Golden Melody

Chapter 10.2

Zatariel Wov

His Pov

My heart ached for her.

I couldn't bear the thought of her being forced into a marriage she didn't want.

The weight of her words, her dreams, her fears, settled heavily on my shoulders.
I knew this wouldn't be easy, but I wouldn't let her down.
I wouldn't let her lose her voice, her dreams, her future.
I had to find a way to help her, to fight for her, to protect her, to give her the freedom she craved.

I washed up and changed into pajamas.

When I came out of my room, I saw that Mimi's door was open.
A wave of dread washed over me.

Thyron was inside, his face flushed, his eyes glazed with a drunken haze.
He was kneeling in front of Mimi, his hand gripping her arm.

"I'm sorry, baby. But we really had to do this." His voice was thick with a mixture of alcohol and desperation.

Mimi was trying to pull away from his grasp, her eyes wide with fear.

My vision went dark.

Thyron pushed Mimi onto the bed, his movements rough and uncontrolled.

I lunged forward, my anger was a primal force that propelled me.
I shoved Thyron aside, my fist connecting with his jaw with a sickening thud.

"My gosh! You two are fighting again?" Marie shouted, her voice sharp with annoyance.

Thyron stumbled back, his hand clutching his jaw.
He glared at me, his eyes burning with a mixture of anger and jealousy.

He pointed a shaking finger at me.
"You! Because of you! Miexha was mine! Wayne Academy was mine! Everything! Ever since we were kids, I've always been behind you! You're always ahead of me!" His voice cracked with a mix of rage and despair.

He spat at me, the spittle landing on my shirt.
"I'm always in second place! Number 2 in everything because of you! I was only ahead of you when it comes to Miexha before you took her away from me!"

"Do you want Wayne Academy too, huh? Huh? The Alpha business? You want that too? Huh? " He grabbed my shirt, his grip tight, his eyes wild.
Marie and Kyliah rushed forward, pulling him away.

I stood there, my body trembling with a mixture of anger and fear. I went over to Mimi, who was holding back tears.

She was curled up on the bed, her eyes filled with a mixture of hurt and confusion.

She went over to Thyron and slapped him with a sharp crack.

"Wake up, Ron! That's not how I know you!" Her voice was laced with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

She slapped him again.
"Or is it because you know I'm the heir to Wayne Academy, so you're trying to get close to me? Pretending that I was special to you? Was all our time together just a pretense? Because you wanted to get something from me?"

Thyron shook his head, his eyes wide with panic.
"No, no, baby. I love you."

She slapped him again.
"Get out of my room! Alis!" she shouted, her voice trembling with rage.

She looked at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and gratitude.
"Riel, Thank you."

She leaned her head against my shoulder, her body trembling slightly.

I held her close, my arms wrapped around her, offering her a haven from the storm that had just erupted.

Thyron stumbled out of her room, his face a mask of shame and defeat.
The two maids escorted him.

He mumbled something about needing medicine, then disappeared down the hallway.

Marie and Kyliah, ever the loyal friends, volunteered to sleep with Mimi, their voices a soothing balm in the tense atmosphere.

I slammed the door to my room shut, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway.

My heart pounded in my chest, a frantic rhythm that mirrored the turmoil in my mind.
I needed to talk to my dad, to plead with him, to find a way to protect Mimi.

He answered immediately, his voice warm and familiar.
"How was your prom experience, Anak?"

"I enjoyed it." My voice was a mere whisper, my words a desperate attempt to maintain a facade of normalcy.

"Glad to hear that." His voice was laced with a hint of amusement, a playful tone that only served to heighten my anxiety.

"Dad?" I hesitated, my throat tightening with a mixture of fear and hope.

"Is something wrong, Zat?" His voice shifted, a note of concern replacing the playful banter.

"Actually, yes. Can Miexha stay with us after graduation?" I blurted out the question, my voice barely a whisper.

I could hear him chuckle on the other end of the line.
"Hahaha, you're planning to bring a girl home..."

"I'm serious, Dad." My voice was firm, my determination unwavering.

"Really?" His tone shifted, a hint of skepticism replacing the amusement.

"Yeah." I took a deep breath, steeling myself for his rejection.

"No." His voice was firm, his answer a crushing blow to my hopes.

"Wait, Dad. We're not going to elope. She'll just stay at our house for a couple of days." I tried to reason with him, to find a compromise.

"Sorry, Zat. I can't condone this, this time. I don't want you to get hurt, Zat. You know that things won't turn out the way you think if you bring Rickzen's daughter home. I know how much you love her, but Anak, think about yourself too." His voice was laced with a mixture of concern and resignation.

"Thank you, Dad." I ended the call, my heart heavy with disappointment.

I slumped onto my bed, But the phone call with my father loomed over me, his words echoing in my mind:
"I don't want you to get hurt, Zat. You know that things won't turn out the way you think if you bring Rickzen's daughter home."

I paced the room, my frustration boiling over.

I couldn't stand by and watch Mimi be forced into a marriage she didn't want, especially with a man who had hurt her so deeply.

I closed my eyes, my mind racing with possibilities.
I wouldn't give up.

Not on her.

Not on us.