The Agent's Blood

Chapter 19.

Following the incident at Mountain, Evander guarded Elena with heightened vigilance. He did not want a repeat of the same event, and so he could not let his guard down. He personally selected a car to be modified according to his own security standards.

He replaced all the car windows with bulletproof glass and concealed several weapons in hidden compartments inside the car. He also inspected the other cars that Elena regularly used.

This time, he worked with true diligence. All of it for the safety of his beloved lady.

There was an opening ceremony for a new branch office in another city. Julian wanted Elena to attend and accompany him to the party.

"I can't, there's a lot of work at the boutique that I've neglected!" Elena refused without looking at him. She was telling the truth, because of the wedding and the recent incidents, her boutique had been overlooked. Although her assistant managed everything, it was still different. She had to be hands-on and check the situation herself.

Julian glared angrily. "It's your duty, Elena. You are my wife now! You must obey all my commands!" he snapped.

Elena scoffed and turned to leave, but Julian grabbed her arm and pulled her, throwing her onto the bed. Before she could get up, Julian was on top of her, pinning her down beneath his thighs.

He seized her jaw. "Listen! Can't you show a little respect for me as your husband? All you need to do is obey my commands, DO YOU HEAR ME?!" he yelled, shoving her face to the side.

Elena squeezed her eyes shut, her ears ringing from Julian's shouting. But her husband wasn't finished. Julian's hand grabbed her face again, forcing her to look at him.

"It's been a long time since I've claimed my rights, Elena," Julian whispered with a low chuckle, which sent a shiver down Elena's spine and made her heart shrink in fear.

"No!" Elena refused, shaking her head, her eyes beginning to panic.

Julian growled in anger again. His hands moved to her neck as he brought his face close.

"You. Are. My. Wife!" Julian stressed, spelling out the words. "It is a wife's duty to serve her husband, and so, I want it now!"

Elena shook her head violently, but only for a moment before a slap landed on her cheek.

SLAP!

"SERVE ME!"

"No! Let go!"

Julian was furious. When Elena tried to run, he pulled her back, flinging her onto the bed so hard she winced as her head hit the headboard.

Elena shrieked as Julian tore at her clothes.

Everything happened so quickly. Soon, Elena was biting her lip, enduring the sharp, violating pain in her most intimate place. Tears streamed from her tightly shut eyes, unwilling to see Julian's face above her.

Julian let out a long groan as he found his release, then collapsed on top of Elena. Sweat drenched their bodies. He panted, then laughed. Elena shoved him, and he rolled off, landing on his back beside her.

Elena felt utterly humiliated. She lay on her side, her back to Julian, pulling the blanket up to cover herself. She sobbed uncontrollably, burying her face in the pillow.

"Thank you, darling!" Julian whispered in her ear, giving her a quick kiss. Elena could still hear his faint chuckle before he got out of bed.

He left Elena to her agonized sobs.

***

Julian entered the room after breakfast. He saw Elena already sitting at her vanity, still in her bathrobe. Her face was cold and stiff, with dark bruises on her forehead and at the corner of her lip.

Julian approached her, standing behind Elena and placing his hands on her shoulders.

"So beautiful!" Julian praised, looking at that cold face. "Of course, you can cover all that with makeup, can't you?!" he remarked, squeezing Elena's shoulders until his wife winced in pain.

Elena shrugged his hands off and turned her face away in disgust.

Julian spun Elena's chair to face him, then knelt down, lowering himself to her level. He took his wife's hands.

"I'm sorry," he said, looking at her face. "I promise it won't happen again!"

"Will you forgive me?" Julian asked.

Elena was silent, her eyes filled with hatred and rage. Then, tears began to stream down her face. She nodded slowly.

Julian smiled broadly. He stood up and hugged Elena, kissing her face and her head. Finally, he gave her a deep kiss on the lips.

Elena closed her eyes. She felt nothing, even as Julian kissed her so tenderly. When the kiss ended, Julian stroked her head before finally leaving the room.

Only when she heard the door close did, Elena open her eyes. The tears she had been holding back spilled over. She wept with all her might.

***

Evander stood ready as he saw Elena descending the stairs. She looked as beautiful and elegant as ever. Only his sharp eyes caught something amiss.

Elena said nothing. She constantly avoided Evander's gaze. When they finally arrived at the boutique, Elena hurried out of the car the moment Evander opened the door and went inside, followed by Evander's watchful eyes.

Throughout the day, Evander remained on alert in his car, watching Elena from a distance. He knew something was wrong, even though she smiled and laughed while greeting clients and talking to her staff.

Elena was not unaware of his scrutiny. She knew Evander had sensed something from her. But she tried to act as normal as possible, not wanting to wake a sleeping lion. Because Evander would certainly not stand by if he knew how Julian had treated her.

When Elena was about to go to the restroom, someone suddenly pulled her into the storeroom. She almost screamed, but then she saw who it was.

"Evan!" she exclaimed in a hushed, shocked voice.

Evander didn't answer immediately. He stared at Elena intently, cornering her between bolts of fabric and racks of clothes. Finally, Elena gave in and turned her face away.

"Tell me!" Evander said, his voice cold and deep. It sent a shiver down Elena's spine, the anger in his tone palpable.

"What did he do to you, Elena?" Evander asked.

Elena swallowed hard. Evander's eyes were filled with fear, anxiety, and rage. But beneath it all, she could clearly feel a profound sadness in his every word.

Elena knew that Evander was the only one to whom she could pour out all her feelings. Her eyes began to burn, and tears rushed out, flowing freely down her cheeks. She hugged Evander tightly, her sobs muffled against his chest.

Evander stood frozen. His eyes stared blankly, his chest suddenly tight with a hot, churning turmoil. Elena's cries were like razors, slicing his heart to pieces.

"I will make him pay!"

Elena's sobs stopped abruptly, and she looked up. She shook her head violently, panicked.

"No! Don't!" she said.

Evander's jaw tightened as he looked down at Elena.

"I don't want you to go! No!" Elena pleaded, touching his firm jawline.

"But-"

"I'm fine! As long as we can still be together like this, it's nothing!"

"Elena..." Evander's voice broke. He hugged her tightly.

"You are my strength, Evan! As long as I can still see you, I am willing to face even death!"

Evander bent his head and captured her lips with deep emotion. Elena returned the kiss. This time, it was not passion or lust they felt, but the sting of pain and the fear of loss.

They let the saltiness of their tears mingle with their kiss.