Mathias or Gryphon

“Me? Your pretend darling?” Andrea only smiled for the photo before laughing out after he tossed the phone to the side. “One, I am not playing a game like that. Two, me, trying to win you back? In case you forgot, you dumped me back in high school because I wasn’t posh enough. I am not going to sacrifice my hard-earned self-esteem just to go posh for you. And three…”

“You talk too much. It’s just a yes-or-no question.” With an angry grunt, Gryphon moved his arm from under her head and only placed it on the rim space between them. “I already took the photo, so there’s no point in saying ‘no’ now.”

Andrea glared at him before sighing. She only leaned on her back again and looked up at the ceiling. To be honest, what would she gain from saying ‘no’? What was pride in the face of a man who would hunt her down to a corner? It didn’t matter whether it was Mathias or Gryphon; both of them could surely make her life miserable.

It’s just that… she didn’t want to feel like she had no voice of her own, even toward this man. She made the choice to fight and escape, and she was surely entitled to have the option to do so. At the moment, though… she just wanted to rest.

Her fear and anxiousness had cost a huge toll on her mind. There was nothing close to relaxation until she was completely cut off from that madman. She didn’t want to wait for him to draw her blood. It was just too sad that she didn’t have much left after severing herself from Mathias…

Same with Gryphon back then.

“Andy…?” 

Gryphon called out a familiar nickname again, but Andrea only turned her head toward him. She then looked at his face that only grew more handsome as he grew older. When they were younger, the charms of this man only affected the thirsty girls—the desperate among the popular girls. After all, a hot girl couldn’t fully be hot if there was no hot boyfriend to envy her for.

Well, that was what Andrea used to think. However, no matter how much she wanted to rule herself as a stupid girl from before, the joy of being around Gryphon was not imaginary. She even believed in forever. It’s just that the man changed halfway through.

Upon thinking more about it, it shouldn’t be that bad, right? After all, she was clearly separating from that boyfriend of hers. Gryphon was also looking for a girl to pose as his supposed hot wife. Whether she was considered hot even by the wealthy or not was debatable, but she was not that ugly, right? As for being flattered, that was Gryphon asking; there was no need to be flattered by this man’s choices.

Finding a strange and questionable resolve in her, she then straightened her back. The woman shook her hair again. With a sigh, she turned to him in resignation. “What was that you said again earlier? It’s your birthday today? We still have a few minutes, don’t we?”

He stared at her for a few seconds before chuckling in amusement. He moved his hands to support Andrea as she went to straddle him with her legs. “What are you planning to give me tonight?”

“…a pretend darling?”

“Is that a ‘yes’ now?” Gryphon couldn’t stop smiling as he received a kiss from the woman. “What are you hoping to get in exchange for this one? Of course, you can’t command me to die. Unlike before, I can give you everything you want now.”

Andrea slipped her arms around his neck. “I’ll think about it.”

…

Whether it was a dream or a nightmare, Andrea never really cared. When her eyes opened that morning, she could see the elegant bedroom of the VIP suite where she spent the night. Her body ached in a lot of places, the woman growling at the lack of restraint from the man last night. Not that she wouldn’t enjoy such a thing on a normal day.

Her hair cascaded behind her, despite the tangles that it earned from the night before. Andrea sat up on the bed, not caring about how the blanket slid down her skin. The only thing that made her grunt again was that… the bastard didn’t even wait for her to wake up. He could’ve woken her up as well if he really was in a hurry. If he wasn’t, she bet he’d still be hogging the blankets next to her.

Andrea moved her legs and tested the pain if she could walk. She then got off of the bed and wondered what to do next. Should she slip back into that now-itchy red dress from last night?

“Concierge!” The concierge knocked on the door and slowly walked inside the room. Andrea wrapped herself with the blanket before letting the female staff inside. However, the staff only placed a few bags on the seat. “Mr. Pearce gave us orders to get these delivered to you. Also, he asked us to remind you that you can stay here as long as you want, Ms. Archer.”

“…thanks.” 

That was the only answer Andrea gave before dismissing the concierge. She then took a look at the bags and found clothes. However, what made her eye twitch was that he bought her a pair of quite provocative underwear. With a grunt and managed fury, she juggled the package of the underwear in her hand, trying not to throw it around as if he would be hit.

Then again, to think about it, Mathias didn’t even bother buying her anything. Even if she understood the differences between the two men’s incomes, she still hoped he gave her something. Even if it was not branded, Andrea would appreciate anything he would have given.

“It’s too late to think about this now.” Andrea only picked a set from the new clothes. “I have to go back to take my stuff from his house. Hopefully, he won't return early from work.”

…

The orange car rolled up to the building’s parking space. Andrea alighted in a dark-blue jumpsuit and beige heels. She walked towards their unit in the building, trying to listen to any noise coming from or around it. After making sure that no one was inside, she grabbed the spare key from behind the number plate and entered the unit.

She quickly made her way to her room, only to see Mathias waiting for her there. 

He was sitting on her bed in just his jeans, mouth busy with a cancer stick. He took out the cigarette from his mouth and smashed it against the corner of her nightstand. With just one action, he successfully sent chills up Andrea’s spine as if she was about to die.

“Well, well, well… I don’t remember you wearing that last night.” Mathias got up from the bed, soon towering before Andrea. He then grabbed the paralyzed girl by the arm. “Who was that with you last night? Huh?! You ran off from me just so you can get screwed by someone else?! Bitch!”

“Let me go—!” 

There were screams coming out of her, but she didn’t think she would receive a real beating from Mathias this time. She only expected slaps, only for her to realize that he had indeed punched her in the face. It was then followed by more than one hit; even his feet moved to kick her. Time began to slow down for Andrea, the woman denying the reality that was in front of her again.

Perhaps, the only silver lining she had was that she was wearing something that could protect her from splinters she could have gotten from skidding on the floor. The red dress might even tear. It’s just that the jumpsuit was not enough to shield her skin and prevent the bruises from forming.

Furniture cracked and broke as he kept on hurling Andrea’s small body around the place. She could only scream for mercy and cry out, but he decided not to listen to anything. Multiple times, she pleaded; multiple times, he answered it with more beating. In a few more seconds, Andrea was not even making a noise anymore, but he didn’t want to stop until she passes away.

When Mathias’s phone rang, however, he threw Andrea to the floor by the hair. He got up to answer the call as if it was so important that it suddenly quelled his fury. Blood pooled on the floor, yet he just stepped on it as if it was nothing. He then left the trashed bedroom, closing the door behind him.

“…Gryph…” Andrea cried out a little like a ghost… “Help me…”