In Alfred's anger, he approached Vivianne with large strides before grabbing the collar of her clothes. "Take back what you said."
"I'm not your father to obey you." Vivianne grinned, especially when she saw the rage intensifying in Alfred's eyes. "I never considered you a father because I don't have a demon for a father like you—"
Vivianne didn't finish her sentence because Alfred suddenly let go of her collar and slapped her. Not just once, but three times.
Vivianne smiled painfully. The happy family she had dreamed of... She would never have that. And she needed to accept the painful truth.
"You have no manners! After everything I've done for you, this is how you repay me? By fighting me and insulting me?!" Alfred's anger and shouts echoed throughout the entire office.
Vivianne chuckled sarcastically. "I have no manners? And everything you did, you did for me? Why, did you even ask if I wanted to be in this situation?"
"You're ungrateful!"
Alfred slapped her again, harder than before. Vivianne lost her balance and immediately fell sideways to the floor.
Alfred pulled her back up by the collar to sit her down again. His hand moved to her neck, applying slight pressure.
"I thought you’re smart since you came here all by yourself before I asked someone to come and get you, but I’m so disappointed. Is this all you can do?" Alfred's voice was cold and deep.
"I should be asking you that." Despite the fear she felt, Vivianne grinned. "Is this the extent of the threats you can give me? Because this isn't the Alfred I knew."
"What do you mean?"
"The Alfred I knew was heartless, vile, and ruthless." Vivianne locked eyes with her father. "Show me who you really are and what you're capable of."
"If that's what you want, then fine. I'll oblige."
Alfred let go of his daughter before heading to the side. He grabbed a golf club from there before returning to Vivianne's position.
"Now, I'll make sure you learn your lesson."
Before Vivianne could respond, Alfred swung the golf club at her head and body. The blows came one after the other, strong and forceful, and it doubled the pain she felt because she still had fresh wounds from the island.
She could feel the blood on her body and the corner of her lips, and she just wanted to cry from the pain she felt. Vivianne felt like she was going to die.
Fortunately, Alfred stopped when his phone rang in his pocket. He checked it and grinned broadly.
"All your efforts will be in vain, though. Because your plans won't come to fruition." Alfred showed the phone screen to Vivianne. "They succeeded in transferring Ella to another hospital. Your husband failed miserably, and I won."
Alfred laughed after saying that, while Vivianne remained staring at the picture on the phone screen. It was a photo of Ella in another hospital, but she noticed something peculiar.
It was Vivianne's turn to laugh. "You really don't know Mom, do you? Just one look at the photo, I knew right away it wasn't her."
"What do you mean?" Alfred frowned before looking back at the photo. "This is Ella. Are you going crazy that you're saying these things?"
"Really? That’s her?" Vivianne's laughter grew louder, causing Alfred's blood to boil. "Stare at her again, focusing on the details this time. Notice that there’s something different in that picture."
Though annoyed, Alfred did as she said. He looked at the photo again, and he threw the golf club to the floor when he noticed the strange thing Vivianne was referring to.
"Damn it," Alfred cursed sharply before calling the person who sent him the photo. "Idiots! You kidnapped the wrong person!"
"Boss?" came the puzzled reply from the other end. "But it's her, Boss. How could it not be?"
"She’s wearing a fucking face mask that can copy someone’s facial appearance." He noticed it because of the slight misalignment of the mask on the woman's neck. "Remove her mask."
Filled with confusion, the men followed their boss's orders. They cursed when they saw that the woman they thought was Ella was wearing a face mask.
"S-She's not her, boss." The man almost turned pale as he said it. This was the first time he had seen something like this. "What do we do—Ahhh!"
Alfred's conversation partner didn't finish his sentence because the woman suddenly opened her eyes and attacked them one by one. Little did they know, the woman who pretended to be Ella was a highly skilled assassin, hired by Beckett from Agrianthropos City.
"What's happening?" Alfred asked, feeling nervous, but all he heard on the other end were screams and the sound of knives slashing.
And soon enough, the call ended. Alfred cursed repeatedly and tightened his grip on his phone.
"It means that you failed miserably... and we won, right?" Vivianne asked, grinning despite the wounds and bruises on her body. "You underestimated Beckett. You forgot he's a member of Foedus, with access to many high-tech tools."
Alfred didn't respond. Instead, he called one of his men and pointed to Vivianne. "Bring her outside."
"Yes, Sir." The man lifted Vivianne to her feet and carried her out of Alfred's office like a sack.
He took Vivianne to the back of the warehouse, where documents were being burned, away from prying eyes. The men were currently engaged in the task, with a drum of burning fire in front of them.
Since Vivianne's knees were trembling, she immediately collapsed onto the grass when Alfred's man let her go.
"Vivianne... Must we go this far just to tame you?" Alfred said, having just arrived, before looking at the drum beside them. "You said it yourself. I love you, and your mother, but how can I love you if you refuse to obey my wishes?"
"That's not love," Vivianne replied before shaking her head. "Loving someone doesn’t mean you must control them. It means loving them despite their flaws and imperfections... Despite having principles and perspectives different from yours."
"Don't lecture me. I still know more than you do." Alfred leaned in and held Vivianne tightly by the jaw. "I'll get Ella back, Vianne. Remember that."
"We already transferred her to somewhere safe, so you can keep on trying because I won’t let you win."
Someone suddenly spoke from their side, causing the father and daughter to look in that direction. Vivianne's tears finally fell when she saw that it was Beckett.
"I’m sorry, I’m late," Beckett said, and Vivianne nodded, smiling as if to say it was okay. "Your mother’s saved, Vivianne, and I’m here to save you now."
"Thank you..." Vivianne said, tears streaming down her face, but they were tears of joy. "Thank you so much."
"You think you'll get out of here alive? No way!" Alfred suddenly shouted in anger, glaring at Beckett. "We're all going to die in this hellhole!"
"Only if I allow it, but I won’t," Beckett smirked.