Chapter 26

I sobbed quietly as his hands led me, feeling humiliated and degraded. Gabriel's reaction was callous, his voice filled with self-satisfaction, utterly disregarding my distress.

To make matters worse, he finished with my mouth still intact and he uttered a repulsive command, one that filled me with even more horror and disgust. "Swallow."

I swallowed hard, my reluctance evident. Gabriel released his grip, and I collapsed onto the floor, exhausted and shaken. He dressed quickly, his movements detached, before exiting the office, leaving me alone.

Gabriel left the door ajar, and I caught sight of the café employees and manager, their faces etched with sympathy and concern. I hastily wiped away my tears and rushed out of the office, seeking solitude. I found a quiet spot and surrendered to my emotions, weeping uncontrollably.

I cried for hours, finding refuge under a tree behind the auditorium. I skipped my afternoon class, lost in thought, and wondering how I could ever feel drawn to someone as troubled as Gabriel. The urge to flee was overwhelming, but fear held me back. I dreaded the possibility of something worse happening if I tried to escape.

Gabriel seemed uninvolved in his father's shady dealings, but he was a criminal in his own right. The way he killed without hesitation, and his mercurial temper, made me realize that I was walking on thin ice. One misstep could trigger an outburst, and I might become his next victim.

I was lost in thought when someone tapped my shoulder, breaking the train of thought. I looked up to see Mia standing above me. She took a sit beside me, her eyes scanning my face. My tears had dried, but my eyes remained bloodshot.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "I thought you did not want anything to do with me."

Mia settled in, getting comfortable. "I thought you might need someone to talk to," she said. "Besides, I never said I didn't want to have anything to do with you. I just didn't want to run into Gabriel. He's intimidating."

I raised an eyebrow. "You do realize you're risking your life talking to me, right?"

Mia jerked me playfully. "Hey, you're not exactly in a position to judge. You're the one falling for him." She leaned in, her voice taking on a serious tone. "You're stupid for getting involved with him, and I'm stupid for still reaching out to you."

Mia's words hung in the air, and I remained silent, unsure how to respond. She continued, her voice laced with empathy, "I heard what happened." Her expression was a mix of concern and sadness.

"I'm so sorry, Betty," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She reached out and took my hand, pulling me into a gentle hug. I felt a lump form in my throat as she held me.

"Don't risk your life for me," I warned, trying to push her away. But Mia held firm.

"I'm already involved, whether I like it or not," she said, her voice tinged with resignation. "Gabriel made that clear." Her eyes locked onto mine, and I saw a flicker of fear.

"What did he do?" I asked, my voice shaking. Mia hesitated before responding.

"He showed up at my apartment this morning, threatening me to stay away from you. I was so terrified that I could hardly breathe properly." Her voice trembled, and I felt a surge of anger towards Gabriel and helplessness knowing there was nothing I could do to.

"But then, something strange happened," Mia continued. "About an hour ago, he appeared in my class, dragged me out, and told me to find you and comfort you. He said I was responsible for taking care of you now." Mia's expression was a mix of confusion and fear.

"I'd heard rumors about what happened at the coffee shop," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "How he...how he hurt you. I'm so sorry that happened to you, Betty." Her eyes welled up with tears, and I felt another lump form in my throat.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at Mia. "I'm sorry he's doing this to you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mia's eyes locked onto mine, and I saw a deep sadness there. "I'm sorry too," she said. "Sorry that you're going through this. Sorry that I'm now a part of it."

I took a deep breath, trying to process everything. "What do you think I should do?" I asked, feeling a sense of desperation creeping in.

Mia's expression turned determined. "We'll figure something out," she said as she pulled me closer for another hug. "Together."

I nodded, feeling a small sense of hope. But as I looked at Mia, I knew that we were in grave danger. Gabriel wouldn't hesitate to hurt us if we got in his way.

"Mia," I said, my voice low and urgent. "You have to be careful. Gabriel is...unpredictable. I don't know what he would do to you if you offend him and I don't want to be the reason you lose your life."

"Yeah, I kind of regret saving you that night at the party or getting too curious," Mia sighed, her eyes clouded with regret. The air was thick with tension as we stood there, the only sound the distant hum of the city.

Then, without warning, Mia grasped my face, her fingers wrapping around my jaw as she turned me to face her. Her eyes blazed with determination. "Listen, I'm not going down without a fight. Here's what we're going to do, you need to find a way to tame him, to make him think you're under his control."

Her voice was low and urgent, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I don't know if he genuinely loves you or if he's just obsessed, but we can use that to our advantage. He's marked you as his, and everyone knows it. So here's the plan, you need to avoid anyone he doesn't want you to meet, do exactly what he says, and be submissive."

Mia's grip on my face tightened, her eyes boring into mine. "Just pretend, okay? Pretend you're under his control, until we can figure out a way to get out of this mess."

I nodded, and Mia released me, standing up and pulling me to my feet. Her hands were firm, but her eyes were soft with concern. "He told me to bring you to the science building car park once I'd consoled you. Let's go."

I winced, whispering, "I don't want to go with him." Mia's expression turned stern, but her voice was gentle. "I won't pretend to understand how you feel, but you have to be strong, okay? You can do this. Just try not to piss him off."

My anxiety spiked, and I asked, "What if he tries to do things I don't want to do?" Mia's gaze was unwavering, her voice firm. "Suck it up and deal with it. It's probably better than having a bullet to your head, right?"

I didn't respond, feeling a cold dread creeping up my spine. Mia led me to the car park, where Gabriel waited in his car, a charming smile spreading across his face as he saw me. He pulled me into his arms, kissing my forehead, and I trembled at the feel of his touch, the gentleness a stark contrast to the fear he inspired in me.

Gabriel led me into the car, and we drove off.