The words that flashed in that bitter voice made Aurora stiffen. All of her muscles turned stiff to make her body unable to move. Aurora gulped suddenly as her memory floated on their first meeting first. It was still clearly stored in Aurora's memory how the hefty palm gripped her neck, about to crush her bones. Aurora reflexively touched the hand on her neck as if she wanted to protect from the thirsty, savage predator. While her eyes lowered, staring doubtfully at Cleo, who was still hugging her. Her hand movements were gentle as Aurora pushed Cleo's shoulder away. But the little man refused, rebelled hard, then tightened his arms even more.
"Don't want to. Want to be with mom."
Aurora's heart seemed to be squeezed when she heard Cleo's voice trembling from holding back tears. She was stunned, looking at Cleo's head with teary eyes. For a moment, the silence trapped in the stifling atmosphere was enough to make Aurora think and conclude that Cleo and the man before her had a terrible relationship. That's why Cleo is spoiled, whining like a child his age when his wishes are not fulfilled. Aurora let out a quick sigh and then moved her body with difficulty to crouch down in front of Cleo. She rubbed her thumb on Cleo's cheek, stroking his cheek gently. Her eyes were full of love as Aurora spoke in the silence.
"Don't cry. This handsome face became disfigured." Aurora forced her lips to review a sweet smile, and her teary eyes seemed to sparkle.
"I'm sorry." Cleo lowered his head weakly while interlacing his hands anxiously, "are you angry that I was the one who suddenly hugged you?"
Aurora, who had been staring at Cleo sadly, immediately widened her eyes in shock. "No. You did nothing wrong. Why am I angry?"
"Really?" asked Cleo, widening her sea-blue eyes as if in disbelief.
Aurora nodded her head, "really. I'm not mad at you." She continued again while grabbing Cleo's hand, holding him tight to convince.
The blue eyes sparkled, the smile widened. Cleo immediately throws his body into Aurora's arms, then swiftly wraps his arms around Aurora's shoulders.
"Mom... I love you so much." said Cleo excitedly, making Aurora stunned for a moment.
Darren, who had been unmoved without a word, suddenly stepped his feet wide and grabbed Cleo's hand, pulling him away from Aurora. The sound of crying with painful screams instantly filled his sense of hearing. Cleo roared, struggling as hard as he could to escape Darren's grip.
"Let go! I don't want to go!" Cleo screamed loudly, then stretched out his hand, trying to reach Aurora, "Mom! Mom! Help me!"
Hearing that, Aurora stepped forward on an implicit impulse and stretched out her hand to reach Cleo's hand. Unfortunately, Darren's blue eyes that looked at her as if drawn into Aurora's heart made her feet reflexively stop stepping. Aurora stepped back slowly. Her eyes seemed to flash because she couldn't hear Cleo's screaming voice filled with crying screams.
While Darren further added to the strength of his grip on Cleo's hand, pulling the man's body hard, snuggling up to him. Quickly, Darren's hand slipped behind Cleo's shoulder, holding him tight so he couldn't run.
"Dad, please let me go." Cleo was moving his body to get rid of Darren.
"Be quiet, Cleo. You know very well what I can do if I get out of control." Darren exclaimed loudly, tucking a growl in there.
Immediately, Cleo stopped all his efforts because it was useless for him to rebel. No one could help him escape from the man's command. Cleo lifted his face towards Aurora, looking at the woman with a glow of love shining from his wet blue eyes.
"Anthonio, take Cleo away."
As soon as the order resonated, Aurora gasped, then cut off her gaze first from Cleo. She really couldn't bear to see Cleo's face filled with sadness.
When his hand was gently gripped, Cleo still did not turn her eyes away from Aurora. Unfortunately, Cleo's voice was stuck in his throat. He can only surrender when his body has been pulled from Darren's presence then move away from Aurora. Cleo turns around and follows Anthonio's lead into the car.
Meanwhile, Aurora stared at Cleo's back with a feeling of chaos. Her heart throbbing with pain even to just sigh was difficult, because the aura emanating from Darren really made the air supply seem to be sucked out.
"You like it?" Darren asked suddenly in a bitter voice, jerking Aurora from Reverie.
Aurora immediately turned her gaze towards Darren, throwing a very hateful look.
"Cleo is unfortunate to have an unfeeling father like you. You're cruel! No heart! You don't even deserve to be called human." She said with her chest up and down because of emotions.
