Jenkins loomed over Kasa as he tightened his grip, making it difficult for the man to breath.
" I have just one word for you, " he paused, leaning closer to whisper into the man's ears.
His lips moved and Kasa's face turned ashen, fear stricken.
This was not what he expected. He'd known he was entangling himself years ago, but he never imagined it would become this grave.
He had made the choice three years ago; now he had to pay the price.
Kasa was grovelling in poverty till he was finally presented with the choice to make a decision, and now it had led him to something bitterly gruesome.
Jenkins grip tightened further and he began struggling, fighting for his life as the air slowly left him, his consciousness struggling to not slip away.
Kasa shaky hands reached up, fumbling weakly at the nobleman's grip squeezing the life out of his neck. He was so sure the man wouldn't kill him no matter what, but seeing how things went tonight—he knew he was utterly doomed.
The crazed look in Jenkins eyes intensified as Kasa struggled to stay alive, his lips crooked in dark amusement.
Rules were rules, Kasa had just one thing to do but he blew his chances , like the foolish man that he was.
The loud cry of the small boy, reminded him of the current situation.
' There's a witness '
He loosened his grip and turned to sit down back as if nothing had happened, he took his cup and resumed drinking like he hadn't just tried to strangle someone to death.
Kasa just stood, shaken. He thought the nobleman wouldn't kill him as he still needed something from him, but that small yet effective action had shown him how valued he really wasn't. He sucked in deep breath, still reeling from the shock that he almost died.
He didn't dare make a sound as he tried to calm himself, wiping off the small speck of tears that had gathered around the rim of his eyes at the verge of death.
Amara ran back outside as soon as she heard her brothers cry. She stormed out running towards him before enveloping him in a hug.
" It's alright don't cry " she gently cooed, hoping to get him to calm down.
Her small, fierce eyes darted from her father to the nobleman's, who stared back with the same look of interest she despised . She shot him a glare, but he just gently smiled back unbothered like he did nothing wrong.
Amara ignored the nobleman and carried her brother inside. Her mother came outside this time around with more wine and snack to go along with it.
" My, aren't you the most filial wife. " He teased waiting to see the fire flare in her eyes, and she didn't disappoint. She threw him the dirtiest glare she could muster with all her strength.
The man just won't stop bothering her, he needed to know when to stop, but it seemed like she only edged him on. His amused smirk said it all
She glanced at her husband wondering why he was so quiet and decoil. Of course he always was quiet whenever the nobleman was around but it just felt different tonight.
' What exactly happened here ? '
it was a question that bothered her so much, seeing her husband who always behaved like nothing or no one could touch him now looking shrunken in his seat.
She waltzed to his side, pouring wine into the cup before him. Her eyes searched his, but he avoided her gaze, refusing to meet her gentle stare.
She knew Kasa was troubled, but by what ? She had no idea, he never opened up to her. She really thought he had paid his debt completely, but seeing the nobleman again after several years—she knew something wasn't right.
Her eyes found his again one last time, trying to decipher the reason behind his stressed look .
Jenkins watched them from over his cup of wine, his amusing smirk was no longer present. What remained was an ugly grimace, as he watched the naive woman worrying for her husband. Anger simmered within Jenkins. This woman was just too foolish and naive to waste her devotion on a man like Kasa.
" Funny thing about choice, Kasa" he said, his eyes glinting like a predator's " They have a way of following you around , don't they ? Like shadows in the dark —always there even when you think you've left them behind. " He leaned forward as though about to tell a secret.
" Some shadows, you see aren't content to stay hidden. They creep.... linger.
... and eventually, they find their way into the light. " He finished off, his eyes locked on the woman sitted beside her husband.
Totally not paying attention to the man who was now pale faced. Cold sweat broke out on his back.
The amounts of stress this nobleman had, put him through tonight was seriously too much.
' Does he know ? ' kasa questions in his mind fear settling in along with panic.
' no he doesn't "
" No he doesn't "
He chanted severely in his head, Jenkins slowly reveal his very evil grin.
He knew it. Kasa was so easy to manipulate and he was just beginning.
He plans to strip the man bare in front of his wife and show how worthless he actually is.
Kasa was not scared of his wife, it was rather his reputation. Finding out that a husband cheated isn't the most dreadful part,it was if the woman decided to leave the marriage of her own accord.
A man leaving was okay but if the woman leaves then it spells him as utterly useless.
The greatest insult a married man could ever receive.
Jenkins smiled brightly when Kasa didn't reply to any of his words, the man just kept mum.
Unknown to him, his wife's eyes trailed downwards to catch sight of the bruise that had now come to form around his neck.
" What happened to your neck, Kasa?
She questioned, worried for him.
' it couldn't be the nobleman right ? "
" More importantly, Kasa ," Jenkins jumped in without care, waiting to see both their reaction.
" Where were you last night ? " .....