Chapter 174:
Makenna’s POV:
As I descended the stairs, Jessica and the others remained rooted in the living room, their bodies trembling with a blend of fear and fury.
Their faces were a mosaic of emotions, but when their eyes met mine, they converged in a storm of anger and hatred.
Jessica’s swollen face was a mask of seething resentment. Her lips moved silently, and it was clear she was mouthing the words, “Just wait.”
I responded with a dismissive scoff, throwing her a cold, indifferent glance.
Who was really going to be waiting for whom? The small lesson I’d given them today was nothing compared to the torment they’d inflicted on me. The bill for their actions was coming due sooner or later.
Hugging my mother’s paintings tightly to my chest, I left that place of despair without a second glance.
Once I was in the car, I sat there, still clinging to the paintings in a daze, overwhelmed by pain and confusion. Suddenly, my arms were empty. I turned to see Bryan had snatched the paintings away.
Panic surged through me as I reached out to reclaim them. “What are you doing?”
Was he planning to use my mother’s keepsakes against me, like Kristina did?
Bryan held the paintings just out of reach, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “You’ve been moping the whole time. How do you plan to meet my request later like that?”
The memory of his earlier request hit me like a jolt, freezing me in frustration. “You’re so shameless!”
“Shameless?” Bryan sneered, pinching my face roughly as he issued a sinister warning. “Don’t put on that sour expression. Don’t ruin my mood, or you’ll regret it.”
My anger simmered beneath the surface, but I couldn’t afford to defy him.
After all, he was holding my mother’s precious keepsakes, and I had no doubt that if I pushed him too far, he’d throw them out the window without a second thought.
𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝗀⍺𝖑𝗇𝓞ⱱ𝖾𝗅𝗌⋅ⅽ𝗈𝗆
So, I bit my lip and glared at him in silent protest.
Bryan tilted his head slightly, a cruel amusement dancing in his eyes. “Come on, smile for me. In all the time I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you smile at me.” His words only fueled the frustration churning inside me. Who could smile at someone like him? Every …
time I looked at him, all I felt was disgust! But under his threatening gaze, I forced myself to stretch my lips into a stiff, awkward smile.
Bryan’s expression soured even further. “Who smiles like that? It’s hideous. Do it again.”
Frustration boiled over, and I snapped, “Who forces someone to smile like this?”
Bryan remained unmoved, his voice turning colder as he issued his threat. “Smile brightly, or I’ll ruin your precious paintings!”
He emphasized his threat by lifting the paintings higher, pretending to toss them out of the window.
I was so furious I felt on the brink of exploding, but I had no choice. I couldn’t risk damaging the paintings by trying to snatch them back. Swallowing my anger, I desperately tried to dredge up a genuine smile.
My life was filled with so few happy memories. After scouring my mind, I managed to unearth a few small, faintly cheerful moments buried deep.
By concentrating on those fleeting thoughts, I was able to grin more naturally at Bryan.
I wasn’t sure how convincing it was, but it made Bryan freeze for a moment.
Then he suddenly smiled, as if he was coming back to earth.
He patted my head affectionately and said, “Good girl,” his voice full of wicked humor. “Since you’ve been so obedient, I’ll reward you with a gift.”
