Lauren

Maybe it's the wrong timing, maybe it's the wrong approach or it's just me playing with fire.

I have no idea what to think but stand transfixed, shivering and covered in sweat.

Behind was the paper I have practiced in a month to present to him but I wasn't saying anything.

His eyes were lowered at his wrist cuff which he struggles to button up.

His muscles rippled in such a way that leaves me breathless. His sharp jawline, his sturdy body and those auburn eyes.

I tried to look away but I keep staring. His broad chest has the tail of a dragon sticking out from behind.

There isn't a day I don't sneak to have a peek at it because it's attractive.

It's like he's cast from a different caste and I see no doubt why the ladies swoon around such a beautiful man.

I'm not staring because of love, it's the hate that course throughout my skin for him.

His unbutton sleeve shirt invites me to do the needful but he'd prefer to go out like that.

I was done arranging his backpack and maintaining the distance I always keep when in his room.

I'm closer to the door, the easiest route to sneak out when he starts his madness.

He strain his shoulders, and run his fingers through his hair before it connects with his jaw, a habit he's fun of.

With a smirk suspended on his lips, he says;

"What do you want princess?"

I shudder, stiffen my grip on the paper while my heart thuds.

He lift his eyes to meet my grieved gaze. Cold, terrifying yet hot and tempting.

Raising an arc brow, he beckons on me to speak as my silence only annoys him the more.

"I want a divorce"

There's silence and I swear, he wasn't breathing with those eyes lurching at me.

Then his lips break into a mockery smile as he ceased from what he's doing.

Even the atmosphere's charged with tension as it's just us in this large room of his.

Last time I survived, this time, it's my corpse that will be returning home.

There's just a word he hates most after my name 'divorce'

"What?" He mutters and his voice jolts me back to reality.

He curve his palm in a gesture that depicts I should come closer.

Don't move.

"I want...a... divorce Kyle" I repeated daring not to move closer or I'd be consumed by his wrath.

He heaves a sigh, and tugged his hands in his pockets as he takes calculative steps forward.

My feet move backward until my back gets plastered on the door.

I had intention of running away but surprisedly, I can't even trace the doorknob beside me.

He grab a fistful of my hair, haul me away from door and flung me to the polished marble floor.

My fingers still hurts from scrubbing it like hell earlier. I crawl rolling myself into a ball and suffocating.

He squat low to my position, used a finger to raise my jaw just so our eyes meet.

With that gaze, he stole my breath away and a tingle rushes across my skin, sharp and cold.

I hate him so much that whenever we are this close, I can't think of anything else but him.

"You were saying? Princess"

Silence.

Tears brew up my eyes as I clenched my fists.

I'm running away.

His cruel eyes spot the paper that had fallen from my hand and was just in front of us.

Nervously, I tried to take it but he snatched it, not reading it, he squeezes it into a ball and throws at my face.

Kyle insert my thick black hair between my ears and placed a pitous gaze that's more like a sarcasm.

"Princess, why do you keep breaking my heart?" he coldly whispers, trailing his finger around my cheek.

Silence, except whimpers from my lips.

Kyle draws my face close to his for a kiss but i cock my head slightly away while panting heavily.

He grit his teeth and let go.

"We are tied and can never be inseparable!" He roars pushing my head aside.

While he stands up, I wriggled to the wall closer to me, hug my knees and began to sob.

Peeping through my ruffled hair, I see he has place his phone camera in front of me.

"Hashtag, daddy's princess" he mocked loudly to my ears, taking pictures of me in my depressed state.

Every act he displays on me, he always sends a picture to my family with that hashtag.

More tears pours from my eyes and I felt his grip again on my hair, forcing me to go on my knees.

I did just that with a heavy heart, expecting his next mistreatment.

"Lick it!" He orders leaving his shoe mid-air for me to stick out my tongue.

Without hesitation, I stick my tongue, shaking and he takes a photo but pulls his shoe away before my tongue could feel it.

He let out a satisfied growl as his eyes drinks every features on my face.

