Breaking His Law (English)

Chapter 4 - Hell

“What did that little brain of yours think this time again, Nathalia Amaris?”

I bowed to Dad’s cold question while holding my bag in my hand. I clenched my fist so hard... so hard like a stone that'll protect me from all his hurtful words.

Some maids were already looking at us while we were at the top of the staircase. Dad had just left his office.

I blinked when he threw me an envelope. The photos taken that night were scattered on the floor.

I stared at a picture that fell at my feet. Me kissing the guy in front of his hotel room!

The other pictures were when my friends and I were on the dance floor. There were pictures of me dancing, raising my shot glass, and there was one when we were going up to the hotel rooms.

“Are you trying to ruin your life, Nathalia Amaris?!” Dad asked angrily. He came over to me and stepped on another photo. I didn’t know who had taken them and why they were sent to Dad. “You can’t bring a good name to this family! And you’re even planning to bring us such shame? What a disgrace that you are!”

Mommy came and calmed him down so that he wouldn't continue. I just bowed down even more while they argued.

“Stan... don’t be too harsh on her,” Mommy said calmly and in a pleading tone.

“That’s exactly why your daughter grew up being a headache, Thaliana!”

“I will talk to her, Constantine... please,” my mom pleaded. Dad just shook his head and faced me angrily.

“If those photos spread, what do you think will happen, Nathalia Amaris? Why don’t you do something useful and be like your brother? Your friends in modeling are all bad influences! You’re not getting anything out of it. You’re wasting your time! Why don’t you work for our company instead of doing useless things?!”

I swallowed what I heard, but I tried to let it slip through my other ear. That’s the problem with Dad. He knows exactly the right words to hurt you, to make you look stupid and ignorant, even to yourself.

That in the end, you’re going to believe all those things...

“Constantine,” Mommy scolded. Dad heaved a sigh in disappointment.

“Bring that man in front of me, Nathalia Amaris. Or I will be forced to make you two meet!”

That’s when my gaze lifted. The tears welling up in my eyes seemed to recede as I heard it.

W-What did he say? How could I do that if I didn’t know who it was?!

“D-Dad...” My lips trembled.

He just looked at me coldly. I could see how much he was holding back from venting his anger and frustration.

“Dad, please... I don’t know this guy!” I mumbled. “And it’s my fault. I was the one who entered his room. I mistook him for someone and he just mistook me for someone else, too. Dad, please... let’s just let that guy go.”

Dad shook his head and looked at me seriously. “You’re going to marry this man, Nathalia. Whether you like it or not! This is the consequence of what you did.”

My eyes widened. What kind of punishment is that?!

“Dad! —”

Before I could finish what I was saying, he passed me by.

“Mom, tell me it’s not true? What is he saying that I’ll marry? That is too serious for a punishment!” I cried and faced Mommy. He must be kidding!

My mom just looked at me. She looks concerned yet disappointed.

“Why, hija? Do you think what you did is something unserious? I had to learn that the hard way, honey, you’re repeating a mistake I’ve been regretting in my life... you know that, Nathalia.” Mommy shook her head before she left.

I was just stunned while still in disbelief. My tears started to fall.

Are they going to arrange me with that guy? We don’t even know him! And besides, that guy really has nothing to do with this!

I fell asleep that night in deep thought. The next day, I didn’t go to school. My friends asked me why. Mauve sent me messages one after another. My friends Ace and Jade couldn’t stop lurking at the comment section of my last social media post, because I was missing in action today at university.

I didn’t feel like leaving my room. I’m also pretty sure I’m grounded.

Afternoon came, and I thought about going shopping to relieve my stress from the things I did to myself. Maybe shopping will help me lighten my mind.

But I already had a few bags, yet my deep thoughts still couldn’t be relieved.

In the end, I just told our driver, Kuya Bobs, to leave me at a coffee shop near the mansion and said I’d just walk home to get some fresh air.

While walking, I noticed a black car. It was familiar, and it felt like it was following me. It felt like I’d seen it at the mansion. My father’s filthy rich and you get to pick up cars at the mansion whenever you want.

I texted Kuya Bobs if he was picking me up, but he said he was already at the mansion. I was surprised because I'd been noticing this black car for a while ago at a park. I’ve been paranoid the last few days. In my fear, I just walked faster.

I screamed when the person in the driver’s seat suddenly spoke. The window rolled up, and the car stopped right on the sidewalk.

“Ma’am Nathalia?” the driver called out and was equally shocked by my scream.

I grabbed my chest and looked at him distressed. “A-Alfred? What are you doing?! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!”

It was just Alfred! One of Dad’s men.

He scratched his head. “I’ve been calling you for a while, but you haven’t looked back, Ma’am.”

“What are you doing here? I told Kuya Bobs not to pick me up. I’m just going to walk.”

“No, Ma’am. Sir Constantine told us to pick you up...”

I didn’t do anything even though I was wondering. Dad would get angrier if I kept being stubborn.

“Where are we going?” I asked a little nervously when I noticed that we weren’t taking the road to the mansion. “Guys? Why aren’t you telling me?!”

