Chapter 8 Nightmare In Daylight


    Daniel spent the remaining few hours drinking himself to numbness.


    He never should have returned to Minnesota, it was a mistakeing back here. Now he has to see


    the girl of his dreams in the arms of his cousin.


    He was still at the bar even as the Weing began. All the attempts of the youngdies present to


    get his attention had all been made futile.


    He wouldn''t stop drinking let alone speak to anyone. At least he was getting what he wished for -to be


    numb to the pain and everything inbetween- that until Livy arrived.


    She was dressed in a milk-colored pink flora strapless gown. She had a pink half-cut fur coat that hung


    few inches below her shoulders with matching strapped-heels.


    She was looking exceptionally beautiful than she was in the morning, making it harder for Daniel to


    focus. She was all he could see as everything and everyone else became blurred.


    He tried to stand up from the stool but his legs were numb. He knew he would fall and make a fool of


    himself if he tries again, so he remained in his seat with his eyes glued on Livy.


    He was such a person who knew when to go after what he wants and when to give up. But, ever since


    Livy appeared in his life, all his sense of reasoning has eluded him.


    Soon the music started and she was on the dance floor with Markian. He was finding it hard to


    understand the sudden disdain he now felt towards his cousin.


    Is it because Markian is with the woman of his dreams, or is it because he knew Markian doesn''t really


    like her? But whatever the reason was, this is the first time he had felt such rage towards his cousin.


    Markian and Daniel had been more than just cousins growing up, they had been brothers and best


    friends until he left Minnesota 5years ago.


    Castlehill had always been the Winfrey''s family business until Grandpa Winfrey-Castlehill died and left


    his will, making his first son, Matthew Winfrey the Chairman of Castlehill group ofpanies. And his


    second son, Tion Winfrey, he made the CEO of Shanghai group which Heather is currently in charge of


    after Daniel left to Grenada.


    As heir to the Shanghai group, his father wanted more from him and would alwayspared him to


    Markian.


    Tion Winfrey had always envied his brother''s position as Chairman and have done hical things that


    could naturally create enmity between siblings. So Daniel left for his own peace of mind and for his


    cousin''s sake.


    But, could it be that an enmity between both of them is inevitable?


    Right now, he really hates that Livy was Markian''s woman, and the fact that Markian doesn''t want her


    makes him even more furious.


    But he med his anger and every associated with his emotions tonight on the alcohol, he was not


    thinking straight. Maybe a good night rest would bring his mind some peace, so onest look at Livy


    before headed upstairs was all that was left for him to do when he saw it.


    Daniel''s mind went on a personal rampage as his eyes fell on Markian''s hands on Livy''s butt, and


    Livy''s silent struggle to be free of him.


    He felt like marching up to the dance floor, grab Markian by the neck and give him a good punch.


    Luckily she broke free from Markian''s grip, giving Daniel a little sense of satisfaction.


    ''Wait, what''s wrong with me. They are both married now, so why do I still feeling the need to rescue


    her? She''s his woman now, and I''m nobody to her, but why do I still feel this way? Livy, what did you do


    to me?'' Daniel questioned himself.


    His eyes fell on her again but this time, Markian''s hand gripped her wrist forcefully before he practically


    dragged her upstairs.


    Daniel quickly rushed on his feet, but the alcohol in his system protested against his obtrusion. His


    head felt heavy and his eyes were finding it hard to focus.


    He was drunk but wanted to rescue Livy from Markian, since he knows how cold and destructive his


    cousin''s anger can be better than anyone else.


    He began to move his foot one step at a time as he shoved and pushed people out of the way


    sluggishly.


    Before he got to the staircase, a hand touched his shoulder pulling him back. It was Heather.


    "where do you think you are going? Stay here and don''t create a scene" she ordered sternly.


    "Bu...ttt, he dragged Livy upstairsss without her consent. I...have to stop him before he... he does


    something stupid, he must still be upset with herrr" he dragged as he forced the words out in an


    attempt to sound clear and firm.


    "You can barely stand. Go back, I''ll handle it... Trust me, Go!" Heathermanded her brother.


    She had always been so authoritative and concerned about her little brother and the reputation of her


    family. Which is why if Markian does anything crazy tonight, she would never forgive him, so she went


    after him.


    Before she got to Markian''s room, he had already shut the door. She banged and banged on the door,


    but Markian and Livy weren''t responding.


