Chapter 79

Chapter 79
Matthew's POV

What the hell is she doing?

My heart dropped as I watched Heizel spit in Darius’ face—defiant, reckless. Every fiber of my being screamed in frustration. She had no idea who she was dealing with. Darius was not a man to provoke; he was a monster who thrived on fear and control. My fists clenched at my sides, anger boiling within me. Why, Heizel? Why?

She could’ve played it smart, kept quiet, let him believe he was in control. But no, not Heizel. She had to go and push back, flaunting that stubborn streak of hers like it was a weapon. I felt a mix of admiration and dread swell within me. She was playing with fire, and I feared the burn would be unbearable.

The moment Darius stepped closer, his expression darkening, I felt a wave of rage wash over me. I wanted to scream at her to shut up, to play along, to wait for the right moment to fight back. But instead, she stood her ground, glaring defiantly at him. I could almost hear her silent declaration: I will not be broken.

But as Darius leaned in, taunting her, the weight of what could happen sank like lead in my stomach. I imagined what would follow if he decided to retaliate—how she would suffer for her foolishness. I was furious, not just at Darius but at Heizel for putting herself in this position.

"Goddamn it, Heizel," I muttered under my breath. "You’re making this worse. If I get my hands on you..." The thought trailed off, but I could envision it vividly: pulling her close, scolding her for being so reckless, and then—when the dust settled—spanking her for being so stupid.

She has no idea what she’s up against.

My fists tightened as I continued to watch the scene unfold. Each moment felt like a countdown to disaster. If she didn’t stop provoking him, I was terrified of what Darius would do next. Would he hurt her more? Would he break her spirit completely?

“She’ll pull through this,” Taylor’s voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts, but his words felt hollow. How can you be so sure?

I wanted to shout at Heizel through the screen, to demand she reconsider her choices, but I knew she couldn’t hear me. All I could do was watch and wait, my heart pounding with anger and fear.

I couldn’t lose her to this madness. I needed to find her, to make her understand the gravity of her situation. I wouldn’t let her face this alone, not if I had to tear the world apart to save her.

Just hold on, Heizel. Please.

But deep down, a darker part of me whispered that if she survived this, she’d have to face me. And I would make damn sure she understood the stakes.