Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Miranda didn't know that Stephen was awake, but she stayed bewildered in front of the dressing table due to her dread. Her face was expressionless, her eyes unblinking as she stared into the nothingness.

"Are you not going to sleep?"

Stephen's voice suddenly burst out, and in the quiet, there was a weird strength that startled Miranda. She acted robotically, slowly turning around to discover Stephen sleeping on the bed, his eyes fixed on her. He still had icy eyes and the magnificent expression of someone who has taken control of someone else's life when he gazed at her.

Miranda became even more worried, clutching her hands to the table in terror and stammering,

"I... I... can you sleep in another room?"

"Did you just demand me?" Stephen enquired.

Miranda nodded abruptly and swiftly,

"No... I mean... maybe you'd be more comfortable if you didn't have to see me," she stammered, her actions not following her thoughts.

Stephen frowned once more. He glanced at the girl in front of him silently, questioningly, as if he was trying to figure out if she was speaking the truth or lying. "Why do you say that?" he inquired casually.

Miranda shook, her hand holding the table more tightly, and continued,

"Because... because you think I have anything to do with the death of your fiancée and your kid. I don't think anyone would feel comfortable being with, let alone sleeping with, a suspect."

Miranda sneaked a glimpse towards Stephen, curious about his reaction to her words. However, Stephen is an unpredictable individual who does not reveal his thoughts through his outer expressions. Miranda became even more worried as a result of this. Perhaps water might help her feel more at ease. Miranda rose gently and came over to the sofa. Stephen's strong and powerful voice spoke again at that moment:

"You are correct. Nobody wants to be with someone who has hurt their wife and kid. But that doesn't give you the right to ask me to leave the room. Anyway, we had a great time together last night. Do you not feel satisfied?"

Miranda's entire body froze in response to Stephen's inappropriate and quite nasty statements. He violently gripped her wrist, and a stinging agony ran throughout her body in an instant. Stephen's eyes were as cold as ice as he stared at her and said coldly,

"It's time to serve me."

Then his nose moved from Miranda's shoulder blades to her earlobe, his voice sarcastic,

"Not bad, it smells nice. Anna seemed to have handled her quite well. Instead of a feeble snake, she produced me a gentle cat."

Miranda was irritated, in part because of Stephen's behavior, but primarily because of his nasty statements. She shifted her weight to the side. Despite the fact that her body was trembling, her voice was firm,

"She handed me birth control tablets. Why do you have to do this to me if you despise me so much? Instead of forcing me to sleep with you, you may make me a servant. That was not something you desired. Why?"

"That penalty is too regular for what you did to Andrea and our kid." Stephen growled at her. “I can only be satisfied by sleeping with you and torturing your body and spirit. I'll make you feel like you're inferior even to prostitute ."

Then Stephen wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly. Miranda exerted all of his effort to escape, but he caught her and shoved her against the wall. At this point, he was like a savage wolf, his hands heavy, forcing Miranda's entire body to ache to the point of choking. Stephen's rage would not fade; he glared into her eyes and shouted,

"Miranda, remember one thing: you will always be a tool for my gratification, never a mother. If you get pregnant, I will not allow that kid to be born. This is your punishment."

Miranda was panicked in the unexpected scenario, and hearing Stephen's warning made her even more terrified; the tips of her toes trembled.

"Stephen, release me. You're causing me pain."

Stephen's demeanor changed. "Doesn't this strong make you so excited?" he teased Miranda's breasts inside her nightgown, blowing each sound into her ear.

To escape Stephen's annoyance, Miranda continuously pushed him away and shouted,

"Stephen, stop. You're becoming uncontrollable. Do you enjoy tormenting my body?"

Stephen came to a halt. He stared at Miranda for a long time while she closed her eyes firmly and breathed rapidly.

"Enjoy?"

Stephen laughed cynically. His face was as icy as ice, his words bitter,

"I haven't known what happiness is since that day."

Miranda kept her head lowered while Stephen said these words. She didn't have the confidence to raise her head to gaze at his expression from start to finish. After he finished speaking, he pushed her away, turned, and went out into the corridor.

Miranda didn't dare to stare at Stephen with her eyes open. She only had to close her eyes to hear his steady footsteps and the ring of the cigarette lighter. In a second, a faint odor of smoke wafted over the room.

Miranda was taken aback. This was the first time she had seen a man smoking just in front of her. She cautiously tilted her head to gaze out the window towards the balcony. Stephen stood alone, his back broad yet lonely, his face forward.

"He's so pathetic!" Miranda suddenly exclaims.

After smoking, waiting for the smell of cigarettes in the room to dissipate, Stephen returned to the room.

Stephen returned to the room after smoking and waiting for the cigarette odor to fade.

"There is no need for you to serve me today.Save your strength for later."

Stephen spoke these comments and entered the changing room. Miranda stayed in the same posture as soon as he exited the changing room, neatly dressed. In the faint light, her tiny body appeared wonderfully innocent.

Stephen paused at the dressing room door, silently staring at Miranda for a time before lowering his eyes, turning, opening the bedroom door, and exiting.

Miranda's anxiousness was also alleviated by the absence of Stephen. She sat down by the side of the bed and told herself,

"He's gone. He's definitely not coming back. What did I just say? "How long will I be able to maintain this level of security?"

Miranda inhaled deeply. After all, she was a little fatigued, so she gradually relaxed their vigilance and joined the dream.