Chapter 7

• Soon the flight arrived, even though me and Alessandra weren't from Italy.
• I was born in Egypt, she was from America. My Mother, Isis, was from Egypt, she named me.
• Father brought her to our place one day, claiming she was sold in an auction so he got her as a gift for me.
• So I could socialize and have a friend and ever since then.
• "Zari?"
• There was no one but her for me but later we shifted to Venice and had been stuck there since then.
• "Zariah?"
• How things changed in a matter of snap were quite troubling, having no sibling truly brought me a disadvantage and now I had become what he said-
• A puppet bound to obligations.
• But things were fun once. Me, Alessandra, De Villiers, Nathaniel. All of us grew up together.
• "Zariah!"
• "Huh?"
• "Where are you lost, Zari?"
• Nathaniel snapped his finger before me, I blinked, coming back to reality from my fazed state.
• "Have they arrived yet?" I asked, tentatively after noticing Nathaniel's frown.
• "Zariah."
• My heart skipped a beat due to his words echoing in my mind as I turned and saw Father standing behind me with a pissed expression.
• "Father." I breathed out, acting all cool while burning from inside.
• "How was your flight?" I asked, tone turning cold turning to Alessandra.
• Having those arresting blonde hairs and light blue eyes; a perfect blond beauty, everything about her spells perfection and grace.
• "Zariah, how are you?" She greeted me sweetly, giving me a side hug.
• "Great, you, Al?" I asked, curling my lips upward but not in a smile. Nathaniel smirked, kissing the back of her palm.
• "Pensavo di non sorridere oggi poi ho visto te." (I didn't think I was going to smile today but then I saw you)
• I cannot believe he used this pickup line on my best friend. I stared at his face, indulging in the rage collecting between my eyes.
• "Un semplice ciao andrebbe bene." (A simple Hi would be fine.)
• Alessandra retorted, pulling her hand back as they smirked at each other.
• Nathaniel chuckled, putting his one hand in his pocket and the other around my shoulder, hitching my breath.
• "No, seriously, you truly ruined my whole mood."
• His tone suddenly turned dominant with his jaw clenching, reflecting the detest he holds in his eyes.
• "Nath-"
• Father tried to say something but I cut him off.
• "Aren't you guys tired? Why don't we go home first?" I offered, smiling.
• "Yeah, we bothered to pick you two since you didn't bother to attend the marriage."
• Nathaniel mocked him with a chuckle, trailing his hand down to my back, pressing me closer to him.
• "See you at home, Come, Zari."
• He smiled lovingly at me but I knew it was anything but affectionate.
• Dragging back to his car, amplifying my impulses by his keen actions inclining my breaths to his strings.
• "Nathaniel." I called him, the distress elicited on my face.
• "What?" He asked coldly, opening my door, motioning me to sit.
• "Will you stop it?" I asked, almost irritated.
• "It doesn't matter, doll. We are leaving already."
• He smirked and the sinister glimmer in his eyes alarmed me about his intentions which are going to fasten fetters to imprison me in his world.
• "That doesn't mean you will insult my Father like this." I argued.
• "Oh really? I think I can." He scoffed, leaning back, grabbing my wrist, pulling me closer to him to feel the seethe blazing in his eyes.
• "You think you can control me?" He mocked, grip turning rigid on my wrist, I pressed my teeth together, glaring at him.
• "Leave my hand." I said sternly.
• "Ah, this fake courage."
• He chuckled darkly, leaving me, getting back to his seat.
• Rolling my eyes off from him, I rubbed my wrist, muttering curses under my breath as we drove off to Ezekiel Mansion without exchanging further words.
• At this point, I didn't even want to talk to him, it would simply ruin my whole mood and smear my frontage.
• "We are here." He said.
• I didn't reply and got out and was about to stand beside Father but he held my hand in his with an arduous grip.
• Holding up his growl which made my heart race, bracing myself for the upcoming tribulation awaiting me.
• "Welcome home, dear." Mum came, greeting us.
• We all sat for lunch as Father asked, "How's everything?"
• "Better than it ever was."
• Nathaniel returned him a mocking smile, frowning at this statement, Father cleared his throat.
• "I hope you will take care of my daughter."
• I didn't know how to react, did he truly mean what he said or it must be a pretense as I had never heard Father saying it before.
• "You don't have to tell me this." Nathaniel muttered. I smiled nervously, unsure of how to react.
• "When is your flight?" Alessandra asked, trying to change the topic.
• "Tomorrow." I replied.
• "You are leaving that early?" She whined in disappointment.
• "It wouldn't sound early if you could have been here."
• Nathaniel didn't even miss his single chance to taunt Father.
• "Are you done, Zariah?" Nathaniel asked, finishing his food.
• "Yeah." I hummed, looking up at him.
• "Good, show me our room. I shall stay with you." He said sternly.
• Looking dead in the eye, simply enhancing his rage by his demeanor and being on a higher status, he knew he had us wrapped around him.
• "You have been here many times." Father said from behind.
• "Yeah, but I want my wife near me, is that a problem?" He hissed.
• Turning his predatory gaze to me which bolted up my body to not induce more rage in him.
• What was with him?
• But then again, he was always rude with him.
• "Let's go." I said, taking his arm, my heart skipped a beat when I touched him.
• Taking him to my room, praying in my heart for his aversion to loosening up a little but to no avail.