Chapter 7:

Chapter 7: Andrews' Motivation

Andrews arrived home in a fury, barely able to control the thoughts spinning in his head. Over the past three days, he had distanced himself from everything and everyone, consumed by his obsession with Janete as he tried to find her on his own. Even with so many men searching the city, it seemed like she had disappeared into thin air.

He met with his assistant as soon as he entered the house, the tension in the air almost unbearable. The assistant looked at him with a worried expression, knowing something was about to happen.

"She's not home. In fact, she had everything planned out, her and her parents," the assistant said, his voice hesitant. "Janete ran away. She took the money, and..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "The men you sent didn’t find her."

Andrews didn’t respond immediately. His eyes were fixed on the floor, as if trying to control the wave of anger threatening to explode.

"Ran away? She ran off with that money?" he said with a tone of irony, his breath heavy. He clenched his fists, his face contorted with indignation. "How dare she deceive me like that? Still... a few million to that family is like pocket change. She’ll turn up eventually, but I’m not in the mood to wait."

The assistant cautiously approached, aware that Andrews wasn’t in the best state of mind, but also knowing he had to speak.

"She was smart," he hesitated, pausing. "They disappeared, no one knows where they went."

Andrews gave a bitter smile.

"She won’t get away with this," he thought, contradicting himself. It was like everything was blinding him more and more, even though his expression remained indifferent. Inside, he was exploding.

"I never thought Janete could get to me in such a disturbing way again. She makes me hate everything about her."

"You should rest now, you’ve been awake for three days, hardly eating," the assistant said.

Andrews turned abruptly, his gaze fixed on the assistant.

"Send my men to gather information on Aurora. I want to know where she came from. I’ve never heard of this woman. I need answers," he spoke with a coldness that froze the air around him.

"Yes, sir..." his assistant confirmed, watching as Andrews went up the stairs.

"I’m going to talk to her now. She knows where her parents are. If she doesn’t, I’ll make her know," Andrews said, his voice laced with threat.

The assistant looked at him with apprehension, but didn’t dare challenge him. He knew Andrews was completely immersed in a world he had created for himself, driven by his obsession with his former partner.

Andrews ascended the stairs toward Aurora’s room. Even knowing he had gone too far, he didn’t care—not even the fact that she was in poor condition.

When he reached Aurora's door, he didn’t knock. He shoved the door open and entered without warning. She, who had been lying in bed, quickly sat up, startled by Andrews' abrupt entry. She tried to move away, but he quickly advanced, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her out of bed with force.

"Where are your parents?" he demanded, his voice filled with authority and anger.

Aurora, still a bit disoriented, staggered backward, trying to break free, feeling an excruciating pain in her wrist. But when she moved, it felt like her wrists were about to break.

"I don’t know where they are!" she screamed as tears welled up in her eyes.

In response, he tightened his grip on her wrist, making her groan in pain and beg, staring at him in fear.

"Don’t lie to me, Aurora! You know where they are!" Andrews shouted.

"I’m telling the truth... you’re going to break my wrist..." she whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut.

He released her wrist, but when she tried to pull away, he grabbed her forearm, showing that he wasn’t finished.

"I... I don’t know where they are! I swear!" she said with difficulty, her voice trembling with fear and panic.

Andrews stared at her for a moment, studying her expression. For a second, he hesitated, as if it bothered him.

"Andrews! Since when do you intimidate weaker people like this? You better stop now!" the governess ordered.

He released Aurora, who collapsed back onto the bed.

"Weaker people? Gold-digging women aren’t weak, they’re a burden!" he said, glaring at Aurora. "I didn’t make this deal to play husband and wife! I hope you know your situation since you came into this house. You joined with them to play me, thinking I couldn’t do anything, but I’ll make your life hell, and I’ll mess with everything you love," he asserted.

Aurora stood up, trembling.

"No! Please! I’m not here by choice..."

"Too late!" he asserted, turning to leave the room and slamming the door behind him.

"Stay calm, I’ll keep an eye on him so he doesn’t do anything he’ll regret," the governess warned.

The night stretched on peacefully, but Aurora couldn’t sleep, still haunted by the memory of Andrews invading her room in such an aggressive way. Every second that passed, she began to see him as a man who could even kill her.

The warm sun was already heating Aurora’s bed as it entered her room through the large window. The governess had opened the windows early, before she woke, and had left, but would soon be back after Andrews called her into his office.

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