Darren laughed loudly. Aurora's courage really irritated him as well as praised.
"I have a crueler side than that. You want to see it?" says Darren meaningfully.
Aurora seemed to lose her mind, because out of nowhere she even raised her chin to Darren, showing a defiant attitude.
"Stop the nonsense, Sir. If the world you're used to is submissive to you, then not to me. I will never bow down or fear you, because a man like you doesn't deserve any of that. You're just a savage predator troubling other humans, which is why exterminating you is the right choice." Aurora replied, then vigorously spitting out actual anger there.
Hearing that, Darren laughed out loud again. Indeed, Aurora's words made his stomach like a stirring to deliver a blaring laugh from his lips. But his laughter soon receded without a trace when he stepped on his feet, slashed the distance between them, and stood right in front of Aurora.
"Aren't you already too presumptuous, Aurora? I could have crushed all your bones with a little of my strength and then drowned your body without bringing your corpse to the surface." Darren continued slowly, dedicating his sentence.
"Oh, yeah?" Aurora smiled disdainfully, deliberately further inflaming the flames of Darren's anger, "are you used to eliminating someone so easily? No wonder you're called a predator, because only a disgusting creature is capable of that."
"Damn it!" with a quick gesture, Darren put his palm on Aurora's neck, strangling the woman.
Aurora's eyes immediately bulged, her breathing was tight because the air was blocked from entering her lungs. Her chest struggled strongly, about to break, while her body floated slightly off the ground as the giggling grew stronger. Aurora kicked into the air, moving her body with all her might, then grabbed Darren's hand, about to release from her neck. And yet Darren's incredible strength made the man flinch, not moving at all.
"How? Are you enjoying my cruelty?" Darren spoke with a chuckle, increasingly pressing his hand on Aurora's neck.
Aurora's body relaxes, her gaze darkens while her chest feels full. She wanted to surrender, put an end to this pain by immersing herself in the darkness that awaited her. But that hope was not fulfilled because the second Aurora was about to welcome the darkness, Aurora's body immediately fell and slammed on the floor's surface. The first thing she did was cough loudly while holding her neck and Aurora sighed deeply, trying to fill her empty lungs.
Aurora screams as her body is pulled to be forced to stand in front of Darren. This time, her courage had vanished, completely unable to bear to stare at Darren, who was only an inch away from her face. Aurora bit her lips strongly as she felt the tears that had welled up in her eye.
"Get away from me." Aurora hissed, trying to escape Darren's grip.
"You still have the power to challenge me." Darren smiled sarcastically, then looked at Aurora's jaw, about to measure up with his strength. "I really want to contemplate your little jaw so that your sexy lips can no longer swallow me. How? You want to try?"
"Crazy man! Get out of my sight!" cried Aurora in the remnants of her courage.
Darren grabbed Aurora's chin roughly, gripping firmly, about to crush. Then he brought his face close to Aurora's lips before then saying.
"Shasa, Ken, Amira, and all the residents of the orphanage, which do you think I should finish first? I have hundreds of creatures inhabiting my fresh sea, have dozens of beasts in my iron house. And of course, the inhabitants of hell will cheer when I throw fresh meat as a daily meal," Darren chuckled softly when he saw Aurora's face change in panic. He casually brought his lips next to Aurora's face and spoke. "What if we start from Shasa? The little girl has tender meat and small bones. Looks like... she is perfect for an appetizer."
Just when Darren finished his sentence, Aurora gathered all her courage and strength to push the man's body away from her. With overflowing anger, Aurora immediately raised her hand, slapping Darren hard on the cheek.
The man's face was instantly thrown off, not at all suspecting that he could lose his vigilance for a moment to give Aurora the opportunity to attack him. A burning sensation spread all over his cheeks up to his neck. His jaw hardened while his gaze was sharp as it turned to Aurora.
Darren immediately raised his hands in the air, signaling his bodyguards to stop when he heard footsteps rushing behind his back.
"You slapped me?" he said with a snarl.
"That slap is a fair price for your poisoned mouth. You talk about someone's life as easily as if it has no value at all. Who do you think you are, ha! Just because you're rich and famous all over the world doesn't mean your money deserves to ruin someone's life. Treat them with contempt! You are so pathetic. You are exalted only because you have power, not because you are loved."
"Shut your mouth!" Said Darren with emotions that can no longer be held back. "What do you know about love? Listen, Elmira. I will surely make you regret for daring to challenge me."