= 07 =

Author's POV

The red, yellow, and blue lights filled the room, complementing the faces adorned with extravagant jewelry and dresses that screamed the theme of the party. Amidst the crowd, a man dressed in black pants, a white shirt, and a black coat sipped his expensive wine from a devilishly exquisite glass. He appeared devilishly handsome, attracting the attention of many girls and women who ogled at him. Standing alone in the corner, he conveyed his disinterest in the party and his desire to leave as soon as possible. However, due to his grandpa, he was unable to do so. This man was none other than Ivan. Just then, his father Alexander approached him.

"It seems like you're not enjoying yourself here, right Ivan?" Alexander asked, and Ivan chuckled.

"Absolutely right," Ivan replied.

"I don't want to waste your time by asking random questions, so just answer what I'm about to ask," Alexander said, sounding angry with his son.

"Why did you behave like that with grandpa?" Alexander inquired.

"Because he was forcing me to marry Serenity," Ivan honestly replied, causing Alexander to clench his jaw upon hearing this. 

"And why don't you want to marry Serenity?" Alexander inquired.

"It's my wish," Ivan arrogantly replied.

"You're becoming like your maternal grandpa," Alexander said, and upon hearing this, Ivan clenched his jaw.

"At least he didn't hurt his woman... I'm proud to be like him," Ivan said, and Alexander clenched his jaw, trying to control his anger.

"Just three days ago, your mom died, and here you are enjoying a party... Just three days ago, that old man's wife died, and he threw this party... So, do you want me to respect a man who never respected his woman?" Ivan said, gritting his teeth, his eyes showing the fire of anger.

"Shut up, Ivan," Alexander said.

"I am leaving from here," Ivan declared, placing the wine glass on the table and starting to walk out. Alexander didn't stop him.

"Hey, bro, where are you going?" Corey called out from behind, but Ivan didn't reply and left.

Rafael noticed him. Just then, a girl entered the party, smiling as she looked at Ivan. She thought Ivan was going to greet her, but unfortunately, he didn't even spare a glance and left.

"Ivan," he heard her melodious voice, but he didn't turn. It was Serenity.

°°°°

She was on the 100th floor of the building, waiting for Ivan. Clutching a flower pot in her hand, she sniffled. How cruel he was. He had sent her father to jail and now he was tormenting him. She glanced up at the wall clock, which showed 8 PM. She had been waiting for him for the past five hours. That girl who had left her in front of the building had even complimented her beauty, but little did she know that it was because of her beauty that she was going through all of this. Just because of her body, a devil was chasing after her. She sat on the floor for the tenth time.

The bodyguard of Ivan had told her that he would be there after attending a party. Her heart sank even more upon hearing this news. It was because of this devil that police officers were beating her elderly father, while he was here enjoying himself as if nothing had happened. She wiped her tears and closed her eyes, but her father's painful screams echoed in her ears, causing her to sob even more. She waited for another 45 minutes until she heard the sound of the elevator ringing, indicating that someone was coming. She stood up, still holding the pot. Tonight, she would kill him.

Soon, the elevator doors opened, revealing the tired figure of Ivan. He heard someone sniffing and looked in the direction of the sound.

"You bastard!" she shouted, hurling the pot towards him. Fortunately, he managed to dodge it, but the pot shattered upon impact with the wall. He gasped in pain as a small shard of the broken mirror cut his forehead, causing it to bleed. He clenched his jaw in anger.

"How cruel can you be, Ivan Black?" she roared, approaching him. Ivan looked at her with a smirk. She reached him and slapped him hard.

"You bastard!" she cursed, about to slap him again before he tightly gripped her hand.

"You," he said, and she cried out in pain as he pushed her against the wall of the balcony, causing her to wail in agony and anger.

"How dare you slap me?" he roared, applying pressure to her windpipe, making it difficult for her to breathe. He tightened his grip even more, and a tear rolled down her cheek. It's better to die with dignity, she thought, and she stopped struggling.

"Should I break your neck?" he asked, his expression filled with madness, but she did not respond. He smirked as he saw her face turning slightly bluish due to his grip. 

She started coughing as soon as he released his grip on her neck. He smirked, finding amusement in her condition. Once she regained her composure, she looked at him through her blurry vision and spoke.

"If you want to fight me, then fight me. But don't involve my family," she said fearlessly.

"I'm not involving your family in our fight, sweetheart," he replied, causing her to clench her jaw.

"Then let my father go!" she shouted.

"Why should I?" he asked, making more tears fall from her eyes.

"You... you put him in jail, didn't you?" she asked, shocking him.

"What are you saying?" he asked, pretending to be unaware.

"Don't pretend like you don't know!" she shouted, and he smirked.

"Do you really think I would use your father as leverage in our game?" he asked, and she sobbed.

"Yes," she replied without hesitation.

"Then think whatever you want, because I don't give a shit about your thoughts," he said, clenching his jaw.

"Then release my father," she demanded. He wiped the blood from his forehead, examining his bloody palm, and clenched his jaw in anger. He wanted nothing more than to kill her right there, at that very moment. 

"I will not," he said and began walking towards his apartment, causing her to follow him.

"No, don't do this. What have I ever done to you that you are torturing me like this?" she cried out in helplessness. He turned around, and her heart raced as she found him approaching her.

"What have you done to me?" he said, his tone filled with danger, and she sniffled.

"Don't come closer," she whispered in fear, the blood still dripping from his forehead.

"You invaded my peaceful nights by entering my dreams. You turned me into a womanizer. You robbed me of my peace and turned me into a restless person. I offered you millions for one night, but you rejected me and slapped me. You made me drink excessively to forget you. I lost my grandmother because I was unconscious at the time, all because of you," he said, now trapping her between the wall and his body. Hearing his words, she looked at him in shock. She hadn't done anything to deserve this.

