Chapter 63 Golden Chain
THE MORNING sun kissed Lena's cheeks as she slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a white ceiling, and the first thing she felt was the weight of her body and everything that happened.
She gasped and quickly sat on the bed, roaming her eyes around. Fear crept in her heart as she checked herself. She's wearing a pair of decent pajamas and they were hers.
Lena was relieved, but she groaned when her head throbbed. She was caressing her head when she heard footsteps.
"You're awake." It was a stiff and cold voice of a person she didn't expect to see today.
She lifted face and was shocked when she saw Viktor. He's here. He's home.
Viktor set the tray he's carrying on the side table and faced her. "I planned to surprise you last night, but you were the one who surprised me. You went out?"
Lena swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "I...went out with new friends. We had a few drinks."
"A few drinks won't get you so drunk, Lena," Viktor said with a hint of annoyance. "And what kind of friends would leave you in that kind of place?"
Shaking her head, Lena reasoned out. "They didn't leave me. I was the one who left our table because I wanted to go to the ladies room. They offered to accompany me, but I refused-"
"And you got into trouble," Viktor finished. "If I weren't there, you'd probably wake up in another man's bed. Do you know what that would make me feel? It would make me feel useless, Lena."
Tears pooled in Lena's eyes, but she remained staring back at him. "Are you angry because you're worried I'd be put in danger? Or are you worried someone else would've fcked me?"
"Don't use that tone on me," Viktor snapped, his eyes darkened with rage.
Lena dropped her eyes on her fingers, and the urge to break free from the shackles of his golden chains intensified.
Viktor sat on the bed next to her and lifted her chin.
Possessiveness was evident in his eyes, but there was something else. Something she's afraid to name.
"Viktor..." Lena whispered, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
"No one will touch you again," he murmured. "Not without going through me."
Lena stilled. She was suddenly lost and confused. He was hinting something she couldn't figure out.
"You belong to me, Lena," he whispered again and Lena felt it. He tightened the golden chains.
"Let's not delay this any longer." Viktor's jaw ticked as he stared back into her eyes. "We'll hold the wedding next month."
She stared at him, stunned. Her breath caught. Her chest rose and fell heavily. She panicked.
"B-But, Viktor! We already talked about this," Lena's lips were already trembling. "You said you'd give me a year, right? You'd give me a year to fall in love and-"
"And if you didn't fall in love in a year, I'll give you another year," Viktor cut her off, evil and cruel.
Lena was even more stunned.
Madam Brenda was right. Viktor would never let her go again.
Lena shook her head, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. "V-Viktor..."
He stared at her mercilessly. "We will hold the wedding next month, Lena."
"Y-You didn't say you won't let me go if I didn't fall in love," Lena said, her heart breaking for Lucian and herself.
Viktor's teeth gritted. "And I didn't say that I would let you go if you didn't fall in love. I've given you everything, Lena. Freedom, shelter, money, security, and a better future for your daughter."
Lena's tears rolled down her cheeks. "I-I can pay for that. I'll work-"
Viktor let out a devilish laugh. "You really think it would be that easy? Let me tell you one thing, my dear future wife..." he caressed her cheeks, like he was caressing his most valuable possession. "Your late husband's family didn't let you go that easily. Even until now, I was manipulating things to dissolve every piece of evidence and reasons they can use to throw you into jail."
Lena was stunned as she paled. She was lost for words.
"I was in that place last night because I met someone who can help me with your case. The Mendozas are insisting that you kill Danilo, and they won't let this slide. They just couldn't touch you because you're under my protection. And I'm sure as hell you know what will happen if I lifted that protection," Viktor said, merciless and evil.
Lena bit her bottom lip as she squeezed her eyes. Her chest felt so heavy and tight. The thought of being locked up in a prison and not being able to see her daughter scares her.
The Mendozas might even get Angel's custody if they succeeded in putting her behind bars. And Angel's future wouldn't be secured with them.
Viktor stood. "I'll arrange everything. You don't need to lift a finger."
Lena kept her head down. She doesn't know what to say or do. All she knows is Viktor is trying to make her choose between her happiness and her duty, as a mother, as a fiancee.
She felt suffocated and terrified. Because nothing is more terrifying than being tied to a man with obsessive behavior and devilish intent.
Lena went back to her room after talking to Viktor. Angel was on the bed, and she just kissed her daughter's hair before she ran to the bathroom.
She turned the shower on and let the cold water try to wake her up from this dream. But wasn't a dream.
Lena fell to her knees as she sobbed under the shower.
Her palms trembled as she hugged her legs, burning her face in her knees.
Fear, guilt, sorrow, regret. Everything is piling up inside her, killing her slowly.
The double-edged knife she grabbed this time didn't only wound her deep and painful, it trapped her into a poisonous game the devil himself plays.
"I-I want to be free," she whispered between her sobs. "I-I want to be happy..."