C3 How Should I Punish You?

Edna's heart raced as she locked eyes with him. Her mind went blank in that instant, and though she tried to speak, all that came out were stutters.

In a desperate move, Edna kicked him fiercely in the groin. Helmer gasped in pain, drawing in a sharp breath.

"Shit," he cursed in English, his grip on her wrist loosening.

Seizing the moment, Edna shoved him away, spat out "Filthy," and bolted.

She hadn't gotten far when three luxury cars sped down the street, screeching to a halt before her. The doors flew open, and over ten bodyguards emerged, bowing respectfully to Helmer and addressing him as "Mr. Andrews."

A wave of panic washed over Edna; she had nearly forgotten Helmer's habit of traveling with bodyguards.

The man leading the security detail was in his forties, clad in a black suit, clearly the head of the team.

"Take her," Helmer commanded in a low tone before heading to the lead car.

The bodyguards piled into another vehicle and drove off after Helmer.

"Let me go!" Edna protested.

Bastard. Helmer, the bastard, surrounded by his pack of bastard bodyguards.

"Ms. Richards, you don't have a say right now. We'll resort to special measures to keep you quiet if we must," one of them warned.

Quiet? Edna hesitated, then clamped her mouth shut, well aware that Helmer's people were as good as their word.

Rosemary Mansion was Jongvale's most opulent villa complex, where the security guards saluted in perfect sync.

Two bodyguards escorted Edna into the villa and straight to the second floor.

Elroy knocked on a room's door, and Helmer's voice filtered through, "Let her in."

Elroy opened the door, and the bodyguards unceremoniously pushed her inside.

The room featured a bed, a built-in wardrobe, black curtains, and a gray blanket. Helmer preferred simplicity, and the room's decor reflected his taste.

Helmer emerged from the bathroom, water still dripping from his hair, clad only in a towel, his muscular physique catching Edna's eye.

"Three years ago, you stubbornly chose to leave, and in all that time, you never once reached out to your family. Edna, how do you expect me to punish you for that?"

Helmer's sneer cut through the dimly lit room, casting an eerie shadow that made his smile seem all the more sinister.

"I may be your stepsister, but I'm entitled to my own freedom. I simply went abroad to study. What gives you the right to punish me?"

Edna stood defiantly at the door, her striking eyes brimming with annoyance. "Mr. Andrews, since when did you take pleasure in such despicable acts?"

"Despicable acts? Do you even know what happens after you steal a woman from a good family?"

Helmer advanced a few steps, the icy intensity in his dark eyes growing stronger.

His indifference sent a shiver down Edna's spine.

Without warning, Helmer scooped Edna into his arms. Her startled scream echoed as she was abruptly tossed onto the bed.

She could detect the faint scent of tobacco on him as he caressed her cheek with his cool fingers, sending a shudder through her.

Edna's heart raced, her cheeks flushed with a desire to flee, yet she was paralyzed, a surge of electricity coursing through her at his touch.

"Now that you're back, why not be with me?"

Helmer's voice was a warm whisper against her cheek.

He had once seen her as nothing more than a lackey, a pet to be indulged or discarded on a whim.

He'd toy with her when pleased, or take out his frustrations on her when not. He had truly crossed the line. Despite three years apart, Edna remained his possession.

At his words, Edna's mind reeled.

"Jerk."

He had a plethora of women, a new one each day, never repeating in a year. She refused to be just another in his collection.

"Edna, you've caught my interest now. I can provide you with everything you desire—homes, cars, money, jobs. What is it that you want?"

His voice, cold yet firm, resonated in her ear as his lips pressed a warm kiss to her forehead. Edna had changed significantly over the years; while her beauty might not stop traffic, it was a comfort to him, more and more each time he looked at her.

Her skin was as porcelain as an infant's, and her eyes—Edna's eyes—were utterly mesmerizing, ensnaring the soul. Merely gazing upon him, they seemed to whisper secrets without uttering a word.

In that instant, every cell within Helmer's being was sounding an alarm, signaling an undeniable truth: he desired this woman.

"So, what do you say? Do you agree?"