Chapter 7 7
|| Author POV ||
The late afternoon sun streamed through the tall windows of the Jeon mansion, highlighting the grandeur of the dining room.
Alice had spent the morning carefully preparing lunch, her small hands moving quickly as she plated the dishes with meticulous care.
The aroma of steamed rice, fresh vegetables and seasoned meat filled the room. A small attempt at bringing normalcy to a household that had grown cold with tension.
Nick sat at the head of the dining table, scrolling his phone absentmindedly. Alice approached him with the first plate, her heart fluttering nervously. She placed the dish down with gentle precision.
“Here,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Nick glanced up, frowning slightly at the placement of the plate. “What is this?” he snapped suddenly, the first crack in his calm demeanor exploding into anger.
Alice flinched, her small frame shrinking instinctively. “I… I just brought the plate,”
“You call this neat?” he barked, slamming his hand on the table. The plates rattled in protest. “This rice… it’s uneven! And these vegetables! Some are on top of each other, some scattered. Did you even try to plate this properly?”
Alice’s lips trembled. Her eyes swept over the foods. It was all well cooked. “I… I-I was careful…” Her hands fidgeted in front of her, trying to calm the shaking that had taken over her. “I-I didn’t mean to…”
“Not meant to?” Nick’s voice cut through the room like glass. “You should know better! I don’t have time to babysit you. Every time I turn around, it’s another mistake!” He rose slightly, looming over her small figure. “You think just because you smile and look innocent, you can get away with incompetence? You’re pathetic!”
Alice flinched again, stepping backward instinctively, her doe eyes wide and shimmering with tears. She couldn’t speak. Every word felt trapped in her throat as his yelling reverberated in her head.
“Please…” she whispered, but the word barely reached him.
“Please?” he barked again, pointing a finger sharply at her chest. “Don’t ‘please’ me! You’re a wife? You’re a servant? I can’t even tell the difference with you. Pathetic! Useless! If it weren’t for my mother, I wouldn’t even have to deal with you!”
Alice’s knees weakened, and she sank slightly, clutching the edge of the table for support. Tears streamed down her cheeks silently. She didn’t sob, she couldn’t even. The sound of her breaking heart had to be contained, hidden from the cruelest person she knew.
“I’m sorr…” she whispered through trembling lips, trying to form words. But Nick’s scorn and harsh glare silenced her instantly.
And then, as if the air itself had split with anger, a deep, commanding voice cut through the room:
“Nick!”
Nick froze mid-shout. The voice carried a weight, a cold authority that even he could not ignore.
Alice looked up, her breath catching in her throat. Standing in the doorway, arms slightly folded, eyes like storm clouds, was Tristian Volcov. His eyes were spreading fury at his younger brother. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing shouting at your wife like this?!” he growled.
“That’s none of your business!” Nick sneered, trying to maintain control, though the tension in the room had shifted.
Tristian stepped forward, his voice low but deadly: “You’re shouting at her. Explain yourself!”
Nick rolled his eyes, leaning back slightly. “She just looks innocent. She’s not as innocent as you think.” His lips twisted into a mocking smile. “She’ll make you the culprit of her innocence! Always trying to look helpless… always trying to get sympathy. Don’t be fooled.”
Alice’s gasped silently, trying to stop the sobs that threatened to escape. Her heart swelled and broke all at once, the contrast between her tormentor and the man who had suddenly come to her defense was overwhelming.
Tristian’s jaw tightened. The calm he usually maintained shattered into pure, barely-contained fury. “Step back, Nick.” he said, voice now sharp, like ice cutting through the tension in the room. “You’ve gone too far!”
Nick laughed, sharp and derisive. “Step back? Look at her! She’s sitting there, crying like a child. And now you’re defending her? Don’t act like this little angel means anything to you, Tristian. You’ve got no idea how she manipulates people. That’s how mom got me married to her!”
Alice couldn’t breathe for a moment, her chest tight with relief and awe. Her small shoulders trembled as she looked at Tristian, feeling her heart melt at the way he was defending her.
“Fucking get lost!” Tristian roared, stepping closer to Nick, his aura dangerous and electric.
Nick, smirking, pushed back from the table. “I have better things to do than babysit the naïve,” he said coldly. “Enjoy your little game, Tristian. She’s all yours.”
Tristian raised an eyebrow at his words. He was ready to hand over his wife to his brother. How interesting. Tristian smirked.
“But remember, she’s not as innocent as you think. One day, you’ll realize the trouble she’ll bring.”
With that, Nick strode out of the mansion, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the hall.
Alice remained frozen, tears streaming freely now, her chest heaving. She couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. The weight of everything, Nick’s cruelty, the constant rejection, the fear she had carried silently for so long, pressed down on her as day passes.
Tristian moved toward her slowly, his steps deliberate, careful not to startle her further. “Alice…” he said softly, his voice now calm but still carrying the steel of rage simmering beneath.
She looked up at him through her tear-filled eyes, her lips trembling. “I’m sorry. Pleas-I just..”
“You don’t have to say anything,” he interrupted gently, lowering himself slightly to meet her gaze. “I saw everything. You’re not at fault. None of this is your fault.”
Her hands flew to her face, pressing against it to hide her emotions. “I… I just… I try… I try to do everything right… and…” Her voice broke, the sobs finally escaping into the quiet room.
Tristian’s sighed at the sight, his jaw tightening in fury at her husband’s cruelty. “Shh… look at me, Alice. I’m here.” he assured, his eyes sharp at her soft one.
Alice nodded slightly, her body trembling, but her eyes stayed fixed on his, finding comfort in his controlled, protective gaze.
Tristian’s fists unclenched slowly, but the anger still burned in his chest. He wanted to rip Nick apart for hurting her, for shattering someone so gentle and innocent. Instead, he remained silent, letting her cry, letting her release the pain that had been bottled up for far too long.
Finally, Alice whispered, her voice barely audible: “Th-thank you… for… for being here.”
Tristian’s lips curled into a small, dark smirk, though his eyes remained stormy. “You’ll always have me here, Alice. Just remember that.”
She wiped her tears, giving a small, shaky nod. He watched her silently as she stepped away, her small figure retreating into the safety of the mansion’s interior. His gaze lingered, cold and burning, filled with protective rage.
Tristian smirked like a devil. Like he’d found something really interesting. “She’ll be mine, then.” he chuckled darkly.