Chapter- 6
1230 Words
Her grandmother opened the door with a wide smile, quickly stepping aside as Romano and his family entered the apartment. Nyx’s family immediately welcomed them inside with exaggerated warmth, guiding them toward the small living room while offering tea and snacks like honored guests.
Meanwhile, Nyx remained locked away in her room with her siblings. Rosa had ordered it that way earlier, telling everyone that Nyx should only be brought out when called. She had also instructed Karen to stay hidden in the bedroom, afraid that Mr. Romano’s attention might wander toward her instead. Though deep down, Rosa doubted that would happen with Nyx in the house, she still refused to take any chances when it came to securing this arrangement.
The apartment buzzed with forced laughter and shallow conversation for nearly twenty minutes before Mr. Romano finally leaned forward in his seat and rubbed his hands together impatiently.
“So,” he said, greed practically dripping from his voice, “when do we get to meet the girl?”
The hunger in his eyes made Brendon uneasy for only a second before he quickly masked it with a smile. Rosa immediately turned toward Mike.
“Go bring Nyx.”
Mike left without a word.
The moment Nyx stepped into the living room, the atmosphere changed.
Her gaze swept across the room carefully. Mr. Romano sat at the center of the sofa like he owned the entire apartment. A gold watch gleamed around his thick wrist, and his expensive charcoal suit strained slightly against his heavy frame. His greasy, slicked-back hair shone under the dim light, while his stained yellow teeth flashed whenever he smiled. But the worst part was his eyes—dark, hungry, and lingering on Nyx far longer than they should have.
His two sons sat beside him, both dressed neatly in tailored black shirts and dress pants, carrying the same air of wealth and arrogance as their father. The elder one was broad-shouldered with a sharp jaw and cold eyes that studied Nyx like a business investment, while the younger leaned back casually with a smug expression, lazily scanning her from head to toe as though already deciding what kind of woman she would be.
And that's it. There was no sign of a wife or any other woman. Somehow, that alone made the situation feel worse.
Rosa guided Nyx toward a chair near the sofa, close enough for Mr. Romano to reach if he wanted to.
Introductions were exchanged, though Nyx barely listened.
Then the questions began.
“How old is she?”
“Has she ever been with a man before?”
“Does she have a boyfriend?”
“Is she obedient?”
"Is she a virgin?"
“Does she know how to please her husband?”
Each question grew more vulgar than the last, yet everyone in the room behaved as if this was perfectly normal.
Nyx simply sat there in silence, her face unreadable, almost detached, as though they were discussing someone else entirely.
But inside her mind, thoughts spiraled violently.
Maybe I should poison all of them.
The thought appeared suddenly, calm and cold.
It would be easy enough. Mix something into the tea. Wait a few hours. By morning, the entire apartment would be silent forever.
Her fingers twitched faintly against her lap.
Or maybe burn the whole place down in the middle of the night.
She imagined flames swallowing the apartment while everyone screamed inside.
No.
That would endanger the neighbors, too.
Not that they were much better. Most of them heard the screaming every night and still pretended nothing was happening.
Still… innocent people could get hurt.
And fire would make escaping harder.
Her thoughts shifted again.
Maybe she can mix some sleeping pills in their food, steal all the money and jewellery with her pendant, and disappear before dawn.
Sell it.
Run somewhere far away.
Anywhere but here. Those ideas seem much better.
“Why are you sitting there like a statue?” Rosa snapped suddenly, her sharp voice cutting through Nyx’s thoughts. “Serve the guests properly.”
Nyx stood silently and began pouring tea.
One by one, she handed out cups and snacks until she finally reached Mr. Romano. The moment she passed him his tea, he deliberately brushed his fingers against her hand.
Disgust shot through her instantly.
Nyx jerked her hand back on instinct.
The cup slipped.
Hot tea splashed directly onto Mr. Romano’s lap.
He hissed sharply and shot to his feet.
For one terrifying second, Nyx truly thought he was about to hit her.
The fury on his face was impossible to hide.
But then he stopped himself.
Probably imagining all the things he could do to her later, once she officially belonged to him.
Rosa immediately rushed forward in panic.
“Oh my God, she didn’t mean it!”
“She’s just nervous!”
“Nyx, apologize right now!”
Brendon quickly joined in, forcing an awkward laugh as he hurried to calm Mr. Romano down with excuse after excuse.
She kept her face carefully still and breathed through her nose. The man had touched her first. He had looked at her like he already owned her. And now she was the one being forced to apologize.
After everything they had put her through, this was the thing that hurt the most. But still she lowered her gaze to hide the hatred in her eyes, and muttered a quiet apology through clenched teeth.
After a few tense seconds, Mr. Romano finally waved his hand dismissively.
“It’s fine,” he said with a fake smile. “She’s still young.”
Then his eyes slid toward Nyx again.
“Show me where the washroom is.”
Nyx froze briefly before nodding.
She led him down the narrow hallway toward the bathroom, feeling his presence behind her the entire time.
The moment they turned the corner and moved out of sight of the others, Mr. Romano’s hand suddenly grabbed her roughly.
Straight on her ass.
Nyx’s entire body stiffened.
Rage exploded through her chest.
She instantly shoved his hand away with enough force to make him stumble slightly.
Mr. Romano chuckled instead of getting angry.
“Fierce,” he said, exposing his stained yellow teeth in a grin that made her stomach turn. “I like that. The fiercer they are, the more fun they are to tame.”
Nyx’s nails dug into her palms so hard they nearly broke skin.
For one dangerous second, she genuinely considered smashing his head against the wall.
But before she could react, Mr. Romano quickly slipped into the washroom and slammed the door shut in her face.
Leaving her standing alone in the hallway, shaking with fury.
So she stood there for a moment. Just breathing. Her fists clenched at her sides.
The sound of Romano washing his pants drifted through the thin door.
She could hear her family's laughter from the living room. Her father's eager voice. The clink of teacups.
Business as usual.
She unclenched her fists slowly.
Then Romano opened the door and walked past her back toward the living room without a single glance — as though she were furniture he had already assessed and set aside.
Nyx followed without uttering a single word in protest, as if she was meant to do it till the end of her life.
- Writer
