When Soha tried to pull open the heavy door of the VIP room and step outside, her legs were still unsteady. Behind her, Adrik's grave voice tore through the silence of the hall.
Adrik (coldly):
"Where do you think you're going, Soha? I didn't give you permission. Do you really think a few tears and some affection for the children made me forget everything? The game has only just begun."
Soha froze with her hand on the doorknob. Without turning back, she said,
"Why hasn't your thirst for games been satisfied yet, Adrik? How much more? You may be a father to the children, but to me you're still the man whose hands reek of blood."
Adrik walked slowly up behind her and stopped close to her back. Soha could feel his hot breath near her neck as he spoke in a low voice.
Adrik:
"Weren't you desperate to finish this story? But remember—within my kingdom, I write the ending. If you think you can slip into someone else's story wearing that dress and escape my eyes, you're mistaken. Go and sit in the car. Tonight, our unfinished story will reach a verdict."
Soha turned around, fire blazing in her eyes.
Soha:
"A verdict? Or a new cage? Tell me, Adrik—what do you want tonight?"
The next moment, an unexpected and brutal blow from Adrik reddened Soha's cheek. The sound of the slap echoed through the stillness of the VIP room. She was thrown sideways onto a nearby table, and the flower tucked into her hair fell to the floor.
Instead of tears, a strange numbness settled over Soha's face. Holding her cheek, she stared at Adrik in disbelief. Just moments ago, the man who had been crying while holding his children had now reverted to his old, terrifying self.
Adrik (through clenched teeth, furious):
"Enough of this drama, Soha! You thought I'd become weak just because I got emotional in front of the kids? Where did you get the audacity to talk to me without looking me in the eye?"
Soha wiped the blood trickling from her lips and stood up. Her voice no longer trembled; it carried a deep, chilling hatred.
Soha:
"You're right, Adrik. You'll never change. Beneath that shirt, your heart is still as cold as iron and as hard as stone. But remember one thing—slaps can control the body, not erase hatred. And I've already crossed every limit of hatred there was to cross for you."
Adrik stepped closer and gripped her jaw tightly. His eyes burned like fire.
Adrik:
"Hatred? That's my favorite thing, Soha. If I can't have your love, I'll keep you under my feet with hatred for the rest of your life. Now move. We're going home—your insolence will be judged there."
As he dragged Soha away roughly, whispers spread through the hall, but no one dared to speak out of fear of Adrik. Those standing outside the VIP room or nearby froze at the sight. As Adrik dragged Soha so mercilessly, someone—either a powerful figure from the VIP room or one of Adrik's close associates—finally spoke up.
"Hey! Where are you taking her like that?"
For a moment, pin-drop silence fell across the corridor. Very few people in this city dared to interfere with a man like Adrik. But seeing Soha's condition, someone could no longer stay silent.
Adrik stopped. He turned his head toward the man, murder in his eyes. He didn't release Soha—he twisted her arm even harder.
Adrik (savagely):
"Do I need to explain to outsiders where I take my property? Stay within your limits, or this VIP room will become your grave tonight."
Tears streamed down Soha's face, yet she didn't scream. She was simply witnessing how, in a single moment, a man could turn from a 'father' into an 'executioner.'
Leaning close to her ear, Adrik whispered,
Adrik:
"See? No one is coming to save you. Everyone knows—once someone enters Adrik's cage, there's no escape except death. That man who tried to help you—do you know what awaits him? By tomorrow morning, his body might be found in some city dumpster."
Soha gasped and looked at him.
Soha (whispering):
"Aren't you human? He only spoke the truth…"
Adrik:
"I don't have time to hear the truth. Now move—there's a new gift waiting for you at home."
At that moment, the influential man pulled an ID card from inside his jacket and held it right in front of Adrik's eyes.
Senior Officer (firmly):
"Release her hand, Mr. Adrik. I am a senior police officer. You have publicly assaulted a woman and are forcing her to leave. This is a criminal offense. Let her go, or this situation will not end well for you."
