Dark Romance: A Cruel Obsession

Alajos noticed her dejection, but resigned to the fact that he couldn’t satisfy her needs, he could only sigh inwardly and let Mare take her back to her room to rest.

“What?” Vivian snapped back to reality, “You want me to stay here?”

“Yes,” Alajos nodded, “I have arranged a room for you, and Mare will take you there.”

“Why? I don’t want to, I want to go back to Golden Hill Apartment.”

“My apartment will be much safer than Golden Hill Apartment,” Alajos explained. “As you saw on your way here, I have many of my people around, and Mare will also be here to watch over you. You’ll be safer here; the Bratva won’t have a chance to hurt you.”

“Of course, letting you stay here is also for my own reasons.” Alajos didn’t deny it. “If you stay here, you can’t run away. You are mine, and you can only be my bride, Vivian. I won’t give you another chance to escape.”

“No, I am not your bride yet, you can’t imprison me here.” Vivian objected strongly, turning to run towards the door, but Mare blocked her path.

“Move!”

“This isn’t imprisonment, it’s an invitation,” Alajos pulled her back, “and protection.”

“I don’t need it.” Vivian’s face was filled with anger, feeling deceived as Alajos had conspired with Mare to trick her into coming here, “I must go back, Vilem will be worried if he doesn’t see me.”

“That’s his problem.” Alajos didn’t want to argue pointlessly anymore, he gave Mare a few instructions and turned to leave.

“You…” Vivian was about to chase after him to argue when she saw Luzia coming down the stairs.

Luzia’s eyes lit up when she saw Vivian, hurrying down the stairs, “To meet so soon again, I’m really happy.”

“Luzia?” Vivian was stunned as Luzia ran up to hug her, preventing her from chasing after Alajos, so Vivian reluctantly gave up and hugged Luzia back, “Why are you here?”

“Of course, Alajos brought me over to keep you company,” Luzia hooked her arm affectionately, “Thanks to you, this is my first time at Alajos’s private residence.”

“Is that so?” Vivian forced a smile, not feeling honored at all, glaring angrily at Mare, “So you all planned this?”

Mare hung his head in silence, not daring to respond.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Don’t be angry with him,” Luzia consoled her, patting her back gently. “He’s just following Alajos’s orders.”

“Actually, I should be angry with Alajos.”

“No, no, no, it’s best if you’re not angry,” Luzia insisted. “You look cutest and most beautiful when you’re not angry.” She wanted to take Vivian to her room.

Vivian touched her stomach, feeling hungry, “Actually, I haven’t eaten yet.”

“Oh my!” Luzia exclaimed in shock, glaring reproachfully at Mare, “Are you mistreating Vivian?”

Mare didn’t explain that he had prepared dinner, but because Vivian had run out and encountered the Bratva’s interception, she missed the meal.

“I’ll prepare it right away.” Mare immediately went to prepare dinner.

Luzia took Vivian to the dining room to wait, first giving her a cup of warm milk to tide her over, then made herself a coffee.

After dinner, Luzia took Vivian to her room, which was indeed prepared in advance, complete with toiletries and change of clothes. Luzia was satisfied and praised her cousin, “Alajos is a brute, but he’s still very considerate and meticulous with his partner.”

Vivian was not enthusiastic.

“Don’t be upset,” Luzia embraced her. “I really don’t understand why you’re reluctant to marry my cousin. Though there’s no love, he would really make a good husband. There’s no one more suitable for marriage than him.”

“I just can’t accept it…” Vivian whispered, crying softly, “I could have had a different life.”

Luzia had heard about Vivian’s college dreams, “But that’s beyond the family’s arrangements, and the chances of realization are one in ten thousand.” Unfortunately, neither she nor Vivian were that one in ten thousand.

“I know, I’ve struggled, I’ve run away, but I was still caught and brought back.”

Luzia could only offer her a hug, unable to provide any other help.

“Stop thinking about it; it will only make you more miserable.” Luzia pushed her into the bathroom, “Take a nice bath and then go to sleep. Sleep can heal your wounds.”

“I won’t have pleasant dreams.” Vivian closed the bathroom door. In this house belonging to Alajos, in what would become their bridal home, possibly trapping her for life, she could not find true relaxation.

…

Vivian did not sleep soundly that night, her dreams were a blur of unreality, and upon waking, she could remember none of them, but the lingering sense of unease caused her to break out in a sweat.

“Are you hot?” Luzia asked puzzledly, handing her a tissue, “Why are you sweating so much?”

Vivian couldn’t tell her about the nightmare she had. Only after Luzia went back to her room to freshen up did Vivian slowly get out of bed to wash up.

Alajos had risen even earlier than both of them. When Vivian and Luzia came downstairs, Alajos had already finished his breakfast and was sitting in the living room reading the newspaper.

“Good morning, ladies,” Alajos put down the newspaper, his tone gentle as he looked at them with a clear smile in his brown eyes. He seemed to be in a good mood, “Did you sleep well last night?”

“Of course,” Luzia said, “The bed was soft, and the duvet was warm, thank you for your thoughtfulness, Alajos.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Alajos replied, then turned his gaze to Vivian.

“…Good morning, Mr. Hargrave.”

“Hargrave? Mr.?” Luzia laughed, “What a distant form of address.”

Alajos also said, “Please call me Alajos, beautiful lady.”

“Yes, yes, that’s how it should be,” Luzia chimed in, supporting Alajos, “Calling him Alajos is more intimate, after all, you will be family.”

Vivian was at a loss for words.

Neither Alajos nor Luzia spoke further, just staring straight at her, as if waiting for her to utter that name.

Standing in Alajos’s apartment, Vivian was still angry about his presumption the night before, not very willing to let Alajos have his way. So, she chose to avoid using the address and instead asked about her brother Vilem.

“How is Vilem? Have you told him I’m here?”

Alajos didn’t pay attention to Vivian’s change of address, nor did he seem to care much. He picked up his newspaper again, “Mare has already informed him. You’re here with me, so he really doesn’t need to worry.”

“He’s my brother, no matter whether I’m in your apartment or somewhere else, he has the right to worry about whether I’m safe,” Vivian couldn’t understand why she was angry, but in Alajos’s presence, she always found it hard to remain calm.

“Yes, he’s your brother, and I’ve never denied that,” Alajos looked at her, “but it’s not his responsibility to protect you.”

“The responsibility is to protect the family from harm and to maintain the family’s interests in the long term. Vilem is one of the heirs in Los Angeles, and when Joseph becomes Capo, he will continue to serve the family as Capo’s aide,” Alajos put down the newspaper again, apparently not planning to continue reading, “You shouldn’t trouble him all the time, Vivian.”

“Are you saying I’m a burden to Vilem?” Vivian was a little angry.