brat?"
"They both love each other, that's what matters."
"Erick was dating Adeline at that time and she actually had the guts to sleep with him behind her back?"
"I got him first anyway." Abigail rolled her eyes.
"What did you say? You unfilial child—"
"Erick loves me, and not her."
"What makes you say so? Just because of that stupid bet?"
"Honey," Marisa touched his shoulder. "you wouldn't have to worry because Erick is now dea—"
"What?" Abigail stood up with her eyes wide open. "Mom... What did you say?"
"I-I, it's nothing sweetheart... I think I slipped—"
"He's gone...? Wh-When...?"
"Just a few weeks after you arrived." Jefferey smiled. "At least I've got nothing to worry about now."
"No... No! Who killed him?"
"He saved Adeline from a—"
"Saved?" Abigail clenched her fist. "Let me go back! I want to see him!"
"You wanna see him or you wanna get revenge by killing Adeline?" Jeffery folded his arms. "Those are two different things."
"Let me go back!"
"I don't give a damn about your feelings for him. For now, you stay in your room and reflect on your actions!"
Tears started falling from Abigail's eyes. "I wanna see him...one last time!"
"You should've done that before."
"I..."
"You better let him go before Noah arrives."
"Noah?"
"Oh, I forgot to introduce you to him." Jefferey smiled. "He's your fiancé."
"You... Dad, you can't do this to me! I never agreed on this!"
"Well I don't need your approval. You're my daughter and you have no choice but to follow me!"
"I get to choose who I'll spend the rest of my life with."
"You're gonna continue loving a dead man?" Jefferey bursted into laughter. "I warned you not to fall in love with him, Abby. Did you really think that I didn't have anyone watch you over the past years?"
"I'm not marrying Noah!"
"That's the punishment, Abby." Jeffery started walking away. "You gotta forget him and move on."
"I'd rather die than marry him!"
"You!"
"You're giving your own daughter away just because his father is a—"
"So you're saying I don't care?" Jefferey clenched his fist. "I treated you well! I gave you everything you wanted and now this is what you give me in return? I didn't lack anything as your father. You're the one lacking as my child, Abby. I'm just giving you a lesson."