    ''What is Markian thinking right now? Does he intend on hurting her? No way, he wouldn''t do that.'' she


    thought. But she recalled the look in Markian''s eyes and they were very scary.


    Her cousin has a quick temper that almost made him an outcast when they were younger. He wasn''t


    very popr amongst the guys, but asionally the girls would flock around him because he was very


    handsome and rich.


    His only friend while growing up was Daniel, but it seems there has been a strain in their rtionship


    ever since Daniel left Minnesota.


    If he continues like this, she fears the worst as she loved him like a brother too and knows exactly how


    he gets when he''s upset.


    If Markian creates a scene and the gossip gets out, only heaven knows what rumors might spread on


    social media the next day.


    ''''Markian, is everything OK?! Please, open the door let''s talk about this. Everyone is worried


    downstairs, and wants to know what''s going on. Markian? Livy! is everything OK?" she called out, but


    got no response.


    She started to worried when she didn''t get any response until Markian replied.


    "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". he stated.


    OK, He is lying through his teeth knowing fully that she knows him very well, and that made her even


    more worried. Markian takes very rash decisions when he is angry.


    "Markian, she is your wife now and everyone downstairs knows that. Don''t do anything stupid you


    would regretter. I''m leaving, have a goodnight" she replied.


    She''s still worried about what would happen to Livy, so she prayed a silent prayer for her.


    When she went downstairs, she met Daniel sitting at the end of the staircase. He looked miserable and


    drunk.


    Her brother only drinks when something was bothering him, but what could he possibly be worried


    about?


    She sat with him and put her arms around his neck. He was startled at first but calmed down when he


    realized it was just his sister.


    "What''s wrong? Why are you so drunk? Was it about what I said earlier? I didn''t mean to hurt you, you


    know? I just don''t want you making stupid mistakes, that''s why I scolded you. You can''t follow


    Markian''s everymand, I don''t think he has your best interest at heart. He..."


    "I love Livy..." Daniel confessed bluntly, sending Heather into a panic.


    "...I''m in love with Livy and it''s starting to drive me crazy. I don''t even know who to tell or what to do


    about it. Please sis, what do I do?" Daniel asked as he brushed his hair backwards with his fingers,


    showing his farrowed brows.


    Daniel was quite handsome with a ruggedness he now acquired after few years on an ind. His hair


    was always let down his forehead in a bang, and is only parted and taken slightly backwards on special


    asions like today. But he has been drinking and though he often tries to brush it backwards with his


    fingers, it still falls right back on his forehead.


    He was very attractive either way and had no problem with thedies, though he wasn''t a yboy.


    Compared to Markian, Daniel is a worthy opponent.


    "Please tell me it''s another Livy you are referring to. Because if it''s not, then you better keep your


    mouth shut and don''t say anything else if you don''t want to find yourself in deep trouble tomorrow",


    Heather spoke firmly.


    She knows how her brother can be when he likes a girl. He has been heartbroken a few times and she


    was the only one he could talk to because Markian was always the reason the girls left him.


    Thest time a girl left him for his cousin, he had vowed never to fall in love again until Markian was


    happily married.


    Of course, Heather had tracked the girl down. She was an instagram model and only used Daniel to


    get close to Markian.


    Heather threatened her and made sure she left Markian, and also gave an honest apology to Daniel.


    Heather can be very intimidating when she wants to be. And since she cared for her brother so much,


    she started keeping tabs on him as to who he dates or sees, just to make sure nobody ys him for a


    fool ever again.


    But she didn''t find him dating or seeing anyone for quite a while so she assumed he took his vow very


    serious.


    If she had suspected or had any idea whatsoever that her brother was in love with Livy, she probably


    would never had let the marriage proceed.


    "Heather, is she ok? Markian isn''t mad at her, is he?" he questioned his sister intensely.


    Heather could see a glimmer in his eyes, he was holding back his tears and it broke her heart.


    "She is perfect, they were teasing each other publicly and she wasn''tfortable with it, so they retired


    to their room early. You don''t need to be worried about her from here on out. She is now Markian''s


    wife", she lied.


    Better he gets hurt now, heals and gets over it in the morning, than to have his hopes up for any


    changes.


