Episode 17

" Mr. Róger, it's not what it seems. I was just giving her a lesson for trying to escape... If she behaves like this with you, you can also teach her a lesson. That's how she understands..."

Róger approaches Antonella and holds her chin, observing the cuts and bleeding on her lip. She pulls her face away from him and takes a few steps back.

Róger puts his hands in his pockets and takes a few steps in front of Federico, looking at him in a menacing way.

"What do you mean by a lesson? Are you suggesting hitting her?"

"Sir, I..."

"Silence! If I haven't given you permission to speak, you can't make any sound!"

" The place fell silent; the men present were Róger's employees, and he was the one who ordered them to find her and instructed the woman not to approve any flights for someone named Antonella Spencer.

" Federico trembled in fear, aware of who was in his presence; with a single order from him, Róger could destroy the entire family within seconds.

"Do you think she is an animal? Who gave you permission to lay a finger on her? By accepting your proposal, she became my property. Or have you forgotten who I am? I like when people obey me; if they don't, I make sure they do."

"Sir, I'm so sorry, really, but she had escaped and..."

"When did I give you permission to speak?"

"I'm sorry, sir."

" The atmosphere was tense; Federico was on the verge of wetting his pants. Róger was furious that Federico had struck his own daughter. Ever since the agreement was made, Antonella became Róger's property immediately, even if they weren't yet married.

" Róger despised violence against women, especially if it concerned his future wife. To become Róger's wife meant to become "untouchable" in a nutshell.

"If I find out that you lay a finger on her again, I will kill you."

" Róger's words were precise and without hesitation. When Róger Athonyson said something, he followed through. Federico felt the weight of Róger's words as he looked at him with a cold and confident gaze.

" Róger spoke as if Antonella agreed to marry him, defending her fiercely as if they were already married. Fear, doubt, and nerves overwhelmed Antonella at that moment. She didn't know if she had been betrothed to a man or a beast.

" She didn't know if he would be her savior, helping her escape her torment, or if he would bring about her downfall and lead her into further misery.

Many thoughts crossed Antonella's mind. She was caught between a rock and a hard place. If she stayed with her father, she would continue to suffer physical and verbal abuse. But if she married Róger, the complete stranger and beast, she could find herself in a state of uncertainty regarding what the future held, for better or for worse...

"Tomorrow, the engagement papers will be signed. Take her without fail."

"Yes, sir, as you wish."

Róger looked at Antonella, seeing the same sadness in her eyes that he noticed the night he first met her. Their first encounter had been accidental, the second a chance encounter where he offered help, and now the third meeting was due to a marriage.

He simply looked at her and turned his back to leave, but Antonella found the courage to confront him, something that no sane person would dare to do.

"Wait, Mr. Róger!"

Róger's footsteps halted, a warmth spread through his body when Antonella spoke his name. Only her voice had power over him, even though they had only encountered each other twice that night.

Róger turned around and looked intensely into Antonella's eyes.

"What do you think I am? An object? Do you believe you can decide whether or not I want to marry you?"

"Impudent girl! How dare you speak to Mr. Athonyson in that manner! Please accept my apologies, sir. She has a vile tongue and doesn't know what she's saying..."

Roger signaled to Federico with his hand to let her speak, he was just standing at a distance from her with his hands in his pockets, listening to her words.

"Who do you think you are? Do you even know me to want to marry me? I don't even know who you are, and I don't care to know who you are, where the hell did you come from or what you're doing here... Let me summarize it for you, I'M NOT GETTING MARRIED TO YOU!"

"Antonella!!!... I'm really sorry, sir... I'm sorry."

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