Chapter 23 Chapter 23. Possession Without Escape
Those words were not only meant for Evander. They were meant for Zoria as well. He wanted her to understand that even in death, she could never escape his captivity.
Behind them, Evander’s eyes burned red, his vicious stare fixed on Zephyr’s back as if he wanted to tear him apart alive.
Outside the hospital, dawn had not fully broken. The streets were empty, not a single soul in sight. A cold wind swept past, making Zoria instinctively shrink back.
With a trembling voice, she said, “Zephyr, your show is over. Can you put me down now so I can walk by myself?”
Zephyr replied indifferently, “With a body this weak, do you really think you can walk?”
Zoria snapped angrily, “But don’t forget who caused me to end up like this.”
She ground her teeth and twisted his finger hard, her voice shaking with resentment. “Zephyr, you bastard. Other than bullying me with your unreasonable dominance, what else can you do? I hate you. I hate you to my very bones.”
Her words dissolved into sobs, sounding so miserable it was almost pitiful.
Zephyr’s heart clenched painfully at what she said.
He looked down at Zoria and, ignoring her feeble resistance, carried her straight toward the parking lot.
“What right do you have to hate me?” Zephyr paused briefly, then seemed to remember something and continued coldly. “From now on, you are not allowed to meet Evander alone.”
Zoria’s eyes were red as she growled, “Why can’t I see him?”
Zephyr’s expression darkened completely. “Because I hate the way he looks at you. And you are my female. So anyone who has other intentions toward you, you had better stay far away from.”
What Zephyr carried within him was a terrifying obsession with possession. Whether he still wanted something or had already grown tired of it, as long as it once belonged to him, even if he discarded it, he would never allow anyone else to touch it.
“Zephyr, what exactly do you mean?” Zoria lifted her head and asked hoarsely.
Zephyr leaned close to her ear, his low voice full of threat. “Didn’t you hear clearly enough? Then I’ll say it again. I do not allow you to have contact with Evander. I can let it go that you went to see him for treatment yesterday. But if I catch you again, I won’t just break one of his hands like I did today.”
“He’s my cousin.”
If Zoria still did not understand Zephyr’s words, then she would truly be stupid.
She finally realized Zephyr’s groundless hostility toward Evander. She had not understood it before, but now it was obvious. Zephyr was suspecting that there was something inappropriate between her and Evander.
“He may be your cousin, but don’t forget he’s still a male.”
Zoria might not have noticed, but Zephyr had seen it clearly. Every time they met, he caught the strange look in Evander’s eyes when he watched Zoria. That intense gaze was absolutely not the look of an older brother toward a younger sister.
Zoria’s eyes were bloodshot, the veins on her pale neck throbbing violently.
“Zephyr, how can you think something so filthy?”
“My thoughts are filthy?” Zephyr sneered in anger, his brows tightening and then relaxing as he struggled to restrain his rage. He opened the back door of the car and roughly threw Zoria inside.
Zoria fell onto the seat. As soon as she tried to sit up, she saw Zephyr staring at her with a dark, oppressive expression.
The corner of his lips curled into a cold smile, one that reached all the way to his eyes and sent a chill through her.
In the cramped space, the air inside the car suddenly turned icy. Zoria shivered, her thin body shrinking back until her back pressed against the car door, with nowhere left to retreat.
Her voice trembled. “You… what do you want to do?”
Zephyr loosened his tie and tilted his head. “Didn’t you say I was vile? Then I’ll let you see just how vile I can be.”
Zoria’s face turned ashen. She curled into the corner, her eyes wide with terror as tears streamed down uncontrollably.
“This is outside… right in front of the hospital!”
Zephyr glanced at the tears at the corners of her eyes, sneered, and took off his suit jacket, tossing it over her.
“I haven’t even touched you yet. Why are you crying? When we get home, I’ll take my time punishing you. Save your tears for crying on the bed.”
Zephyr shut the door coldly, got into the driver’s seat, turned the car around, and drove straight toward the villa.
As he drove, he kept glancing at Zoria through the rearview mirror.
Her lashes were soaked with tears, and her haggard face looked fragile and pitiful in a way that made the sight unbearable.
“Zephyr… I regret it…” Perhaps knowing she could no longer escape, Zoria gradually stopped crying. She hugged her knees and sat there trembling, her voice breaking as she whispered, “I really… regret it so much…”
Zephyr pressed his lips together tightly, his brows deeply furrowed, a flash of ferocity crossing his darkened eyes.
Regret?
Did she regret meeting him, or regret insisting on becoming mates with him?
Perhaps for Zoria, both were true. But now that she regretted it, was it not already far too late?
Zoria… this is the debt you owe me. It is a debt the entire Evehart family owes me. Even in a lifetime, you will never be able to repay it.
The car stopped in front of the villa gates. Zephyr got out at once, walked around to the other side, opened the door, and dragged Zoria out with him. Her eyes were red, her face tight with grievance.
He gripped her arm hard. Zoria struggled, but Zephyr quickly shoved her back against the car, pinning her so she could not move at all.
Zephyr lowered his head, his icy voice brushing her ear. “Try causing trouble again and see what happens.”
Zoria bit her lip, glaring furiously at Zephyr’s cold face, then bent down and sank her teeth hard into his arm.