"I'm sorry... It's my love language," she apologized quietly, fearing that Ivan might pull out his gun once again.
Hannah looked up at him, her eyes full of tears that are threatening to fall again as they looked at his amber ones for any sign of forgiveness or understanding.
Ivan, on the other hand, laughed loudly as if he had just heard a joke when he heard her lie that it was her love language.
His dark, ominous chuckles bounced off the walls as his laughter resonated through the quiet room, shattering its silence.
Each sound he make seems like a dagger to Hannah's already terrified heart, which caused tears to silently stream down her trembling cheeks again.
"You're quite adorable, aren't you?" Ivan said as his laughter began to slowly subside, leaving behind a lingering smile on his face as he observed Hannah's trembling form.
"However, my dear, I don't find your attempts at lying amusing," he said all of a sudden. His smile widened, revealing a glimmer of his true nature beneath the facade of charm.
Hannah felt a shiver run down her spine as his intense gaze locked on hers.
"Honesty is a virtue I hold in high regard, and I would prefer it if our budding relationship would not be filled with lies. Can you do that? Hmm? Can you be honest with me?" he continued.
A hidden threat could be heard behind his sweet voice, which scared Hannah even more.
In an attempt to salvage the situation, Hannah tremblingly reached out to hold his hand and uttered words without thinking twice.
"I won't do it again. I'm not a liar, it's a mistake" she apologized.
"Aww, you are trying to get out of trouble by talking nice, huh?" Ivan retorts, his voice laced with a hint of playfulness.
"Well, I suppose I can let it slide this time" he said, which immediately made Hannah's heavy heart lighten a bit. However, before she could speak, Ivan continued talking once again.
"Just remember, Hannah. I don't take kindly to being pushed away either. You better be ready for what comes the next time it happens" Ivan spoke in a gentle tone, but it didn't help in hiding his wickedness.
With a smirk, he pulls his hand away from her grasp, his eyes lingering on her for a moment. He then grabbed her arms as he helped her stand up on her feet, pulling her up from her crouching position.
"Now, since it's dark already and I have other things to do, I will be sending you home for now" he said. Ivan's words reverberated in the air, a mix of authority and dismissiveness can be heard as he speaks.
Hannah couldn't be bothered with it, though, as the mere mention of being able to return home brought a flicker of relief to her heart, like a desperate ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds.
★★★★★
"Is this where you live?" Ivan asked as he looked out of the car window at the imposing gates of the Salvador estate, his eyes scanning the grandeur of the mansion beyond.
He shifted the car into park, the engine purring softly as he cut it off.
"Yes," Hannah replied in a low voice, still in a bit of a daze as she tried to make sense of everything that happened to her during the day.
Throughout the whole one hour drive, from the moment that they left the mansion in the mountains where her kidnapper took her, Hannah's mind has been racing with conflicting thoughts as Ivan drove her back to the Salvador estate.
"It seems like Daniel wasn't exaggerating about her family's wealth and power," Ivan thought to himself while still looking at the Salvador estate.
"Now, before we part ways, my love" Ivan suddenly called her, catching her attention.
His interruption broke through Hannah's thoughts, causing her to jump slightly in surprise. She turned to face him, her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"Yes?" Hannah asked, her voice tinged with a hint of caution.
Ivan's smile widened, and his gaze locked onto Hannah's with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. He reached out to gently brush a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch both tender and possessive.
"I wanted to remind you, my love," Ivan said, his voice low and seductive, "that our encounter today was just the beginning. Tomorrow, I will be picking you up from school"
His words made Hannah's expression turn into one of horror. Ivan, on the other hand, didn't bother with it. Instead, he leaned in closer, his lips grazing against her ear as he whispered.
"I trust you won't forget our agreement, will you? You shall remember, my dear, that in my world, silence is your ally, and discretion will ensure your safety," he threatened.
Hannah felt like her heart would explode out of fear as she answered him. "I swear I won't tell"
A wicked smile played on Ivan's lips as he heard Hannah's response, but he decided not to make things harder for her anymore. After all, there are still some things that he needs to do once he gets back to his place.
"Very good, my dear," Ivan said, his voice low and filled with satisfaction. "I knew I could count on you to understand the consequences of crossing me"
He pulled away, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment longer before he straightened himself, his demeanor returning to its deceptive charm.
"Until we meet again, my love," Ivan said, his tone filled with a wicked allure.
***🦋***
(Special Monologue, Chibi Version)
Hannah: Author-nim! Save me, your male lead is so scary (˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )
Miss Pretty Author: I'm sorry, Hannah. I'm scared too ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)
Hannah: Author-nim ╭∩╮( •̀_•́ )╭∩╮
Miss Pretty Author: Don't worry. You're the female lead! I know you could handle him. (ง ◉ _ ◉)ง
Hannah: I can't! (╥ ω ╥)
★★★★★
Author's Note
So what can you guys say about Ivan? He's such a dick, isn't he? Are you curious as well how their relationship will progress? If you are, slide to the next chapter and keep reading. I swear I won't disappoint you a lot. Have fun reading, lovelies!
[Ivan! You're such a menace you sadistic brat! How could you terrorize and make Hannah cry like that?!] ( ᗒᗣᗕ )