UNDER HIS RULES

Beatrice didn’t immediately close her eyes even though night had fallen. From behind the balcony of the room she now occupied, she could see the faint orange glow fading into darkness. Despite its beauty, Beatrice couldn’t stay here for long.

“I have to get out of here,” she said determinedly.

She counted several times the possibilities of jumping from the balcony and landing in a part of Sam’s house. Even if she managed to do it without getting injured, Beatrice also needed to know the direction she would take to escape. She couldn’t end up surrendering herself to the ever-watchful guards.

“Damn it!” Beatrice grumbled. “What am I doing here? I don’t have my bag. I don’t even know where my phone is. I’m truly kidnapped!” Beatrice pulled her hair gently.

She had lost count of how many times her feet had wandered around this spacious room. Although it looked comfortable and beautiful, Beatrice wasn’t drawn to spend her time here.

She wanted to be free.

The sound of a knock on the door immediately put her on guard. “Who is it?” Beatrice asked loudly, although she was half scared. This wasn’t her room. Beatrice also hadn’t become deaf to hear Sam’s words; this was his room. It wouldn’t be impossible for the owner to return quickly, right? Then…

God! Push away Beatrice’s memories of the recent events! She didn’t want to remember any of it.

“It’s me, Miss,” came the voice of a woman whom Beatrice didn’t recognize very well. Before allowing the figure to enter, the door that had been tightly closed opened wide. It wasn’t Anne, but an older woman who appeared with a smile that reassured Beatrice. At least it wasn’t Sam entering this time.

Beatrice closely observed the woman who prepared her dinner. The presentation was appetizing as well.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Are you the one who prepared my dinner yesterday?”

“Lunch too, Miss,” she said, still with a thin smile. The meal she brought was ready to be served. “Please eat first while it’s still warm, Miss.”

“Your cooking is delicious,” Beatrice sincerely praised. “I like it.”

“I’m glad you like it, Miss.”

Beatrice immediately moved closer to the woman. She was also feeling hungry. Although she intended to plan in case the nighttime surveillance wasn’t as tight as during the day.

Yesterday, she didn’t have the chance to observe because she fell asleep like a fainting person. But this time, she wouldn’t waste the opportunity at hand. Instead of being confined to that dimly lit room, it was better to be here while devising an escape plan.

“What is your name?” Beatrice asked with a mouthful of rice.

Although tonight’s dinner menu was just fried rice with sunny-side-up eggs, it tasted just as good as the fried rice Beatrice often bought at the entrance to her apartment complex. Suddenly, she remembered Benjo, the name of the fried rice seller.

“Eat first, Miss, you might choke,” the woman chuckled, observing Beatrice’s hurried consumption of the food she had prepared. She let Beatrice enjoy her meal.

In the house she referred to as the main headquarters of the Twin Dragon Clan, the woman worked as the cook. Assisted by nearly five other people, they were responsible for providing food supplies to everyone who lived here.

Often, she was also assisted by other members when all the people under Sam’s control gathered here. Each of them had their own tasks. Some were specifically responsible for providing food ingredients every day. Everything was done willingly. There was no coercion at all.

For those who lived here, Sam’s house was the highest protection and the most comfortable place for them to take a breath. Most of them had experienced much worse than mere disapproval in the eyes of others. Trash. Useless. Troublesome. They were also a disgrace to some of their own families.

But here, everything was accepted with open arms, and most of them found a sense of family that was lost in their hearts.

The price Sam asked for was only loyalty. So, that’s what they gave.

For them, Sam was no different from a wise leader and the father of all fathers. Sam’s hand reached far to embrace all his subordinates. He was notorious for being ruthless and unforgiving towards enemies or anyone who disturbed him, but for those who showed loyalty and faithfulness to Sam, the leader didn’t hesitate to provide protection.

Just like Ute. That was the woman’s name.

Ute was found almost lifeless when she returned from work. There were countless men who mercilessly violated her. They didn’t care that Ute was completely helpless. Her pleas were completely ignored.

She was discovered by Sam’s men in a gruesome condition. And the memory of how vicious those immoral men were never left her. It was truly a nightmare that Ute desperately wanted to erase from her life.

In the past, she also thought that Sam and his gang were just a group of people causing chaos and terror everywhere.

But the reality?

It wasn’t like that. Sam only worked and targeted people who had problems with him. For those outside of what he was involved in, Sam never wanted to be part of it.

“You were lucky to be found by Eland on that pedestrian bridge over there,” said Sam, who was sitting in a chair next to the bed where Ute lay weakly.

Ute’s memory was frozen at that moment when she was ambushed by a group of unfamiliar people. They were mostly dark and wearing black shirts.

Then the group of people, whom Ute believed to be five in number, started cornering her. They tortured her. They did things that made Ute feel like her heart stopped beating. They treated her like trash. Their sinister and cruel grins were nothing short of a nightmare that Ute had to face every night.