Everyone in the corridor stepped back in fear. A police officer directly challenging mafia don Adrik—no one had imagined such a scene.
Adrik didn't hesitate. Instead, he let out a harsh, mocking laugh. He tightened his grip on Soha's hand, as if to declare she belonged only to him, then stepped closer to the officer.
Adrik (cold, cruel):
"A senior officer? An impressive rank. But do you know who you're standing in front of? I make the law in this city—and I break it too. I am mafia boss Adrik. Your uniform's power ends at the gates of your station; my power stretches from beneath the ground to the top of the sky."
He glanced at Soha, then turned back to the officer.
Adrik:
"What will you do? Arrest me? Go ahead. But remember—if you try to touch me, no one in this VIP room will make it home alive tonight. My men have surrounded the entire building. Do you really want to start a war with me, Officer?"
The officer moved his hand toward his pistol, but in an instant Adrik's bodyguards drew their weapons and aimed at him. The metallic clicks of guns echoed all around.
Soha stood trembling between them, realizing the officer might die tonight just for trying to save her.
Soha (shouting):
"Let him go! Please—don't spill any blood. I'll go with him… you step back!"
Adrik smiled like a victor. He patted the officer's shoulder and said,
Adrik:
"You heard her. My queen herself says she'll come with me. Next time you try to stop me, check your insurance papers first, Officer."Adrik dragged Soha into the massive black limousine almost like a lifeless object and threw her inside. Soha crashed onto the expensive leather seats. The driver quickly shut the door, and the car roared to life. The interior of the limo was dark, with only the flickering neon lights of the city sliding across the glass.
Stepping inside, Adrik tore off his coat and tossed it aside. His pale face was flushed a violent red with rage.
Adrik (in a ferocious voice):
"Did you really think that toy officer at the police station could save you? Did you think anyone could stop me?"
Soha huddled in a corner of the seat, trembling. Suddenly, Adrik lunged at her, pinning both of her hands firmly against the seat. Even though the limousine was spacious, Soha felt as if she were suffocating.
Adrik:
"Don't you know, Soha? I gave you freedom once, but you chose to stand before me again. This red dress... it has made you quite arrogant, hasn't it?"
With a sudden, violent movement, Adrik grabbed the collar of her expensive red dress and ripped it open. Soha screamed in terror.
Soha (screaming):
"Adrik! What are you doing? Stop! I don't want to stay with you anymore... Let me go!"
Adrik:
"Go? Where will you go? Tonight, I will show you the true meaning of my wrath. You may be the mother of my children, but never forget—you are my bought slave. Tonight, inside this car, I will crush your pride into the dust."
Adrik grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled her face close to his. His breath reeked of tobacco and strong liquor. He pulled a piece of silk cloth from his pocket.
Adrik:
"You've screamed enough. Now, it's time to be quiet."
He began to gag her by force. As Soha tried to kick him away, Adrik used his heavy frame to pin her down completely. Inside the limousine, a brutal struggle ensued—on one side, a helpless woman; on the other, a drunken, vengeful mafia don.
Outside, the city remained calm, but inside the limo, Soha's life was turning into a living hell. The limousine sped away from the city's hustle toward a dark, desolate, and uninhabited area. Surrounded by dense woods and piles of broken bricks, the car finally came to a halt in front of an old, dusty, abandoned warehouse.
As soon as the car stopped, Adrik, without a word, dragged Soha out by her hair. The massive iron door of the warehouse creaked open. Inside, a dim yellow light flickered, revealing rusted iron chains and old wooden crates scattered everywhere.
Adrik (with a sinister laugh):
"Welcome, Soha! This is the place where people don't speak—they only scream. You wanted to see my true form, didn't you? Today there are no children, no curtains. Today, there is only you and your master."
He shoved Soha toward an iron chair in the middle of the warehouse. Soha broke down in tears. Her beautiful red dress was now covered in dust, and her skin was bruised in several places.
Soha (in a terrified voice):
"Adrik, for God's sake! Why have you brought me here? If you want to kill me, then kill me, but don't finish me off like this bit by bit..."
