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Some scenes in this chapter may be harsh for the reader.

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Third person's POV

The droplets of water poured down from the dark clouds that laid in the blue colored evening sky. The raindrops were shed onto the surfaces of many windshields of cars. Some cars were honking with enraged drivers behind their wheels, while others waited silently within the traffic.

A man with blond hair which was brushed into a messy look, stared out of his window at the clouds in disbelief, as he compared it to someone he knew.

His car was one amongst the storm of vehicles within the roadway that were eagerly waiting to escape the heavy traffic jam. But he wasn't feeling the same, to say he was relaxed would be a lie. He was thinking about her, the one that suffered in his hands and the one that would spend the rest of her life with him. It was Violet Cherie who he was thinking about deeply, with a heartbroken and sorrowfull emotion.

Maybe it was the empty look in her eyes that revealed all the tears within them and the soft and innocent look that reminded him of Violet. He felt broken as a person and his confidence was shattered since she hated him. But he understood, for what he had done in the past, he deserved it. He should've supported her and sought for help but he was sunk into his own fantasies to care.

Adrian Hayes was committed to change Violet's thoughts on him. He wanted to prove to her that he was never a monster that she had thought he had been. And that he'll never be such an ignorant and evil person.

He wasn't sure about how he felt for Violet, respect or care? Or something more of an emotion that Adrian himself couldn't figure out.

He was on his way to collect Violet from her house for a dinner that was planned by Mr and Mrs Hayes for celebrating New Years Eve. They wanted to talk to Violet and solve any questions she had about the contract for the marriage, without the interuptence of Audrey, Mark and Christy Cherie.

Adrian believed that it was perfect timing for explaining why Violet was to be married to him. He doubted that Mr and Mrs Cherie would've told her.

Adrian was too lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize the noises of angry horns barking from behind him. In a sudden move, Adrian shook his head away from the clouds and squinted his eyes before recognising the a honking cars behind him for not responding to the bright green signal.

Adrian quickly started up his car and sped away to Mr and Mrs Cherie's house, not aware of what was longing for him to see.

———

The sound of the doorbell rang as Adrian patiently waited on the porch for Violet. He just wanted to collect her and get out of the house as soon as possible, before the hawk like eyes would catch him and describe a ruined image of Violet to him.

Adrian only felt distate when he came to think about Christy, Mr and Mrs Cherie. He once was young and foolish enough to trust them, but once he figured out their true faces, he was better off not talking with them. After all that happened to Violet in the past, they didn't care about her and they never will.

Luck wasn't on Adrian's side when the front door was swung open revealing Christy. Once her unusually tense eyes landed on Adrian, they worsened in shock. Adrian realised the tension within her eyes as she nervously chuckled, like she was hiding something.

Christy cleared her throat and brushed her hair off her shoulder and asked Adrian as sweetly as she could. "Adrian... hey. What are you doing here?" Her voice trembled a little. Adrian frowned and pushed her to the side, inviting himself into the house before replying to her. "I came here to pick Violet up for dinner. Where's Violet?" The raindrops rolled off of his coat and onto the floor as he stepped further into the house.

Adrian looked around carefully at the walls which were decorated with beige wallpaper, before eyeing the broken glass vase on the old wooden floorboard. His breath hitched as he gazed at the splashes of red liquid that surfaced on the broken glass, thinking if it could be blood.

"Violet never mentioned about a d-dinner. She is not e-even here at the moment." Christy mumbled. Almost too fast to identify that she was lying. Adrian knew Violet must've been here by configuring the suspicious attitude of Christy. Adrian walked further into the house as his shoes clattered the ground. Once he reached the living room he stopped to a halt.

Christy followed behind Adrian quickly, trying to stop him from seeing the results of the event that had taken place just earlier. "Hey! Stop! You don't just walk in without-" she shouted at Adrian but it was too late as he found the large dents in the walls and tables and lamps broken to pieces. Adrian was confused.

Mr and Mrs Cherie left the house a few hours before and had ordered Christy to clean up the evidence of the event but she didn't.

Adrian turned around and quietly glared at the mess that stood before him. His blue eyes darted around until he spotted a knife and ripped pieces of cloth beside it. A chill went down his spine. "What happened here, Christy? Why is there such a mess here?" Adrian questioned Christy as he never took of his eyes off the crisis before him.

