Chapter 3

*Punishment*

"Let go! I don't want it!"

Ara continued to struggle because Mr. Corner's aides suddenly came and picked her up.

Unfortunately, her meager strength was no match for those men. Likewise, her aunt stood there silently watching her being forcibly taken home, leaving Ara with no hope left. She could only cry and plead, hoping that Raymond's aides would be kind and release her, even though that was impossible.

Meanwhile, in his office, Raymond waited, seething with anger. This was the first time anyone had disobeyed him. Moreover, it was a little girl.

The dominant man had even prepared the punishment Ara deserved. Not long after, Raymond faintly heard the sound of a woman struggling.

"I'm scared, Sir. Please, let me go."

It was Ara's voice, still trying to escape. Unfortunately, Raymond's assistant couldn't disobey his superior's orders. The man continued to lead Ara to his boss's office.

Raymon called out when he heard the knock on the door. "Come in!"

Raymond's assistant, who was assigned to pick up Ara, entered the room. Without another word, he left after the woman his boss was targeting had entered.

Just a step inside, Ara already felt an uneasy feeling. Raymond's piercing gaze made her feel as if she had been transported to another world.

The piercing cold made him unable to take another step.

"Come closer!" A terrified Ara just stood there, frozen in the doorway. She knew the arrogant man was going to teach her a lesson. "I said come closer."

Ara felt such great fear that it made her cry.

In front of her, Raymond clicked his tongue. His patience was truly being tested by the little girl.

With a clenched jaw, Raymond got up from his seat, then dragged Ara and threw her onto the sofa.

The low, cold voice sounded piercing to Ara's ears. "What language should I use to make you understand me?"

"Forgive me, Lord. Forgive me."

In her curled up position because she didn't dare to move on the sofa, Ara begged again.

The man snorted. "Looks like this is how I'm supposed to talk to you." He then took off his jacket and threw it away. Anger caused his body temperature to rise dramatically.

"Didn't my warning scare you?" Raymond, with his seductive movements, began unzipping his pants. Before him, Ara grimaced, imagining the torture repeating itself. "I don't care if you cry, because every mistake has its punishment."

Then, as expected, the altercation resumed. The angry man entered Ara roughly, much more roughly than last night.

Ara's unheeded cries slowly turned into moans that the woman tried to hold back.

She hated it, her body had betrayed her and was starting to enjoy what Raymond was doing to her.

Having successfully secured his release, Raymond rose and returned to his throne. He lit a cigarette, one of his habits for calming his anger—aside from making love.

"Run away again, and not only will you suffer the consequences, but your uncle's entire family will too." Raymond stared at the woman whose tears wouldn't stop. Deep in his heart, he began to feel pity. "Go back to your room. Clean yourself up and get some rest."

Not wanting to anger Raymond any further, Ara quickly got up. She returned to her room and cleaned herself up. Once again, under the pouring water, she cried loudly.

Her own betrayal, her own powerlessness to escape this miserable fate, slowly made Ara think... should she just surrender? Today's events had proven many things. Raymond was so powerful, while she was so weak. Continuing to defy him would only bring more trouble for herself.

"Maybe this is my fate," he muttered.

After showering, Ara curled up on the sofa. Exhausted from running and Raymond's attacks, she couldn't fight the sleepiness, and she finally fell asleep in pain.

Only in sleep did Ara feel free without Raymond around her.

And in his dreams he could be himself again.

A few moments after Ara fell asleep, Raymond followed her. Accidentally, his eyes caught sight of Ara sleeping soundly, so he approached and stared at her face for a moment.

"All the women who have been my comforters, not one of them has been disobedient."

A tired Raymond also lay on his bed.

Before she knew it, night had fallen. Ara, feeling hungry, went out to the kitchen to look for food.

However, when he opened the door, there was already someone guarding the front of the room.

"I'm sorry Miss, you cannot leave the room without an order from Mr. Raymond."

"I just want to go to the kitchen. I'm thirsty and hungry."

"Please wait in the room, I will order the servant to bring food for you."

Ara let out a long sigh. Not wanting to cause any more trouble, she obeyed the guard and returned to her room to wait for her food.

Bored in her room, she tried to look around. Perhaps there was something she could play with to distract herself from her loneliness. In the corner of the room, her eyes accidentally caught sight of Raymond's books neatly arranged on a bookshelf.

His feet walked closer and looked at each of the books.

She let out another long sigh. Her interest waned when she saw the type of books Raymond collected. "All about business.

Ara graduated at the top of her class. She majored in science and aspired to become a doctor. She wanted to be of service to others, especially those in poverty, like herself.

His parents died because they didn't get medical treatment.

According to the doctor, the illness suffered by both parents was a rich person's illness, which required a lot of money to treat.

The free health card from the government that she had could not cover all the treatment, until finally both of Ara's parents died.

Not finding a suitable book, Ara wanted to return to the sofa. However, her eyes now fell on a book with a cover depicting a woman and a man.

He took the book written by author Jane Austin to take to the sofa.

Ara was so focused on reading the novel that she didn't realize that two pairs of eyes were staring at her.

"Who allowed you to read my book!" Raymond's baritone voice surprised ara and made her put down the book she was reading.

"Forgive my impudence, sir, for taking your book without permission." His voice trembled again with fear.

Ara immediately put the book she was reading back in its place. She really didn't want to make Raymond angry.

"I've returned it, sir." He was truly afraid that his master would be angry because of his carelessness.

Raymond responded to Ara's words by clearing his throat, and this made Ara continue to stare at him.

Ara's forehead wrinkled. 'Strange. He... isn't angry?'

"Why do you keep staring at me? Interested?" Raymond asked, his gaze never leaving his phone.

Ara's eyes widened, as the man realized he was being stared at, even though Raymond was focused on his phone. "N-no, sir."

At the same time, a knock was heard from outside. Ara immediately got up to open the door. Several servants arrived with food.

"We're sorry Miss, we've kept you waiting for a long time because there was a problem in the kitchen."

"It's okay," Ara turned around before allowing the servant to enter. "Sir, I was hungry. A servant brought me some food outside," Ara reported.

"Then?" Raymond asked, his gaze still glued to his phone.

"Can I eat?"

Again, Raymond only cleared his throat in response to Ara's question.

After getting permission from Raymond,Ara immediately invited the waiter to come in to put down the food.

She was so hungry that she quickly devoured every morsel on her plate without offering any to Raymond first. Before she knew it, all the food the waiter had brought her was gone.

Ara burped loudly because her stomach was so full. Raymond, who had been watching Ara eat, made a scathing comment.

"Holy Cow!"