“Why did you save me?” Ute weakly asked. “You should have let me die.”

“Life is valuable, if you want to know. But it’s up to you. If you want to die, that’s your decision,” Sam placed a small folding knife on the nightstand. “Or you can join me. You want to scream about the injustice you’ve experienced, but I guarantee you’ll lose.”

Ute fell silent.

“My men are trying to find out who did this to you.”

“Why?” Ute finally asked. Until now, Sam had only given brief answers. But she began to realize the meaning behind Sam’s words at that time.

“I’m just trying to see things from a different perspective.”

“Aren’t you one of those people who enjoy using your power?” Ute didn’t immediately believe. Could it be that Sam would offer help so easily?

“I eliminate others for a reason. But I don’t like treating women like that. I’m not a lowly man.”

Ute turned her face away.

“It’s up to you. I don’t personally benefit from having you in my life. I just feel sorry seeing you like that,” Sam stood up from his chair. “Recover quickly.”

That’s all Sam said, but for Ute, there was a flicker of hope there. After almost a week of undergoing treatment where rumors were spreading, she was hit by a car. At least the incident she experienced didn’t have to fill the newspaper headlines and restrict her freedom of movement. Women who experience assault often face negative stigma. Particularly, it is often blamed on the victim, including their choice of clothing.

“Are you lost in thought, ma’am?” asked Beatrice, who had been observing the woman in front of her.

“Ah,” Ute smiled faintly. “Just reminiscing about the past.”

“Is it frightening?” Beatrice asked curiously.

“Well… something like that.”

“How long have you been here, Ma’am?”

Ute smiled broadly. “About three years.”

“Don’t you have any intention of running away? Going back home?”

“Don’t call me ‘ma’am,’ Beatrice.”

Beatrice looked puzzled. “You know my name?”

“You had an argument with Bella this morning, didn’t you? Almost everyone in this house knows. And they’re all curious about you.”

Beatrice furrowed her brow, feeling strange. Curious? What could make them curious?

“No one dares to defy Bella. Except for you,” Ute gently touched Beatrice’s shoulder. “You’re brave.”

Beatrice giggled. She remembered how she stood up to Bella.

“I try to avoid getting involved with Bella. It’s not that I don’t want to, but I choose not to be close to that woman.”

“If she didn’t start it first, I wouldn’t fight back, ma’am. Getting pinched hurts, so don’t pinch first.”

Ute laughed at Beatrice’s words. “Almost everyone here talks about you, you know.”

“Are there a lot of people living here?”

Ute paused for a moment, thinking. “If they all gather, it could be a hundred people. Around that number, I think. Not to mention those scattered in many places. This is the main base. Sam has three bases, but only two are known. The other one isn’t. Only certain people have access.”

Beatrice nodded as if she understood, even though she didn’t. She had no interest at all in knowing about Sam. “Oh, by the way, since we’re talking about Bella, who is she anyway, that no one dares to stand up to her?”

Ute smiled faintly. “It’s not that no one dares. Most people avoid her because, well… she’s a bit annoying.”

“She is! Plus, she’s rude, ma’am. I’m not a goat to be dragged around like that. I can still understand human language. But her treatment towards me is like I’m a heap of garbage that can be treated however she pleases!” Beatrice clenched her fists. She wouldn’t let anyone treat her as they pleased, no matter who was in front of her.

“Um… if you don’t call me ‘ma’am,’ what should you call me? Your face is so motherly.” Beatrice inched closer to Ute. “It reminds me of my late mother.”

“It must be sad to remember your parents, huh?” Ute gently rubbed Beatrice’s shoulder. “I still visit my parents’ house often. I make sure they are safe and comfortable in their home.” She now looked closely at Beatrice. “Just call me, Ute.”

Beatrice nodded quickly. “But why did Ute come back here? Isn’t this like a prison?”

Ute was taken aback, but then she laughed. “Prison?” Ute chuckled at Beatrice’s words. “This isn’t a prison, Beatrice. This is the main headquarters of the Twin Dragon Clan. Anyone who places their loyalty in Noah Samuel, this becomes their home.”

Beatrice pouted. “To me, it feels like a prison.”

“One day, you’ll understand why you’re here.”

“What am I supposed to understand and comprehend?” Beatrice brushed off Ute’s hand slightly. “I’m here because of Wayne’s debt. He sold me as collateral. What kind of father sells his child as collateral for a debt? And why should I be the one to pay? Am I the one who used that money? No!” Beatrice’s tone grew louder. When she remembered the reason, she was here, she felt that everyone involved should be labeled as GUILTY.

“You’ll understand eventually. Maybe it seems like I’m making things up, but what I’m saying is the truth.”

Beatrice, who was still trying to calm herself down, chose not to say much anymore.

“This place is the safest place that makes us more alive than our previous lives.”