Chapter 10: Vengeance and Possession
Inside a grand mansion, a family of seven trembled uncontrollably. Before them sat a terrifying man, exuding an aura of dominance as he lounged majestically on a throne. Behind him stood several men in black suits, their expressions cold and merciless.
The man arched a brow slightly, a chilling smile spreading across his face—the kind of smile one would direct at a dying man. If Zaiyila were present, she would have recognized this face immediately.
It was Everett. The very same Everett who, at this moment, was resting his head against Zaiyila's chest, seemingly fast asleep.
"This mighty one is here for revenge, not for amusement," he spoke gently, idly playing with his fingers. "Step forward, one by one, and let this king feed on you," he added.
A heavy silence filled the room. No one dared to utter a sound. The family only shivered more violently.
"Please… please… we already signed the contract! All our assets are gone—we never planned anything against you! In fact, we are grateful that you have given us such a light punishment," the head of the family stammered, his voice quivering. He dared not meet Everett's gaze.
"Oh… are you asking what your offense is?" Everett mused, tilting his head slightly. His piercing eyes locked onto the man, though the latter refused to look up.
Everett chuckled, his fingers still idly toying with one another. "Well, you made my bride believe she was cursed. That is why I am here," he stated.
The family's eyes widened in horror, and one name immediately surfaced in their minds—Zaiyila!. They exchanged terrified glances, their bodies trembling even more.
"W-We… we… we didn't… we have always treated her well—exactly like our own," the woman among them insisted, her clothes already damp with tears.
Everett's expression darkened. "The consequence of lying to this king is nothing but death. You should already be aware of that," he declared coldly.
His serpent-like eyes gleamed ominously, and before the woman could beg for mercy, snakes suddenly coiled around her body. They sank their fangs into her flesh repeatedly, their venom working swiftly. Foam bubbled from her mouth, her skin turning an unnatural shade of blue.
The remaining family members froze in terror and clung desperately to the man who appeared to be their father.
"Mr… Mr. Everett, p-please! Pardon us! We would never dare to make such a mistake again!" the man pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.
Everett's smile widened as he rose from his throne. "Let them live, but drive them mad. Their hands and feet are no longer needed. Take the left eye of each of them… and cut their abdomens open," he ordered.
"Yes!" the men in black suits responded in unison, bowing deeply before him.
Everett's smirk turned even colder. "And feel free to have a nice chat with the women—it will be entertaining," he added before vanishing into thin air.
The moment Everett disappeared, the men in black lifted their heads and advanced toward the terrified family.
"Daddy, save me!"
"Dad! Dad! I don't want to go with them!"
"Dad!!"
The five girls screamed in horror as they were dragged away, their father powerless to stop it.
"To offend one man… and have an entire family pay the price… that has always been his nature. I never thought the day would come when I would be the one suffering it," the man thought, tears streaming down his face. He lacked even the strength to resist as he, too, was dragged away.
.....
Meanwhile, back in the exquisite mansion, Zaiyila was quietly admiring Everett's handsome face when his eyes slowly fluttered open.
Startled, she immediately averted her gaze, pretending to act normal.
Everett chuckled, pressing a kiss to her chin. "Tell me… am I handsome?" he murmured.
"Mhn," Zaiyila hummed, nodding quickly, though she still refused to look him in the eye.
"Then why are you looking away if I'm handsome? Are you already tired of gazing at me?" he teased, his voice low and seductive.
"How can that be?!" Zaiyila blurted out, instinctively turning to face him. The moment her eyes met his, her heart began to race wildly. "I-I… I'm not tired of looking at you… It's just that my heart is beating too fast, and I think I might die if this continues," she whispered, lowering her head shyly.
Everett let out a deep chuckle, shaking his head. "Darling, do you really think anything can happen to you while I'm here? Let your heart race for me—it won't harm you," he murmured before kissing her lips.
Zaiyila licked her lips and glanced at Everett, only to find him staring at her intently, unblinking. Her cheeks flushed red, and she quickly lowered her head again. "W-Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked softly.
"Why? Am I not allowed to admire my beautiful wife?"
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she ducked her head further, feeling an unfamiliar sense of happiness she didn't quite know how to express.
"Seems like my wife enjoys being called beautiful, huh? How about I start calling you Beauty, Aiyi?" he murmured, pressing a kiss to her neck.
Zaiyila shook her head. "I… I prefer it when you call me 'wife,'" she admitted, sneaking a glance at him to check his reaction.
"I see… staking your claim in my heart, huh?" he smirked.
"I… I…" Zaiyila stammered, struggling to find the right words.
"If that's what my wife wants, then I will never stop calling her 'wife,'" Everett assured her.
Zaiyila's eyes widened. "You're not upset that I'm being too demanding?" she hesitantly asked.
Everett frowned slightly. "Too demanding?" he repeated. "Everything I have belongs to you. How can you possibly be demanding?"
Zaiyila's lips curled into a radiant smile, and she leaned forward to place a soft kiss on his cheek. However, as a thought crossed her mind, her mood suddenly dimmed.
"Eve… Can I be your first wife?" she asked hesitantly.
"Hm?"
"N-No! I mean… I mean… I…"
Before she could scramble for an excuse, Everett silenced her with a deep kiss, one more intense than any before.
When he finally released her, Zaiyila was left breathless, gasping for air.
"I only want one wife—and that's you. So the position of my first and last wife is always yours," he affirmed, resting his head on her chest once again.
Zaiyila's smile returned, even more dazzling than before. "You can't take back your promise," she murmured.
"Of course," Everett responded, embracing her tightly.
"And… and… you'll always listen to me?"
"Always," Everett declared. "I'll listen to my wife."
"Then eat something first!" Zaiyila beamed, eagerly picking up a bowl of food and holding it up to his lips. "Eat," she insisted, blinking innocently.
Everett raised his head slightly, gazing at her. "I'm holding you—how can I feed myself? You should do the job," he stated.
"Ah! My bad!" Zaiyila laughed and immediately started feeding him, her heart fluttering with joy.