Ungodly obsession

"Father!"

A soft, angelic voice called from outside the house.

"I'm off to school. Bye!"

"Wait! Did you have your breakfast?"

A man in his forties asked as he stepped out of the house, holding pruning scissors in his hand.

"Yes, Father! And I told you not to trim the flowers-I'll do it when I get back. Oops! I'm already late. See you!"

The girl shouted as she ran off down the road. Her father sighed as he watched her disappear into the distance, then quietly went back inside the house.

Seventeen this year, Ariene was in her first year at the university, studying business management.

Since the age of four, she had always been grateful to her father. After her mother's death from cancer, he had been the one raising her alone, pouring all his love and energy into her with only one regret anchoring his soul.

With no stable job and no idea how to provide for his only child, Mr. Gustavo had been forced to make a desperate choice. He took a job from a man feared throughout the country-Mr. Qin, a notorious underworld drug lord. The pay was high, but the cost was his soul. Once you got involved with Mr. Qin, there was no getting out-not by mistake, and certainly not by choice.

Knowing the danger, Mr. Gustavo did everything in his power to keep his daughter hidden from Qin's world. Over the years, he raised her with unmatched care and affection, so much so that she never once asked about her mother.

He gave her everything she wanted, and she grew into a stunning beauty-milk-white skin, large dark eyes, a slender figure, and shoulder-length dark brown hair. She looked like a young model, and that only deepened her father's fears.

Those fears became reality the day Mr. Qin's son-a younger replica of his father-laid eyes on her by accident. Desperate to protect her, Mr. Gustavo fled the city with Ariene to start a new life elsewhere.

But he had forgotten one truth: No one escapes the Qins.

Back inside the house, he dropped the pruning scissors on the table and headed for the kitchen when his cell phone rang. He frowned at the unknown number but answered it anyway-unaware that it was the call he had dreaded for years.

"Long time, no word from you, Gustavo."

The voice on the other end made his heart drop.

He began to sweat uncontrollably. His hand trembled as he brought the phone back to his ear.

"M... Mr. Q-Q-Qin...?" he stuttered.

"Yes, it's me. It's good to know you still remember me. You left the city thinking you could hide from me? What a foolish mistake. You should know by now-no one hides from me."

Mr. Gustavo's knees weakened. He knew he was doomed. Even if he left the country, Mr. Qin would find him.

"Mr. Qin, I-"

"There is nothing to say," Mr. Qin cut him off. "There's no escape for you this time."

Tu... tu... tu...

The line went dead before Mr. Gustavo could respond.

He sat frozen, drenched in sweat. His mind raced. Just then, a loud bang on the door startled him. His heart skipped. Trembling, he stood silently, hoping whoever was outside would leave.

But then, the door creaked open slightly.

He grabbed the pruning scissors and crept toward the door, ready to strike. But his hand froze midair when he saw who it was.

"Ah! Father, it's me! Did I scare you? You look so tense!"

Ariene peeked inside, her brows furrowed with worry.

Seeing her father so startled made her anxious. Forgetting her own fear, she focused on him.

"Father, please talk to me. Did something happen? Did someone call you?"

Mr. Gustavo didn't answer immediately. Instead, he sighed and walked to the chair, slumping into it with a deep breath.

"Why are you back home so soon?" he finally asked.

Not the question she expected, but she answered.

"I left my assignment on my desk. I came to pick it up. But why were you standing at the door with scissors, sweating like that? Were you threatened? Tell me-I'll call the police!"

"No, not at all. Just get your assignment and return to school immediately," he said, his voice suddenly stern.