Chapter 39: The Point Of The Gold Card
Now it was just Michael and me in the room.
Michael stood up and walked over to me. I subconsciously took a few steps back and leaned against the wall.
Michael reached out and pressed his hand against the wall behind me. “What did we talk about? I told you to stay here and not go out. Did you do it?”
I was annoyed by Michael’s condescending tone. “I did it. I’ve been a prisoner in this packhouse all week. I’ve been in your damn room most of the time.”
Michael said, “So what are you going to do now?”
I said, “I will go back to my room and stay away from you, you son of a b*tch who restricts people’s freedom.”
Before I could move, Michael had grabbed my wrist with his other hand and pinned it against the wall.
I screamed, “What are you doing?”
Michael said, “Who permitted you to talk to me like that? Have you never thought about keeping our deal? Say it. Say what you think.”
I struggled violently. Michael would use violence against me to force me into submission. He didn’t care what I thought. He didn’t know what I was thinking. He was a self-righteous egomaniac.
My wriggling action caused Michael’s gold card to fall out of my bag. With a clack, Michael and I couldn’t help but look to the ground.
I felt even more wronged when I saw the gold card. I had wanted to say no to Sasha. This was the last day of my grounding. Michael was being aggressive. I believed he was willing to do what was best for me. I didn’t want to get into a fight with him at the last moment.
Besides, this was his gift to me. It was also the first gift I received from him. I didn’t tell him this, but I was touched. It meant so much to me that I wanted to keep it as a memento, not to use it.
But what Michael had done to me now had destroyed that. I felt like my tolerance for the past week had been a joke. Michael didn’t trust me. He was just trying to tame me like he would a beast.
He was using honey or sticks. He was using them on me when I didn’t like him. I felt so sorry for myself.
Michael got even more agitated when he saw the card.
Michael shouted at me, “I gave you this card, and you are using it to leave me? What do you take my trust for? I’m telling you, Cecily, you’re not leaving me even if you have this card. I gave it to you, and I’ll know wherever you go.”
I had no idea what Michael was yelling at me. He had given me the card. I did not ask for it, and I didn’t even know it existed until Sasha told me.
If he didn’t want to give it to me, he could take it back. I didn’t want to spend any of the money on it. It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over my burning heart. Michael said he could tell where I was with this card, so he gave me this important card not because it was a caring gesture but because it was just to better control me.
For a moment, I felt disheartened. I didn’t even have the strength to struggle anymore. I weakly relaxed my body and let Michael take control of me. I said softly, “I’m sorry, I was wrong. Can I go back to my room now, Your Highness?”
“Do you still take me as a prince?” Michael snorted and shook my hand away.
I rubbed my wrist on the spot and did not say a word.
Michael said, “I still have things to do at night. You’d better be sensible and not do anything to make me rush back.”
“I understand,” I replied.
Michael picked up the card from the ground and handed it to me. “Take it.”
“No need.” I looked up at Michael and refused. “I’ll just stay here anyway. You can find me anytime. There’s no need to use it.”
“Take it if I tell you to,” Michael said roughly as he stuffed the card into my palm.
I accepted my fate and kept the card. Since Michael wanted me to do this, then I’d do it. Besides, whenever I tried to resist him, it didn’t end well.
“Behave yourself.” Michael reached out and touched my head. “I’ll allow you to go to school tomorrow. You can tell me if you want to go somewhere else. I’ll agree if it is reasonable. Please stop trying to challenge me. My wolf isn’t as good-tempered as I am. If it really goes crazy, you won’t be able to handle it.”
This was the first time Michael mentioned his wolf. I nodded silently, but I didn’t believe him. Michael was already the most arrogant and irritable person I had ever met. I didn’t think he could be worse.
Yet his touch always brought me unspeakable comfort. I knew my body was changing, becoming more accepting of Michael. But Michael was constantly hurting. It was a paradox.