The One Above All

C8: ...Send You To Hell

"But you only said I won't have to marry Julian anymore if I could successfully get Mr Rothwell to sign the contract. You didn't mention that I couldn't use any help!"

"You are so naive!" Victor's laughter rang out sharply. "Haha… you really thought that bet meant anything?"

Iris froze, her fingers curled slowly by her side.

"That was just to keep you obedient," he continued in a casual tone.

"Whether you succeeded or not… you were always going to marry Julian."

The words hit harder than any slap. Iris staggered back slightly. So, it was all a lie. All of it.

"Iris," Catherine chimed in with a smile, "don't look so shocked. You weren't deceived."

Her gaze turned mocking. "You were just… foolish enough to believe it."

The air suddenly felt suffocating for Iris.

"These marriage alliances," Victor added, "have always been decided by the family. You don't get a choice."

His tone was calm, almost reasonable.

"As long as you stop your rebellious attitude and marry into the Hawthorne family, your life will be secured.

"What more do you want?" Catherine added in a self-righteous tone. "Julian is the heir apparent of the Hawthorne's family. They are one of the richest in the city. We are already doing a favor by letting you marry him."

"Yes, listen to your mother," Victor's gaze narrowed on her. "You should be grateful."

Grateful?

Iris laughed. A hollow, broken sound.

"Do you even hear yourself?" she asked, her voice trembling. "You and I know what kind of man Julian is!"

Her chest rose and fell sharply.

"He treats women like toys! Do you know how many he has already ruined?"

"Why are you so strong-headed?" Victor's expression darkened. His reply came instantly.

"No one is asking you to compete with his women. A man is not meant to survive on one woman alone. Those women are nothing. Just make a place for yourself."

"Besides, they can only remain his mistress while you will be the legitimate wife."

"Dad, you are so despicable! Let me tell you—" Iris' voice rang out. "I would rather die than marry him!"

The room fell silent. Catherine's lips slowly curled into a smile.

"Honey, I told you," she pulled Victor's sleeves as she spoke softly, "She wouldn't listen if we go easy on her. At this point, we have to use our trump card."

Victor nodded. Then, he pulled out his phone. Iris' heart skipped.

"What trump card? What are you two up to…?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he made a video call. His phone's screen lit up, and at first, the screen was blank. Then, the camera shifted, revealing a woman hanging mid-air.

Her clothes were soiled with blood, her hair was disheveled, and her body motionless.

Time stopped.

"…Mom?" Iris' voice cracked. Her entire body trembled.

"Mom…!"

Her vision doubled instantly. Even without seeing the face of the woman on the screen clearly, she knew who it was.

She would recognize her anywhere.

Victor raised the phone higher, out of her reach. His voice turned cold.

"If you don't agree to the marriage…" he gestured at the woman on the screen "I'll let my men entertain her."

Iris' pupils shrank.

"And after that…" His lips curved slightly. "They'll beat her to death."

"NO—!"

Her scream tore through the room.

"Stop! Please stop!"

But it was too late.

SLASH!

A whip cut through the air.

"Ah—!" Iris watched her mother's body jerk violently on the screen. She collapsed to her knees.

"Mom! Mom!"

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. Her hands shook. Her entire world was falling apart.

"Victor!" Her voice broke as she looked up at him. "You're a monster!"

SLAP!

Catherine struck her across the face. The sound echoed sharply.

"Watch your mouth!" Her expression twisted. "You have no sense of propriety! How dare you talk to your father in such a manner? It seems you still don't understand your position?"

She leaned closer. "It's simple."

---

"Marry Julian…"

---

"Or your mother dies."

---

SLASH!

SLASH!

Each strike echoed from the phone. Each one felt like it was tearing Iris apart.

"I'll marry him!" The words came out desperate and broken. "I'll marry him! Just stop! Please stop hurting her!"

Her voice trembled violently as she continued pleading. "You want me to marry him, right? I'll do it. Please, stop! Don't hurt my mother again! Please!"

Victor watched her silently. His lips curved with a satisfied smile.

"Now that's better. Why were you acting stubborn earlier when we could have easily settled this?"

Iris no longer had the strength to speak, but it didn't matter. Victor gave a simple order through the phone before ending the call.

---

Silence fell once again. Iris remained on the floor. Her long, black hair covered her face. Her shoulders trembled slightly.

---

She had lost completely. Her dignity. Her freedom. Her choice. All gone.

She didn't want to, but her mother was in the hands of the Blackwell's family.

And to her, her mother was everything.

---

Meanwhile at the edge of the city, an abandoned warehouse stood in silence. Inside, hearty and loud laughter echoed.

A group of guards drank and played cards merrily. Behind them, a woman hung in chains, barely conscious.

Blood was dripping down her restraints slowly. And just as the guards were having a jolly time—

BANG!!!

The iron doors exploded open. The sound reverberated violently, and the guards shook.

"What the hell—?!" They jumped up and turned to the entrance.

That was when they saw the tall figure standing at the entrance. The air suddenly turned cold. It was heavy and oppressive, making it difficult for the guards to even breathe properly.

---

The man took one step forward—

THUD.

And the guards instinctively stepped back. Their instincts immediately screamed danger.

His gaze swept across the room, then stopped on Helena.

His eyes turned colder and darker.

"Who are you?! How dare you trespass?!" one guard barked.

The man tilted his head slightly. Then, a faint smile appeared on his lips. Cold and merciless.

"Me?" He gestured to himself with a lazy shrug. "I've come to…"

His voice dropped.

"…send you to hell."