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CHAPTER ONE
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2025-01-08 14:53:30But, in that moment, he moved swiftly, blocking my path. Despite my efforts to avoid him, he stood his ground. Without uttering a single word, he effortlessly lifted me onto his shoulder and began walking toward the waiting boat. I screamed in protest, my voice echoing loudly, but no amount of struggling or resistance could break his iron grip.
"For the love of God, Perion! Put me down!" I yelled.
He then powered the boat, and it gradually began to pull out of port. He released me, yet despite the chaos swirling around us, his touch felt unyielding and firm. I struggled vigorously to pry his hands away!
"Are you attempting to murder me?!" I cried out, voicing my fear about not knowing how to swim.
"Don't rock the boat, Carmenta!" Perion said, his tone tinged with irritation and danger.
"I loathe you, moron!" I yelled, thrashing against him. But his grip didn’t falter. If anything, he seemed to enjoy my futile attempts to escape.
Despite my desperate efforts, the balance of the boat was disrupted, sending us both plunging into the water. As we sank into the depths, I felt his grip on me loosen. A surge of fear overwhelmed me. The water muffled my cries, yet it felt like it was pounding against my skull. I tried to rise to the surface, but it was excruciatingly difficult due to the pressure constricting my chest and throat. My limbs flailed, but the weight of the water was too much. Just as I thought I might drown, an arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me upward.
When we broke the surface, I gasped for air, coughing as seawater burned my throat. Perion’s grip was unyielding, his strength keeping me afloat even as I weakly tried to push him away.
In that brief moment of vulnerability, the walls between us crumbled, leaving us exposed and raw. Only silence surrounded us, broken only by the sound of our labored breaths and the gentle lapping of the waves. Time seemed to stand still as we held onto each other, the quiet resistance we once harbored dissolving into the air. No words could bridge the gap between us, only the silent understanding that lingered in the space shared by our intertwined breaths.
Our gazes met, searching for peace amidst the chaos threatening to consume us. Finally, I lowered my head, resting my forehead against his. Without hesitation, tears began to fall, mingling with the salty sea water around us. With a soft exhale, Perion tilted his head, his lips hovering just inches away from mine. Time seemed to freeze as our breaths intertwined, the tension between us electrifying.
And then, in that singular moment, our lips met in a gentle kiss. He pulled back but remained impossibly close, his face mere inches from mine. Our noses brushed, and I found myself paralyzed, unable to move, unable to breathe.
It took me a few moments to recover. A loud thud echoed in my chest, bringing with it a sharp pain. The sound resonated in my mind—first as doubt, then as fear, and finally as sorrow. I immediately struggled to break from his grip.
"Foolish," I breathed. He had grown heavily in love, but he refused to acknowledge that it was over for the longest time.
In the wasteland, I was an angel, painfully beautiful yet brutally miserable. My entire, stupid existence has been paved with victories and glory, opulence and power. Such fame, fortune, glory, and all I could ever desire, I already have it, gleaming in front of my eyes like a beacon of fire. Yet, I still felt alone for unclear reasons. How come my heart is shredded? I got the world but, at what price? What's the fun in getting everything you want?
I am uncertain when it all went wrong, but I'm f'ng worn out.
"Maybe I'd listen if you actually understood me for once!" I shouted out, nearly losing my voice from the intensity of the violent emotions I was feeling as I hurled heavy words at my father, my heart shattered by the weight of years of feeling neglected.
"Carmen, are you f'ng fooling me? You truly think I'm a simpleton for not caring about your vulgarities!" I clenched my fists, tense with rage and pain while repulsive tears continued to fall from my eyes.
"Making a piece of garbage you called what, huh? Art? You know I let you go with that damn fruitless dream of yours! Now, you're screwed up, getting caught on the news and almost being arrested while you're off doing drugs?! I'm done trying to reason with you!" His face twisted into a mocking grin, each word cutting through me like a sharp blade. I could feel my jaw clenching and my chest tightening, my emotions threatening to overwhelm me.
"I was a fool for trusting you. You’ve let me down, Carmen! You're my daughter, but how did you get to be this way?" Out of breath and nearly suffocating, my father's anger and disappointment erupted as he slammed his fist onto the table, making everything rattle.
"You're leaving tomorrow morning, Carmen. You're no longer a child, so I expect you to cease splurging on material things and start behaving sensibly!"
"Dad, just please..." I pleaded, my voice shaking with desperation. The wide table between us felt like a barrier, and it pained me that he wouldn’t even meet my eyes after making the decision to take me away from my life in the city. My trembling hand reached out to him, fear and sorrow clear in my gaze. But before I could touch him, he quickly shoved my hand aside, leaving me feeling utterly broken.
