♥ Chapter 20♥

Axel Norvelli. 

The path to the restaurant seems endless to me. Each minute in the car drags on, increasing my feeling of helplessness. The silence between us is oppressive, almost palpable, a stark contrast to the chaos of the fight I witnessed and the tension that consumes me.

I glance at her, trying to decipher her emotions. She's incredibly calm, as if silence is a natural part of our interaction. Sitting next to me, she seems completely at ease, while I feel on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The man who brought me here drives with relentless concentration, without saying a word.

Doubt and anxiety consume me. Why are we going to a restaurant? What does she want from me now? My heart is racing, and every thought is a desperate attempt to understand what is happening. There is a strange dissonance between her serenity and the inner turmoil I experience.

When I look at her again, I notice that she doesn't seem to mind the silence between us. She is relaxed, almost carefree. His eyes are focused on the horizon, and there is a faint smile on his lips, as if he is tasting a secret. The feeling of being out of control is overwhelming, and every minute seems to intensify that perception.

Finally, the car stops in front of an elegant restaurant with soft lights and a refined atmosphere. My stomach twists with a mix of anxiety and curiosity. What could she want here? Doubts pile up, and I find myself in a whirlwind of thoughts, trying to anticipate every possible reason for choosing this place.

The man driving gets out of the car and opens the door for us. She leaves first, and I follow hesitantly, my heart pounding in my chest. Anxiety is at its peak, and I feel like I'm about to cross an unknown threshold, not knowing what awaits me on the other side. Every step beside her is a struggle between curiosity and fear.

'' Come on. '' She says, her voice soft but full of authority.

I follow her to the restaurant entrance, each step echoing in my ears like a war drum. She is completely in control, and I know there is no room for objections or questions. My mind is in a whirl, trying to find some clue, some hint of what's to come.

Inside the restaurant, the atmosphere is even more intimidating. People talk in whispers, the atmosphere is elegant and sophisticated, and I feel completely out of place. She seems to move with grace and confidence without caring about the looks she attracts. I, on the other hand, feel every glance like a sharp blade, increasing my anxiety.

She chooses a table in a more private corner and tells me to sit. I do so, feeling a little relieved to be away from prying eyes. She sits across from me, watching me with a penetrating gaze.

'' Relax, my little one. '' She says, her voice low and seductive. ''We are just here to eat and have a little chat.

But the intensity of her gaze and the way she says it does nothing to calm my nerves. What could be so important for her to want to talk in a place like this? My entire body is tense, and every second with her seems to carry a new layer of anxiety.

A waiter appears, interrupting my thoughts. 

'' Welcome, my lady. Will you want the same dish as always? '' He speaks softly.

He looks at her strangely, as if he likes her. But she doesn't take her eyes off me.

'' Bring the best dishes and good champagne. Now go. '' Just says, uninterested in him.

The waiter turns to me, and I see hatred in his eyes. It's a quick but unmistakable spark before he turns and leaves, leaving us alone.

The silence between us returns, heavy, and suffocating. I try to look away, but it's as if she has a gravitational force of her own, pulling me back. His eyes, still fixed on mine, seem to analyze my every reaction.

'' You look tense, my little one. '' She comments, her voice as soft as silk. ''Relax. I just want to have a peaceful lunch with you. 

Your words don't help calm my mind. In fact, they increase my anxiety. What could she want from me? And why this elegant restaurant? The waiter returns quickly, placing fancy dishes and a bottle of champagne on the table without saying a word. He serves us, but his eyes avoid mine, lingering only on her with an unsettling reverence.

She opens the bottle with ease and pours two glasses, handing one to me. But I can't drink or eat anything. She starts eating with grace, and while I can barely touch the food, my mind is still spinning with unanswered questions.

Anxiety suffocates me, and I can no longer hold it back.

'' What do you want with me? '' I murmur, my voice trembling and almost inaudible.

She continues eating, ignoring my question for an agonizing moment. Finally, he puts down his fork and fixes me with a fixed stare.

'' Like I said, you are mine. I just want to have a meal with my little one. I know you didn't eat, since there's barely any food in that place.

Furthermore, I look at the plate in front of me, then at her, feeling even more confused. Why me? Why did you choose me? The questions come out without my being able to contain them:

'' Why me? Why am I fragile? Strange?

She throws her head back, laughing with sadistic pleasure.

'' Did you really believe that bitch's words?

I am surprised by your speech.

'' Do you know about Chloe? '' I ask, shocked, with my voice almost breaking.

She keeps laughing, as if I've told the best joke in the world.

'' Of course I know. I know everything about you. I know you suffered a lot at the hands of your abusive and controlling parents. Did you really believe that slut's words? You are silly, my little one.

I shake my head, still confused by this whole discovery.

'' She wasn't wrong when she called me weird or ugly.

Her eyes shine with contained anger.

'' As long as you're with me, it's best not to put yourself down. '' He growls, irritated, his voice full of threat.

I find the courage to face her, even with my hair covering my eyes.

'' I'm not that attractive. Why did you choose me? Just because I begged? As you said, just because I'm fragile, is that different from the men you're used to having?

She slams the table hard, causing the cutlery to fall to the floor with a metallic clang. He stands up with a threatening energy, leaving me terrified. He grabs my wrist with surprising strength and drags me to the corner of the room, where there is a huge mirror. She places me in front of him while she stands behind me, her gaze burning into my back.

'' Observe, look at yourself. '' He says coldly, his voice an icy whisper.

She brushes the hair out of my eyes and looks at me intensely through the reflection.

'' Look at those beautiful eyes, so pure and wonderful. Your beautiful body, even if it's not like the men I'm used to, doesn't change the fact that it's beautiful.

He grabs my jaw tightly, forcing me to keep looking at my reflection.

'' Look at that beautiful face. '' His voice is low, almost a growl, while his firm hand keeps me in place.

My breathing is rapid and uneven, and my heart is beating uncontrollably in my chest. Her intensity leaves me speechless, and her closeness, combined with the strength of her words, makes my heart race even faster.

'' Do you think that just because you don't fit their standards, you're worthless? '' She whispers in my ear, her breath hot against my skin. ''They don't know anything. You are mine, and only what I think matters.

She releases my jaw but keeps her hand firmly on my shoulder, forcing me to keep looking at myself.

'' Every trauma, every scar, every insecurity.  '' She murmurs, her voice soft but unforgiving. ''I see all this, and I still want you. Not because you are fragile, but because you are mine.

I take a deep breath, trying to process his words, but my mind is a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

'' I… I don't understand. '' I say, my voice a barely audible whisper. ''Why me? Why now?

She smiles—a smile that is both terrifying and fascinating.

'' Because you intrigued me, your fear excites me in ways you can't even imagine. Every tremor, every sigh, every look of despair—it all feeds me. And now, you are part of me, whether you like it or not. There is no escape; there is no turning back. You belong to me, and I will shape you, break you, and rebuild you until every fiber of your being recognizes this truth.

She pulls away slightly, letting me breathe a little more freely, but her presence is still overwhelming.

'' While you are with me, you are not allowed to underestimate yourself. '' He says, his voice as hard as steel. '' Did you understand?

I nod, feeling a mix of fear and something I can't quite place. She watches me for a long moment before finally letting go of my shoulder and walking back to the table, leaving me alone with my reflection and the tumultuous thoughts she's stirred up in me.