Dark Romance: A Cruel Obsession

Luzia had also arrived, taking a seat with her back to them. Vivian couldn’t see her expression, but her shoulders shook violently. She might have been laughing, Vivian guessed.

“Oh, look who I see,” Catlito, the restaurant owner, suddenly appeared. “Vivian Jones, it’s been such a long time. How are you?”

Catlito hugged Vivian.

“It’s been a while, Catlito.” Vivian hugged him back. “I’m doing well. And I’ve missed your Italian meat sauce pasta; it’s the best I’ve ever had.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Catlito said happily. He also greeted Simpson, a regular patron here. His curiosity piqued at seeing them together, “Is this a date? I mean I can prepare a couple’s booth for you and a romantic set meal, if you’d like.”

“Actually, we’re not a couple,” Vivian said somewhat awkwardly, pointing towards Alajos. “Someone is waiting for us over there, yes, this is a group gathering.”

When Vivian raised her hand, Catlito saw the ring on it and exclaimed in surprise, “Is that an engagement ring? Vivian, you’re engaged? Who is the lucky man? He must be outstanding.”

Outstanding, indeed.

Yes, Alajos was truly outstanding, and though Vivian resisted this arranged marriage, she had never denied this fact.

Her fiance was a very excellent man, and in Houston, it would be hard to find someone more formidable and outstanding than him.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Vivian felt a hint of pride because of this.

“Is it you, Simpson?” In Catlito’s eyes, Simpson was also one of the excellent choices.

“Unfortunately not.” Simpson shrugged his shoulders, jokingly regretting, “The lucky man is not me; he’s my brother, Alajos.”

“What wonderful news,” Catlito shrieked with joy, leading Vivian to Alajos. “Maybe we need a bottle of wine, delicious champagne? Or sweet wine? Please enjoy your meal, my respected guests. I will offer my long-cherished wine to celebrate your union.”

Alajos had already stood up when they approached. He stared blankly at Vivian, his admiring gaze traveling over her.

Vivian felt where his gaze lingered and, remembering Simpson’s words, suddenly felt a chill at her nape, as if Alajos might turn into a vampire and bite her neck the next second.

Disregarding Alajos’ autocracy and despotism, the man was really both handsome and gentlemanly. He would stand up to wait for his fiancee, freely compliment her beauty, pull out her chair, and after she was seated, would quietly ask her what she wanted to eat.

“Thank you.” Vivian sipped water, blue eyes filled with appreciation for Alajos’ handsome appearance.

“Alajos, my respected Capo,” Catlito indeed brought out his fine wine, pouring their glasses full. “Congratulations on finding such a beautiful and lovely fiancee. And congratulations to you, Vivian, for having such a handsome and wealthy fiance. You will certainly be very happy. Hurry up and have a little baby; he will surely combine all your best qualities.”

“Thank you for your blessings, Catlito.” Alajos stood and embraced Catlito, raised his glass, clinked with Catlito, then with Vivian, and downed his wine in one gulp.

Vivian looked down, taking a sip out of courtesy and not wishing to disrupt the cheerful atmosphere.

Their ordered meals soon arrived-steak and pasta.

Vivian elegantly cut her steak with knife and fork, like a lady-this was one of the mandatory etiquettes taught in private girls’ high schools.

The steak and pasta were delicious; Vivian ate with satisfaction, while Alajos and Simpson preferred the wine Catlito sent. Luzia quietly ate the steak in front of her.

Vivian was sensitive to the gazes of others. She noticed the man at the bar looking over at her frequently, perhaps because the neckline of her dress was too low, exposing her collarbones and chest.

Vivian didn’t mind being looked at with admiration and surprise, but not while eating, as it affected her appetite.

Vivian put down her knife and fork.

Simpson glanced at her and then at the two men.

It seemed he also noticed that the men’s gazes were not purely innocent.

“Don’t worry, they wouldn’t dare to disturb us,” Simpson said. “No one wants to die.”

Vivian said nothing as Alajos had already stood up, turning his head to look at the two men.

The two men seemed to be frightened by Alajos’ fierce aura, their faces turning pale instantly. Vivian felt they could dash out of therestaurant any second.

Vivian stopped Alajos; she didn’t want to cause trouble, “Let it go, Alajos, they haven’t really harmed me.”

“I can’t do that,” Alajos didn’t heed Vivian’s attempt to intervene, and walked straight towards the two men attempting to appear composed.

“Is the beautiful lady your sister?” Alajos’s gentlemanly demeanor was so enchanting, the two men might have mistaken him for a calm and approachable man.

“She’s my fiancee,” Alajos stood in front of the two men, smiling calmly, “Any objections?”

Being some distance away, Vivian couldn’t hear their conversation. With Alajos’s back to her, she couldn’t see his expression but noticed one of the men smiling with a gesture over Alajos’s shoulder, lifting his glass towards her.

Vivian frowned, already a little displeased, wondering what Alajos had said to make the man smile so chillingly. But the next second, Vivian saw Alajos reveal a small knife. His movements were as fast as lightning, and with a swift gesture, the man in front of him collapsed at Alajos’s feet, clutching a bleeding neck.

Vivian stood up in shock, and the restaurant’s patrons took notice of the scene; some screamed and were ushered to the back by the staff while many others continued their meal with expressionless faces.

Vivian couldn’t comprehend this insane world, but she knew this was just a small part of Alajos’s life, one he was so accustomed to that he knew how to quickly kill a person without dirtying his hands.

Vivian watched Alajos walk back nonchalantly, her gaze uncontrollably drifting past him to the dead man’s companion. His pale face was etched in Vivian’s mind, filled with fear, panic, and sorrow as he rushed to the fallen man, trying to stem the flow of fresh blood from his neck, crying out in grief.

Were they brothers? Best friends? Classmates? Colleagues? Vivian couldn’t guess, and she couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

Luzia had only eaten half of her steak but could no longer continue; she was angry, unsure if it was because Alajos’s sudden act of violence had spoiled her appetite or because of the two men’s disrespectful gazes.

Compared to Vivian and Luzia, Simpson seemed much calmer, no, he was delighted, the kind of delight that comes from watching a spectacle. The pained cry of the man losing his companion pleased him; he enjoyed witnessing the brutality between brothers, even felt like applauding.

Monster!

Vivian suddenly remembered Vilem covered in blood in the Golden Hill Apartment, where he had said they were all instruments of murder, and Alajos, in his eyes, was a monster. Would there come a day when Alajos too would come home to their apartment drenched in someone else’s blood? Would he embrace her, kiss her, possess her with blood on his hands?

It was truly terrifying.