Cruel

"You think I'm protecting you?"

Svanna's body jerked against the room wall after a sudden grip landed on her jaw. Nightroe even whispered sarcastically, as if to show that all this was not part of the man's will.

The sound of gunfire. All forms of events created thunderous sounds. Everything. It would never end like something that was being imagined. Svanna should have understood that someone with such intense hatred would not have the slightest interest in any situation.

The veins of Nightroe's hands burst to the surface as the man's grip descended to her neck, then narrowed tightly, for an instant sending pain shooting through Svanna's nerves. She blinked repeatedly. Instinctively parted her lips to inhale the last of the air held in the back of her throat.

"Nightroe—"

Svanna's vision blurred. Tightness took over, demanding something inside her to do at least one thing....

She let the touch of a hand tighten around Nightroe's wrist and, through pure reaction, dug her nails in—sharp, long nails.

"Let go of me, Nigthroe—"

However, the various attempts to stay alive felt so futile. Nightroe went into a frenzy, instead of understanding that this would be an instant death for Svanna—then the end of the hatred between them was buried into the ground.

Indeed. Svanna did not want to cry in front of a cruel man like Nightroe, but the corners of her eyes dripped without giving a hint. That probably made Nightroe feel very satisfied.

The man's growl sounded faint, and suddenly a burst of air rushed into Svanna's chest cavity. She was still trying to comprehend the unexpected situation after falling on the floor of the room. Immediately looking up in fear—slightly unexpectedly—she found Nightroe doing something like running the tip of his hand over the cloth on his own body, as if he was trying to get rid of something attached to the man's wrist.

Are her tears falling?

Svanna wondered, hoping not. Unfortunately, she could not make much of an effort. Nightroe's dark sapphire eyes stared very intently, but the cruel man said nothing. Only a step was taken backward, and the firm clatter slowly disappeared from civilization.

Svanna froze at the thought of the moment—where if her life would end in utter chaos. Perhaps Nightroe's threat was true. She must not agree to the absurd idea that would bring them together. It would end badly. That man had just shown how hellish the prospect of marriage could be. There was no courage to take such a big risk. It was fairer if she did not dare, just once, to think Nightroe would be hers.

The sound of the cell phone vibrating immediately pulled Svanna to the surface. She blinked. Feeling that she had gone too far, she immediately rushed to grab the flat object in a hurry. The call from someone on the other side made her very afraid of imagining the worst.

"Yes, Amira. What's wrong?"

The hospital nurse, as well as an old acquaintance in charge of her father's intensive care. Svanna hoped this was good news, though she realized the clues would be too faint as Amira's breathing sounded violently labored.

[Your father, Anna. Come to the hospital.]

It was some kind of violent collapse at the top of her head. Svanna didn't feel completely ready. It was chaos here. Nightroe's unforgivable attitude. Then her father....

She rubbed her rough face and quickly got up. After all, she had to make sure that things didn't sound as bad as the chaos there.

The trip to the hospital didn't take long. Svanna got out of the taxi immediately after handing over the payment. Every step she took was a rush through the hallway that was excruciatingly painful.

She still remembered the first time she set foot here, and everything seemed to carry her hopes away. Scary. Full of menace.

Suddenly Svanna's steps slowed. Her father's infirmary was so close, but the unusual sight there made half of her ability to think suddenly unavailable. She tried to find a way to stay still.

What was Russol Sullivan doing with some of the man's middle-aged male subordinates in front of the tightly closed door?

Svanna hesitated, she had no choice but to stay close. The anticipation behind her shoulders immediately rose at the thought of horrible possibilities. She did not want anything bad to happen to her father.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in such a wary tone that Russol Sullivan turned his head instinctively. The distinctive stern facial proportions still showed how handsome the middle-aged man still looked in his mature age. Nightroe had indeed inherited almost all the DNA of his father, the most powerful mafia in the South. Perhaps it was also the case that the man duplicated the dark side, so it was no wonder Nightroe could be so ruthless.

"Your father's condition is already so critical. The doctor says surgery will be necessary. They are still waiting for your approval and ..."

Money ...

Svanna continued on the top of her head, but the need to cut off Russol Sullivan's voice occurred so purely with her breaking through between the bodies of the middle-aged male attendants.

There was no comment whatsoever. Svanna was sure this was just part of Russol Sullivan's patience level. Because if not, her sassy demeanor might have been rewarded with a death-defying gunshot.

Inside, behind the translucent glass, every form of action seemed to be being seriously pursued. Svanna couldn't imagine the heartbreak of seeing the man she loved so much facing the worst of times. Between life and death. She could not face the pain of loss.

Do the surgery.

It was the only way to save her father, which meant Svanna would need a lot of money. She couldn't afford anything at the moment, except ....

The closest option, but also the most painful part. Svanna finally arranged a position facing Russol Sullivan. She was nervous. The irony was that the urge to put on a brave face was the last thing she could think of.

"Is the marriage offer still available?" She asked slowly. Forget about Nightroe's reluctance at times like this. Couldn't they still get divorced after marriage? At the very least, it could be compromised later.

"Of course, Miss Johannson. Dobre has already brought the agreement letter if you agree."

Svanna swallowed harshly as one of Russol. Sullivan's bodyguards handed her a dark folder. This was a genuine offer of marriage, as the first few stanzas only asked for her consent as a bride. Nothing more. After all, Svanna didn't have time to read much more.

"Can my father be operated on as soon as I sign this?" Svanna made sure again that she did not make the wrong decision.

"Of course. My people will do whatever it takes to keep your father safe."

"Alright."

The signature process was completed, but the worst thing was... the sweep of Svanna's eyes had to discover Nightroe's presence an inch away between them. The man looked unbelievably angry, then simply walked away without trying to make any additional negotiations between them, as if the outpouring of pent-up wrath would be worse than the image in Svanna's mind.

She could not think of any of that. Immediately turning her face to her father's infirmary and slightly hoping that all would end well.