A Rise to the Throne

Chapter 4: Intoxicated Despair.

Harriet swiftly dialed her mother's number, desperately seeking for someone to take her side. However, the connection was poor, and she strained to hear her mother's voice on the other end of the line.

"Mum, mum, are you there? Please, are you there?" Harriet yelled with increasing urgency, her voice echoing in the room.

Adonis stood in disbelief, taken aback by Harriet's dramatic plea. His gaze intensified as he continued to approach her, his expression filled with a mixture of anger and confusion.

"Harriet, what is wrong with you? are you finally feeling guilty?" Adonis asked confused as to why she was being so dramatic despite knowing fully well that he would never hurt her.

Harriet's mother's voice finally broke through the crackling phone line, bringing a glimmer of hope. "Harriet, what's happening there?" her mother inquired.

"It's Adonis, Mom. He's trying to hurt me. Please, come and rescue me from him," Harriet pleaded desperately.

Adonis persisted in his approach. Harriet continued to scream, warning him about the dire consequences he would face if he dared to come any closer.

"Don't come near me, Adonis! If you do, you'll end up behind bars!" she threatened.

Adonis halted a few meters away from her, standing before her with a hardened expression. Observing her gasping for breath, he contemplated the situation silently.

"There's no reason for me to hurt you, Harriet. You are simply not worth it, why are you being dramatic like this?" he murmured to her, pivoting towards the sofa that is away from her with the intention of sitting down. However, his ears caught the distant sound of a car approaching.

Harriet, realizing it was her mother's arrival, erupted into even louder cries and sobs, attempting to paint a very distressing scene, to act like Adonis had infant tried to hit her. Adonis, taken aback by her theatrics and the stark contrast to the reality of the situation, shot her a penetrating glare, bewildered by her manipulative display.

He heard a quick succession of footsteps approaching, and the door creaked open. A woman entered the room, her face contorted with anger and determination.

"My darling Harriet, what has this useless fool done to you?" she exclaimed, rushing to her daughter's side. Harriet continued to sob and cry, her distress escalating. Adonis stood there silently, observing the unfolding drama.

"I didn't even do anything to him, Mom. He was about to strike me, and he even threatened to end my life. I was terrified because there was no one here to protect me," Harriet explained through her tears.

"Stop crying, Harriet. I'm here now, and he wouldn't dare lay a finger on you," her mother reassured her. Then, she turned sharply toward Adonis, her eyes filled with fury. However, Adonis remained unmoved by her intense glare.

"How dare you, you fool? How dare you harm my daughter?" she bellowed, her voice seething with anger. But Adonis offered no defense or explanation.

"Are you not the one I am speaking to?" she thundered at him.

"I didn't lay a hand on Harriet. I don't know what this theatrics are for, she should have just told you what she did and you would be shocked too," Adonis calmly replied, his voice tinged with a hint of sorrow.

"She could never do anything that would justify you attempting to harm her, you scoundrel. Have you ever looked at yourself properly? You should be grateful to have married a beauty like my daughter and treat her like a queen," Harriet's mother retorted sharply.

"So, you're suggesting that I should allow her to flirt with other men right before my eyes? Kissing and engaging in abominable acts in my presence? Is that what you're saying?" Adonis shot back.

"Oh, so that’s even the silly reason you tried to harm my daughter, you pathetic idiot?" her mother declared, her glare piercing.

"You mean to say that you're aware of this and have been giving your daughter permission to cheat? Are you serious?" Adonis responded, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Yes. If she were tied to your broken self, we wouldn't be able to survive as much. Besides, you're too ugly for her to stick with you," her mother countered with a harsh tone.

Adonis gazed at them, his eyes welling up with tears that he did not allow fall so as not to appear so weak before the evil people in front of him. However, their expressions remained devoid of any sympathy.

"What have I done to deserve this constant mistreatment and hatred from all of you? I can barely even take care of myself anymore, yet I ensure your comfort. I strive to meet your expectations, even sacrificing my own needs. I devote my meager salary to fulfill your desires, neglecting myself. And this is how I am repaid?" His words were laced with anger and resentment.

He locked eyes with Harriet, awaiting her response, but she offered no answer. Instead, she erupted into chilling laughter that sent a shiver down his spine.

Unable to bear the situation any longer, Adonis turned away, realizing they had no intention of changing. His heart kept pounding forcefully against his chest, its sound echoing in his ears.

He made his way to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, "Why does my life feel so utterly miserable?" he yelled out, his voice filled with frustration, as he struck his hands forcefully against the table.

He took a deep breath and remembered his best friend's words before he married her, observing how she behaved when around them.

"She's toxic. Don't marry her. She'll only suck you dry," his friend had warned him. But he ignored the advice, blinded by love and unable to see her flaws.

"I'm such a fool for marrying her," he sobbed.

Determined not to wallow in self-pity, he rose from the bed. "I can't just sit here and yell all day. I need to clear my head," he muttered, making his way to the bathroom.

He showered quickly, dressed in casual clothes, and slipped into his worn-out shoes. As he looked at himself in the mirror, he let out a sigh of despair. "My life sucks," he muttered.

Walking through the living room, he heard his mother-in-law and Harriet laughing, but he didn't say a word to them.

"No good, stupid man!" they yelled at him as he walked away.

"I regret marrying you," he whispered to himself as he got into his car and drove to a nearby bar.

At the bar, he ordered an alcoholic drink, hoping it would help him forget his problems.

The bartender gave him an odd, scrutinizing look, causing Adonis to feel a bit embarrassed.

"Sorry, sir, but we don't allow mentally unstable individuals here," the bartender remarked, raising an eyebrow. Adonis shot a challenging stare in response, meeting his own reflection in the bar mirror.

"What the hell are you implying?" Adonis questioned with a menacing glare, but the bartender simply burst into laughter.

"Oh, my apologies, sir. I must have made a foolish mistake. I meant no offense. You do have a certain elegance about you," the bartender corrected, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Adonis recognized the underlying mockery but chose to let it go.

"I've had enough for the day. I'll let it slide to avoid causing trouble," he muttered under his breath.

The bartender handed him the drink, continuing to stare strangely without uttering a word.

"Are you sure you can afford to pay?" the bartender called after him, but Adonis didn't catch the comment as he was already walking away from the bar.

Adonis sat at a table, ordering more drinks until he became intoxicated with wine, barely able to see clearly.

"My life really sucks, doesn't it?" he mumbled to himself.

Struggling to steady himself, he clumsily made his way out of the bar and back home, stumbling along the hallway. In his intoxicated state, he accidentally stepped on another intoxicated man.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" the drunk man bellowed, kicking Adonis forcefully in the stomach.

Fueled by frustration, Adonis kicked back.

"You wretched son of a bitch! How dare you lay a finger on me!" The man growled, and the altercation escalated into a fight.

Adonis unleashed his anger, landing several blows on the weaker drunk man.

"Next time, stay out of my way or you'll learn your lesson from this wretched son of a bitch," Adonis snarled with venomous hatred.