"Dad, I don't want you telling me to pack my things. Not even to touch my stuff. I'm not going!"
"Yes, you fucking are!" He jabbed a finger in me. His eyes, once filled with concern, were now filled with disbelief and hurt.
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"No, I'm not!" I stood my ground as I fought tooth and nail against my father's insistence."I'm warning you, Carmen. If you attempt to evade responsibility for this, I will nullify every f'ng provision outlined in the legal documents.""For the love of God, you know me better than they do! I am f'ng clean!""For heaven's sake, Carmen, can't you see? I can't have you here! You brought shame upon us. Upon me. You think it's that easy, don't you? Just throw money at the problem, sweep it under the rug, and pretend it never happened. How many times did I have to buy your silence, Carmen?" His voice trembled with anger and frustration, his hands gripping the edge of the table as if he could control his emotions that way."This is insane! You can't just send me away because you assume I’m involved in something illegal! You have no right to control my life like this!" I protested, my voice rising with frustration and emotion. My shoulders curled inward, as if trying to shield myself from th
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My lips were parched, my clothes were disheveled, and hunger growled in my stomach. Waking up to find my world utterly changed, I never imagined this day would arrive. The decision I strongly opposed has now become my reality, and its weight crashed down on me like a wave. The force of it is overwhelming, leaving me struggling to keep my balance as I face the consequences of what I once resisted, now inescapable and all-consuming. I squinted up my eyes to see how far down the rabbit hole I was and wondered what I was enclosed in as I was utterly immobilised in dread on my bed, as if the entire world were falling around me. I was practically dead, like a lamb about to be slaughtered.Each step felt heavy, and my hand gently touched the smooth handrail as I went down. Every movement seemed slower, as if something was holding me back, making the descent feel longer and more difficult than it should have been. But while I walk, I listen to my so-called stepmom and him not saying a word ba
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A respected, potent oil tycoon, my father's routine of tending to his business was abruptly interrupted by my mother's two-year hospitalization, whilst my siblings and I took turns sitting in the waiting room, the place where we prayed for her fasr recovery, erasing the days from the calendar, devoting every moment to caring for our mother. Once vibrant and full of life’s lessons, she now lay fragile. Each second spent with her became a testament to sacrifice, and unyielding regret. Throughout his recounting of the ordeal, Dad's voice carries an agony, his throat raw from speaking of the pain. Amidst the tears and chaos of the funeral, my father's capacity for lamenting remains resolute and unwavering. Yet, the gentle melody of his voice eases the weight I carry, though I fear the sorrow that has long dwelled within me must now make room for the boundless anger I have kept hidden. It stirs restlessly, threatening to consume, as his voice becomes both comfort and a reminder of my turmo
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The peeling wallpaper seemed to murmur secrets, and the wooden floor groaned under my weight. I turned, heading towards the stairs, before stopping in front of a door, my heart thundering in my chest. At the threshold of my old room, I hesitated, uncertain, before I finally pushed the door open.The room was in disarray, yet the air was heavy with sorrow. I stepped inside, and the memories rushed back. The bed was a mess, just as we had left it, and the walls were decorated with old, cracked photographs, frozen moments from a life that once was.Exhausted, I lay down, hoping to escape the hunger gnawing at me. Soon, I drifted into a restless sleep, trying to forget the pain, if only for a while. But then, I woke, gasping for air, my face drenched in sweat. My heart was racing, pounding in my chest. Hot tears slid down my face as I tried to shake off the suffocating nightmare. My chest felt tight, as though it were being crushed, and the darkness seemed to pull me deeper. My mind was a
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The morning light filtered through the cracked curtains, casting a pale, uneven glow across the room. I lay still, my body heavy with exhaustion, as if the weight of the previous night’s nightmare still pressed down on me. The air was stale, thick with the scent of dust and decay, and I could hear the faint creaking of the mansion settling into its old bones. It was a sound I had once found comforting, a reminder of the life I had lived here. Now, it felt like a taunt, a cruel echo of what I had lost.I sat up slowly, my head throbbing, and glanced around the room. The sunlight illuminated the cracks in the walls, the peeling wallpaper, and the faded photographs that still hung crookedly on the walls. My old room, once a sanctuary, now felt like a prison. The memories it held were no longer comforting—they were suffocating.I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood, my knees wobbling slightly as I steadied myself. The floorboards groaned under my weight, and I winced at the s
