Dark Romance: A Cruel Obsession

“If I don’t get back to lie in my bed soon, my doctor will think I died in a corner somewhere,” Vilem joked. He bid farewell to Vivian and hurried back to the hospital by car.

The sunset today was spectacular, a fiery red spread across the sky. Vivian stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, admiring it for a while, as Luzia had not yet returned from her aunt’s house.

Haylee was already preparing dinner. Vivian decided to pull Mare into playing a game.

“No,” Mare refused without hesitation. “It will distract me and prevent me from protecting you wholeheartedly.”

“Am I some sort of glass artifact, always on the verge of shattering?” Vivian couldn’t understand his logic. “I don’t see how Monopoly can be so distracting. It’s just a game.”

“Please don’t make this difficult for me.”

Vivian was annoyed by Mare’s stubbornness, which was as irritating as Alajos’s.

Sitting on the sofa and sulking, she was truly bored. She played with a toy for a while, but it failed to bring her joy. Eventually, she picked up the phone to call Los Angeles, needing to talk to her mother for some entertaining suggestions.

In truth, Vivian did not believe her mother could offer any useful advice, for her mother was a weak-willed person, lacking in her father’s love and respect. Yet, Vivian still looked forward to talking to her, hoping to discuss her recent troubles and perhaps get some inspiration.

The phone rang, but no one answered. Was her mother not at home? Were the servants also absent?

Vivian, full of questions, dialed again. This time, a servant answered, but the only response she received was that her mother was busy.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

It was a truly frustrating experience. Vivian looked at the disconnected call and took a deep breath. She decided not to make a fuss with the servant, but she would need to make another call later.

Dinner was only for Vivian and Mare since Luzia stayed at her aunt’s, making Vivian’s day feel even more dull. She decided to take a bath.

Switching to a different scented bubble bath, Vivian relaxed entirely in the tub, the hot water enveloping her skin comfortingly. She closed her eyes and nearly fell asleep.

When she had soaked enough and got out, rinsing off the foam with the shower and wrapping herself in a bath towel, an hour had already passed. Alajos had returned at some point and was sitting in the armchair in front of the fireplace, his whiskey glass empty, yet still in his hand, probably contemplating another drink.

Hearing the bathroom door, he turned his gaze from the balcony to Vivian.

“How did work go?” Vivian walked out under his intense scrutiny.

“What do you want to know? How many people I killed? Or how I killed them?” Alajos set down his glass. “Do you want to know?”

Vivian’s eyes widened in fear, and she shook her head.

Alajos’s gaze lingered on her exposed cleavage, the desire in his brown eyes burning intensely.

Vivian nervously swallowed and grabbed a piece of clothing, darting back into the bathroom.

But Alajos’s tall figure was already pressing upon her, his hand clasping her wrist and pulling her into his embrace. “To the bed.”

“No,” Vivian clutched the bath towel tightly.

“Do you not want to?” Alajos’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“I…” Vivian shook her head, trying to break free from Alajos’s hold. “We haven’t come to an agreement, you can’t…”

“I thought I made myself clear.” Alajos tightened his grip on her wrist, moving her onto the bed. “Making love to me is your obligation.”

“No,” Vivian trembled, and as her back touched the cold silk of the duvet, she shivered more violently. “Please, I don’t want this.”

Alajos stared at her intently, the desire in his eyes turning into flames of anger. He was determined to show Vivian his rough side, to ensure she would never again dare to use sex as a bargaining chip. But when he saw her wet, blue eyes, he found he couldn’t bring himself to shred her defenses.

Damn it! Alajos cursed under his breath. This was definitely not a good thing!

To stop the pity in his heart from spreading further, Alajos released Vivian’s wrist. The woman’s skin was delicate, and without much force, he had left red marks on her wrists.

Alajos left the bedroom angrily and did not return for the rest of the night. Vivian had no idea where he had gone; perhaps he slept in another guest room, or maybe he had left the apartment altogether.

Vivian had a restless sleep that night, frightened by the thought of Alajos returning to force himself on her against her will, and yet also dreading the continuation of her life under his cold indifference if he did not return.

Feeling nearly tormented to madness, Vivian descended the stairs the next morning with dark circles under her eyes.

Luzia, upon seeing her, gasped in shock, “My goodness, Vivian, I was only gone for a day, how did you end up like this? Did something happen?”

Mare looked at her with concern.

Vivian had no desire to discuss the nightmares of the previous night; she rubbed her face and said, “Maybe I should go back to bed and get some more sleep.”

“You should have breakfast first,” Luzia suggested, bringing over her breakfast. “Is it about Alajos?”

Vivian sighed and began to eat her breakfast with a wooden expression.

Luzia knew she had guessed correctly by the look on Vivian’s face, but she felt helpless to assist her.

“Cheer up, dear,” Luzia clapped her hands together with a radiant smile. “Guess what I brought back from my aunt’s estate?”

Luzia’s cheerful demeanor indeed lifted the spirits, and after a few bites of her breakfast, Vivian perked up a bit, “What?”

“Strawberries, blueberries, and honey!” Luzia announced excitedly. “We can have Haylee teach us how to make delicious jam to go with toast. And with the honey, we can make sweet pancakes, I remember you like pancakes.”

“To be honest, I do like sweets,” Vivian said with a smile.

“That’s wonderful.” Seeing Vivian’s smile, Luzia breathed a sigh of relief, “Hurry up and finish your breakfast, and let’s get moving.”

Luzia had brought back quite a lot of strawberries and blueberries. Vivian kept some to eat fresh and made the rest into jam, planning to give some to Willem if there was any left over.

Staying busy could momentarily distract one from their troubles, at least until Alajos appeared again. When night fell and she was alone with Alajos in the bedroom, an awkward silence filled the space between them-avoidance, and nothing to say. It was wrong.

Vivian thought that perhaps she should do something to change the situation.

But Alajos began to get busier, his work hours stretched endlessly, sometimes not coming home for the entire night.

Where could he be at such times? A bar? A club? Or perhaps at some mistress’s apartment?

Vivian’s heart began to sink. Ever since she had rejected Alajos’s invitation to bed, he had not made that request again. If a man’s sexual desires are not fulfilled, what would he do? – Find a mistress!