His voice echoed in my ears, even when I knew he wasn't there. He was claiming me as his, even without his presence.

The next morning arrived, and I walked down after getting ready, had my breakfast like every day. In all that, not for even once, I looked at Victor. Ignoring him was the best option for me. Walking out from the house, I looked where Rhys' car was parked.

The windows were opened, making me see him perfectly. He wore a black shirt tucked perfectly. Opening the door, my gaze went towards him. His gaze was on me while his hand was busy with his phone, typing something. A silver watch was decorating his veiny wrist.

"Hey, butterfly," he said in his deep voice, and I nodded my head while buckling the seatbelt. Suddenly, he got up a little and crouched down towards me.

"Won't you say hello, butterf—" he was about to finish while getting more closer. I panicked and quickly looked down and said,

"H..elllo, Rhys."

He chuckled. "Are you avoiding me, Maya?"

He said, and I looked up, shaking my head as no while widening my eyes.

"Maya, stay still," he said in a stern voice, and I stopped. Lowering my eyes down, I waited for him to say something, but he didn't for a few minutes and then sat straightly onto his seat.

I let out an inner sigh of relief, closing my eyes as he started the car.

"Where are we going, Rhys?" I asked after seeing that it was not the way towards college.

"Be quiet," he said softly, and I hummed, placing my head on the back support. I turned my head towards the window and started looking outside.

I was lost in the scenery when his hand suddenly grabbed mine and started caressing it with his thumb. I let him, sitting silently.

We were on the way when his phone rang again. As this time it was connected to the car, I could hear the call too, which I didn't want to as it was his personal. So, I did what I thought was right.

Taking my hand away from his hold, I closed my ears with both hands. Yet, I could still hear someone asking Rhys about when he would reach there, and then Rhys said something I couldn't.

Hearing a small chuckle, I turned my head towards him and saw his piercing gaze on me.

"I will be there on time, Dad. Don't worry," he said on the call, and I knew where he was taking me.

"Rhys, I can't go there," I said as soon as I saw him cutting the call.

"Did I ask you your permission, butterfly?" Rhys let out a tch sound, shaking his head, and again started focusing on the way.

While I started biting my lips in nervousness. He was taking me towards the assembly, where his dad would take the oath, maybe. There would be media too. Shit...

I didn't know what to do. Clenching my long blue shirt, I again turned my head towards him.

"Rhys, I don't want to. There will be media," I said, and he let out a sigh.

"It's a party, butterfly, for Dad," he said in a calm voice, making me more panicked.

"Please, I don't want to, Rhys. There will still be media and so many people. I don't want to," I kept saying, trying to make him understand, but he suddenly rotated the steering wheel and, with high speed, took it away from the highway towards the side of it.

"SHUT UP, MAYA! I DON'T CARE IF THERE IS ANY MEDIA OR NOT. WE ARE GOING, AND IF I HEAR YOUR VOICE ONCE AGAIN, I AM LEAVING YOU HERE," he shouted angrily while looking at me with those dangerous red eyes, and a loud sob left my mouth.

"FOR FUCK'S SAKE, STOP CRYING AT EVERYTHING," he shouted again, and I didn't listen. Letting out more tears, I shouted,

"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO GO! WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND?" And that was it. He unbuckled his seatbelt and walked out, slamming the door. He opened mine with so much force, unbuckling my seatbelt messily. He pulled me outside and threw me on the road.

"NO, RHYS, PLEASE. I AM SORRY. NO, PLEASE. I AM SORRY," I shouted, but he walked furiously towards the door and closed it. Sitting inside, he started the car. I got up and ran behind it but couldn't even keep up for a minute.

Sitting on the dirty ground filled with a dry, thin layer of mud, I cried. My blurry eyes just kept looking towards the way Rhys had gone.

"Rhys... please don't go," I said while crying and biting my lips, but he didn't come.

Each second going was making me feel scared. I had fallen down on the ground once again when I tried to get up. But this time, a big stone was down there, just below my knees, making me feel immense pain. Letting out a painful cry and then brushing it off, I tried to stand up again. Walking towards the road, I made a sign for a lift, but no one helped. Walking more and more closer, I tried to get some help to go home, but suddenly, a car started coming towards me with high speed. I wanted to be away. Maybe a step could save me, but I couldn't. It was like my feet were frozen. They didn't move. They didn't take a step away.

The warm tears started pouring. Knowing no way, I just waited for it to slam onto me and crush my body with its huge tires. But then suddenly, someone came running, grabbing my arm. He pulled me off from there with force, and my body listened.

"Shit... I am sorry, butterfly," I heard before getting wrapped inside his arms.



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