Brianna stared at Scott in surprise. To make it up to me? Did he say that?
"Tell me. What do you want?" Scott asked.
Everything I have is his. All the clothes, jewelry, shoes, and bags. What else can I ask him for material-wise? She could have killed me, pushing down the stairs. How does he make it up? Brianna thought.
"She's your precious princess. Why would you want to make it up to me?" Brianna said.
Scott carried her up to his room and sat her down on the sofa. He stood by the window and lit another cigarette. "Don't sulk anymore." He said.
Brianna thought for a while before she said, "So, I can ask for anything?"
Scott went and stood in front of her. He tapped on her lips gently with his long slim finger and said, "Anything except leaving me."
Brianna opened her eyes wide, startled. He has guessed my thoughts again.
She didn't want to be around him and be controlled anymore. She thought about the women that would fight desperately to be with him and how insecure her life was simply because of these women. There's Sophia and now Lucia! They will surely do anything to get rid of me to be with him.
The thing that mattered the most was that she realized she could never have his love, and that was what she cared about the most, true love.
However, Scott would not allow her to leave.
Brianna clenched her fists and spoke as calmly as she could manage. "Why do you have to force me to stay?"
"We made a deal. You are my possession. If you do what I say, you can have all you need, but if you don't or if you betray me, then I will make your life miserable, as well as your mother's."
"Haven't you got another reason to make me stay rather than threaten me?"
"I'm merely telling you the truth."
Brianna took a deep breath. "So, you will only let me go when Sol Keaton comes back."
"Right, but perhaps I will get tired of you before she comes back. And, perhaps, she will, she will never come back." Scott seemed to grow upset and annoyed. "I've been looking for her for three years and, and, nothing...perhaps she..." Perhaps she's dead. He didn't want to voice this frightening thought.
He thought he'd grown strong enough, powerful enough, but still, he could not find the woman he wanted to love and protect the most.
"It's her that you love. Why do you have to make me stay? What if she comes back and finds out that you are married to me?" Brianna retorted.
Scott looked at Brianna and sneered. "Ha. Don't think too much of yourself. You are just a thing I bought. I have no feelings for you. Sol wouldn't mind at all."
Brianna felt a sharp pain stabbing her heart. What he said was cruel and disdainful. Those words echoed in her mind, tearing apart all her self-esteem. Right. I have to be clear and always remember what I am to him. I should never ever open my heart to him again.
She bit her lips while holding his intense gaze, and despite the fact that she was shivering emotionally, she would not shed a tear.
Scott stared at her for a while and suddenly turned around and walked out of the door. "Get back to your own room." He slammed the door shut. Bang!
Brianna shuddered, and tears streamed down her face despite herself. She had known all the time that she meant nothing to him, yet still, hearing him say it out once again, she still felt hurt.
She went back to her room and collapsed on the bed, sobbing. She cried and cried till Alex knocked at the door.
"You should eat, Mrs. Brianna Anderson."
Brianna dried her eyes quickly, took a few deep breaths before she answered, "I'm not hungry."
"Come on, Mrs. Brianna Anderson. It's not a big deal. You don't know how Mr. Anderson treated those girls that wanted to be with him. What he said to them and what he did to get rid of them was way worse than how he treated you."
"What has it got to do with me? Whoever wants to be with him and how he treats them is none of my business. I don't want to be with him. I don't want to tolerate his insults anymore." Brianna retorted.
Alex explained patiently, "I know that Mr. Anderson has said something not very nice to you, but think about it, hasn't he been protective of you?"
Brianna thought it over quietly. Right, he won't allow others to take advantage of me, but he himself does it. He threatens me, insults me...
Alex went on, "Sometimes people don't say what they mean, and things aren't what they seem."
"It's obvious that he despises me!"
"Alright, try to see it from a different perspective." Alex went on. What harm does it do if you stay with Mr. Anderson? Nothing. How he treats you is surely different from how he treats others. He actually cares about how you feel. You have accepted your role, and what you are in his life, then you should play it well and make good use of it. When you become capable and charming enough, you will be able to live the life you want."
"To live the life I want?" Brianna muttered. It was true that Scott treated her differently from other women, but it wasn't because he cared about her. It was because he wanted to control her, to possess her.
"Yes. When you are strong and confident, you will surely change how Mr. Anderson sees you, and perhaps then, he will give you your freedom. If not, then you can only beg for his pity."
It's true. I have to grow strong and independent myself. Brianna thought it over, and she felt she saw hope again and was clear of what she wanted to do in her life again. "Thank you, Alex." She said sincerely.
"No problem. Would you like to get some food then?"
"Yes." Brianna got up, looked at herself in the mirror, and gave herself a smile. Then she opened the door and went downstairs for dinner.