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I turned to face him, my eyes narrowing as I studied his face. There was something in his expression—something I couldn’t quite place. Was it concern? Understanding? Or was it just another mask, another layer of the enigma that was him?“You don’t get to act like you know me,” I said, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and vulnerability. “Not anymore. Whatever we had, whatever we were… that’s in the past. And it’s staying there.”He didn’t argue. He didn’t try to defend himself or remind me of the bond we once shared. Instead, he simply nodded, his gaze steady and unwavering. “If that’s what you want,” he said quietly.But it wasn’t what I wanted. Not really. Deep down, a part of me longed to confront the past, to demand answers, to scream at him for everything he’d done—or hadn’t done. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t ready. And maybe I never would be.I turned back to the window, my hands gripping the sill so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The garden stretched out before me, a c
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"Oh my goodness! Put me down!" I shouted, my voice a mix of panic and indignation. I pounded my fists against his broad back, but it was like hitting a brick wall—he didn’t even flinch. Instead, his grip on my legs tightened, sending an involuntary shiver through me. His hands were firm, almost possessive, as if he had no intention of letting me go.He began walking purposefully toward the mansion, his strides long and confident, while I squirmed and protested in vain. My heart raced, and my mind spun with a whirlwind of emotions—anger, embarrassment, and something else I couldn’t quite place. The cool evening air brushed against my skin, but it did little to calm the heat rising in my cheeks.When we reached the living room, he finally set me down, but not gently. I landed on the plush sofa with a soft thud, my body sinking into the cushions. Before I could scramble away, he leaned over, caging me in with his arms on either side of the sofa. His presence was overwhelming, his scent—a
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The sun beat down relentlessly over the field, but I hardly noticed. Around me, the players slowed their horses, their confusion apparent. Yet, I didn't care. My pulse thundered in my ears as I strode purposefully across the immaculately kept turf. Startled murmurs rippled through the crowd, gasps echoing as they realized I was disrupting the match. Let them talk—this wasn't about them.It was about him.Perion.There he stood, as if he owned the world, leaning casually near the sidelines. A cigarette rested unlit at the corner of his mouth, his expression cool, indifferent—like my sudden intrusion was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. The tailored suit clinging to his broad shoulders spoke of arrogance, the kind only he could carry. His sunglasses shielded his eyes, but I didn’t need to see them to know the intensity lurking behind those dark lenses. He looked somewhat gloomy, but I could see the faint twitch of his jaw as I approached.My breath hitched as I stopped a few fee
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The Man I Swore to Hate CHAPTER EIGHT
"Oh my goodness! Put me down!" I shouted, my voice a mix of panic and indignation. I pounded my fists against his broad back, but it was like hitting a brick wall—he didn’t even flinch. Instead, his grip on my legs tightened, sending an involuntary shiver through me. His hands were firm, almost possessive, as if he had no intention of letting me go.He began walking purposefully toward the mansion, his strides long and confident, while I squirmed and protested in vain. My heart raced, and my mind spun with a whirlwind of emotions—anger, embarrassment, and something else I couldn’t quite place. The cool evening air brushed against my skin, but it did little to calm the heat rising in my cheeks.When we reached the living room, he finally set me down, but not gently. I landed on the plush sofa with a soft thud, my body sinking into the cushions. Before I could scramble away, he leaned over, caging me in with his arms on either side of the sofa. His presence was overwhelming, his scent—a
The Man I Swore to Hate CHAPTER SEVEN
I turned to face him, my eyes narrowing as I studied his face. There was something in his expression—something I couldn’t quite place. Was it concern? Understanding? Or was it just another mask, another layer of the enigma that was him?“You don’t get to act like you know me,” I said, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and vulnerability. “Not anymore. Whatever we had, whatever we were… that’s in the past. And it’s staying there.”He didn’t argue. He didn’t try to defend himself or remind me of the bond we once shared. Instead, he simply nodded, his gaze steady and unwavering. “If that’s what you want,” he said quietly.But it wasn’t what I wanted. Not really. Deep down, a part of me longed to confront the past, to demand answers, to scream at him for everything he’d done—or hadn’t done. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t ready. And maybe I never would be.I turned back to the window, my hands gripping the sill so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The garden stretched out before me, a c
The Man I Swore to Hate CHAPTER SIX
