'After the ruckus that Livy created earlier today, I'm amazed Markian went ahead with the marriage, but now I understand why. Someone's pulling the strings here, trying to take me unawares and keeping Livy in that mansion would be a grave mistake on my part. I just need to know who exactly it is. My desires led me here, but I can't let it destroy another kid. I can't trust the sender of this email, but I can't neglect the email either...it was both a warning and a threat.' Judy thought on her way to the Luthel mansion, as she stared at an anonymous email that seems to be the food for her thought.

A bait became the prey, are you confident this prey would become a bait? Don't put another sheep in the mist of wolves expecting for a miracle. Most times, baits gets eaten up without a single scratch to the predator.

Sender: anonymous

A message like this wouldn't bother Judy so much, but for some reason she is concerned.

This wasn't the first time she was getting an anonymous email, in fact it was an email similar to this that opened her eyes to the truth behind her other daughter's death.

Now she is left with no other option but to protect her reputation by keeping her only surviving daughter safe.

Livy is now her only trump card and she is not ready to be careless with her too just for her revenge.

She was feeling very anxious with everything that had happened today.

First, her crown is being threatened at the verc -although it's not the first time- but they are closer now than ever. Then, her daughter disappeared and reappeared few hours before the wedding.

She rushed to Luthel Inc after a random shareholder's meeting was fixed with an impeachment letter ordering her to step down from the position of Luthel Inc Chairman, due to her negligence concerning her other daughter's death and her mental capability to continue.

Then, the moment she got to her office, she got this email.

She can't help but feel trapped now, and she really hope Livy would grow up soon and understand exactly who she is and the positions that awaits her once she was ready and becomes ambitious enough.

She is just unsure how long her enemies would let it be.

Though Judy was in her late-forties, she always looked thirty. But at the cause of all the event that took place today, for the first time she was looking more like her age. She had frownlines and dark circles underneath her eyes.

Her hair was almost in a messy bun now, but nothing a few minutes touch up couldn't fix.

Thinking back to when these all started, she had no choice but to become steel both inside and out if she was going to survive with her daughters.

Power was all she needed and she strived relentlessly everyday to get it, though it came at a price.
************************************

Judy didn't say a word to Livy on their way to the Winfrey's mansion, and Livy appreciated that fact.

It was already late to start scolding or asking her why she was so late to the courthouse.

Typical Judy, as long as no harm was done and everything went according to her plan in the end, she would be satisfied regardless the means it took to happen.

"Haven't I told you time and again that crying doesn't answer nor solve your problems, hmm?" Judy asked surprising Livy who didn't realize tears rolling down her cheek.

She quickly wiped it off with the back of her palm and sniffled a little to clear her nose.

Livy couldn't understand why she was crying at this point, she had been doing that a lot lately.

She didn't say a word to her mother and just looked out the window of the moving car to the brightly colored road that led to different destinations.

"Livy, you are my daughter...you need to be more like me and less of yourself from now on because, the Winfrey's are like Hyenas. The moment they sense just the slightest smell of fear from you, they'll devour you just like they did Sophy" Judy advices strongly.

"hyenas huh?... Then, what are you? A mother who straps her daughter to a well rumored to be full of ghosts, when she had already lost a child to that same well. You...you don't care, do you? I'm just another price you have to pay to gain more wealth and power, right? You are the hyena mom, you watch your children fight for your attention and devour them when your appetite needs to be filled. You killed Sophy, not the Winfrey's" Livy said to her mother in spite.

'wait...did I just say all that out loud? No, it can't be. I said it in my heart, mom didn't hear that. Please Lord, I hope I said all that in my mind' she hoped, but she did say it out loud.

She wanted to look at her mother, but was too terrified of what look her mother might have.

She just bit her lower lip and squeezed her palms into a fist, pushing them downwards on her thighs to stop them from shaking so much.

"hahahaha...oh my, you really are my daughter. So tell me, do you hate me now? Do you feel like you want to stop me from hurting you any further? You must be so angry at the realisation that it was my fault your sister died, so what would you do about it, huh?...ah, your sister lasted 2yrs being a Winfrey, but I bet you wouldn't last 6months. I'm pushing you into the den of lions, so if you do hate it, you have to stop me. And to do that, you need to stop being a spineless excuse of a Luthel. To stop me, you need power" Judy spoke condescendingly to her daughter.

If hating her was the only way to draw out Livy's strength, then that's a small price to pay to ensure her daughter's safety amist those sneering wolves.

"I'm so sorry mom, I didn't mean to say any of that. I'm just a little nervous, I promise. I will never hate you mom, so please don't think of such absurd things anymore" Livy said apologetically.

She loved her mom and would never stand in the way of a scary woman like her, eventhough she was her mother.

'no... don't apologize, it's OK. I can't protect you in there if you are still so weak. You need an edge, a drive, something to keep you on you toes and always alert. You've always been so easy going and free, but those are things that get you killed easily. I have to do something fast' Judy thought to herself. If she doesn't make a plan fast, she might lose another daughter.

Winfrey's Mansion

Waltz playing in the background, people in pairs dancing to the slow music. Others were either smiling, exchanging pleasantries or gisting.

