Chapter 14 "Echoes of Warning

As Steve's car screeched to a halt on the abandoned road, his heart raced with a tumult of conflicting emotions. Anger, betrayal, and heartache coursed through his veins, each one vying for dominance over the other. He pounded his fists against the steering wheel, the pain in his chest threatening to consume him whole.

"Why, Margaret?" he screamed into the empty expanse of the car, his voice raw with anguish. "Why couldn't you follow my orders? Why did you have to deceive me?"

Memories of their first encounter flooded his mind, the image of Margaret falling into his arms etched into his memory with painful clarity. In that moment, he had felt a spark of something he couldn't quite name, a flicker of emotion that he had long since buried beneath layers of resentment and bitterness.

But now, faced with the harsh reality of Margaret's betrayal, Steve felt that spark extinguished in an instant, replaced by a seething rage that threatened to consume him whole. He knew that he could never forgive her for what she had done, for the pain and suffering she had inflicted upon him and his family.

"If I hadn't seen your true colors that day," he seethed, his voice trembling with fury, "you would have destroyed my sister's life. You would have torn apart everything that mattered to me."

With a guttural cry of anguish, Steve flung open the car door and stumbled out onto the desolate road, his body wracked with sobs of despair. In that moment, he vowed to never let Margaret live in peace, to ensure that she paid the price for her deception for as long as he drew breath.

"I hate you, Margaret," he whispered into the cold, unforgiving night air. "I hate you with every fiber of my being." And with that final declaration, Steve turned his back on the empty road stretched out before him, his heart consumed by a darkness that threatened to swallow him whole.

Margaret lay on the bed, her body racked with both physical and emotional pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she cried, the events of the day weighing heavily on her heart. She knew that Steve would be furious with her for disobeying his commands, but she couldn't suppress the burning desire to uncover the truth.

Every inch of her body throbbed with pain, the remnants of Steve's punishment serving as a painful reminder of her defiance. Despite the agony, she couldn't shake the gnawing sense of curiosity that consumed her thoughts.

As exhaustion finally overtook her, Margaret drifted into a fitful sleep, her dreams haunted by visions of Steve's wrath.

Meanwhile, Steve returned home, his heart heavy with regret for the harsh punishment he had inflicted upon Margaret. He entered the room to find her lying on the bed, her fragile form shrouded in darkness.

Guilt gnawed at his conscience as he surveyed the scene before him. The cane lay abandoned on the floor, a silent testament to his cruelty. With a heavy sigh, he retrieved the first aid box from the cupboard, determined to mend the wounds he had caused.

Approaching Margaret's bedside, Steve's heart ached at the sight of her trembling form. Gently, he reached out and took her hands in his, his touch tentative yet filled with remorse.

As he applied the soothing cream to her wounds, Margaret cried out in pain, her body recoiling from his touch. But Steve pressed on, his movements slow and deliberate as he kissed each bruised spot with tender care.

Though Margaret flinched at his touch, she made no move to resist, her fear of his anger outweighed by a sense of resignation .

As Steve finished applying the medicine to Margaret's wounds, he rose from the bed and reached for the cane, his thoughts consumed by a tumultuous mix of anger and remorse. Before he could react, Margaret darted forward and threw her arms around him from behind, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she pleaded, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "Please don't hit me. I won't disobey you again, I promise. I'll do as you say, but please, don't hit me."

Her grip tightened around him as she spoke, her entire body trembling with fear. "I'll never speak to Robert again, I won't even look at him or smile at him. Please, don't hit me," she begged, her voice choked with tears.

Steve's anger flared at the mention of Robert's name, his jaw clenching with frustration. With a forceful motion, he pushed Margaret away and turned to face her, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and warning.

"Don't play with fire, Margaret," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "No matter how much you try, you'll only find pain instead of the truth."

Seating himself on the edge of the bed, Steve pulled Margaret onto his lap, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on her tear-streaked face. "Follow my commands, and you'll never be hurt," he murmured, his voice softening slightly. "But disobey me, and I'll tear your soul apart."

With a dismissive peck on her lips, he released her and enveloped her in a tight embrace. "Now sleep," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Don't move, just sleep in my arms."