Chapter 7 A Curse; Definitely A Curse
''After the ruckus that Livy created earlier today, I was amazed Markian went ahead with the marriage
and now I know why.
Someone is pulling the strings here, trying to take me unawares and keeping Livy in that mansion
would be a grave mistake on my part. I need to know who it is.
My ambitions may have led me here, but I can''t let it destroy another child of mine. This email can''t be
trusted, but it can''t be neglected either because it was both a warning and a threat.'' Judy thought on
her way to the Luthel mansion with Olivia.
She continued to stare at the anonymous email that was sent to her several minutes ago, which seems
to be the food for her thought.
''A bait became prey, and now a prey is sent to be a bait. Miracles don''t happen when a sheep is
put in the midst of wolves.''
Sender: anonymous
Usually, messages like this wouldn''t bother Judy so much but for some reason she is now concerned.
2weeks ago, she received the first anonymous email revealing that Sophia''s death was indeed an
assasination. At first Judy didn''t think much of it until the Winfreys came for the termination of our
contract.
Now, she is left with no other option but to protect and keep Livy alive- long enough to figure out which
Winfrey is responsible for Sophia''s death.
Coupled with everything that had happened today, Judy was now feeling a bit anxious.
First, her position at the Verc is being threatened- although it''s not the first time, but they''ve got strong
aid this time. Then, Olivia had disappeared an hour before the marriage, but eventually reappeared
After the courthouse this morning, she had rushed to Luthel Inc after receiving news that a random
shareholder''s meeting was ongoing, discussing her impeachment from the position of Luthel Inc''s
Chairwoman. They are questioning her mental capability to continue her daughter''s death.
And when she got out of the meeting heading home to get Livy, she received this email. She can''t help
but feel trapped and really wish Livy would grow up soon to understand exactly the responsibilities that
awaits her.
Livy''s unpreparedness and unambitiousness is starting to seem like an obstacle Judy has to break
through. She is unsure how long her enemies would remain lenient for.
Though Judy is in herte-forties, she always looks thirty. But at the cause of event that had taken
ce today, for the first time she is looking more like her age. She had frownlines and dark circles
underneath her eyes.
Her hair is almost in a messy bun, but nothing a few minutes touch up couldn''t fix.
Thinking back to when these all started, she had no choice but to be hard as steel both inside and
out if she was going to have a chance at survival with her daughters.
Growing up as an orphan with just her sister, they lived with their aunt who hated them both. At a very
early age, Judy had to start fending for she and her younger sister. She was very intelligent so she got
a schrship into the most prestigious private highschool in Minnesota.
Only after she became a highschool senior did her luck changed as she started dating Matthew
Winfrey- one of the 3 richest kids in Minnesota. And that was when the ambition set in. She got a taste
of the good life and wanted more of it, so she cheated her way until she got whatever she wanted.
Bing one of the elites, Judy learned an important lesson. Power was all she needed to survive, so
she strived relentlessly everyday to get it at any cost whatsoever.
************************************
Judy didn''t say a word to Livy on their way to the Winfrey''s mansion, and Livy appreciated that fact.
It was alreadyte to start scolding or asking why she was sote to the courthouse this morning.
Typical Judy, as long as no harm was done and everything went ording to her n in the end, she
would be satisfied regardless the means it took to happen.
"Haven''t I told you time and again that crying doesn''t answer nor solve your problems, hmm?" Judy
asked surprising Livy who didn''t realize tears were rolling down her cheek.
Livy quickly wiped it off with the back of her palm and sniffled a little to clear her nostrils.
She couldn''t understand why she was crying at this point, she has been doing that a lottely.
She didn''t say a word to her mother and just looked out the window of the moving car to the brightly
colored road that led to different destinations.
"Livy, I need you to start acting more like a Luthel- more like me. The Winfrey''s are like hyenas and the
moment they sense just the slightest smell of fear from you, they''ll devour you just like they did to your
sister" Judy advices strongly.