Then he moves to carry his heavy bag pack from the bed, and hung the stripes on his shoulders.

He takes out a gulf stick, sticking out of the bag and crossed over his shoulders.

Kyle faced me properly and let out a sided smile.

"I'm playing for the nationals today princess, wish me luck"

His voice, it's always laced with venom and it burns me.

He closed his eyes, gesturing with his fingers, for me to say the needful.

"I hope you win" I managed to squeeze out, wiping my tears with palms, even though my voice chokes.

"Louder princess" he calmly said and I sniffed.

He knows I despise him but he only provides more reasons for me to have no choice than kill him.

"I hope...you win!"

He nods and walks to me again, then he pat my cheek with his warm palm and then walks pass me.

I pivot to stare at him.

"I'd be expecting your call" he concluded, take a long glance at me and then shut the door at my face.

I glanced at my left elbow, it bleeds from the fall and rather than crying again, I glared at it.

In what felt like a few minutes, the door suddenly spur open and I quickly coil myself on the floor, appearing as vulnerable as I can as that's the only way he'd spare me.

Not until the voice calls me.

"Lauren"

"Karl!" I replied, struggling to get on my feet but couldn't and he had to assist me.

My body yanked on his body as he cuddled me in his arms, immediately.

"I couldn't...he won't let go, I'm dying..."

I didn't even take a break pouring it all out to him.

Karl is his younger brother and my love interest, the only one who gives me strength in this devilish family I found myself in.

We've been planning ways for me to break out of Kyle but it keeps getting worse every time.

"Shhh... it's okay love" he encourages as he stroke my back. He's everything I needed, his warmth, his care.

He terminates the embrace gently and then directed me to sit on the bed.

His hands scanned my body, just to be sure I didn't get a bruise and he spots the cut around my elbow.

"That psychopath!" He cussed, seething with anger. His vein tightens around his neck.

We both hate him.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you" he whispers in a sober tone and I could see the pain in his eyes.

Even if it kills him to see the way his older brother treats me, he can't come in.

The last time he did, according to Karl, Kyle threatens to blow off his head.

He stands up to fetch the first aid kit. Kyle always has one in his room and getting it out from his walk-in closet wasn't a stress.

"Let's go with plan B Karl, we run" I suggested as soon as Karl appears with the kit.

It's like I'm talking to myself as he's focused on treating my bruised elbow, mildly as though he fears to break my bone.

Every touch of his makes my heart fluster and I ended up grabbing his collar just to feel his breath pour on me.

He shook his head, gently plastering the bandage on me after applying some antiseptics.

"No, we are going with plan C" he points out coldly as he lean his forehead to mine.

My expression changes quickly, I widen my eyes at him.

"We can't..."

"Yes we are killing him... it's the only way we can be together Lauren, can't you see? He won't change" he counters with determination in his eyes.

It's true, Kyle treats me like trash, cheats and above all, he's abusive? Why? All because of a beef against my father.

If I were ever asked what my father did to him, it would be the same response;

"I don't know"

I'm just a pawn and I had no idea what was their deal except the fact that he forced father to sign a contract that makes me his.

Astonishment reels up inside of me. It's his brother and he wouldn't murder his blood right?

"Are you in or not Lauren" he asked dragging me from my jagged memory.

I stayed speechless as my lips part slightly and my lashes blinks fast.

"I can't bear to see you in pain love, it hurts and I don't mind turning a murderer to save you" he pressed on and there was a lot of contemplation in my mind.

I swallowed hard as his lips rubs with mine, his arms went around my waist and those eyes of his wait for an answer.

His words clothes me like hope and I understood everything he meant.

Maybe it's for the best, without kyle, my life will be complete and it's the perfect revenge.

A demon don't deserve to live.

"Let's do it Karl"

He lets out a sigh of relief pushing me closer to him and then captured my lips.

Our tongues battled and I trail my hands around his neck, wanting him to take off the pressure from my chest.

We slowly refrain from the kiss and beneath my breath, I requested;

"If he dies, I want to send a picture to my family"