Chapter 25 - The Charming Devil

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Mr. Machi barely came to the Siren Home but any day he was there, that means there was trouble or some other serious issue. The Nun observed him from the CCTV as he bounced into the establishment looking as devilish and charming as he always did. 

WWhat had brought him here this time? Was he here to issue more threats? What had she possibly done now? The last time he had shown up, he had made it abundantly clear that she belonged to him for as long as she lived. Her role was to serve at the Siren Home and provide her body to him whenever he desired, or else he would wreak havoc in the lives of her sister and niece. It wasn't just that she didn't find her job enjoyable; at times, she grew weary and resentful of it.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the door to her office swung open, revealing Mr. Machi.

"Welcome Sir. This is quite a surprise visit"

"Really?Is that how to greet your superior?" He asked. 

She stood from her seat to meet him but he ignored her, walking towards her vacant seat and sinking into it. 

"I see you are enjoying your new role all too well and you seem to have forgotten your place?" He said, placing his tobacco in his lips. 

"Of course not… I haven't…"

"Then why aren't you greeting me properly?" He barked "who do you think you are? I made you Margaret and I deserve every form of respect!"

The Nun hurried to his side and knelt down, looking away from him. 

"That's more like it!" He said placing his expensive shoes on her shoulder. He stared at her for a while waiting to see if she would protest but she remained meek. 

"Don't ever forget yourself!"

"Yes sir"

"So tell me…" he said, taking his legs off her shoulder and drawing very close to her face. "Tell me, why one of my girls is living in my son's house?"

"I am sorry but I am confused. I had no idea you had a son or that he came her…"

"Are you not required to do a background check on the clients you give my girls to? Tell me!" He yelled in her face, grabbing her jaw roughly. 

"I did… I … you must be talking about the young man who stormed in here looking for M. I couldn't stop him. He was insistent and I didn't have the time!"

"Yes, that's my son, stubborn like his father. You've messed things up . He plans to marry her! And I can't let that happen because one day it will come to haunt me. He's in love with her, can you imagine!"

"And once she has her freedom, who knows what would happen? But he signed a contract never to let her be free!"

"I don't care! I don't want her in my home. It's too close to home and one day she may figure it all out or maybe son will. I am not going to let the marriage happen. You should know better about our clientele. My son isn't it! And he will ruin everything I have built. We have to do something about this. It's time to put Niki to work!"

"Of course! I will amend my msistakes!"

"That you will do but you have to be smart about it. You cannot get to her without going through my son. So you have to do this smartly. If he as much as suspects that I have a hand in what will happen to her, my life will be over. He already blames me for his mother's death. So, Margaret this has to be a smooth work. Make Niki understand that!"

"Niki can't be controlled, maybe we should…"

"Shut your mouth!" He grabs her by the neck "no more excuses! Control Niki. Find a way to infiltrate my son's home and get that girl back here or eliminate her completely. Do you understand?" 

"Yes!" The nun manages to say after Mr. Machi lets her go. 

"Good! That marriage will never happen!" He vows, squinting his eyes in determination. 

——————-

Just two weeks after Cross had promised her father that he would marry Meredith, he followed through with it. Meredith couldn't quite comprehend why, and whenever she questioned the haste of his decision, he would remind her of her belonging to him and his current desire to marry her.

With little time for wedding preparations, they opted for an intimate ceremony. Cross procured a lovely white gown for Meredith, while he himself donned a designer shirt and plain trousers. It wasn't the grand wedding she had imagined; instead, it was just the two of them standing on the beach, with a reverend father pronouncing them husband and wife. It felt surreal, but they weren't entirely alone.

She noticed Cross's father watching from behind them, a frown on his face. After the wedding, father and son spoke and Cross came to inform that there was going to be a family dinner celebration for their wedding a week later. 

And now, she was standing at the kitchen counter, directing the house helps on what to do like the mistress of a house she was supposed to be a slave in. It wasn't really necessary for her to tell the helps what to do but she was just too nervous to meet Cross's family. What will she say to them? She was way below their class and her relationship with Cross was not a real thing. She felt so sick that she was about to gulp a glass of alcohol when Cross stepped in and stopped her. 

"You shouldn't be hiding out here. You are my wife now and belong right beside me."

"Like I had a choice" she rolled her eyes while Cross gestured for her to follow him. 

When she got to the outdoor setting for their party, she was shocked to find Marc sitting on the large dinner table like he owned the house and there beside was Valerie. 

"Marc…" she questioned 

"He apologized but I let him stay only because it's a celebration and I just wanted to show my father that this would happen whether or not he likes it!"

"You are doing all this to prove a point of your father? Did you consider my feelings at all?"

"This is not the time!" He groaned 

"My family is waiting. They will try to intimidate you, don't let it get to you. Especially my aunt." He said, placing a hand on her back. 

Meredith entered the outdoor setup for their wedding celebration, her legs unsteady beneath her. The guests seated at the table watched her with disdain, and she felt a creeping fear that she might stumble due to their judgmental gazes.

"Is this your wife? This?" remarked an older woman, her eyes fixed on Meredith's presence.

"Aunt, yes, she's my wife! As you can see, we are married!"

"What? I was expecting to see a more refined lady, but this isn't it. What's her name, and who is she?" the woman inquired as Meredith took her seat, attempting to conceal her embarrassment.

"She's my wife! That's all you need to know!" Cross responded, gripping her hand firmly.

"Who is she, then? Who is her father? You married a nobody? How could you allow this?" She turned to Cross's father, who continued eating his shrimp, ignoring his sister.

A striking young woman entered the scene, and Cross found himself captivated by her.

"Oh, Beauty, you came!" the aunt exclaimed with excitement as she hugged the beautiful newcomer.

"Cross, how could you leave this beautiful young woman for that? For someone we know nothing about. Can you imagine that?"

"Aunt, please! I won't accept that!"

"It's the truth!" She condescendingly glared at Meredith, who lowered her face in shame.

Cross struggled to regain his composure, knowing that his father had invited Beauty. His father would have delighted in seeing him make a fool of himself in front of his wife, but he couldn't, because he felt nothing for Beauty. Or did he? He realized he had conflicting emotions – hatred and desire – as he watched her take a seat beside him.

Meredith noticed Cross's sudden change in behavior, sensing a history between him and the new lady. Jealousy and anger surged within her as she felt she didn't belong in this situation. It wasn't her life; Cross had forced her into it. And now, he was gazing longingly at another woman. She contemplated walking away, but her attention was drawn to Valerie and Marc, who were staring at her with sinister intent. Their malevolent glares, coupled with Cross's indifference, made her want to flee. At any moment, she might retreat into the house, away from this unsettling gathering. Valerie's continued with her eerie stare confirmed suggesting that she had a sinister motive for being there with Marc. And Meredith promised not to let her guards down with both of them around. But she had no idea Cross's father was the mastermind.