He just stood there watching me writhe on the floor, his eyes as cold as stone. Not a flicker of pity, not even anger. Just indifference.
“I didn’t…” I tried to speak, but the words broke apart as my body twisted in pain. Nobody cared. Nobody listened.
The last thing I saw was his face, calm and detached, as the darkness pulled me under.
***
“Anika? Wake up.”
His voice dragged me back from the dark. My eyelids felt like lead, but when I finally opened them, Wilbert was standing by my bed. He let out a heavy sigh when he saw me awake. His hand came down to brush the hair off my face, but I turned my head away without thinking. He froze and pulled back like I had burned him.
“Anika, I know you’re upset,” he said, his tone sharp and cold. “But this time, you went too far. I can’t keep spoiling you.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Spoiling me? Wilbert, did you even bother to find out the truth?”
He wasn’t expecting me to snap back. His face darkened instantly. “You know what you did. I’m not here to fight with you. I came to tell you the solution. Because of your tantrums, Nivianne’s reputation is ruined. When you leave the hospital, you will host a banquet and apologize to her publicly. You will admit the rumors were your mistake and you will restore her standing. As for your father, his state will be explained as a normal risk of brain aneurysm surgery.”
For a moment, I thought I misheard. Then I saw his expression. He meant every word.
“Are you insane?” My voice cracked. “My father is like this because of her, and you want me to save her name?”
His eyes hardened. “Enough. I’m not asking you. This is what you will do. And don’t forget, your father is still on the edge of life, and your brother is rotting in prison.”
My heart went ice cold. It was always like this. No matter how much I wanted to resist, he reminded me of the chains around me. My father. My brother. I had no choice. I swallowed my anger and closed my eyes. “Fine. I’ll do it. But you get my brother out first.”
He hesitated only a moment before nodding. “One month. That’s your deadline.”
I agreed.
.....
When the day came, his driver picked me up. Wilbert walked into the venue with Nivianne on his arm, never leaving her side. He didn’t have to say anything. His eyes ordered me around like I was nothing but his servant.