"And now you're asking what you've done to me?" She gasped for breath, his intoxicated breath indicating he had been drinking.

"This is all rubbish... I haven't done anything wrong," she whispered, sobbing.

"Every criminal says they are innocent," he said, and she immediately looked into his eyes. His dark eyes stared into her red, teary eyes, his dominance and arrogance crushing her soul.

"I'm not a criminal!" she shouted, but he chuckled.

"You are, sweetheart, you are," his deep voice resonated in her ear, and she closed her eyes completely.

"My father isn't a drug dealer," she cried out in helplessness.

"I'm not talking about him, so stop dragging him into this. I'm talking about us... I'm talking about you. You are a criminal who kills me every day by haunting my dreams," he said. These words might have made any woman blush, but they had no effect on Ember, who sobbed silently.

"Please... let my father go," she sobbed, and he stared at her silently, intensely. He watched her cry, her face slightly turning purplish, tempting him to lean in and bite her cheek. Her heaving chest made his desire stir within his pants. He wanted nothing more than to bend her over his luxurious sofa and fulfill all his desires. 

"Submit yourself first," he said, and his words sent a shiver down her spine. She looked up and found him emotionless.

"Submit yourself, sweetheart, and I will release your father right now, with all due respect," he said, smirking. She clenched her small fists.

"Trust me, I will make you experience euphoric sensations when I'm inside you," he said, and his face turned to the right as he felt her hard slap on his left cheek. Anger flashed in his eyes as he clenched his jaw and grabbed the hand she had used to slap him, causing her to cry out in pain.

"This hand of yours seems to fly a lot... Tell me, what should I do with this hand?" he asked, twisting her hand.

"You're a monster," she said, and soon she screamed when he twisted her wrist even more.

"Kill me, monster. Kill me, but don't ever think that I will let you touch me," she cried, pouring her heart out.

"Really?" he asked. "Then let me call the police station," he stated, releasing her hand, which made her use her other hand to soothe the pain.

"Hello, police officer. I don't know that man. Do whatever you want," he said into his phone.

"No... Please don't do this!" she shouted, and he smirked. "Wait a minute, officer. I will call you back later to think if I really don't know him," he said, disconnecting the call.

"So, what were you saying, sweetheart?" he asked, pretending as if he hadn't heard anything.

"Please, please don't do this," she pleaded in helplessness, sitting on the floor and hugging herself.

"Please don't. I will do whatever you say, but don't ask for this," she rambled through her tears, the sound of her crying echoing in his apartment. Ivan sat in front of her.

"It's just a body, sweetheart. It's a simple body that I want to touch. So let me have you. I don't want to force myself on you, which is why I'm asking you to submit yourself," he said in what seemed like a caring tone, making her cry even more.

"It's disgusting!" she cried out, and he chuckled.

"Oh, come on, don't pretend that you don't want to be intimate with your husband," he said, as if it were a joke.

"Just imagine that I am your husband, and my touch won't be disgusting anymore," he said, but she shook her head in disagreement.

"No," she mumbled. 

"Okay, then let me call the police station," he said as he stood up.

"No, please," she sobbed hard while looking up at him.

"Submit yourself," he said, and she paused for a few seconds, contemplating, all while continuing to sob. 

"Only for one night," she said, her voice trembling. He chuckled and dragged a chair near her, sitting on it like a king.

"Until I am not getting bored," he said, a smirk playing on his lips. Her eyes widened in fear, and she immediately shook her head, denying his statement.

"Don't worry, I will be bored soon. Who knows, after tonight I will discard you like an old shirt. You know, I change girls as if they are disposable," he said, his smirk deepening.

"Please don't," she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation and fear. 

"Please don't—" she began to plead, her voice filled with desperation.

"Don't you dare plead in front of me, sweetheart," he interrupted, his tone laced with irritation. The sound of his voice made it clear that he had little patience for her objections.

"Submit yourself," he commanded, his words causing her sobs to intensify. She sat there, feeling helpless and trapped, while he stared at her deliberately. The realization sank in that her only choice was to acquiesce. If she said yes, he would forcefully take her to his bed, stripping away her clothes and using her as he pleased.

"Papa?" she mumbled, her voice barely audible amidst her tears.

"I will let him go after tonight," he stated, nodding his head to affirm his decision.

"No, firstly call the police station," she insisted, her voice filled with a glimmer of hope. He chuckled lightly, finding amusement in her plea. Taking his phone, he dialed the number. Soon, Peter answered the call, and Ivan issued an order for Peter to release her father tomorrow after receiving medical treatment.

"Now?" he asked, turning his attention back to her. Like a helpless person, she nodded her head in affirmation, indicating that she had reluctantly submitted herself to his demands.

"This should stay between us," she said in a broken tone, her voice conveying her shattered spirit.

" I am not a fan of yours that will go around and scream that I am having sex with Ember William. " He said making her feel humiliated. 

"Now, stand up and treat my wound," he ordered, his voice commanding. She looked into his eyes, her innocence shining through, but her silent pleas went unheard by him. 

"Over there, in that drawer, you'll find a first aid box," he instructed, pointing towards it. Reluctantly, she stood up and walked towards the drawer. She had no choice but to obey him until he grew bored of her. In that moment, she became his captive, his slave. She retrieved the first aid box and began to clean his wound, her gentle touch against his forehead. He leaned back in the chair, feeling a desire to destroy her innocence brewing within him.

After cleaning the wound and applying a bandage, she placed the first aid box back in the drawer. She was about to turn away when she heard something, causing her heart to skip a beat. 

" STRIP"