"hyenas huh?... Then, what are you? A mother who straps and drags her daughter off to a house
rumored to be full of hyenas, even though she had already lost a child to them. You...you don''t care. I''m
just another price you have to pay to gain more wealth and power, right? You are the hyena mother.
You watch your children fight for attention, and then you devour them when your appetite needs to be
filled. You killed Sophia, not the Winfrey''s" Livy replied in spite.
''wait...did I just say all that out loud? No, it can''t be. I said it in my head, mom couldn''t have heard that,
right? Please Lord, I hope I said all that in my head'' she hoped, but she did say it out loud.
She wanted to look at her mother, but was too terrified to face her. She bit her lower lip and squeezed
her palms into a fist, pushing them downwards on her thighs to stop them from shaking so much.
"hahahaha...oh my goodness. You really are my daughter. So tell me, do you hate me now? Do you
have a strong desire to want to stop me from hurting you any further? You must be so angry at the
realisation that it is my fault your sister is dead, so what are you gonna do about it, huh?...ah, I''m
pushing you into the den of hyenas and you hate that, but you can''t do anything about it, can you?..."
"(Scoff)... Your sistersted 2yrs being a Winfrey, but I doubt you''d evenst 6months. To stop me Livy,
you need to stop being a spineless excuse of ady. To stop me, you need power!" Judy spoke
condescendingly to her daughter.
If hating her is the only way to draw out Livy''s strength, then that''s a small price to pay to ensure her
daughter''s safety amist those sneering wolves.
"I''m sorry mom, I didn''t mean to say any of that. I''m just a little nervous, that''s why. I will never hate you
mom, so please don''t think of such absurd things anymore" Livy stated apologetically.
She loves her mom and would never stand in the way of a powerful woman like Judy, eventhough she''s
her mother.
"No!... don''t apologize, it''s OK. I can''t protect you in there if you''re so weak, even though I''m dragging
you there. You''ve always been so easy going and free, but those attributes are what gets you killed.
You are a Luthel, so never apologize for what you mean." Judy replied calmly.
If she doesn''t make a n fast, she might lose another daughter. This was negligence on her part and
she has to fix it before Livy gets swallowed whole by those serpents.
Winfrey''s Mansion
Waltz ying in the background and people in pairs dancing to the slow music. Others were either
smiling, exchanging pleasantries or chatting. Almost like the engagement, there are no press or media
present- curtsey of Markian, but the number of guests tripled.
Livy''s brain was either fried or frozen solid, because she wasn''t able to fullyprehend what was
going on. Her head felt weightless and her throat was very dry.
Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.
Her cheeks were burning, her palms were sweating, and for some reason she can''t stop her heart
racing beyond control.
Her face was just inches away from Markian''s chest as they slow danced to the music.
One of his arms is on her back, and he lets it fall below her back from time to time when she needed to
be spun around, causing an unconscious caressing motion that sent her senses on autodrive.
He was way taller than her, so she could not see his face unless she looks upward. But, she had no
courage to do that yet, especially not with the shivers he sends down her spine each time his hands fall
from her back to her waist-and slightly brushes her butt cheek.
Her face must bepletely red now from shyness, mixed with the sweet scent of Frederic Malle''s
dawn and that oakmoss, so warm and serene.
She could stand here with this man all night and not move a muscle, just to be this close to him and
take in his scent which tingles her senses all at once.
She still can''t believe she is married to this hunk of a man oozing withplete manliness. How would
she survive this torture? Her mom was wrong, she wouldn''t even survive the night with Markian.
"Are you that excited?" Markian asked.
This is the first time he had spoken to her since she got here. So, she looked up at him wondering what
he meant by excited. He didn''t smile, so her eyes followed his eyes to her hand which was meant to be
on his shoulders but were now on his chest.
She didn''t realize how far her hand had dropped, so she quickly put them back on his shoulders. In her
defense, this man is really tall and her arm was beginning to go numb. Maybe she should stop dancing,
that''s enough show already.
