Dark Romance: A Cruel Obsession

“If your apology is sincere, promise me, take Vivian to Los Angeles as a guest,” Joseph clinked glasses with Alajos, “In Los Angeles, you will get all the answers you want.”

Alajos downed the contents of his glass, not directly responding to Joseph’s invitation.

As the birthday party neared its end, the guests of Mrs. Yazmin began to leave one by one. Alajos invited Joseph to a celebrity club to attend another specially prepared revelry, taking Simpson and Vilem with him.

“Can’t my wife come?” Joseph found Luzia in the crowd.

Luzia shrank a little, barely managing not to hide behind Vivian.

Before Joseph could voice a threatening word, Alajos interrupted, putting his arm around Joseph’s shoulder, “You can bring your wife, but I assure you, the sexy ladies in the club won’t be pleased.”

Joseph paused, wondering why Alajos spoke as if it were a common occurrence.

He glanced at Vivian and indeed, Vivian cast a resentful look at Alajos, but he didn’t pay much attention.

In his mind, Joseph sneered; Alajos wasn’t that foolish to fall in love with Vivian as his father had wished. It was just as well; the stronger the opponent, the more interesting the fight would be.

Mrs. Yazmin timely appeared, expressing that she hadn’t seen Luzia for a long time and wished to keep Luzia overnight to have a chat.

Joseph couldn’t refuse Mrs. Yazmin’s request. He reluctantly displayed his gentlemanly manners to Mrs. Yazmin, “A true gentleman naturally wouldn’t refuse a lady’s request. I wish you both a pleasant evening, beautiful lady.”

Mrs. Yazmin was indeed a beautiful and elegant lady, whose smile no man could resist, “I wish you gentlemen a fun evening as well.”Content held by NôvelDrama.Org.

The men left together, and Shelley followed her mother to bid farewell to Mrs. Yazmin. While the two ladies chatted, Shelley finally had the chance to embrace Luzia, “I think we are friends now.”

Luzia hugged her tightly, her eyes moist, “I apologize for my recklessness towards you.”

Smiling, Shelley said, “I accept your apology, and I ask you to accept mine. I was too immature in the past.”

Luzia laughed through tears, “I’m not that mature either.”

“I still regret that you didn’t become my family,” Joseph was more ruthless than any mobster Shelley had met. He treated Luzia without any tenderness, “You and John are truly suited.”

“Don’t say such things again, Shelley. It’s impossible between John and me.” Luzia shook her head, warning her in a low voice, “Don’t let Joseph hear, he will kill John.”

Shelley bit her lip, glancing at Vivian who was eavesdropping.

Vivian shrugged in agreement with Luzia’s point, “I assure you, Joseph is that kind of person.”

“Alright.” Shelley fell silent. She didn’t want to mention the unfortunate John again. The three girls huddled together, exchanging whispers.

Mrs. Yazmin envied their bond as she spoke to Mrs. Celinda, “They have such a good relationship.”

Knowing her daughter well, Mrs. Celinda was surprised when she heard Mrs. Yazmin’s sigh, wondering when Shelley and Luzia had become so close.

Mrs. Celinda smiled and said, “Girls of similar age find it easier to communicate. It’s a good thing they get along.”

Mrs. Yazmin asked her, “Has Shelley’s wedding date been set?”

“It’s been arranged with Festus’s parents.” Speaking of Shelley’s wedding, Mrs. Celinda’s smile became real, “It’s set for next month.”

“That’s good,” Mrs. Yazmin said, “Festus is a capable young man, and he and Shelley are well-matched.”

Most importantly, Festus is said to be very fond of Shelley. This is quite rare in the experience of mafia alliances. Mrs. Yazmin herself had been through two marriages, having a lover in her youth whom she was forced to leave due to her father’s opposition, and being forced to marry her first husband through a family alliance.

She and her first husband had a child together, but they lacked any real affection for each other. Even after her husband and child both passed away, they still hadn’t developed any feelings for each other.

Having been immersed in a cold marriage for so long, she couldn’t help but feel despair about her future. Mrs. Yazmin knew that, as a widow who had lost her child, she still held value within the family, and she awaited the scythe of fate to swing her way once more.

But incredibly, she met Dalon Hargrave, her second husband.

Dalon Hargrave was a gentle and romantic man who immediately fell in love with Yazmin. Hesought her father’s permission to marry her and gave her a fairytale-like marriage. Even after many years since Dalon’s passing, Yazmin still cherished his memory and kept herself imprisoned in the mansion that Dalon had personally built for her.

Mrs. Yazmin marveled at how similar Shelley’s fate was to her own and felt deeply relieved that Shelley was luckier than she had been.

After bidding farewell to Shelley and her mother, only Vivian and Luzia remained in the mansion, along with Mare, who was responsible for ensuring Vivian’s safety.

Mrs. Yazmin had prepared rooms for them. The rooms were located at the end of the corridor on the right side of the villa’s second floor, with Luzia and Vivian sharing a room and Mare staying in the adjacent room.

“Goodnight, girls. Don’t stay up too late,” knowing that Vivian and Luzia had things to discuss, Mrs. Yazmin, being very considerate, didn’t linger, “Wishing you sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight, Aunt,” Luzia hugged Yazmin, whispering, “Wishing you sweet dreams too.”

After a simple wash, Luzia quickly slipped under the covers.

The weather was getting colder, and Luzia put on long-sleeved pajamas, which was just a casual choice, but Vivian deliberately took notice of her wrists.

Sure enough, the long sleeves couldn’t hide the bruises and swelling on her skin.

Vivian lowered her head, afraid that Luzia would see her flushed eyes.

But Vivian wasn’t good at hiding her emotions, and after enduring Joseph’s long-term violence, Luzia had become very sensitive. How could she not notice Vivian’s momentary low spirits?

Luzia sighed and shifted her body, tentatively moving closer to Vivian, gently embracing her and seeking comfort in return.

“If I say ‘I’m fine,’ would you believe me?”

Vivian pursed her lips, “If I say ‘I believe you,’ would you believe me?”

Neither of them believed it in their hearts.

“In that case, there’s no need to say it,” Luzia said.

“In that case, let’s not say it,” Vivian sniffled, holding back her tears.

They embraced each other, seeking warmth from each other’s bodies.

“It feels like we’ve been through a nightmare,” a long time later, nestled in Vivian’s embrace, Luzia sighed, still trembling, “I don’t know when the nightmare will end.”

“It will come to an end,” Vivian gently patted Luzia’s back, “I believe Alajos has already taken action.”

Luzia hesitated for a moment. She instinctively felt that Vivian was too optimistic. Truth be told, she didn’t trust Alajos.

The men of the mafia were all about self-interest. She had been given to Joseph, losing her rights to marry freely, and now her only value lay in bearing a child for Joseph. But in Alajos’s eyes, the value of a child, whether a boy or a girl, and whether it qualified as Joseph’s heir, wasn’t significant.

Luzia didn’t believe that Alajos would make any effort for her, now that she no longer had any utilitarian value.