Chapter 7 : A Poisoned Promise
1562 Words
The rain had stopped, and the sky was finally clearing. The thunderstorms had passed, leaving behind a heavy, damp silence. As the morning sun began to rise, a car pulled up in front of a massive mansion that looked more like the palace of a king than a house.
Rossi stepped out of the vehicle. There was no trace of fear in her eyes anymore. She looked like a woman who was finally ready to face whatever difficulties life threw at her.
She walked toward the main entrance. As soon as the security guards saw her, they recognized her immediately and granted her permission to enter. Rossi felt a chill of surprise—how did these guards already know who she was?
Every step Rossi took was for her father’s safety. Her heart began to race, thumping against her chest. She felt like a free bird that was willingly walking into a golden cage.
As Rossi entered, the heavy doors shut behind her, sealing her inside. The house was so big it felt like a palace, but for Rossi, it was just a dark cage. This was the place where Leonard Russell ruled, and now, she was officially under his shadow.
The silence in the hall was so thick it made it hard for Rossi to breathe. She felt a familiar chill, realizing she had simply traded one golden cage for another. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps broke the quiet as a stiff, professional butler approached her.
"Madam Rossi," the butler said, his voice dripping with the kind of respect usually reserved for a queen. "Mr. Russell is waiting for you in the garden. Please, let me show you the way."
"I didn’t understand how everyone here knew my name," Rossi thought, her mind clouded with tension and confusion. It was her first time stepping foot inside this place, yet she was being treated like someone who had lived there for years.
Finally, Rossi asked a question to break the heavy silence, "How is it that everyone here recognizes me?”
"Mr. Russell has already told us all about you," the butler replied with a polite smile. "There is no need for concern; we all know how important you are, Madam." The smile on his face remained steady, and every word he spoke carried a deep, unwavering respect for her.
"So, it meant your Mr. Russell already knew that one day I would end up here," Rossi whispered, a wave of hopelessness washing over her face.
"I think he wanted to make me a queen," she thought bitterly, "but a queen of a palace of darkness.”
Rossi followed the footsteps of the butler, her eyes taking in the luxury and the high-priced classic items scattered throughout the mansion. However, the value of everything meant nothing to her.
Finally, Rossi reached the garden.
Leonard Russell was sitting in the middle of it, perched at a table. His face was full of arrogance, as if he felt there was no one better than him in the entire world.
The butler took a few steps and stopped near Leonard. "Mr. Russell, Madam Rossi is here," he said, his face devoid of any smile. When the butler's words reached Leonard’s ears, he turned around and looked toward Rossi.
A slow smile crept onto his face. The moment his eyes fell on her, the expression on his face showed his feelings clearly—it was the look of a man who had finally achieved exactly what he wanted.
"You may go now; I need to talk with Rossi alone," Leonard said in a calm and relaxed mood.
"Yes, Master," the butler replied before leaving them.
"Rossi, come and sit. We had many things to talk about," Leonard added. There was a certain kind of tenderness in his voice for her, but it was impossible to tell if it was real or fake.
Rossi moved forward, her eyes still fixed on Leonard Russell. A part of her wanted to run and stay far away from him, but she knew she had no choice left. Her heart began to beat slowly, and every step she took felt heavier than the last.
"I am a ruthless and heartless man, but not for you, my dream queen," Leonard Russell said, his voice full of love, with no trace of darkness or evil.
"You created a heart in my chest and forced me to fall in love with you. Rossi, you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen."
Rossi could not believe her eyes or her ears; this was not the Leonard she knew. As she approached the chair and sat down, her mind raced with suspicion.
She thought he was setting a trap for her, hoping she would fall for his charming words so he could take full advantage of her.
"The words you were saying did not match your personality," Rossi said in a slow, measured voice. She knew that even though he was acting kind, his face could not hide the darkness inside him. Rossi’s voice showed the sheer hopelessness of her situation.
"Whatever you think, it did not matter to me," Leonard replied with his usual attitude. "This was only our second meeting; you did not know many things about me yet. After a few days, I hope you will understand me as well." While saying this, Leonard’s eyes stayed focused on her face.
"Your beauty did not look good with that expression, now that you had become my queen," Leonard said, his voice now reflecting his real identity. "My queen, prepare yourself for tonight’s party. I wanted everyone’s eyes to spark and then go blind after seeing your beauty.”
"This was the problem I had seen in every powerful man like you," Rossi whispered. "You all just wanted to keep women under your control." Rossi’s voice raised slightly, her facial expressions shifted, and she seemed to regain control over her own body.
The atmosphere became suffocating as Rossi spoke. She felt like she was hitting a wall, fighting for a way out that didn't exist. The strength in her voice started to fade, replaced by a deep sadness.
"I knew I had no choice," she added, her voice barely a whisper now, "but please, accept my one request."
Rossi’s words changed the very air around them, though she felt as if her voice held no real value in a place like this. A small smile appeared on Leonard Russell’s face; on the outside, he looked calm and relaxed, but inside, his evil mindset was already at work.
Leonard Russell stood up, his presence towering over her. "You did not need to request anything; simply tell me what it was that you wanted," Leonard said, his tone smooth yet chilling.
"I want my father’s life," Rossi said, her accent reflecting her hopeless situation. She was a daughter who wanted nothing but safety for her father.
"He is old and has nothing left. I am the one you wanted, and I have already surrendered myself to you," Rossi said, her voice trembling but determined.
"So, please... give me your word that you will leave him alone. Do not hurt my father."
"There was no need to worry," Leonard said smoothly. "I had no problem with your father." A smile appeared on Leonard’s face, making it look as if he was showing real mercy for Harrison, but this was merely one of the many masks of the devil.
"You needed to take some rest. We would meet in the evening," Leonard added. After delivering those words, he took several quick steps and moved away, without staying to hear another word from Rossi.
He left Rossi standing there, alone in that vast, cold space.
Leonard Russell appeared in his room. It was a space fit for a king, with every luxury imaginable placed within it. However, now that he was alone, his real face emerged—his true arrogance and cold attitude were clearly visible on his features.
He picked up his phone and called someone. As the phone rang, Leonard’s facial expressions shifted with every passing second. Finally, a voice came through the line.
"Yes, Master? You summoned me? It is a real pleasure for me," the voice said. The accent showed clearly that it was an obedient servant speaking to his master.
"Tonight, make Harrison’s history clear. I don’t need this useless person anymore," Leonard ordered. The room’s temperature seemed to drop with his words, and the very walls became witnesses to his cold betrayal.
"I don’t want Rossi thinking about her father every moment, and I had a feeling Harrison would try something to get Rossi back."
"Your order is my duty. Harrison will not see tomorrow’s sun," Marcus replied. His words showed just how loyal and obedient he was to Leonard.
"I expected nothing less from you, Marcus. Call me back when your task is complete," Leonard said.
Leonard Russell cut the phone call and laughed heavily. His laughter echoed through the silent, luxurious room like a dark omen.
Leonard Russell stared at his reflection in the window, his eyes glowing with a cold, possessive fire.
"Rossi, what did you think? That my promises were real?" he whispered to the empty room, a dark smirk playing on his lips. "Now, you are only mine. I have left you with no savior anymore.”
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