The Mistress Is Reborn As The Fiancée
Chapter 34: Short Devil

Chapter 34: Short Devil

The plush, velvet curtains of the private club room shimmered in the dim, red light, casting long, distorted shadows across the opulent furnishings. Vernon, his face flushed with a mixture of alcohol and exhilaration, reclined on a chaise lounge, surrounded by a bevy of giggling women. He was enjoying himself, the anxieties of his professional and familial life momentarily forgotten in the haze of pleasure.

The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and cheap champagne, the rhythmic pulse of the club’s music vibrating through the walls. Vernon laughed, his voice loud and boisterous, as one of the women leaned in, whispering something in his ear.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifted, the playful laughter replaced by a tense silence. The women, their smiles fading, exchanged nervous glances and began to discreetly gather their belongings. Vernon, oblivious to the change, continued to laugh, his eyes half-closed.

The heavy oak door swung open, revealing a diminutive figure that still managed to command immediate attention despite his size. His face etched with a network of scars, his eyes cold and hard. He was flanked by big two men, their expressions equally menacing, their bodies radiating an aura of quiet violence.

The women, recognizing the danger, quickly excused themselves, their movements hurried and silent. They slipped out of the room, leaving Vernon alone with the three men.

Vernon’s laughter died in his throat. He sat up, his eyes widening in alarm. He recognized the man; he was known as "Razor" Rico, a notorious gangster with a reputation for ruthless efficiency.

"Rico," Vernon stammered, his voice trembling slightly. "What... what a pleasant surprise."

He attempted a nervous laugh, trying to project an air of nonchalance, but his efforts fell flat. Rico’s expression remained impassive, his eyes fixed on Vernon with a cold, predatory gaze.

"Pleasant?" Rico asked, his voice a low, gravelly growl. "I wouldn’t call it that."

Before Vernon could respond, one of Rico’s men stepped forward and delivered a swift, brutal blow to Vernon’s stomach. The air was forced from his lungs, leaving him doubled over, coughing and gasping for breath.

Rico watched him, his expression devoid of sympathy. He gestured towards a nearby armchair, and his two men positioned themselves on either side of him, their presence a silent threat.

"Where’s my money, Vernon?" Rico asked, his voice low and menacing.

Vernon, still struggling to catch his breath, looked up at Rico, his eyes filled with fear. "Rico, please," he pleaded, his voice hoarse. "I just need a little more time."

Rico’s lips curled into a cruel smile. "More time?" he repeated, his voice laced with mockery. "You have had enough time, Vernon. This loan was too large to be ignored. I thought you were bankable, the only son of one of the wealthiest families. I see I was wrong."

Vernon’s face flushed with shame. He knew that he had made a grave mistake, that he had underestimated Rico’s ruthlessness. He had gambled away a fortune, hoping to recoup his losses, but he had only dug himself deeper into debt.

"I will get you the money," he promised, his voice trembling. "I swear. Just give me a few more days."

Rico leaned forward, his eyes boring into Vernon’s. "A few more days," he repeated, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "You are a funny man, Vernon. But I’m feeling generous. I’ll give you additional time."

A flicker of hope ignited in Vernon’s chest, but it was quickly extinguished by Rico’s next words.

"But," Rico continued, his voice hardening, "the interest has risen. Consider it a... late fee."

He stood up, his towering figure casting a long shadow over Vernon. "I expect to see you soon, Vernon," he said, his voice a low growl. "With my money all intact."

He turned and walked towards the door, his two men following close behind. Vernon breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had escaped the worst. But his relief was short-lived.

Rico paused at the door, his gaze lingering on Vernon. "Boys," he said, his voice casual, "make sure Vernon understands the... urgency of the situation."

He stepped out of the room, the door closing behind him. Vernon’s eyes widened in horror as he realized what was about to happen.

The two men stepped towards him, their expressions devoid of emotion, their movements precise and efficient. They moved with a practiced ease, their blows landing with brutal force.

Vernon cried out in pain, his body writhing under the onslaught. He tried to defend himself, but he was no match for their ruthless efficiency. They were professionals, trained to inflict pain, to break bodies and spirits.

The beating continued, the sounds of Vernon’s cries echoing through the room. The men worked in silence, their movements methodical, their expressions impassive. They were simply doing their job, enforcing Rico’s will.

When they were finished, they left Vernon crumpled on the floor, his body bruised and broken, his spirit shattered. They walked out of the room, leaving him alone in the darkness, a stark reminder of the price of failure. Vernon lay there, the pain searing through his body, his mind filled with a dark, bitter rage. He knew that he had to find a way to pay Rico back, or else who knew what that short devil would do next.

*

Vernon stumbled through the darkened hallways of the mansion, his body aching, his movements slow and labored. He managed to reach his private wing, the sanctuary he shared with his wife, Alice, and slipped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click. He leaned against the door, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his body trembling with pain.

The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting long, distorted shadows across the furniture. Alice, startled by his sudden entrance, looked up from her book, her eyes widening in alarm.

"Vernon!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with concern. "What happened?"

She rushed towards him, her eyes scanning his bruised and battered form. She helped him to a nearby armchair, her touch gentle, her expression filled with worry.

"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What happened to you?"

Vernon groaned, his body writhing in pain. He tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse, his throat raw.

Alice, her eyes filled with tears, began to unbutton his shirt, her fingers trembling as she revealed the extent of his injuries. His chest was a mass of bruises, his skin marked with the imprint of brutal blows.

"Oh, Vernon," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "What did they do to you?"

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with fear and desperation. "Tell me what happened," she pleaded, her voice barely audible. "Please."

Vernon remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor, his face contorted with pain and anger. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth, to admit his weakness, to reveal the depths of his financial ruin.

"It’s nothing," he mumbled, his voice hoarse. "Just... a misunderstanding."

Alice’s tears intensified, her body shaking with sobs. She knew that he was lying, that something terrible had happened. But she also knew that he wouldn’t tell her, not now.

"Please, Vernon," she begged, her voice filled with desperation. "Let me help you."

Vernon’s patience snapped. He looked up at her, his eyes blazing with anger, his voice a harsh, guttural growl. "Just make yourself useful, Alice!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the room. "Get the first-aid kit and help me take care of these bruises!"

Alice recoiled, her body trembling, her eyes wide with fear. She had never seen him so angry, so violent. She knew that she had crossed a line, that she had pushed him too far.

She nodded silently, her tears streaming down her face, and rushed to the bathroom, her movements hurried and clumsy. She returned with the first-aid kit, her hands shaking as she opened the lid.

She knelt before Vernon, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and compassion, and began to clean his wounds, her touch gentle, her movements careful. She worked in silence, her tears falling onto his bruised skin, her heart aching with pain and worry.

Vernon watched her, his expression a mixture of pain and anger. He was consumed by anger and frustration of being seen by his wife like this, she would see him as weak even though she would never reveal what she had seen to anyone, she knew better than that.

He reached out, his hand trembling, and gently cupped her face, his thumb wiping away her tears. "Listen, Alice," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "You know that we have to keep this a secret don’t you? No one must know."

Alice looked up at him and nodded before bending to continue her work. She was worried about how her husband had gotten beat up so badly but she knew better than to probe, his temper could be unpredictable and he could turn on her.