Bad Mother

Adrian pulled Avians by the hand into their room and locked the door. Avians had nowhere to go and could only sit on their bed with her head bowed.

The man approached Avians and stood in front of her, demanding answers from her before she even asked. Because he was sure Avians knew what he was going to ask.

"Ian... I..."

"Tell me clearly. Where did all the money I gave you go?"

"It... I... Spent it. I wanted so much that I didn't realize it was all gone, I'm sorry," Avians replied.

"Spent it? Then where did all the stuff you bought go? I've never seen a single new item in this room other than your cell phone. No clothes, bags, shoes or anything else. Not even a car, so what did you buy?" asked Adrian again in a stern tone. "You know you can't lie to me, right?"

Avians swallowed, she knew Adrian would see through her obvious lie. It was obvious that she hadn't brought anything home but the money kept running out. She couldn't find another excuse to tell Adrian.

"You want to tell me yourself, or I'll call the police to check where you transferred all the money in your account so that they will immediately jail whoever received it," Adrian said giving his wife two options.

"Huh?! D-don't! Don't report it to the police, please don't jail them, Ian!" pleaded the woman while holding Adrian's hand.

"Then say it now."

Having no other choice, Avians told Adrian everything. She sent the money to her mother and sister so that they would not scold her and spread bad rumors that could ruin Adrian's reputation.

"Zoey has a video of me walking through town with my clothes cut off. If she spreads it, everyone will know and you could get a bad name because of it. I'm sorry, Ian," said Avians.

Hearing Avians' excuse, Adrian felt more relieved. Actually, he already knew where Avians' money went. Every day the man monitored Avians' bank account. He was deliberately silent and still waiting for Avians to tell him himself what was happening.

He thought that when the money ran out, Avians would tell him, but instead she asked for more. In fact, the money ran out in three hours because Cecillia and Zoey asked for it, plus Avians had to cover the cost of the food they both ordered.

Adrian sighed and rubbed Avians' head. "Yes, I forgive you. But next time if something happens again, just tell me. I'll handle it too, understand?"

"Yes, but please don't report this to the police,"

"Alright, I won't."

*****

Two weeks passed, Avians had stopped sending them money. She didn't want to make Adrian angry with her. Although Adrian's demeanor still seemed normal, Avians knew there was something different about the man since she told him about Cecillia and Zoey who kept asking her for money.

The two of them continued to terrorize Avians over the phone until they finally threatened her to come to a place. This time it was no longer a restaurant in an expensive mall, but a place Avians didn't know about.

The woman finally came there with her two personal bodyguards.

It was a quiet, narrow alley not far from the mall where they usually met. There Cecillia and Zoey were already waiting for her, when they saw Avians coming. They immediately pulled the woman's hair.

"Ouch ouch!"

"How dare you fight us again?! Are you stupid? Don't you have the brains now to remember what we'll do to you if you fight us again?!" snapped Cecillia.

"Stupid!" Zoey slapped Avians several times across the face. "If we ask for the money, give it to us immediately! You really don't know yourself!"

The two continued yelling at Avians until Zoey finally took out a scissor from her bag and cut Avians' clothes while Cecillia covered Avians' mouth to prevent her from screaming and attracting the attention of her bodyguards at the end of the alley.

Avians could only stream her tears seeing her clothes being cut off, her underwear starting to show making her not know what else to do.

"I'm really sick of you, I might as well cut off that ugly hair of yours!" Zoey pulled her sister's hair and was about to cut it before a hand restrained Zoey.

"What the hell are you--" Just as Zoey turned around, one of Avians' bodyguards slammed into Zoey's face leaving her with bruises.

"Zoey!? You--!" Cecillia was furious at the sight of her daughter being hit, she intended to approach Avians' female bodyguard.

However, Adrian suddenly appeared from behind and stared at Cecillia and Zoey.

"M-Mr. Adrian?!"

"How dare you touch my wife even to the point of hurting her, threatening her for money?" asked Adrian in such a sharp tone.

The man walked over to Avians who were sitting on the ground frightened, covering themselves with both hands. Adrian took off his coat, put it on Avians and picked her up.

"You're safe with me now," he whispered.

"We... We're just asking for what little money she has! She has to pay for everything I've spent while carrying her and nursing her to adulthood!" Cecillia replied without any shame. She was trying to defend herself.

"Pay for what you did to give birth to her and raise her? What kind of mother are you to demand such a thing? You're really shameless."

Seeing Adrian's sharp gaze frightened Cecillia and her youngest daughter. They dared not speak to Adrian again. The man even said that their behavior could land them in jail under the extortion, threatening, and even torture laws.

"Please don't put us in jail! Zoey is too young to spend time in prison. I also... I don't want to be imprisoned!"

"Please don't put us in jail, Mr. Adrian!" pleaded Zoey.

"Well, I won't report you after what you did at Avians' request. But..."

Adrian narrowed his eyes at the two of them.

"The next time you dare to see Avians or even contact her. I won't hesitate to throw you in jail for good, without even going through a trial. Understood?"

Both nodded, Adrian turned to leave them with Avians in his arms. He sat her in the car and drove away.

Zoey didn't take her eyes off Adrian and Avians until they left. She felt like she should be the one in Ian's arms right now, not her stupid sister.

In the car, Adrian continued to embrace his frightened wife. If he had come too late, Avians would have been hurt further.

"Thank you, Ian," she said. "For granting my request by not reporting them to the police."

"Yes, if you really are in a bad situation, just tell me. I will help you as much as I can. I'm your husband, you can count on me, understand?"

Avians nodded and leaned back against Adrian.

"Thank you, my husband."