Adrik walked slowly to the wall and picked up a leather whip. As he swung it through the air, it made a terrifying whistling sound.
Adrik:
"Killing you is too easy, Soha. I want you to feel every moment of what it means to defy me. You looked at that police officer for help, didn't you? Today, let's see who comes to save you."
Adrik used the whip to tilt Soha's chin up. His eyes glowed like a demon's.
Adrik:
"Now tell me, will you listen to me, or will this dark warehouse be your final destination?"
Prostrate on the damp floor, Soha watched as Adrik signaled his bodyguards to stand guard outside. She heard the sound of the warehouse door being locked from the outside. They were now completely alone. Adrik's inner beast had fully emerged. Without a shred of mercy, he lashed the whip across Soha's back.
"Swhish!"
As the whip cracked through the air, a piercing scream escaped Soha's lips. The strike tore through her red dress, and patterns of blood began to bloom on her fair skin.
Adrik (shouting):
"There it is! That's the sound I wanted to hear. Where is your big talk and your pride now? Tell me, will you ever disobey me again?"
Soha lay curled on the floor, writhing in agony. But Adrik didn't stop. He struck her repeatedly. The warehouse echoed with Soha's sky-shattering screams. With every lash, Adrik seemed to vomit out three years of pent-up hatred and rage.
Soha (crying):
"Adrik... don't hit me anymore... I'll die... please... at least think of the children..."
Adrik:
"It's only for the children that I've kept you alive, otherwise I would have buried you in the ground long ago! But today, I'll give you a lesson so severe that you'll tremble just looking at your reflection in the mirror."
Adrik tossed the whip aside and grabbed Soha by the throat, pulling her up. Her face was a mess of blood and tears. He pulled a sharp knife from his pocket, the dim yellow light reflecting off its polished blade.
Adrik (in a cold voice):
"The marks of the whip will heal in a few days, Soha. I want to do something that you will remember for the rest of your life. You were so proud of your beauty, weren't you? This is the beauty that makes men run to your rescue..."
Adrik lightly touched the tip of the knife to Soha's cheek. Soha's body went cold. She realized that Adrik didn't just want to hurt her—he wanted to mar her forever. Suddenly, the violence in Adrik's eyes turned into a cold, stony stillness. He set the knife aside and pulled a small black box from his pocket. Inside was a shiny syringe and a glass vial containing a mysterious bluish liquid.
Soha was moaning in pain, but the sight of the injection made her heart race with fear. She tried to scramble back against the wall.
Soha (trembling):
"What is that... Adrik? What's in it? Kill me, give me poison, but don't put that into my body!"
Adrik calmly drew the medicine into the syringe, a diabolical smile on his face. He stepped toward her slowly.
Adrik (in a low whisper):
"Poison? No, Soha, this isn't poison. This is called 'The Key to Hell.' Once this enters your system, you won't die, but your mind will no longer be your own. You will become a living doll. Your body will burn, you will crave my touch, you will want to crawl at my feet. All your hate, all your memories... this one injection will wash them all away."
Soha screamed, but Adrik pinned her legs down with his knee and clamped his hand over her mouth to keep her still. Her scream died down into a muffled groan beneath his palm.
Adrik:
"Be still, Soha. Just a few seconds of pain. Then you will forget who you are, forget your children, and forget that police officer. Then, you will only know me. I will be your master, your God."
Adrik held the syringe up, a drop of the blue liquid glistening at the tip of the needle. He plunged the sharp needle into Soha's fair neck—
Soha:
"Mmmmph...!"
Soha gave one final, violent jolt, and then her pupils slowly began to fix. Her body went limp, and her fingers slipped lifelessly onto the floor. The blue liquid was now coursing through her blood, striking at her brain.
Adrik tossed the syringe aside and pulled Soha's unconscious body into his lap. Stroking her hair, he whispered—
Adrik:
"From now on, Soha, our new story begins. A story where there are no obstacles."