The Predator’s Contract Partner
chapter-256

Inside, she was utterly despondent.

'This person hasn't changed at all in the time he's been with me.'

With that thought Elisha lost all her will to rebel. Lucerne would never let her go, even if she became a corpse on the verge of starvation.

"You're doing great. Eat slowly."

She ate the soft soup and bread, trying her best not to look at Lucerne.

He watched her, observing her closely, and then ate slowly. Elisha only ate a little and put down her utensils.

"How long do I have to live like this? If you're going to drive me mad, wouldn't it be better to do it quickly?"

"Even if you go mad, I won't let you go. I already have plenty of experience living with a crazy woman."

Elisha realized that the crazy woman he was referring to was his mother. Lucerne frowned as if he was imagining Elisha losing her mind. His handsome eyebrows furrowed.

Elisha looked at his unrealistically handsome face with a mixture of hatred and bewilderment.

"Why don't you accept your situation already?"

Elisha drank some wine. She was already feeling nauseous.

"Did your grandmother live like this, too?"

Lucerne raised his eyes and held her gaze. And he calmly said, yes.

"There is a reason why all the Head's sons are lunatics. They grew up seeing that."

"That's right,"

Lucerne affirmed calmly.

"When the Head was younger, it was quite amazing. Everyone thought it was a normal family situation. Since they could see their mother sometimes."

"I guess the patriarch released your grandmother from time to time. Better than you,"

Elisha scoffed bitterly; Lucerne raised the corners of his mouth.

"Because you act like this, you shouldn't even dream of going outside. Your situation will depend on how obedient you are."

It sounded like he would let her go out occasionally.

"What did I do wrong? Why on earth are you doing this?"

"Do I have to repeat myself again?"

Lucerne asked in a whisper. She was stunned.

"Because of me?"

"That's right."

Lucerne readily acknowledged that cooly.

"You are my weakness and losing you would hurt me greatly. So I have to protect you. Being able to blame you and make you feel guilt is just a bonus. And, did you think I didn't know about the conversation you had with Gaju?"

“. . . . . . .”

Elisha's body stiffened.

"Give birth to a son and he will inherit the position of head of the family instead. It's the most logical way. The problem is that in that case you wouldn't need me then. You would become too free."

Elisha's fists clenched. The direction Lucerne conjectured was precisely as she had expected.

"I know the final scene of the painting you were making. Making our child the head of the family. It's a good plan."

“. . . . . . .”

"Indeed, maybe that's how you can swallow up the Cartier family. But wouldn't it be more likely that you and my child would become Gaju's puppets?"

“. . . . . . It doesn't add up. If that was what I was actually intending, I wouldn't have considered running away."

"Right."

Lucerne readily acknowledged it.

"Actually, half of it is just an excuse. From the beginning, I wanted to lock you up and make you mine. This space has existed for a long time, but it was only recently decorated for you."

Elisha didn't know why Lucerne was so obsessed with her. She was so worthless in her past life. She was something he could easily acquire if he wanted to.

'Why. . . . . . .’

Again: Why? That was the question. But this time, it had to be a different kind of 'why.' 'Why is he like this?' Then, 'How can I escape from here?'

"Are you done eating?"

Lucerne asked sweetly. More than half of Elisha's plate remained untouched.

"You have to eat everything. What should I do with you if your eating habits are still like those of a child at your age?"

“. . . . . . I'm not in a situation where I can have an appetite."

"You will have it soon,"

Lucerne claimed nonchalantly. Elisha felt surreally deranged, but he looked completely fine. He even seemed content and satisfied. Like a beast that kept herbivores in its cave so it could be eaten at any time. It was brazenly cruel.

"You're going to be up all night, so you can't be hungry."

“. . . . . . .”

He gently placed a fork in her hand. Even though it was a fleeting impulse, Elisha thought about stabbing him with it. If she could subdue Lucerne by doing so, she would have done so. But unfortunately, she did not have the disposition to do such a useless act.

"Elisha, it's not all bad. All your wishes have come true. You said you wanted to be free from Jacob and Carola. Except now you're bound to me. You will be fine in here."

"In shackles?"

"Oh, my. Has your discernment deteriorated lately?"

Lucerne said.

"Negotiate. It's what you are good at. If you use your body to ask for it, I will release that, too."

Elisha glared at him silently. Lucerne approached her. She tried to resist, but she realized it was futile. He picked her up again and headed to her bedroom.

"You're prettier now."

He confessed in a whisper to her as he set her down on her bed.

"As expected, I dreamed of tying you up."

She wanted to slap him across the face. Her whole body was shaking. She bit her lip.

"If you want to do it, let me go. You're shameless. Do you like sleeping with a woman who is treated like a slave?"

"It depends on the woman, doesn't it?"

Lucerne repeated what she had said one day. To Elisha, that clearly felt like sarcasm.

"Besides, unfortunately for you, it is easy to restrain you and do it."

Lucerne released one foot. Instantaneously, he took the chain at the ankle and hooked one of Elisha's feet onto the hook on the post at the end of her bed. Her cheeks turned red.

"Sure. Next time, if my lovely wife wants, we can do it from behind. It's something I want to do later."

Elisha thought this was a nightmare.

"This is our first time doing it in shackles."

“. . . . . . .”

"I guess we should treat it like it's our first time."

Lucerne whispered like a devil.