Christy opened and closed her mouth like a fish, not sure what to say. She was speechless. Just before Adrian was about to ask her again, the doorbell rang. Christy ignored the doorbell cause her entire body felt sick by fear of Adrian finding out of what had happened.

The doorbell rang again after a few moments. "You should answer the door." Adrian stiffly advised Christy as she frantically nodded her head and scurried away to get the door.

Most items were either damaged or broken. Adrian heard voices at the door as he spotted more blood. His heart was thumping loud enough for him to hear.

"No one named Violet lives here, hey! Stop walking in! I will call the cops if you don't get the f*ck out!" Footsteps emerged from the entrance of the house, followed by speedy ones. "I'm Darcy Steve, Violet's work colleague and friend. I just came in to drop off her bag that she forgot. I dropped her here a few hours ago and watched her enter this house. Stop lying to my face and show me where Viol-"

Darcy Steve stared at the scene of the living room before him, astonished at the sight. Darcy had departed to Violet's home when he found her bag lying in his car, he thought that he would return the bag a few hours later, but he wasn't expecting a disaster.

Darcy's eyes caught Adrian, as Adrian stood like a brick wall. At first he couldn't recognise the man before him. Darcy thought for a few moments until realization dawned onto him. "Wait, I know you."

Adrian never replied to Darcy as he was in a trance of his own, utterly shaken. Adrian gulped feeling a bead of sweat trickle down the side of his face, he suddenly felt hot as if he was almost burning with fear.

Darcy began to repeat his question, but Christy clutched the collar of his shirt in her fist making it crumple like paper.

Christy inhaled deeply and dragged Darcy out of the living room as he stummbled after her, surprised at her actions. "That's enough! You had no right to enter this house without my permission. Now get out." She grunted as she unconsciously knocked over a telephone that was situated on a shelf.

Flinching out of his daze, Adrian took in a sharp intake of air and snapped his head toward Christy and Darcy. Adrian caught sight of Darcy being dragged away by an infuriated Christy as she yelled at him.

Adrian, in a quiet voice grunted. "Christy? Who's that?" He paused as he watched the 2 speed further away, not listening to his voice. Annoyed, Adrian cleared his throat before continuing. "Stop it!" Adrian shouted, attracting the attention of Darcy and Christy.

Darcy raised an eyebrow at Adrian and pushed Christy off of him for which she tumbled onto the door frame followed by a small scream. "Hey, I'm Darcy Steve." He curtly exaperated and prodded up till he was around a metre away from where Adrian was standing.

"Good to meet you Darcy, I'm Adrian Hayes." Adrian gave him a small smile and put forward his hand for a handshake, unsure of who Darcy was. In return, Darcy shook Adrian's hand. Darcy knew who this man was, he was the man from the day that Violet had to leave with.

Adrian walked back into he living room and glanced at the scene again with Darcy trailing not far from him. "I think you're re here for Violet as well?" Darcy asked Adrian as he nodded. "Yeah. I've been waiting here for sometime, but she isn't here. Anyway, what is it that you need to be here for?" Adrian asked and stuffed his hands through his wet hair as Darcy produced a small handbag from his coat pocket.

"This belongs to Violet." He said and looked around the living room again with a frown on his face.

"I don't know what happened here. If you don't mind me asking-" Darcy stumbled upon his words when a hand gripped his tightly, he released a frustrated sigh that Adrian was quick enough to learn. "Christy." Adrian glared at Christy in a harsh gaze that made her weaken her grip on Darcy.

"Anyway," He sideway glanced in disgust at Christy then looked back at Adrian. "How do you know Violet? What is she to you?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing. Violet's my fiancé. I've known her since my childhood."

Adrian replied. Darcy's eyes widened on hearing Adrian's calm response.

Fiancé? When? How? Violet had never spoken a word about this to him.

Adrian noticed the shock in Darcy's face and quickly added. "We decided to get married around a month ago, but I think she didn't tell you this. Anyway, how do you know her?"

Darcy, still aghast managed to quiver his mouth into an answer. "W-well, Violet and I work together at an orphanage, we're best friends." He frowned. "No Violet never mentioned anything about you which is weird."

