CHAPTER 31
"Find Arianna and bring her to me. I want to teach her a lesson she won't soon forget. I'll break every bone in her body, reduce her to begging for mercy at my feet. She needs to understand the consequences of defying me! And if you succeed, you'll have her afterward, to do with as you please!"
His men had been captivated by Arianna's beauty and curves for a while now, and they quickly responded to Harrold before rushing out of the ward!
"Yes Sir!"
After thirty minutes, Harrold perked up as he heard footsteps drawing near.
"That was quick" he smirked
"Have you found her?" He called out
As the door was forcefully kicked open, Harrold's men were unceremoniously thrown into the room, their bodies writhing in agony as they hit the floor with grunts of pain.
His eyes widened in fear as he watched the scene unfold before him, his heart pounding in his chest.
Then, his gaze shifted to the figure entering the room—a tall and imposing man exuding an aura of power and authority. Despite the slight smile on his face, there was an unmistakable intensity in his eyes that sent shivers down Harrold's spine.
"You... You are..." Harrold's voice faltered as he struggled to form coherent words, his eyes widening in recognition. With a sudden realization, he uttered in disbelief,
"Mr. Yates, Frank Yates?"
In that moment, Harrold realized the gravity of the situation. Standing before him was none other than Frank Yates, a member of one of the most influential and powerful families in Capital City—the Yates family.
As Harrold gazed up at Frank Yates, his heart hammered in his chest with a fear he could barely contain. He knew all too well the reputation of the Yates family—once notorious mafia leaders turned powerful businessmen with a penchant for ruthlessness.
With beads of sweat forming on his brow, Harrold plastered on a forced smile, though it trembled with apprehension. His head, swathed in white bandages from his recent encounter with Arianna, throbbed with pain, adding to his already frayed nerves.
"Mr. Yates, why... Why are you doing this?" Harrold's voice quivered slightly as he struggled to maintain his composure.
"I don’t think I’ve offended you, right?"
His words were tinged with desperation, a feeble attempt to appeal to the mercy of a man known for his unrelenting cruelty.
Frank leaned casually against the wall, the wisps of smoke from his cigarette curling around him like a sinister halo. His voice, smooth and refined, belied the impending menace in his words.
"Someone sent me over to collect your debt," he stated, his tone carrying an air of detached authority that sent shivers down their spines.
Harrold's heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to find his voice.
"Mr. Yates...I..."
With a subtle gesture, Frank directed his guards with a simple command.
"Go ahead."
In an instant, the guards closed in on Harrold, their menacing presence looming over him like dark clouds before a storm.
The sounds of blows and cries echoed from the ward, painting a vivid picture of the brutality unfolding within.
Frank took a leisurely drag from his cigarette, the smoke swirling around him like a sinister mist. With a flick of his foot, he extinguished the cigarette butt on the floor, his demeanor exuding a cold authority.
"Enough," he commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.
As he approached Harrold, his gaze held a mixture of disdain and amusement. With a smirk, he issued a warning.
"Harrold, you've overstepped your bounds by laying a hand on a woman like Arianna."
With a sense of satisfaction, Frank continued,
"You're playing with fire, Harrold. Arianna is not someone you want to cross paths with."
When Harrold caught wind of that name, his eyes widened with effort.
"A-Arianna...." he mumbled in pain
It appeared that they were present for her... But Arianna was just a struggling socialite, so where did she find such powerful backing?
Who was she exactly?
************
Xander had been driving aimlessly all night, his mind consumed by conflicting emotions. When he finally stopped, he realized he had unconsciously returned to the entrance of the villa.
In frustration, Xander pounded his steering wheel, cursing himself for his weakness. Despite his deep-seated resentment towards Arianna, he couldn't shake the feeling of being tethered to her.
It was infuriating to feel like he was at her mercy, unable to break free from her hold over him.
Yet, hadn't Arianna already taught him a harsh lesson two years ago? Why was he still allowing himself to be affected by her actions?
Suddenly, a wave of clarity washed over Xander, replacing his tumultuous emotions with a steely resolve. In that moment, his eyes hardened with a simmering resentment, a silent promise to himself that he wouldn't let Arianna's actions affect him any longer.
