The man took a deep breath as he looked at the boy's tears.
There was a strange gleam in his eyes, as if he was seeing exactly what he wanted to see. He was enjoying the moment immensely.
The fire of revenge inside him had completely changed him. There was no emotion left in him anymore.
He had become utterly ruthless—more dangerous than ever before. Like a wounded lion.
"Hmm… Now you look better, don't you?"
"These tears add to your beauty," the man said, staring at him with a crooked smile.
The boy turned his face away in hatred, but his wet clothes clung tightly to his body, making him shiver from the cold.
He was trembling.
Seeing him shiver, the man got up and went inside.
After a while, he came back with a white shirt and black lower and handed them to the boy.
"Change your clothes, they're too dirty now," he said with a cold sigh.
The boy glared at him angrily, the burning hatred in his eyes clearly visible.
The next moment, he snatched the clothes from his hand and threw them into a corner in rage.
Silence fell over the room for a moment. The man stared at him with his deep eyes, and then a slight smile touched his lips—as if he had already known the boy would react that way.
"Hmm… interesting," he muttered to himself and took steps toward the boy.
"Do you still think your tantrums will affect me?"
The boy's breathing grew heavier, but he didn't take his hateful gaze away.
He knew this was only the beginning… but who would win in the end? That was still uncertain.
The man picked up the clothes from the floor again and offered them to the boy once more.
The boy's face still held mixed emotions of anger and hatred.
Tears shimmered in his eyes, but he didn't want to appear weak in front of the man.
"Not again!!" the man muttered angrily.
Seeing the boy's actions, a dangerous gleam sparked in his eyes. He slowly stepped forward and leaned in close.
"Don't test my patience… or the consequences won't be pleasant for you."
His voice was icy cold.
When the boy looked into his eyes, he saw a strange kind of madness there.
What scared him the most was exactly that madness.
It was because of that madness that he was in this condition today.
"And if you're having trouble changing your clothes… then no worries—I'll help you with that,"
the man said, staring at him with a crooked smile.
Hearing that, the boy looked at him in shock but said nothing.
When the boy didn't respond, the man said again:
"Looks like you didn't hear me properly, my dear wife… no problem, I'll repeat it for you."
"I have no problem helping you change your clothes," the man said with a faint smile.
"In fact, I'd love to…" he lifted the boy's chin with his fingers, "personally get you ready."
As soon as he said that, the boy got goosebumps.
He hadn't expected the man to say something like that.
He panicked badly and quickly picked up the clothes from the ground.
"Fine!! I'm changing…"
His voice was trembling, but he tried to compose himself.
Poor thing was badly scared. He felt that if he didn't pick up the clothes now, the man really would change them himself.
Seeing this, the man gave a satisfied smile.
It wasn't so hard to convince him, after all.
"Good boy…" he said softly.
"If you just agree to everything I say so sweetly, there won't be any problems.
But it seems like you've made up your mind to go against me every single time."
The boy turned to go inside to change his clothes when suddenly a firm voice echoed behind him.
"Where do you think you're going?"
The boy turned back and looked at the man in confusion.
There was clear panic in his eyes, but he composed himself and replied in a low voice,
"To change… my clothes."
Hearing that, the man raised his eyebrows with a sly smile.
There was mischief in his eyes.
"There's no need to go anywhere, my newlywed wife… change right here."
Hearing that, the boy panicked. His hands began to tremble slightly.
"But… why?" he asked softly.
The man slowly stepped closer.
"Because we're married now," he said, leaning near the boy's face.
"I'm your husband… why the need for modesty now?"
The boy's eyes were filled with both shock and fear.
He slowly began stepping backward, but just then the man quickly moved forward and grabbed his wrist.
"Why are you afraid, wife? You should be happy.
After all, now you have someone who will always be with you, help you with everything…
never leave you alone."
The boy tried to pull his wrist free, but the man's grip was strong.
"Let go of me!"
The man smiled, his fingers gently lifting the boy's chin.
"So much anger? I thought you'd calm down after marriage…
But it seems like you've become even more stubborn—like a burnt rope still holding its twist."
The boy's breathing grew heavier.
The mixture of fear and hatred was now clearly visible in his eyes.
"Change your clothes, or else…"
The man threw the clothes at the boy's chest,
"…I'll change them for you, and trust me—you won't like my way at all."
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