My Fiancee
1365 Words
Charlie stepped out of his personal room and into the quiet living room, his eyes immediately settling on Varin, who stood lost in thought, furrowing his brows as if wrestling with some heavy burden.
As Charlie approached, Varin suddenly glanced up, noticing him. “Sir, we received a call,” Varin said, his tone a mix of urgency and hesitation. “They’ve completed their work.”
Charlie’s eyes gleamed with keen interest. “Oh? Where can I see the live feed?”
Varin hesitated, his voice dropping low. “Sir… I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Charlie’s lips curled into a sly smile, stepping closer. “What do you mean? I need to see how they’re punishing these people. Isn't it my right?”
Varin’s grin widened with a hint of dark humor. “Of course, sir. Let’s go see the mass... executions.”
Charlie arched a brow, smirking. “Seems like you’re quite eager, Varin.”
“Nothing like that, Sir,” Varin chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just thinking ahead—your next move. You think like a businessman. But your business happens to be a whole country.”
Ordering the car, Charlie said flatly, “Get it ready. We’re going to the site.”
“Yes, sir.” Varin quickly moved ahead to fetch the vehicle.
They bypassed the usual police stations, steering instead toward the outskirts of the capital where a crowd was lined up under the sweltering sun, uneasy murmurs mixing with the heat haze.
Army personnel patrolled the edges of the crowd, spaced evenly, their hands poised near weapons, ready to quell any unrest.
Charlie’s gaze caught his uncle, Cronos, seated authoritatively on a wooden chair piled with paperwork. Nearby, a man stood before him, papers in hand. Without warning, an army soldier fired a single, fatal shot to the man’s head. Two other soldiers quickly dragged the body away.
Cronos calmly tossed a sheet of paper aside and flipped through a thick pad, continuing his grim administrative work. As Charlie’s car rolled near, the crowd's mood shifted from weary to hopeful—faces brightened, smiles subtly spreading.
"They believe the King will protect them,” Charlie thought quietly.
Varin parked the car beside Cronos.
Charlie rolled down the window, stepping out smoothly. He approached his uncle with measured curiosity. “How many are there, Uncle?”
Cronos stood, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “Charlie, why are you here? Just focus on those sealed factories.”
Cronos glanced at the gathered crowd, their eyes fixed on the King with quiet hope. “Well… if you want to know, then...” He brusquely took a pad and turned the pages toward Charlie.
“Look at the punishments we enforce.”
Charlie’s eyes skimmed the list, each word hitting him like a blow:
Rape – Execution
Intentional Murder – Execution
Drugs – Execution
Assault on Women – Execution
Corruption – Execution
Chain Snatching – Execution
Kidnapping – Execution
Trafficking – Execution
Second Category:
Theft – Confiscation of all possessions and five years’ labor with minimal food
Scamming – Confiscation and five years’ labor
...
Charlie nodded slowly, his voice calm but resolute. “I trust you, Uncle. Keep going—I need statistics. Number of executions, cash collected, laborers assigned.”
He paused, concern flickering in his gaze. “But Uncle… please say a word to them. Even good people might be suffering.”
Cronos met Charlie’s eyes and nodded softly. “Alright. But don’t come here often. Kale will scold me if she finds out I let you out in this sun.”
Charlie c****d his head in confusion. “Who’s Kale?”
Suddenly, a rush of memories hit Cronos’ face. “Do you mean Kailey returned?” He chuckled, shaking his head slowly.
“The pollution’s taken its toll on her. She’s fiery now—especially after you banned those factories.”
Charlie’s expression hardened, the air thick with tension. “Where is she now?”
“She’s on her way to your home. Soon,” Cronos said quietly.
Closing his eyes, Cronos began addressing the crowd and officers, “Only those guilty of grave crimes receive death. The honest will be compensated and reinstated.”
Later, riding in the car, Charlie let out a dry chuckle. “Things are moving well. But... why now? Why is she coming back at this precise time?”
His face darkened with memories—childhood days when she always hugged him tightly, teased him endlessly. How she once insisted he wear a ring—her ring—pushed onto his finger with youthful determination, a relic he still carried.
Varin smiled faintly, stealing glances at Charlie through the corner of his eyes. Attempting to suppress a laugh, Varin kept his gaze on the road.
Charlie’s eyes fell downward, voice quiet but firm. “Drive me home. Also, prepare for dismantling all banned factories. Salvage what we can, recycle materials if possible. Otherwise, sell the rest.”
“Right away, sir.”
At the house, Charlie stepped from the car and began climbing the stairs. His eyes caught a man laboriously pulling a cart stacked high with plastic waste.
“Varin, don’t we have vehicles for this? Why are we using manual labor to transport?” Charlie asked, eyebrows knitting.
“Sir,” Varin answered, “these are narrow local streets—the vehicles can’t navigate them easily.”
Charlie frowned. “Varin, we still have vehicles. And we have ample oil imports. We can’t afford such inefficiency.”
Behind a curtained window, a woman watched him—a smile playing on her lips as she observed Charlie’s reaction to the scene outside.
“Yes, sir,” Varin hesitated.
“No ‘buts,’ Varin. We must give people steady jobs. I told you to dismantle the banned factories, use as much manpower and funds as necessary.”
“Understood, sir. I’ll redirect them to the north, to Cedios.”
Varin left to relay the orders.
Inside, Charlie sank onto the couch, the weight of contracts and plans pressing heavily on him.
He leaned back, the ceiling fan’s gentle hum soothing his thoughts. “Haaa…”
Suddenly, a warm presence settled on his lap, a soft embrace wrapping around him. A tender kiss brushed his cheek.
“Mnnn… ahhh,” a familiar voice whispered.
He opened his eyes, startled—but a deep joy spread across his face.
“She’s here,” he thought.
Taking a deep breath, he looked up and smiled with surprise.
“How are you, Kale? It’s been so long.”
Before him stood a beautiful woman, blonde hair cascading softly, her height matching his own. She pouted playfully.
“Is that how you greet your fiancée?” she teased.
“Okay,” Charlie laughed softly, pulling her into a warm embrace.
She drew in a slow breath, her lips grazing his neck. “Let’s just stay like this for a while.”
He closed his eyes, savoring the moment.
“This is why… she always does this,” he thought.
Minutes passed in quiet comfort.
Then she kissed his right cheek softly. “I love you,” she breathed, voice thick with emotion. “I missed you so much. A whole year without seeing you—it hurt. I cried.”
Her pain sliced through the quiet ambiance.
Charlie’s fingers rested gently on her shoulders, pushing her back slightly to meet his gaze. “Kale, look at me. Look into my eyes.”
She obeyed, tears glistening as they brimmed once more.
“Okay,” he whispered, opening his arms wide. “Hug me as hard as you want.”
This time, she clung tighter, tears soaking his shirt.
He smiled, resting his hand softly at the nape of her neck, stroking her hair with tenderness. His lips found her neck in a gentle kiss.
“I love you, Kale,” he said sincerely.
They stayed wrapped in each other’s arms, love a fortress against the storms ahead.
Outside, life began shifting—factories dismantled, imports streaming in from Japan—a careful, powerful rhythm of change beating steadily forward.
- Writer
