Wow, He is the man

Jose grabbed her shoulder and shoved her forward roughly.

‎"Ah!"

‎Brandy stumbled, crashing into the edge of the coffee table. Two glasses fell, and a bottle of wine overturned, splashing her face and soaking her hair. Jose settled onto the sofa, lounging with his legs crossed, his gaze cold and dark as he watched Brandy’s discomfiture.

‎

‎Henry, eager to please, rushed to pour Jose a drink. "Mr. Williams, please have a drink."

‎

‎"You don’t," Jose’s voice was a low, chilling command. "She does."

‎

‎Henry’s hand faltered. He understood and handed the bottle to Brandy.

‎

‎Brandy trembled, feeling as if she was submerged in icy water.

‎

‎She knew that Jose was humiliating her. If she refused, she would never leave this room.

‎

‎Thinking of her three lovely and innocent children at home, Brandy swallowed her tears, her trembling hand taking the wine bottle and pouring the drink.

‎

‎Jose raised his glass, sipping the wine with a detached air, his cold, hawk-like gaze fixed on Brandy’s face.

‎

‎"Can I... leave now?" Brandy asked in a trembling voice. She remained kneeling on the ground, feeling anxious and scared.

‎

‎The others in the room watched silently, becoming mere spectators to the scene.

‎

‎And Jose, like a king, held complete control.

‎

‎"Why leave so soon?" Henry poured her a drink. "It’s an honor to drink with Mr. Williams. Drink up!"

‎

‎"I don’t drink..." Brandy refused and turned her face away.

‎

‎Jose reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to face him. His dark eyes were cold and piercing. "Don’t tell me you didn’t inherit the genes for entertaining men?" Tears welled in Brandy’s eyes, shimmering with fear.

‎

‎"Didn’t that Williams Family slut teach you anything?"

‎

‎"My aunt is not a mistress, you’re mistaken..." Brandy said, her voice filled with hurt.

‎

‎"Of course, because you’re just like her!" Jose’s grip tightened, his fingers threatening to crush her jaw.

‎

‎"Ah!" Brandy cried out in pain.

‎

‎"Brandy, you’ve fallen into my hands again. Your good days are over." Jose patted her cheek, then released her.

‎

‎Brandy’s body went limp, and she collapsed onto the floor, tears streaming down her face. Henry came over and pulled her up to her feet. "Come on, now. Can’t come to a bar and not drink."

‎

‎Hands reached for her from all sides—men, women, all pulling.

‎

‎Brandy was pushed onto the sofa, glass after glass thrust into her hand. She had no choice but to swallow.

‎

‎The foreign liquor burned, each mouthful a struggle, each sip bringing fresh tears to her eyes.

‎

‎One of the women nestled beside Jose, refilling his glass with a saccharine smile. But Jose’s gaze remained locked on the woman he loathed with every fiber of his being.

‎

‎By the sixth drink, Brandy’s mind was swimming. Everything swam in a hazy blur.

‎

‎When a hand slithered onto her leg, instinct jolted her awake. She recoiled, scrambling to her feet and fleeing the private room.

‎

‎She burst into the nearest restroom, collapsing over the toilet bowl, retching violently. But nothing came up, only a torrent of tears.

‎

‎What had she done to deserve this?

‎

‎At fourteen, when everyone else turned their backs, only her aunt took her in. How could that woman be considered depraved?

‎

‎Just because she had entered the Williams Family and called him "brother," she’d somehow triggered Jose’s wrath. Even after escaping the Williams Family, the nightmare hadn’t ended!

‎

‎The door slammed shut with a click, freezing Brandy in place. An oppressive presence descended, sending a wave of icy dread through her.

‎

‎Without turning, she knew who radiated this aura...

‎

‎"I... I drank. Is that enough... ah!" Brandy’s plea was cut short as her hair was yanked, her head forced back, exposing the vulnerable curve of her neck.

‎

‎Jose’s face was as terrifying as a devil’s. "Did I give you permission to leave?"

‎

‎Alcohol may have numbed her scalp, but the terror was etched into her very bones. She gasped, "What... what do I have to do to be free?"

