The dark side

"Hmm~ Miss, you're in such a hurry."

The man smiled, a cold yet faint smile, refusing to let her go. The aura around him seemed gentle on the surface, but it held something dark within an invisible danger lurking beneath.

"I—!"

"I don't recall asking you to speak again."

He tightened his grip on her neck, causing her to gasp for air, her body shrinking between his arms. Charlotte tried desperately to pull away, raising her hands to pry his grip off, but her strength felt futile against his firm grasp.

"Ah…"

Charlotte's eyes welled with tears. She wanted to beg for help, but no sound escaped her lips. Oxygen was draining from her head, her entire body growing heavier, teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.

"Do you need assistance, sir?"

Suddenly, his hand loosened from her neck, and air slowly rushed back into her lungs, like a drowning person surfacing for breath at the last second.

"Yes, find me some easy to cook steaks."

The man smirked lightly, a mocking smile, as he let go of Charlotte slowly. If it weren't for the intervention of this grocery store clerk, the situation could have ended very badly.

Cough! Cough!

Charlotte collapsed to her knees, gasping for air, her heart pounding as though it would burst out of her chest.

"Miss, are you okay?"

Another store clerk approached Charlotte, trying to help her up, but the man blocked his way.

"She's fine. She just has asthma."

He took a step closer to Charlotte, kneeling before her. His dark green eyes held a strange gaze, a mix of concern and fascination, as if her vulnerability was a reward to him.

"I always knew… You look more beautiful like this broken and in pain~."

A faint smile spread across his lips, carrying a hidden cruelty. Charlotte felt a surge of anger and despair. She clenched her teeth and suddenly got to her feet, trying to flee with all her might.

She abandoned the steaks and everything in her shopping cart. Escape was her only option now. For the first time, she felt like a mouse trapped in a cage, trying desperately to break free, but with each step, the trap seemed to close in on her.

"Where are you going? You forgot your steaks."

The man stood slowly, his cold gaze fixed on Charlotte's retreating back. He clicked his tongue, and his smile faded.

"Tsk, we shouldn't have stopped here."

Outside the grocery store entrance, Charlotte clung tightly to her dog, Hunter, who had been waiting for her tied up outside. She pressed him close to her chest, tears streaming down her face, and trembling legs carrying her forward.

She rushed into her apartment building, only catching her breath once she entered the elevator. Her fingers shook, her lips trembling visibly.

Hunter wagged his tail and let out a soft whine as if comforting her. Charlotte noticed his concern and tried to force a faint smile despite the tears still streaming silently down her cheeks.

"It's okay… I'm fine."

She whispered to Hunter in a shaky voice. The elevator finally stopped, and she dragged herself to her apartment. Once inside, she set Hunter down and collapsed onto the floor beside the couch, crying uncontrollably.

The pain in her neck was unbearable, as if his fingers were still gripping it, threatening to crush her bones.

She raised her trembling hand to touch her neck, now marred by the marks of his fingers. She shivered more as the horrifying memories replayed in her mind, moments that felt endless.

"Damn him."

Charlotte whispered weakly, hugging herself as if trying to shield her body, burying her face in the couch cushion.

What do I do now?

The question echoed endlessly in her mind, a refrain she couldn't escape. She had been attacked and tormented by a man she'd once encountered in the park. This wasn't a simple assault it was as though he reveled in her pain, her trembling body under his grip, and the tears that fell despite her will.

She squeezed her eyes shut as if trying to banish the dark memory that haunted her: those hands that had gripped her neck so harshly, the savage look that pierced her like a dagger, and the sound of his ragged breathing that still echoed in her ears. She tried to take a deep breath, but the sensation of suffocation lingered.

Should I report him to the police?

Charlotte imagined the detectives' probing questions, the endless interrogation, and above all, her mother's reaction. How could she tell her what had happened? How would her mother treat her after learning the truth?

Caught in her thoughts, Charlotte tried to move on, living as though nothing had happened. After all, what were the odds of encountering a stranger twice?

Knock! Knock!

Charlotte's head slowly lifted from the couch cushion as she turned towards the door. Her tear blurred eyes focused on the faint sound of knocking that had now stopped.

She stood up slowly, walking cautiously toward the door. Her hand reached for the handle but froze midway. Her fingers trembled slightly, and she pulled her hand back as if afraid of what lay beyond the door. After a moment, she shut her eyes, took a deep breath, and gripped the handle, twisting it open.

The door creaked open slowly, but… no one was there.

She stepped forward, glancing left and right, but the hallway was empty. As she tried to move further, her foot bumped into something on the ground.

Lowering her gaze, Charlotte saw several grocery bags left at her doorstep, seemingly appearing there without explanation. She froze, as if time itself had gripped her in that moment. Slowly, she knelt down, her trembling hands cautiously opening the bags.

"This!"

A muffled gasp escaped her lips, as if the air itself had betrayed her. The bags slipped from her hands.

"This… can't be."

She whispered in a shaky voice, barely audible, her eyes widening as they locked onto a package of steak that had slipped out of the bag. Beside it was a bottle of fine wine, placed neatly in a separate bag.

This isn't a coincidence.

Charlotte shook her head forcefully, trying to dismiss the thought. No, it's impossible. There's no way this could be from that strange man, right? But she couldn't shake the heavy feeling that this was no mere coincidence.

Taking a ragged breath, she noticed a small card attached to the wine bag. Her trembling hands barely managed to pick it up. Slowly, she opened the card. The simple words inside made her heart stop.

[Mr. D.]

Her eyes widened further as she continued reading, her fingers shaking.

[I hope we meet under better circumstances than at the grocery store, Miss.]

The card slipped from her hand, her breathing erratic, her heart pounding as though she had fallen from a cliff after barely climbing it.

She shoved the groceries aside and slammed her apartment door shut, as if trying to barricade the fear outside. Her back pressed against the door, her body shaking, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks. She stifled her sobs, fearing anyone might hear her or worse, fearing he was still out there, hidden in the hallway, waiting for the right moment.

On the highway, Kaiser drove his black car, weaving through several intersections until his tires came to a halt in front of a massive gray gate, towering high as if guarding a hidden secret.

He leaned against the car door for a few moments until the hurried security guard finally opened the gate. Kaiser pressed the gas pedal and sped down the long, majestic road. On either side, scattered shrubs of varying colors and heights added a touch of life to the otherwise silent scene.

He parked his car in front of the grand Ivanovitch family mansion, a stately building with an elegant facade that blended simplicity with sophistication. Modern details stood out clearly, yet the place retained its imposing aura.

With confident steps, Kaiser exited the driver's seat and ascended the stairs leading to the double doors at the entrance. Barely had his feet touched the gleaming marble when the door swung open abruptly, revealing the family's elderly butler, his face pale with astonishment.

"Young Master!"

The old man gasped softly, disbelief in his voice at the audacity of this uninvited guest advancing without hesitation.

"Hello, Sergei~"

A cold smile curved on Kaiser's lips, masking a hidden intent as he walked inside, his gloved hands tucked into his pockets as if preparing for what was to come.

Kaiser paused momentarily in front of Sergei, gazing at him with a neutral expression, before continuing down the hall. In a calm voice, he said.

"It's been a long time since we last met. It's good to see you again, Sergei."

Sergei quickly raised his hand to wipe the cold beads of sweat that had formed on his forehead, stammering with clear hesitation.

"It's good to see you too, young master, but…"

Kaiser suddenly stopped walking, his gaze sweeping across the luxurious hallway that stretched as far as the eye could see, filled with intricate artistic paintings and gleaming artifacts reflecting the dim light from the massive chandeliers.