Chapter 142 Shrinking options

Chapter 142 Shrinking options
NANCY’S POV

The sound of his fork clanking against his plate filled the silence, and immediately, my back stiffened. Due to prior moments when I’d seen his eyes darken in the same way they did a couple of seconds ago, my heart trembled.

I curled my fingers inward, digging my nails into my palm to block the feeling, while trying to appear composed.

“Say that again,” Hudson muttered frigidly.

My nails dug deeper. I couldn’t, not only because I feared what he would do if I did, whilst trying to act like I wasn’t, but also because I knew repeating my words would set him off.

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine. I expected him to flare up, but even as seconds passed, he didn’t.

A few seconds later, his lips curled into a smile that was gone as quickly as it surfaced, and when he spoke, there was no anger evident in his voice. It sounded almost conversational again.

“You keep saying that, but everything about your situation says otherwise.”

“You’re here, under the same roof with me…” he paused briefly, and his gaze slid down to my shoulder, where there was a bright, large bruise, and he smirked.

I hurriedly moved to cover it but realised I didn’t have the shawl that had kept it hidden earlier. Reluctantly, I let my hands drop and tipped my chin higher so he wouldn’t see how humiliated I was.

As though he enjoyed the sight, he grinned. “You have my mark on you, yet you’re not mine?”

Those were the most twisted words I’d ever heard in my life. It made me feel like an item that had gotten branded for sale.

Anger bubbled inside of me.

“The only reason I’m here is because you colluded with my father to force me back. Not because I belong to you.” I shot back.

His smile only widened, and that made me feel worse than if he had argued with me.

“It doesn’t matter how you came to be here,” he drawled out. “What matters is that you’re mine now, and nothing can change that.”

The certainty in his voice made me sick. Even the smell from the plate before me, which I had thought to be a delicious aroma earlier, now made me nauseous.

Leaning forward, I tipped the plate away from me, then shook my head.

“I won’t stay here forever.”

He didn’t know it, but the meaning behind my statement was deeper. Before now, I’d made a decision within myself to leave here one way or the other, even if it meant my corpse would be what was carried out.

The only reason I hadn’t acted on my plan yet was because I was waiting for the opportune moment to strike at him and also because a part of me was worried about Mr Landon.

If he eventually made it here, which I wasn’t certain he would, I wanted to be able to help him win against Hudson, who I was now sure was seeking his death.

Hudson’s smile didn’t fade even after I said that. He grabbed a napkin and wiped his lips, throwing it onto the table indifferently.

“If that helps you sleep at night.”

He spread out his palm afterwards.

“There's no way you’re getting out of here, though. I have you under watch, but let’s say you do manage to pull off such an impossible feat…”

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table.

“Tell me, Nancy,” he said softly, “where exactly do you plan to go?”

The question landed with impact, largely because I couldn’t think of an immediate response to it. I swallowed instead, suddenly feeling patched.

In a way, he wasn’t wrong. Even if I did make it out of here, where would I go?

Certainly not to my parents, they would only send me right back to him. I couldn’t go to Diana too, not when I had no idea where I stood with her. Mr Landon…

He wasn’t an option either for a reason I couldn’t name.

It struck me then that the only person I could rely on was my brother, Nathan.

My chest tightened at the same time Hudson continued speaking.

His voice was like a jab to my already broken heart.

“You think anyone’s going to take you in after this?”

“After being seen with me? You think Landon will want you back after I’ve had my way with you?”

“Wait, what?”

It took me a second to process, but my mind snagged on the last of his words.

“After you’ve had your way with me?” I repeated in disbelief.

Looking back, I had no idea why I was shocked when if always known that were his intentions towards me.

I guess knowing it was one thing and having it spelled out like that was another.

“What? Did you think I brought you back to play dress up and house with you?” He scoffed, adding salt to my injury while also reminding me of how trapped I really was.

“Whether you like it or not, you belong to me.” He added.

My grip on my fingers released, only to tighten again.

He stared at my face, smirking harder before his gaze dropped to my bandaged foot.

My stomach churned, and abruptly, I pushed my chair back, scraping the legs against the floor.

“I’m done with this bullshit.”

I didn’t wait for permission this time, nor did I wait for a response. All I wanted to do then was get out of here quickly, because I could feel the tears burning at the back of my eyes.

I’d already cried in front of him once, even though I said I wouldn’t, and I wasn’t about to let him see me cry again, so I stood up quickly, ignoring the sharp sting in my foot, and began to walk away.

“Nancy,” he called, but I didn't stop moving.

I was at the door when he barked my name, making me freeze.

My hand froze on the door, but I didn’t turn around.

“Sit back down.” He enunciated in a voice that demanded immediate action.

My grip tightened on the door handle.

“I’m done eating.”

“I said sit.”

His voice was emotionless, but I could still feel the warning in it.

Despite that, I turned the handle.