Between Us

Chapter 39 : Silent Panic

I stared at him, my cheek still throbbing from the slap. The betrayal cut deeper than I could ever have imagined, but I refused to back down. My voice was shaky, but I forced the words out. "How far are you willing to go, Dad? To control me, to force me into a life I never wanted?"

He didn't flinch. His expression remained unnervingly calm, as if he had rehearsed this moment a thousand times in his mind. "As far as necessary," he replied, his tone cold and detached. "Until you regain your senses and see things clearly."

I felt a chill run down my spine at the calmness in his voice, "You really think I'll suddenly see things your way?"

He sighed, almost as if I was an unruly child who simply didn't understand. "One day, Charlotte, you'll realize everything I've done has been to protect you. Engfa is just a distraction—a phase you'll grow out of. She'll leave you eventually, and when she does, you'll see that I was right all along."

A bitter laugh escaped me, mingled with the tears still streaming down my face. "You call this protection? You think you're saving me by hurting the people I care about, by controlling every aspect of my life?"

His face hardened, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Stop this nonsense, Charlotte. It's time for you to stop these childish games and get back to the life that was planned for you."

"Planned for me?" I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. "What life? I've never had one of my own. Every decision, every choice was made by you!"

He stepped closer, towering over me as if his physical presence could intimidate me back into submission. "One day, you'll thank me," he said quietly, his voice firm, as though he was stating a simple fact. "I've already arranged everything with Mew's family. With the merger of our two companies, and your marriage to Mew, we'll be more powerful than ever. This is for your own good, Charlotte."

I looked at him, my tears turning cold as the reality of his words sank in. "You really think I'll marry Mew? You're delusional if you believe that," I spat, my voice dripping with contempt. "Does Mom know about all of this? Does she know what kind of monster you've become?"

A cruel smile curled on his lips, and he chuckled darkly. "Your mother is fully aware, and she agrees with me completely. You don't have a choice in this, Charlotte."

I shook my head in disbelief, feeling like the walls were closing in on me. "You can't force me into this. I won't do it."

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "Tonight, you'll be discharged from this hospital, and we'll leave together. The doctor needs to examine you first, but after that, you'll come home, and we'll move forward. No more arguments."

My heart pounded in my chest, a surge of panic tightening around my throat. "What do you mean, 'leave together'? Where are we going?"

A cold, satisfied smile spread across his face. "I've arranged a family trip," he said calmly. "A chance for us to reconnect, away from distractions. Mew will be joining us, so you can spend some quality time together, uninterrupted by... anyone else."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I could barely breathe, the fear and helplessness overwhelming me. "You can't do this," I whispered, my voice shaking. "You can't just take me away."

His eyes bore into mine, filled with a dangerous certainty. "Your bags are already packed. You won't try anything foolish, Charlotte. I won't tolerate any more disobedience."

With that, he turned on his heel and walked out of the room, leaving me trembling in the sterile, cold silence. The door clicked shut behind him, and I was left alone, the reality of my situation crashing down on me like a tidal wave. I sank back onto the bed, my mind racing for a way out, but the walls of my life felt like they were closing in, trapping me in a nightmare I couldn't escape.