The Game of Marriage, The Entanglement of Love

His tone instantly shot up, filled with fury:

"What did you just say?!"

I ignored him, ready to leave with my sister after announcing the divorce.

But as we dragged our suitcases past him, Adrian grabbed my sister’s wrist.

He suddenly yanked her harshly towards him, eyes burning red with rage.

"Divorce? Just because I took Tere to the hospital and didn’t attend that fake wedding to play your stupid act? You want a divorce? Are you out of your damn mind?"

"I was saving someone! What did I do wrong? And Tere got hurt because of *your* father! Now you're threatening me with divorce?"

"Fine! Divorce! I’ll give you your damn divorce!"

With that, he kicked the suitcase over, stomping on it repeatedly in his fury. His neck veins bulged with anger.

I quickly pulled my sister behind me to protect her.

Already timid by nature, she trembled in fear, on the verge of breaking down in tears.

In that moment, I realized how foolish I had been to let my sister marry Adrian!

He stomped on the suitcase over and over until it finally burst open, unable to take the abuse.

Our father’s belongings spilled out across the floor.

Without even thinking, his shoe landed right on the clothes, leaving dirty footprints on the faded fabric.

A scream tore from my throat as I lunged forward, pushing him away.

"Don’t touch them! Get away!"

Clifford's expression was ice-cold, his voice seething with suppressed fury, laced with a clear warning.

"Wanda Lloyd, my patience with you has limits. Don’t push me again and again!"

I rushed forward to shield my father’s belongings.

The Cain brothers exchanged a glance and Adrian immediately understood. He grabbed me and my sister, pulling us away.

Clifford handed the insulated box in his hand to Tere.

Then, standing over the suitcase, he picked up a few pieces of clothing with a sneer curling on his lips before tossing them carelessly to the floor. He lit a cigarette, the lighter tight in his grip.

"Clinging to this pile of junk like it’s treasure? What are you trying to pull? Have I not fed you? Have I not clothed you?"

"You know full well the wedding was fake, so what’s the fuss now? Is a pretend wedding more important than a life?"

"I told you I’d make up for it, didn’t I? But you’re still not satisfied, are you? You love these rags, right? Fine!"

Before I could even react, he flicked the lighter and suddenly let it drop.

Flames erupted over my father’s belongings in an instant.

I screamed at the top of my lungs, "No!"

I tried to rush forward, but Adrian’s hand clamped tightly around my neck, holding me back.

My usually gentle sister snapped in that moment.

Her eyes turned red and she opened her mouth, sinking her teeth deep into Adrian’s hand.

Taking advantage of his momentary release, she whipped around and slapped him hard across the face.

Everyone was stunned into silence.

Tere quickly placed the insulated box on the table and rushed over, pulling my sister into her arms.

"Don’t worry, Adrian means no harm. He just wants to resolve the issues between you two!"

But my sister, finding some sudden burst of strength, broke free from Tere’s grasp and yanked her hair.

Tere was thrown to the ground, helpless as my sister pinned her down, hitting her in a frenzy.

Her desperate cries echoed throughout the room.

Adrian had me restrained, leaving me no choice but to shout for his brother.

Seeing the chaos, Clifford’s face flushed with anger. He stormed over and grabbed my sister’s hair, forcefully dragging her off Tere.

He slammed her head against the wall, hard.

Three times.

Blood trickled down from my sister’s forehead.

I screamed until my throat burned, but could only watch as her strength faded.

In just a few minutes, the fire had reduced my father’s belongings to ashes. The floor was scarred with the indelible marks of black smoke.