I continued to scream because they didn’t want to answer me. They’re like loyal dogs! I thought we were all friends... traitors!

“Sorry, Ma’am Nathalia... it’s best for you to go to sleep first. It’s Sir Stan’s order,” Alfred suddenly says.

My eyes widened, and I was still struggling when his companion suddenly covered my mouth and nose with a handkerchief that made me fall asleep quickly.

I was dizzy and woke up only to find the car stopped. I grabbed my head. As soon as I adjusted from that quick sleep, I regained my composure. Oh, damn. What’s wrong with these people?!

I looked around in nervousness. I found Alfred in the driver’s seat and threw him a death glare. He looked at me with fear before smiling sheepishly.

“You, traitor! I thought we were friends!”

“Sorry, Ma’am Nathalia. You can’t see the way to this place.”

“Traitor,” I whispered in disbelief.

Alfred didn’t compete with my stubbornness anymore. He just opened the door for me, but I still glared at him deadly.

A strong wind hit me as I got out of the car. I was stunned when I realized what kind of place we were in.

It was a small building that didn’t get much attention. It was also in a secluded area and there were no nearby establishments.

The road was rocky and there were small plants on the side. I looked at my father’s men.

“Where are we? What is this place?”

Alfred didn’t answer. Instead, he led me to a part of the building outside that seemed to be rocky and dirty pavement.

I heard voices. When we passed a wall, the source of those voices appeared to me.

I was stunned and seemed to freeze in place. Two men I didn’t know were holding another man. Another was just standing there, watching. I could see the man whose hands were tied at the back.

I gasped when one of them punched the man who was almost on his knees. He would’ve gotten another punch if Alfred hadn’t walked ahead of me and spoken.

“That’s enough. Ma’am Nathalia is here.”

It was as if air left my lungs. I stopped walking and stared at the man with a wound on his lip who slowly raised his gaze and turned in my direction—making our eyes meet.

His slightly messy hair suited his handsome face and even though there was a trace of blood on the side of his lips, it didn’t even make him less attractive.

His jaw tightened as his dark eyes stared. I felt his gaze pierce through my soul.

I looked at the man as a strange nervousness slowly consumed my system. He’s wearing something like office attire. He wasn’t just wearing the suit. His hair is slightly messy. There were also bruises on the side of his lip and on several parts of his face.

What is this guy doing here? How could...

“W-What is this, Alfred?” I asked in shock and stammered. No one answered among the four men who were there. I approached them and looked at them with a shudder of anger. “W-What is this madness? Let him go!”

Gosh. He might be thinking how crazy our family is!

“What are you waiting for, Alfred? Untie the rope!” I shouted, which probably echoed all around. I didn’t care if anyone heard us.

“Sorry, Ma’am Nathalia... I can’t do what you want,” he said, bowing. In my annoyance, I pushed them away, but before I could get close enough to the man, Alfred motioned for the other two to pick me up and take me away.

“What?! What the hell are you thinking?!” I struggled, but they were just strong enough to stop me from coming closer! “Alfred! Sh*t! The four of you, I’ll remember you! Let me go!”

I kept shouting at them as I tried to get out their grip. My eyes widened when one of them approached the man again and then pulled out a gun.

I almost fainted. I fell to my knees and gave my full weight to the two men who were almost dragging me away.

What the f*ck are they doing? What did Dad order them to do?

“What are you doing? Let go of that! Let go of me!”

The man’s eyes met mine again. He’s just looking at me coldly with the gun still pointed at his head. I knew they weren’t planning on blowing it up. They’re just trying to scare us!

“So… this is how your family’s process is?” the man asked casually, as if nothing had happened, as if he wasn’t being injured by my father’s men just right now.

I didn’t care even if he insulted me and our family. I needed to get him out of this situation.

Dad’s men also let me go. I quickly approached the man as soon as I got out of these assholes’ grips. We faced each other, but he didn’t even move when I was about to remove the rope from his hand.

“What are you doing? Help yourself,” I hissed as I removed the rope, but he just looked at me.

“If I had known that your father was that kind of man, I would have stopped... you know, I could’ve just f*cked myself that night...” He chuckled lightly and sarcastically. Because we were so close to each other, his hot breath hit the side of my neck and ear.

“Shut up...” I muttered, trembling because of the mixed feelings. I felt so embarrassed, insulted... like a fool.

“Acting scared? Wasn’t this your plan? I knew you liked what we did that night, but I didn’t expect you to like it this much...” He smirked sarcastically. With his jaw clenching hard, and the side of his lips bruised, he wet his lower lip, which had traces of blood.

We stared at each other for a long time before I pulled away. The wind blew, and its coldness touched my skin.

I looked away. I didn’t answer, and I didn’t even defend myself, even though I felt ashamed... and it hurt. His words hurt.

Despite that, I felt scared. What if he sues us? What if he reports it to the police? Am I... going to jail? Will Dad get caught?

When I finally untied the rope, our eyes met again. I don’t know his name yet, but I knew from the start, we're going to hate each other to the depths of hell...