    "Aaaa...i see. You''re right, I must have been worried for no reason. I''ll go up to my room now, I''m also


    very tired. Goodnight Sis", he spoke with an unreal smile stered on his face as he staggered to walk


    up the stairs to locate his room, resisting his sister''s help to steady him.


    **********************************************


    I pulled myself off the bed, I didn''t want to wait to find out what was going to happen if I remained there.


    My limbs were trembling and i could barely breath. I looked for a safe ce to hide away from his


    deadly stare, but couldn''t find any in the little time I had.


    Markian kepting closer with each step but, I could only manage to take small steps backward


    involuntarily, until I got caught between him and a wall.


    ''Oh no, I''m stuck. What do I do? I need to leave this room, please someone help me!.''


    It''s a strange room, but it was beautifully decorated with flowers and few candlelights lit up the room,


    making it more difficult to find a way out.


    In a quick stride he was face to face with me. One of his hand grapped my left wrist, while the other


    was on my waist, and using his weight he pinned me to the wall unable to move. I could only manage


    to wiggle, making my current position even worse.


    I was in pain as his grip got tighter and tighter, and I whimpered.


    When I opened my eyes, they met with his icy cold eyes. He had a smirk on his lips, he is enjoying


    what he was doing at the moment- the pain he''s inflicting, the fear that constantly grew in me and the


    soft whimper I let out involuntarily. He was enjoying every bit of his handiwork.


    "I''m I hurting you? Do you want me to let you go? Beg me! I might listen if you ask nicely" he spoke


    softly and teasingly.


    I knew he was taunting me, but I needed this to stop. I know I was wrong and spoke out of anger, I


    never should have spoken to him in such a manner especially after everything that had happened to


    him because of me.


    "Please, I....beg of you. Please...let go of me," I pleaded shamelessly.


    "scoffs...I. Don''t. Want. To... You seemed to have a lot to say to me downstairs, even everyone wanted


    to know. So, here I am in private, all ears and ready to listen, so tell me." he requested calmly still while


    holding and pinning me to the wall.


    I was so terrified, I was about to cry. ''Please, let me go... I didn''t mean to be rude, I just...my irritation


    level ticks off when someone I care about is intoxicated by alcohol.''


    I can''t even say that because I''m the reason he was drinking. He is suffering because I forcefully got


    married to him.


    I''m so pathetic, even right now I''m making excuses for the man whose fingers are boring a hole in my


    arm and waist. He hates me so much but I still fantasize of a happy life with him.


    I must be mad, crazy with emotions I can''t fully control.


    "Why so quiet ''honey''? Go ahead, say what''s on your mind. I really want to hear what you have to say"


    he request with gritted teeth.


    He looks so furious, and if I''m not careful, tonight which is meant to be our first night together might


    turn into a horrific night.


    My eyes were already teary and ready to spill, my cheeks felt so hot like I''ve been pped, my legs


    were giving up on me. Somebody please help. I don''t know what to say or do that might make things


    even worse.


    "If you refer to me as your husband in ''public'' ever again, I''ll make you regret it in public. If you ever for


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    a moment think you can stand with me as an equal, I''ll push you down with my own hands. And if you


    think that I''ll ever regard you as my wife, then be prepared to get disappointed, over and over again. I


    will make everyday you spend with me unlivable. I''ll make sure you regret the actions you took today


    that suit you and your mother best. So from now I''ll make decisions that only suits me, and would


    cause you great pain- more than you''ve caused me. From this moment on, I''ll sacrifice my time to


    making you regret ever choosing to get married to ''your sister''s husband''. Just get lost, you disgust


    me!" Markian yelled as he pushing me aside.


    I got up and ran towards a door beside the book shelf, not knowing if it was a walk-in closet or the


    bathroom. All I knew was that my entire systems needed me to be far away from Markian, so I ran and


    shut the door.


    My heart was still racing as tears streamed down my face and i squeezed my eyes shut.


    I was still trembling with fear and my body hurts, not from his grip but from his harsh words.


    What have I gotten myself into all in the name of love? Was I wrong to marry Markian? I''m I really the


    bad guy? Everything I knew and felt right now was on a heap of questions with no answers.


    The floor was cold and the room was pitch ck. My heartbeat intensified as blood ran through my


    brain and flooded my ears, muffling out all sounds. I''m currently in a state of panic as I fumbled on the


    door knob to get the door but failed.


    In few seconds everything went dead as Iid on the cold ground unconscious.