‎

‎Jose ignored her, his eyes narrowed, his gaze a slow, possessive caress over her body. A dark, knowing glint flickered in his eyes. He lowered his head, his voice a husky whisper against her ear. "Perhaps your body will be more... cooperative."

‎

‎Then, without warning, he sank his teeth into her exposed shoulder—

‎

‎"Ah!" Brandy’s body convulsed, a strangled sob escaping her lips.

‎

‎"Such a slutty reaction, hm?"

‎

‎Brandy’s shoulder burned. Had he drawn blood? As Jose released her, her body went limp, collapsing against his sturdy chest. Tears streamed down her face, weak and helpless. "I was wrong. I shouldn’t have come back. Please... please don’t do this to me..."

‎

‎Jose’s fingers clamped onto her chin, tilting her face up with brutal force. "In my world, begging is more dangerous than defiance."

‎

‎Brandy’s scalp tingled. Alcohol flushed her cheeks crimson, and the harsh ceiling lights burned her eyes shut. Her head was spinning, tears falling uncontrollably. "Why... why me? Why does it have to be me?"

‎

‎"You know exactly why. That bitch is untouchable for now, so you’ll be my proxy. She treasures you, doesn’t she? Then I’ll make sure her precious niece wishes she’d never been born!" Jose’s grip on her jaw tightened, bruisingly. Diego had dared to threaten him.

‎

‎Good.

‎

‎He would make them know what it means to be better off dead!

‎

‎Brandy sobbed. So, he saw her aunt as a home-wrecker, and therefore, he saw her as the same.

‎

‎She had been misunderstood like that for so long, and no one could change Jose’s twisted view.

‎

‎"My twelfth year... wasn’t that enough?"

‎

‎"Never!" Jose’s vengeful tone was terrifying. "Suffer well. If you dare to die, she’ll be next!"

‎

‎"No..." Brandy’s body trembled uncontrollably. The room spun, and the darkness finally claimed her, pulling her under into a drunken oblivion.

‎

‎Brandy gasped, snapping awake. Relief washed over her as she recognized the familiar surroundings of the mansion’s bedroom. No strange place, no unfamiliar man beside her.

‎

‎She was prone to blackouts after drinking. The bathroom was the last thing she remembered. Her head throbbed with a hangover, but the pain in her shoulder was far worse.

‎

‎She winced, a soft moan escaping her lips.

‎

‎She got out of bed and went to the bathroom, still wearing the black, off-the-shoulder dress, the fabric clinging to her curves.

‎

‎Her shoulder. There it was. A nasty, red bite mark.

‎

‎Jose’s bite.

‎

‎Looked like a blood-red birthmark.

‎

‎It wouldn’t fade for at least ten days.

‎

‎Jose’s cruelty had only intensified since their junior high days.

‎

‎Fear coiled in her gut, raising goosebumps on her arms.

‎

‎It only strengthened her resolve to leave!

‎

‎During the day, Brandy tried to calm herself down, secretly surveying the layout of her luxurious prison.

‎

‎This place was Silvercrest Bay, and the mansion, Regal Garden, belonged to Jose. Its grounds stretched across acres upon acres.

‎

‎In other words, it was impossible to escape on foot. Unless Jose himself allowed it.

‎

‎But how could that be possible...

‎

‎Brandy hid in her room and called her aunt. "Who owns Silvercrest Bay?"

‎

‎"The property owner is a mystery, even your uncle can’t figure it out. But whoever it is, that power base runs deep in Elite City. Everyone’s trying to get on their good side, especially with all the changes happening," Linda said.

‎

‎Brandy bit her lip and fell silent.

‎

‎Jose must have secretly built his power base in Elite City long ago. By the time those wealthy businessmen in Elite City noticed, it would be too late.

‎

‎Even the Williams Family was clueless.

‎

‎"And, the owner of Silvercrest Bay is also the head of the Cobra Group."

‎

‎"Cobra Group?"

‎

‎"Yes! The tallest skyscraper in Elite City, built in just five years. They’re richer than rich and basically run the whole city. It’s impossible to even get near them. They’re so secretive."

‎