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The peeling wallpaper seemed to murmur secrets, and the wooden floor groaned under my weight. I turned, heading towards the stairs, before stopping in front of a door, my heart thundering in my chest. At the threshold of my old room, I hesitated, uncertain, before I finally pushed the door open.The room was in disarray, yet the air was heavy with sorrow. I stepped inside, and the memories rushed back. The bed was a mess, just as we had left it, and the walls were decorated with old, cracked photographs, frozen moments from a life that once was.Exhausted, I lay down, hoping to escape the hunger gnawing at me. Soon, I drifted into a restless sleep, trying to forget the pain, if only for a while. But then, I woke, gasping for air, my face drenched in sweat. My heart was racing, pounding in my chest. Hot tears slid down my face as I tried to shake off the suffocating nightmare. My chest felt tight, as though it were being crushed, and the darkness seemed to pull me deeper. My mind was a
The Man I Swore to Hate CHAPTER FOUR
A respected, potent oil tycoon, my father's routine of tending to his business was abruptly interrupted by my mother's two-year hospitalization, whilst my siblings and I took turns sitting in the waiting room, the place where we prayed for her fasr recovery, erasing the days from the calendar, devoting every moment to caring for our mother. Once vibrant and full of life’s lessons, she now lay fragile. Each second spent with her became a testament to sacrifice, and unyielding regret. Throughout his recounting of the ordeal, Dad's voice carries an agony, his throat raw from speaking of the pain. Amidst the tears and chaos of the funeral, my father's capacity for lamenting remains resolute and unwavering. Yet, the gentle melody of his voice eases the weight I carry, though I fear the sorrow that has long dwelled within me must now make room for the boundless anger I have kept hidden. It stirs restlessly, threatening to consume, as his voice becomes both comfort and a reminder of my turmo
The Man I Swore to Hate CHAPTER THREE
My lips were parched, my clothes were disheveled, and hunger growled in my stomach. Waking up to find my world utterly changed, I never imagined this day would arrive. The decision I strongly opposed has now become my reality, and its weight crashed down on me like a wave. The force of it is overwhelming, leaving me struggling to keep my balance as I face the consequences of what I once resisted, now inescapable and all-consuming. I squinted up my eyes to see how far down the rabbit hole I was and wondered what I was enclosed in as I was utterly immobilised in dread on my bed, as if the entire world were falling around me. I was practically dead, like a lamb about to be slaughtered.Each step felt heavy, and my hand gently touched the smooth handrail as I went down. Every movement seemed slower, as if something was holding me back, making the descent feel longer and more difficult than it should have been. But while I walk, I listen to my so-called stepmom and him not saying a word ba
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"No, I'm not!" I stood my ground as I fought tooth and nail against my father's insistence."I'm warning you, Carmen. If you attempt to evade responsibility for this, I will nullify every f'ng provision outlined in the legal documents.""For the love of God, you know me better than they do! I am f'ng clean!""For heaven's sake, Carmen, can't you see? I can't have you here! You brought shame upon us. Upon me. You think it's that easy, don't you? Just throw money at the problem, sweep it under the rug, and pretend it never happened. How many times did I have to buy your silence, Carmen?" His voice trembled with anger and frustration, his hands gripping the edge of the table as if he could control his emotions that way."This is insane! You can't just send me away because you assume I’m involved in something illegal! You have no right to control my life like this!" I protested, my voice rising with frustration and emotion. My shoulders curled inward, as if trying to shield myself from th
The Man I Swore to Hate CHAPTER ONE
But, in that moment, he moved swiftly, blocking my path. Despite my efforts to avoid him, he stood his ground. Without uttering a single word, he effortlessly lifted me onto his shoulder and began walking toward the waiting boat. I screamed in protest, my voice echoing loudly, but no amount of struggling or resistance could break his iron grip."For the love of God, Perion! Put me down!" I yelled.He then powered the boat, and it gradually began to pull out of port. He released me, yet despite the chaos swirling around us, his touch felt unyielding and firm. I struggled vigorously to pry his hands away!"Are you attempting to murder me?!" I cried out, voicing my fear about not knowing how to swim."Don't rock the boat, Carmenta!" Perion said, his tone tinged with irritation and danger."I loathe you, moron!" I yelled, thrashing against him. But his grip didn’t falter. If anything, he seemed to enjoy my futile attempts to escape.Despite my desperate efforts, the balance of the boat wa
The Man I Swore to Hate PROLOGUE
The sun beat down relentlessly over the field, but I hardly noticed. Around me, the players slowed their horses, their confusion apparent. Yet, I didn't care. My pulse thundered in my ears as I strode purposefully across the immaculately kept turf. Startled murmurs rippled through the crowd, gasps echoing as they realized I was disrupting the match. Let them talk—this wasn't about them.It was about him.Perion.There he stood, as if he owned the world, leaning casually near the sidelines. A cigarette rested unlit at the corner of his mouth, his expression cool, indifferent—like my sudden intrusion was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. The tailored suit clinging to his broad shoulders spoke of arrogance, the kind only he could carry. His sunglasses shielded his eyes, but I didn’t need to see them to know the intensity lurking behind those dark lenses. He looked somewhat gloomy, but I could see the faint twitch of his jaw as I approached.My breath hitched as I stopped a few fee