Adrian then realized that Darcy was from that day when he collected Violet from the hospital and thought that he was her boyfriend. How wrong could he have been! He also mistakenly told Mrs Cherie too.

Adrian sighed and looked at Christy, who seemed to act anxious and teriffied. "Okay, Christy show me where Violet is. This man claims to have seen her here." He gestured to Darcy.

"I t-t-told you she isn't here." Christy fake coughed, trying to get rid of the tremble in her voice. Christy was determined to not give up lying or else she would know of what to expect from her parents, Darcy and Adrian.

Darcy shook with anger."This is ridculous! I saw her enter this house." He hollered then threw his hands in the air. "Lie one more time or-" he cut himself off before ending that comment and stomped his foot on the weak floorboard, making it creak.

Adrian burned his eyes onto Christy as his patience was wearing thin too. But he knew how to make Christy spit the truth out. "Chisty." Adrian gritted. "I'll ask you one last time, where's Violet? Lie, and I'll call off the money." He snarled and whispered the last bit lowly for Darcy to not hear.

Money and her security mattered most to Christy over Violet, even if her family's name would be tarnished when the word of Violet being abused would be leaked out to the police. She decided to tell Adrian the whereabouts of Violet.

Christy gulped before muttering. "She's upstairs in her ro-room." Adrian pushed her aside and Darcy followed after him. "What are you up to?" Adrian ignored him as he pushed himself up the stairs quickly.

Meanwhile, Christy stared at Adrian and Darcy, aware of the stupidity of her act. She wished that she didn't tell Adrian about Violet but he would've still checked the house, and she was afraid that if Adrian called off the money, then the dreams and hopes of her and her family would to be tarnished.

She commited to a mistake that she couldn't take back. She was trapped of options at that point. Christy silently followed the men with a feeling that she would lose everything.

Adrian stomped on the creaking floorboards of the upstairs corridor. "Where is she?" Adrian twisted the doorknob of several rooms whilst checking inside them for Violet. "Violet is somewhere here." He glared at Christy who stiffened and shook in fear, cause she knew that she was finished. "But I don't know where."

Darcy's eyes widened. "Did anything happen to her?" All Adrian did was glance at Darcy questionably before turning on his heels and walking further down the corridor. He knew that Christy wasn't going to tell him anymore information about the room where Violet was.

Adrian utilized the same proccedure he used for the other doors which contained nothing but mourning silence, on the door he stood opposite to. Unfortunately, the door was locked shut and Adrian cursed under his breath.

On the other hand, Christy cheered unevidently as a smile of relief broke out on her face. She didn't think of the lock for Violet's room. Gladly, her parents kept the key with them.

"Where's the key?" Adrian spun around to Christy and gritted his teeth when she shrugged her shoulders gleamingly. Darcy sighed and walked to the door in a lazy matter, not aware of the scene to be unfolded on the other side of the door.

Darcy stood at a distance from the door. Adrian raised his eyebrows uncertainly. "What are you doing?" He questioned. Darcy lifted his leg and pushed it at a force against the door, cracking the door away from its lock.

Shortly, he stood back to his original stance and grinned at Adrian. "Now we can get in." Darcy kicked the door open and gestured for Adrian to enter. Darcy had experience from participating in karate classes when he was younger and at that very moment, Adrian claimed Darcy's skill as if it were a gift.

Whilst Adrian hurriedly pushed the unlocked door open, Darcy trailled closely behind him. As soon as Adrian had entered the room, his face contorted into horror and a heart racing pulse pumped violently through his veins as his mouth descended open.

Darcy, unfazed by Adrian's sudden ridgid state, poked his head over Adrian's shoulder. Only to pale upon the gruesome scene that would permanently mark a dark vision in both of their minds, forever.

There laid Violet uncomfortably against the edge of her bed frame. Her body was battered of bruises and fresh scars, looking lifeless and soaked with her own blood.

The sharp glint of a blade that was captured within her weak hand stood proudly with traces of blood, remarking the cruelty of such an object that could influence a person to commit heartbreaking acts.

But there laid Violet, with a calm expression on her face. It could trick someone into thinking that she was actually at peace.

But sometimes wishes were not granted, for the better.