But as she tried to free herself from him, she felt his arms tightened on her waist and on her other hand
pulling her closer to himself.
He then crouched making his face just an inch away from hers as his breathe covered her face.
"Now, where do you think you are going? The song isn''t over yet," he asked.
Right on cue, the music ended answering Livy''s unconscious prayer.
"Well...it''s over... Now, will you let...me go?... Please?" she stuttered while trying to set herself free, but
her efforts were futile since she was very petite.
"I can''t do that, do you know why? Because, you are now my wife. Mine. Which means you can''t tell
me what to do or not to do. If I fu''king wish to dance with you all night, you will obey and respect my
wish- eventhough they are not to your best interest, do you understand?" he asked between gritted
teeth.
"Does this mean that you too have no right to tell me what I can or can''t do?Just as I''m yours, does it
mean you''re mine too? Or is this going to be a one sided thing?" Livy questioned boldly, while looking
away from Markian.
He is so tempting, and she might just do something out of character right now whether he wants it or
not.
"You''re smart, but not so smart. When I said all you''d get out of this marriage is my name, I wasn''t
bluffing" he spoke, bringing her face forcefully back to meet his with his hand.
His other hand on her waist released its pressure, but slide down to her butt. He felt her stiffen at the
feel of his hand on her buttocks, but she suddenly pushed against his chest hard and broke free from
his torturous bondage.
Her face was burning and her heart wouldn''t stop trying to escape her chest. She could only imagine
how red her face must be as she saw a smirk appear on Markian face.
His breathe smelled of alcohol- though sexy, but it made her upset that he had to get drunk before
Full of rage, she closed the gap between them as she said, "you don''t own me if I don''t own you, so
just as I''m your wife, you are my husband. Your name gave me that right, so I won''t let you just do as
you please. I''m not a toy... and you won''t treat me as one".
The warmth she once felt from him suddenly evaporated and his eyes turned icy blue. His jaws
clinched and his demeanor became dark.
In a swift moment, he grabbed her arm and dragged her away from the room, disregarding people''s
He took her upstairs to his room which has been beautifully decorated with flower petals and candle
lights. Pulling her into the room with force, she lost her bnce andnded on the bed.
He closed the door loudly with a bang and shut it, so there was no escape for either of them. Yes, he
drank a few sses of red wine at the green house, but he was fully aware of what he was doing right
now.
He immediately turned towards her and red at her so hard she felt she was in the devil''s presence.
Now she regrets saying what she had told him back there. She was just upset he drank beforeing
to her, she just dislikes alcohol and people that consume such.
She got up from the bed and looked around for a ce to hide, but it was arge room she had not
been in before and her head is starting to pound so hard.
A knock came from the door, then a voice spoke, "Markian, is everything OK? Please, open the door
let''s talk about this. Everyone is worried downstairs and they want to know what is going on? Markian?
Livy, is everything OK?" Heather asked, worried.
"Heather, go back downstairs and entertain the guests. We''ve had a long day and just want to go to
bed early. Tell them to have a good time and leave when they are done." Markian answered with a
growl without opening the door.
He was in rage and Heather knew exactly who he bes when he gets angry.
"Markian, she is your wife and everyone downstairs knows that. Don''t do anything stupid you would
regretter. I''m leaving" Heather said for thest time and left.
''Only God can save Livy now,'' she thought as she left to go back downstairs.
''Oh God, What is he going to do to me? Why didn''t I just keep quiet? I knew I was saying all that and I
really wanted to stop. He doesn''t need hear all that from me even though I''m not ok just being your wife
on paper. Please Lord, save me from this man today and I promise never to talk back at him ever
again'' Livy thought as Markian made his way towards her.
She involuntarily took steps back at each step he took towards her until she met with the wall, and
there was nowhere left to go. Like an animal trapping its prey, she was trapped by Markian and feared
the worse.