Why does he feel a sort of strange, baseless anger upon seeing the woman before him fail to conceal a
look of great anticipation? She really is too eager, willing to sacrifice everything for that man. But if
that’s the way she wants it, then fine. He’ll ensure she knows the cost.
“I didn’t even tell you the conditions you’d have to agree too, but you agreed quickly.”
He feels great loathing at this moment when he saw her not hesitate in the slightest before making
such a huge decision for the sake of another man. He can’t stand it. He he’d hoped she would at least
deliberate over it. After all, it’s for another man.
Thinking of this, he feels that strange anger all over again. He hates that she’s thinking of another man.
The very notion of it fills him with rage. For just a moment, he wants to strangle her, though of course
he’d never do it.
Then again, above all else he wants to torment her. He doesn’t actually like her at all, this woman
before him—or at least that’s what he’s trying desperately to convince himself, anyway.
“Don’t worry, I’ll do what I said I would, as long as you tell me where he is.” Aileen is still hanging on to
Richard’s leg for dear life. It seems she really won’t give up. Can this man really be so important to her,
that she’d be willing to give up her life?
No, he doesn’t believe that such a pure love exists in this world. All these feelings are fictional—the
woman before him is acting. She only wants to test himself, to see if he really cares about her. This
woman is surely scheming. He can’t trust her, he’s got to be careful.
“What if I say that in return for my telling you his whereabouts, I want your life? What would you do?”
he asks after some consideration.
He’d been sure she’d refuse, but to his shock, she nods her head resolutely. She’s willing to sacrifice
everything for him, and for some reason that infuriates him ever further. If she wants to give up
everything for him, fine. Let her. He wants her to know how she’ll suffer for it.
“I’ll give you anything you want.” As far as Aileen is concerned, her life isn’t important in the slightest.
All these things are meaningless, she doesn’t need anything. She just needs to do this one thing, to
know that Aaron is okay. If she can just know that he’s all right, she can endure any hardship gladly.
If her suffering can lead to his wellbeing, it will all be worth it. She doesn’t know how it’s all led to this,
but this is all she can do. There’s no going back.
To hear her speak this way, Richard is so angry he can’t even speak. For her to throw everything away
for another man… can’t she see how special she is to him? No matter. One day she’s realize how great
he, Richard, is. No, even better—he will let her fall in love with him, and then push her away cruelly.
Only then will he be satisfied.
“Remember what you’ve said. My condition is, you must be my slave. You must cater to my every
desire, and only once I am satisfied will I tell you where Aaron is.”
Richard says all this with confidence as soon as he thinks of it. He’ll enjoy torturing her, but he won’t let
her die. That would be boring. He hast to know everything, or else he has no idea what he’ll do going
forward.
So, seeing as this woman can make him so happy, why not enjoy it? He knows what she’ll say and how
she’ll behave, but as long as she stays by his side, he knows she’ll fall in love with him. She’d loved
him before, he’s just got to make her do it again. He knows he can.
“What did you say?” Aileen asks, unable to believe her ears. How could he want her to be his slave?
It’s preposterous. Ridiculous. But she hasn’t got any other options. All she wants is to know where
Aaron is… how could such a simple wish put her in such a bind?
“I’m begging you to tell me everything. As long as you tell me where he is, as long as you let me see
him just once, I’ll stay with you forever. I’ll never see him again.” She just has to know he’s safe, and
then she’ll be satisfied. She knows now not to dare desire too much, for before she’d wanted the world,
and had given all of herself in return, leaving her empty.
Empty. Such a desolate word, one she’d never thought would apply to herself.
“Sorry, I can’t tell you now,” Richard replies.
“What have I got to do for you to tell me where he is?” Aileen demands. She has no any other
choice.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda