Part 3 # The Bastard

Blue eyes, strong jaw, thick lips, and tan skin made the man's appearance before Arren so captivating. His face was extremely handsome, and his gaze emitted an indescribable passion.

"Satisfied with staring at my face?"

One thing. That voice. The voice that Arren detested so much. The voice that had been hurting her heart and her dignity for some time. "BASTARD!"

Arren growled and almost thrust her head forward to push him away, but unfortunately, the man was adept at tormenting her over and over. "Calm down, or I'll remove your IV!" Leon held Arren's forehead to prevent her from banging it against him.

Warm.

His palm contrasted sharply with Arren's cold and pale condition.

"Let go!"

Arren shook her head, trying to distance herself from the man's touch. For a moment, she realized that many tubes were connected to her body. Her room was no longer dim; everything seemed well-maintained. When Arren looked in the mirror, everything looked different.

'Is this person taking care of me?' she mumbled in her heart. Arren still couldn't believe it.

"You should rest a lot."

The man then got up from Arren's bed and left just like that. His behavior was still the same as when he came and went from the room at his own discretion. The only difference was that he no longer violated her.

"Sob..."

Remembering that, Arren's heart ached again. She was very afraid. Actually, what happened? Why did a stranger kidnap and assault her? Then suddenly... provide care like this?

"Mother..."

Only bitter cries could accompany her loneliness in this place. Arren didn't know who to ask about all the worries in her heart.

***

That night, a doctor suddenly came to examine her. Initially, Arren was wary, but the doctor's and nurse's friendliness broke her guard.

"Thank goodness, you're getting better, Miss."

"Yes..."

Arren felt awkward. She didn't know how to behave.

"Lord Leon will be very pleased. He has spent thousands of dollars to provide all your medical needs. You're truly fortunate to have a lover like him," the nurse said teasingly with a smile.

"Lover? Pfft!" Arren scoffed. Instead of being grateful, she was confused. What could she do? Even her presence here wasn't voluntary. Fortunate? Right!

"Ellen, you talk too much," the doctor warned the nurse to be silent. He then examined Arren's condition for the last time. "I will come back to ensure your treatment is going well. For now, please try not to move too much."

Arren nodded. At least, the bruises on her body were improving. In the past, Arren was often beaten by her father when he was drunk. Although she often avoided it, Arren's strength was no match for her unconscious father. Luckily, the incident only resulted in beatings, not rape or murder.

"Hhh..."

Arren was truly unlucky. Her mother shouldn't have died so soon. Or, if she had to die, she should have taken Arren with her. What was Arren doing in such a cruel world? Without anyone caring, without a shoulder to lean on.

Oh! Fate was cruel without mercy.

"Smile, Miss. You'll soon recover," the nurse said before leaving. She didn't even know that Arren's gloom was not because of the physical injuries she suffered but the soul wounds that had plagued her since long ago.

***

"Are you... healed?"

The next morning, the man came again. Leon, as the doctor called him. That was his name.

"What do you want?"

Tired of fighting, Arren finally stopped attacking Leon. Besides, the doctor advised her not to move much. At least today, she wanted to talk to her kidnapper properly.

"Set me free! I will repay my father's debt!"

"Hmm... interesting."

Instead of freeing Arren, or at least considering her request, Leon smiled happily. He observed every move Arren made with a radiant face. "A cute girl."

The man approached, this time... he didn't force Arren to do anything. Even the word 'slave' didn't come out of his mouth anymore. "Do you know who I am?" he asked, getting closer and sitting on the edge of the bed.

Arren avoided him, scooting away so that she wouldn't at least touch the cursed kidnapper who had robbed her of her honor. "What do I care? You're just a bastard."

Leon chuckled. Arren's words were indeed true. "Hearing the word 'bastard' from your small lips is truly delightful. It seems this is what it feels like to hear a curse directly."

"Crazy!"

The man laughed again, but a moment later, he seemed to scan Arren from head to toe. Seeing Arren's brightened face and the gradually healing bruise on her leg, Leon looked relieved.

"Good. You're healthy enough."

Arren felt treated like livestock. "What do you mean? What do you want when I'm healthy?" she whispered while staring sharply at Leon.

Arren's current appearance was like a wildcat trying to resist a tiger. Adorable. "Of course, you have to serve me again! What else?"

From that moment on, Arren decided not to talk to that bastard again. What was his name again? Leon. Leon, the bastard!