HATE OR LOVE: Devils In Obsession

My Daughters Are... Unique.

Flavian.

"So what you're saying is, my dear step-niece went into the Rostovs' territory in the company of my nephew to..."

I pause, my brows drawing together as I glare at Mona.

Why can't these people do things right?

"To settle scores with the children's mother."

"And then what happened?"

My fingers intertwined on the table as I leaned out of my office chair.

She had reported everything in detail that very night but this morning I wanted her to repeat herself... Perhaps, just perhaps, she'd detect her own incompetence without verbal reprimands.

"The night ended with the woman in question dead and Eve severely injured. I wasn't in the house to know what had occurred , I was instructed to stay out..."

"Whose instructions? Who do you work for, Mona?"

"You, sir. I work for you and take your instructions."

"And what were my instructions?"

"Four steps behind Eve, four steps ahead of Eve when she's in danger..."

Her voice died down at the end.

"Sir, the lady was strict."

"And I?"

I rose to my feet, dragging my cane across the floor until I stood before her, towering over her. She lowered her eyes, the floor must be really interesting today, I guess.

"Congratulations, you've been promoted."

"Huh?"

"Yes."

"The suicide mission. One of our operations in the States went down in chaos, attracting public attention. You're the one to take the fall... The US government needs names, or a name, to satisfy public eyes. I've already made the deal. Tomorrow you'll be arriving on US soil."

"In cuffs?" Mona's eyes snapped up to me.

"In cuffs. Congratulations. Meet with Timothy, you have some paperwork to fill out before you can enjoy the rapture day."

Rapture day was the term we used to classify the events the bait is allowed to experience before they're taken in for the suicide mission.

The events were something they'd request to experience on their last day of freedom.

"Don't worry, I'll get you out. After you've served your sentence."

I press my lips to her forehead, embedding a farewell kiss before skirting around her.

"How many years?"

She rasped out.

"One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Ten. Fifteen years." With my back against her, I counted, tapping my cane simultaneously.

"What will happen to my brothers?"

"They've heard. Rest assured they'll be taken care of and have a peaceful life. The life you wanted them to have"

I reassured her calmly before striding off... I have more urgent business to handle right now. Hannah had an emergency seizure last night at the wedding reception, a short while after Eve left. I need to see the current state of my daughter.

I wish I could stay longer to properly set Mona off. This was hard for me too. Mona was one of my best soldiers, loyal to the core. I trained her personally. Otherwise, I wouldn't have assigned her to Eve, but she dismissed my orders and obeyed that silly girl... I so much want to punish her but I can't. I can't because she's still on a f*****g hospital bed, receiving treatment. Someone has to pay for her actions... her rebellion. The mess she created for me, killing a VIP resident of the Rostovs. She's trying to start another war of a century. Arseny and I might be acquaintances but... Eve just had to involve his anonymous lover now the whole situation is f****d up and the man has already sent a contract, seeking compensation for damages. Why did he let them into his territory in the first place? Why didn't he just kill poor Eve at the bridge?

Eve on the other hand, first time a person I consider a thorn in the flesh. A month ago she disobeyed my initial orders to send the children away, adopted them, and sent me a copy of the adoption papers.

Fucking prat has got guts, I'll give her that. I won't be surprised if she suggests Keaton add them to his will too, the way she did with Grace, Danielle's child, whom I thought was adopted... I now suspect he's actually Keaton's child too. His eyes were green, a genetic feature of the Waldorf family, but his hair was... brown.

Was Eve that close to, and in love with Danielle's son that much that she went as far as to request Keaton add him to the will?

And to think Keaton actually listened and did so... It was depressing.

An hour later I stood in front of my daughter's hospital room, watching her watch TV.

In my hands was an enormous bouquet of red roses. I had a wonderful memory, this had been her favorite flower since she was five.

"Father!!!" She exclaimed in joy the moment she saw me. She would have run into my arms, but... she wasn't as strong as she'd been at six.

It turned out that all this while my daughter had been misdiagnosed. At birth, it was said she was asthmatic... But at twelve, it turned out to be cystic fibrosis. I haven't seen enough of my daughter, and all I can do right now is hold her in my embrace. I wanted the moment to last a bit longer... but I shortened it.

"How's my nana," I asked fondly, pecking her cheek before releasing her.

"I'm fine, Father..." She managed a smile, blinking slowly.

"What are you watching?" I check the screen to find it's a sports channel.

"Father, I want that one." She points at one of the football players on the TV.

"Him?" I stretch forth my arm, pointing at the same person to be sure.

"Yes!"

But why? Why does my daughter fancy a rough player, with really good curls, blue eyes, perfect unblemished fair skin... tall. Oh, I get it now. Youngsters these days. Too naive and silly.

"No. You're only sixteen." I rolled my eyes, scoffing.

"Father, you said you'd get me anything I wanted. I want him. I want him!!!"

She yelled in my face when I was about to counter it.

I kept my silence and my eyes on her, the long unwavering eye contact was my specialty... She hasn't learned to strive under my gaze, so she snapped her neck to the side, glaring at the wall. "I want to experience love, father. At least before I die," she murmured under her breath, most likely to herself, but I still heard it. Every word. It vexed me a great deal, my fingers curling into a fist as she still avoided my eyes stubbornly.

Children... Why did they have to inherit something from me?

My second daughter, Ruth has been influenced negatively. Always carrying out the most random chaotic experiments and preaching change... Is it possible to preach and obsess over change while still causing maximum harm and destruction, yes. Ruth will explain.

Now my third daughter in an obsession too?

And it just had to be a guy? Wow. Actually, I prefer Ruth's own type of obsession, she can cause the world so much destruction, It doesn't matter— her father has got all the money in the world.

At least I still have one sane daughter left, Jennifer.

In the end, I sat at the edge of her bed, facing her.

"You want him? He's yours."

"Really, Father!" Hannah shouted, beaming.

All of a sudden she was pumped with joy.

"On one condition."

"Yes?"

"Don't die. On no account should you die, or else..."

I was still talking when she jumped in, hugging my neck.

"I love you, father, so don't die before I do!"

This kid...

I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. What can I say now...

After we broke apart I stepped out of the room to make a call.

"Hello"

"I need a list of the players from yesterday's match"

"Why would you need that?" The other person on the line asked skeptically.

I heaved a sigh, glancing at my daughter through the glass panel door, she was just as I saw her before I came in at first, watching the TV, football channel, with keen— very keen interest, a bright smile stuck to her lips. My naive little girl.

"My daughter's having quite the crush on a certain player."

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