Chapter 99: Chapter 99

"Mommy!" Athen jumped at me and hugged my knee in a tight embrace. I took her head in my hands and looked her in the eyes. Adonis glanced at me with a puzzled expression on his face, as if he had seen a ghost for the second time. I also peered at the folks who were still standing there, trying to figure out why they weren't going. When they realized I was gazing at them, they began to leave one by one. In order to avoid disturbing the two of us, the guy with whom he had been conversing earlier took a step back. They took their places in line and bowed. The two of us glanced at one other when he abruptly grabbed my arm and his expression was filled with fear.

"Can you tell me what you're doing?!"I asked him, feeling irritated.  As I felt him tightening his grip on my arm, I raised my voice and pushed him a little more. An extended period of time being held by him increases the likelihood that his hand may mark my skin. As a result of my repeated pushes, Athen pulled my clothing from under me.

"Mommy, can you tell me where you've been?  Mister and I were concerned about you, so he summoned those goons." When my innocent kid opened her mouth, I couldn't help but chuckle since he called them thugs, spite of the fact that all they wanted was to locate me. However, it wasn't about Athen calling them goons occupied my mind. My heart was racing because Adonis was concerned about me missing for hours.  I was under the idea that he despised me.  Is he so desperate to exact retribution on me that he feels compelled to track me out in order to prevent me from escaping my guilt?

I attempted again to free myself from his grip, and this time it went smoothly. I squatted to bring me and Athen up to the same height. I grinned as I squeezed her nose. She  certainly has the same eye as her father, so who could deny that she is Adonis'? I never returned Adonis's glance, and he approached the guys he had summoned earlier. They went without even informing me. That is not their responsibility, anyway.

"Why? Mommy just bought appliances for the house.  Did you miss me while I was gone?" I held Athen and rubbed our cheeks together, but she was unhappy and pulled my face away from her. Every time I embrace her, she expresses her dislike. She doesn't want me to treat her like a kid since she claims to be an adult. I stood up and held her hand in mine to go inside.

By the time we went inside the house, it occurred to me that I should have bought groceries with me since we didn't have any food on hand. Surely they're already starving by this point. It will grow dark as well, and I need to prepare dinner for the family.

Family.

I got out my phone and made a call to the mall, hoping that they would be able to deliver my products now while keeping a touch on me. However, a hand stopped me. I didn't even bother looking at the arm since I already knew who owns it. Because of what he did, I had a frown on my face.

"You should let me know when you're going so that we're not disturbed." His tone was as frigid as before, yet there was a tinge of anxiety in it. It was as if I had re-discovered the Adonis I had once cherished. I ran upon Adonis, who had been taking good care of me. However, I believe I only gave it a fleeting glimpse since it vanished very instantly after that. I was in torment because, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring myself to abandon him completely. My chest pang will not subside because I am hoping that he would love me again in the same manner that he did before. I can't seem to get rid of the memories, and no matter how hard I try — and when I do — it simply makes things worse.

“I’m sorry.”

That's all I could say since my knee appears to be giving up on me regardless of what I do to prevent it. When I moved, I was frightened that my knee would no longer be able to withstand the force. I wanted to hug him for that reason. Was it bad of me to walk away from him? Because it seems like I am simply making the situation worse by trying to resolve it. I took a deep breath and repeated the process many times. When I was certain that I was alright, I withdrew my hand away from his and refused to do what he was telling me. If he sees that I was weak to him, that is something I do not want him to see because of what he is doing right now; I am certain that he will use that thing against me in the future.

I was taken aback when he abruptly lifted Athen and dragged me out of the home with him. I didn't understand what he was doing at first, but when I saw his serious expression and saw Athen enter the car, I realized what he was planning. I tried to lose my grasp on him, and looked him in the eyes with disdain. However,  I couldn't do it any longer when he placed me in his vehicle, no matter how many times I recovered something from my hand. I attempted to unlock it, but was unable to do so since he had already locked it and only he was capable of removing the hold.

"Will you explain to us where you're taking us?!" I screamed ignoring the fact that Athen was still sitting next to me, and I couldn't keep my wrath under control.

"In a place where you are unable to escape at any time."