Dark Romance: A Cruel Obsession

The phone vibrated silently in his pocket. Alajos had just gotten off the plane and was on his way to Joseph’s apartment in Los Angeles.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Yes, Alajos received news of Bryson being attacked and injured and had come to visit at Joseph’s request. Of course, Alajos automatically ignored the latter part of the request – “Please bring Vivian back with you. My father misses her and his grandson very much.”

After Joseph married Luzia, he moved out of Bryson’s villa and into an apartment he had bought in downtown Los Angeles. The driver took Alajos’s car into the underground garage and led Alajos to the top floor apartment in an elevator.

Luzia calculated the time to run down the stairs, just in time to see Alajos at the moment the servant opened the apartment door.

“Alajos,” Luzia threw herself into Alajos’s arms directly, “I’ve missed you so much. I couldn’t stand being next to Joseph for even a moment. I want to go home. I want to go back to Houston.”

“Are you okay, Luzia?” Alajos held her hand and easily saw the bruises under her sleeve.

Alajos frowned, staring at Joseph, who was walking towards him leisurely. He angrily asked, “Did you hit her, Joseph?”

“I thought you understood, Alajos,” Joseph shrugged, his wicked smile carrying a hint of innocence, “This is a matter of husband and wife. Don’t you and Vivian have that?”

“Rest assured, I am not a scoundrel who abuses his wife in bed,” Alajos sarcastically retorted with anger.

Joseph shrugged, not caring at all about Alajos’s mockery. He even put on a face that said, “This is a pleasure you don’t understand,” which made Alajos feel extremely furious, almost wishing to shoot him in the head right now.

Joseph looked behind Alajos, not seeing Vivian.

“Where is Vivian?” Joseph frowned.

“Her health didn’t allow her to fly,” Alajos said, “She stayed in Houston.”

“Damn it! What are you doing?” Joseph was surprisingly angry, taking a big step forward and grabbing Alajos’s collar, “Why didn’t you bring her back? My father is dying, he just wants to see his daughter and grandson. You’ve ruined his final wish!”

Alajos held back Joseph’s wrist, the two of them wrestling, the intense struggle making their faces look exceptionally hideous.

“When you sent her over, didn’t you think about bringing her back?” Alajos spoke the truth, but this was all in the past. Now Joseph’s plan needed her.

“She will always be my father’s daughter, my sister. When the family needs her, she must come back!” Joseph roared, his father’s illness causing Alajos, who once needed their protection in Los Angeles, to become rebellious.

“Please respect that she is also my wife. I believe she wants to see her father more than anyone,” Alajos emphasized the word “anyone.”

“Perhaps you are right, Alajos.” Joseph knew this was not the time for childish arguments. He smiled apologetically as he let go of Alajos’s collar, “My father’s illness has disturbed my thinking and made me act recklessly. I hope you can forgive me.”

Alajos had no intention of fighting Joseph either.

“I hope you truly realize your mistake, Joseph,” Alajos said coldly, without mincing words, “Your recklessness gives me a headache, I don’t want there to be a next time. Now, can you take me to see Bryson?”

Alajos needed to see Bryson’s injuries with his own eyes to be reassured. “Vivian is very worried about him. I need to call her after seeing him, or we need to FaceTime.”

“Of course, we can leave now,” Joseph said, ready to take Alajos out.

Luzia had been watching them nervously all along. She spoke softly as they were about to leave, “Alajos…”

“Have you called Vivian?” Alajos interrupted Luzia, “You haven’t contacted her since you returned to Los Angeles; she’s very worried about you.”

Luzia hesitated for a moment, sure she had seen some kind of hint in Alajos’s eyes. Under the double gaze of Alajos and Joseph, she nodded lightly. “I understand, I’ll call her in a while.”

“Call Mare,” Alajos said, “Vivian might be sleeping, don’t wake her up.”

Joseph frowned beside them and said unhappily, “Hey, Alajos, are you teaching my wife to contact other men?”

“Don’t misunderstand, Joseph, I’m just concerned about my wife,” Alajos said, “Ever since Bryson was injured, her sleep has been troubled. She needs enough rest now to ensure her health. I believe Luzia’s comfort is helpful to her, but unfortunately, you have always prevented Luzia from contacting her, so I had to inquire personally.”

Joseph snorted and walked towards the elevator.

Luzia saw them off and then picked up her phone.

She had long memorized Mare’s phone number and could dial it almost effortlessly.

The receiver played waiting music, and Luzia clenched her phone, unsure of what was making her nervous.

“Mary, could you make me a cup of coffee?” She caught sight of Mary standing at the dining room door. Mare’s familiar voice came through the receiver, and Luzia quickly stifled a low sob in her throat.

“Luzia?” Mare walked to the balcony, looking at the clear sky outside.

“It’s me, Mare.” Luzia watched Mary enter the kitchen to prepare the coffee, then replied to Mare, “Is Vivian okay? I heard from Alajos that she’s not doing well, is she asleep?”

Mare paused, pursed his lips, and said, “Yes, she just fell asleep. Do you need me to wake her up for you?”

“No, let her sleep. Alajos asked me not to disturb her,” Luzia said calmly, unsure of the purpose behind conveying this message.

But on the other end of the line, Mare replied succinctly, “Understood.”