Livy's brain was either fried or frozen solid, because she wasn't able to comprehend what was going on. Her head felt weightless and her throat was very dry.

Her cheeks were burning, and her palms were sweating. For some reason, she couldn't stop her heart racing beyond control.

Her face was just inches away from Markian's chest as they slow danced to the music.

One of his arm was on her back, and he had to let it fall from time to time when she needed to be spun around, causing an unconscious caressing motion that sent her senses on autodrive.

He was way taller than her, so she could not see his face unless she looks upward but, she had no courage to do that yet, especially not with the shivers he sends down her spine each time his hands fall from her back to her waist and slightly brushes her butt cheek.

Her face must be all red now from shyness, mixed with the sweet scent of Frederic Malle's dawn, and that oakmoss, so warm and serene.

She could stand here with this man all night and not move a muscle, just to be this close to him and perceiving all of him which tingles her senses all at once.

She still can't believe she is married to this hunk of a man oozing with complete manliness. How would she survive this torture? Her mom was wrong, she wouldn't even survive a whole night with Markian.

"Are you that excited?" Markian asked, being the first time he had spoken to her since she got here.

She look up at him wondering what he meant by excited. He didn't smile, as her eyes followed his to her hand which was meant to be on his shoulders were now on his chest.

She didn't realize how far her hands had dropped, so she quickly put them back on his shoulders. To her defense, this man was really tall and her arm was beginning to go numb.

Maybe she should stop dancing, it was enough show already.

But as she tried to free herself from him, she felt his arms tightened on her waist and on her other palm pushing her closer to himself.

He crouched making his face just an inch away from hers as his breath covered her face.

"Now, where do you think you are going? The song isn't over yet," he asked.

Right on cue, the music ended answering Livy's unconscious prayer.

"Well...it's over...now, will you let...let me go? Please" she stuttered while trying to set herself free, but her efforts were futile since she was very petite.

"I can't do that, do you know why? Because, you are now my wife, mine. So you have no right to tell me what to do or not to do. If I wish to dance with you all night, you will obey and respect my wishes and decisions eventhough they are not to your best interest. Do you understand?" he asked between gritted teeth.

"Does this mean that I too have rights over you? Just as I'm yours, that you're mine too? Or is this just one sided?" Livy questioned boldly while looking away from Markian.

He was so tempting, and she might just do something out of character right now whether he wants it or not.

"You're a smart girl after all. When I said all you'ld get out of this marriage was my name, I wasn't bluffing" he spoke while bringing her face forcefully back to his with his hand.

His other hand on her waist released its pressure while sliding down to her butt cheek.

He felt her stiffened at the feel of his hands on her buttocks, then she pushed his chest hard and broke free from his torturous bondage.

Her face was burning and her heart wouldn't stop trying to escape her chest, but she could only imagine how red her face must be as she saw the smirk that appeared on Markian face.

His breath smelled of alcohol, though sexy but it made her upset that he had had some before coming here.

Full of rage, she closed the gap between them as she said, "you don't own me if I don't own you, so just as I'm your wife, you are my husband. Your name gave me that right, so I won't let you just do as you please. I'm not a toy...so you won't treat me as one".

The warmth she felt from him suddenly evaporated and his eyes turned icy black, his jaws were clinched and his demeanor became dark.

In a swift moment, he grabbed her arm and dragged her away from the room, disregarding people's comments and inquisitions.

He took her upstairs to his room which was beautifully decorated with flowers and candle lights. Pulling her into the room with force, she lost her balance and landed on the bed.

He shut the door so loudly with a bang and shut it, so there was no escape for either of them.

Yes, he drank a few glass of red wine at the green house, but he was fully aware of what he was doing right now.

He suddenly turned to her and glared at her so hard that she felt she was in the devil's presence.

She immediately regretted why she had to say all those things she said to him back then, she just dislikes alcohol and people that consume such.

She got up from the room and looked around for a place to hide, but it was a big room she had not been in before and her head was pounding so hard.

A knock came to the door, then a voice "Markian, is everything OK? Please, open the door let's talk about this. Everyone is worried downstairs, and want to know what is going on. Markian? Livy, is everything OK?" Heather asked, worried.

"Heather, go back downstairs and entertain the guests. We had a long day and just wanted to go to bed early. Tell them to have a good time, and when they are done they can leave" Markian answered without opening the door.

He was in rage and Heather knew exactly who he becomes when he is angry.

"Markian, she is your wife, everyone downstairs knows that. Don't do anything stupid you would regret later. I'm leaving" Heather said for the last time and left.

'Only God can save Livy now,' she thought.

'Oh God, What is he going to do to me? Why didn't I just keep quiet? I knew I was saying all that, but I really wanted to stop. I'm not ok just being your wife on paper, but he didn't need to hear that. Please Lord, save me from this man today and I promise never to talk back at him ever again' Livy thought as Markian made his way towards her.

She involuntarily moved back at each step he took towards her until she met with the wall, and there was nowhere left to go. Like an animal trapping its prey, she was trapped and feared the worse.

Thanks for reading yet another chapter, do comment on each chapter and don't forget to vote.
I would love to know a little about my readers, so I can decide what content to be included or not. Simply follow Coisa_fay, and let's get to know each other better.
You're all the best ♥ ♥ ♥