Chapter 3

• "You don't have to go with me here, Mister Mendeleev. I don't plan on running away, I just need to change clothes and grab some stuff." He raises his brow. My eyes traveled back to his hand. His eyes followed mine, and when he saw where I was shamelessly looking, he hid it back on his waist.
• Ender walks around. He took a frame from my nightstand. It was me and Kuya Maxence back when we were kids. He's in middle school while I study here at home as a grade-schooler. I smiled. Seeing him studying in a normal school made me envious. That was the first time I thought that my life was odd.
• After a fleeting second, he puts it back on the stand and glances at me.
• "You're not bringing any of your things. Just change your clothes, and we will leave." I nodded.
• I enter my walk-in closet and instantly search for a comfy piece of clothes that I wouldn't regret wearing regardless of where we are going. In the end, I decided to go for a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, a jacket and sneakers. The comfort of these clothes is the best in this world.
• "Leave the door open." He demanded even before I could touch it to do so. I gave him that you gotta be kidding me look, but he just shrugged his shoulder as if what he was asking me to do was not a big thing.
• "I just need a minute. I told you I won't run away; I never lied!" I raised my voice a bit because of the frustration he and his demands were making me feel.
• The looks on his eyes sharpen even more. I sighed and nodded in agreement to his order. Did I conquer a country in my past life and make the people's lives there miserable for me to not have a taste of freedom?
• I just want to watch a fireworks display, and now I'm in this situation. These changes will put me in asylum, seriously!
• I hid in the corner and changed my clothes as fast as I could. I succeeded in changing my jeans without any problem, but when I was about to remove my T-shirt, he suddenly barged in. Panicky, I covered my barely naked chest with my hands.
• "Turn your back!" I yelled. Luckily, he did it without fuss and argument.
• "You're taking so much time---,"
• "I swear, I will slit your throat with the blades of my eyebrow shaver if you'll dare to turn that head of yours." I pick up my shirt that fell off the ground. With my eyes never leaving him, I wear it and the jacket. I fixed my hair and cleared my throat.
• He turned around. "So, there's a sprinkle of violence deep within you." He moves his forefinger like he's telling me that it's not a good thing.
• I forced a smile. "I said it because of uncontrolled emotion. Maybe I could slit your throat if you turn your head earlier." I lift my shoulder like nothing embarrassing happened. Who knows? We make impossible things possible when we're threatened," I said and left him behind.
• "Leave your phone too." I'm sure. Even if someone sent over a great painter to draw my expression, it'd be impossible. The last statement of Ender before he went straight to the room's door made my face contorted.
• My cell phone is my life! It's like my personal oxygen and he'll take it away from me, too.
• "No!" I declared bravely, disagreeing with his command. His intimidating eyes trace my face. I sighed exasperatedly.
• "No," I repeat with a calmer voice now. We heard sets of approaching distinct steps. Later on, my parents show themselves.
• "What is happening?" Daddy asked. He obviated his eyes from Ender and directed it to me. "Did he hurt you?" I shook my head.
• "N-No, but he's telling me to leave my phone behind," I said while gesturing to the unbothered hoodlum. Slowly, he shifted his eyes back to Ender, who was watching us patiently.
• "Ibixa, let's go." He pulled me away from my parents. I couldn't help but worry as I saw tears in my mother's eyes. I wanna wipe them off. I was planning to do it, but his hold in my arms was too tight that I felt paralyzed.
• Maxence took a step forward that made him smirk. "Just let her bring her phone for our communication," Maxence Fivel spoke. He's not trying to negotiate. He's demanding him. Everyone knows that it is what he's doing.
• God, no! His bossy attitude won't give me any help here.
• Endeavor's smirk slowly turns into a mocking and playful smile. He put his arm around my shoulder, which I tried to get rid of, but nah. "There will be no communication between your family and Ibixa after we leave this filthy house." My mother, Elena gasped. Maximus helped her stand up as she almost lost her balance and fell.
• With the remaining strength that I have, I pull away from Ender. "You can't do that to me. Yes, I will be your wife but you're not gonna be my master. There's no way I'll do everything you ask me to."
• "Oh, Darling, wait for it and you will see." That was his last word before he pulled me. He's walking way too fast that every time I take a step, I stumble even if I'm already wearing sneakers.
• "Ibixa! Maximus, no... Our daughter, my daughter." I looked back. I tried to seize our movements to bid goodbye to my mother but he won't let me.
• "Get inside," he said after he opened the same Audi R8 that I crashed earlier that night.
• I bit my lower lip to deny my sobs that want to be noticed. I heard Ender tsk before he started the car's engine.
• "They are to blame, Ibixa. Things wouldn't be so hard for you only if they remained truthful to their words. Maybe you'd get the benefit of being caged in a bigger hedge and not in the four walls of your family's mansion."