AUSTIN'S POV:

I stood near our bedroom door looking at her back. It's been a couple of minutes she was standing there in front of the mirror and looking at herself.

Her back was towards me and I couldn't help but admire her perfect figure. The maroon dress looked perfect on her pale skin, the black silk belt tied around her waist emphasizing her tiny waist, making her look like a temptress.

My eyes travel from her waist to her back and a wave of guilt rushed through me as my eyes landed on the red marks which were caused as I whipped her.

I walked near her and saw that her eyes were focused on a particular spot above her breast. On the brand I gave her.

I was not even a bit guilty after looking at my name burned on her skin. I used one of the iron brands my company uses to make special wooden pens for me, with my name burned on it and marked Adria with it.

The mere memory of that night makes my blood boil again but my anger quickly goes away when I saw that she was crying.

"You are looking sexy", I commented and her body went still as soon as my voice landed on her ears. I walked forward and stood in front of her. I noticed that she was embarrassed as the marks on her body was being seen. Grabbing a brush I brushed her hair and parted them in two, letting them fall on her back and breast covering the marks and also the brand.

"It won't be visible now", I said. My eyes landed on her breast I couldn't help but stare at the perfect mounds. This is what happens all the time. I can never control myself around her.

"You look really beautiful", I said huskily and smashed my lips on her. The way she tasted was addictive, so fresh and so sweet.

I studied her face again and her beauty was tainted with red marks and cracks, which were again caused by me.

"Just do a bit makeup you are looking pale", I said and she nodded her head like a puppy. Her trembling fingers still worked expertly and she did a great job to cover all the scars.

She looked even prettier now. It was being very difficult for me to control myself around her.

"Let's go they will come any second", I snaked my arm around her waist and walked out of the room with her.

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"Mama", I exclaimed like a little child and ran down the stairs and hugged my mom. It's been two years since I last met her. Mom kissed my cheeks and ruffled my hair playfully. I would always be her little boy.

"I missed you so much Aussie", she said now crying.

"I missed you too mama", I said in a low voice. She had tears in her eyes and the reason was me, I hated myself for that.

"Aussie", I instantly recognized the voice, Dad.

I walked towards him and hugged him. He patted my back proudly and said 'my boy'.

"Dad I missed you"

"I missed you too Aussie boy. How are you"

"I am fine"

"Fine my ass, you look thin", dad comments and I just laughed at his comment.

"Yes baby you look thin", mother says rubbing my arm.

"I am fine, just that work is too much nowadays"

"I can understand, I went through this phase", dad says patting my back again.

"Don't over work yourself baby", mom being over concerned as always scolds me like she used to do when I was a little.

"Please, mom lets go in first please", I ask them to walk in my mansion.

"Augustus", they both say in unison and Augustus walk forward and hug them.

"Damon, Charlie how are you?", he is like my brother and mom and dad treat him like their own child.

"We are fine dear how are you"

"As handsome as always", Augustus reply grinning.

"Henry, Martin how are you two?", Dad asked.

"We are fine sir", they both say in unison like a robot. Dad and Mom chuckled at them. Henry and Martin are with me since quite a time. My parents asked them to be like a family around them but they never leave their professional attitude.

"You two will never change", Mom comments.

"And who is this beautiful girl", Dad asks when his eyes landed on Adria.

She looked down and took a step back. I went beside her and snaked my arm around her tiny waist. My grip was tight enough to tell her that I will be pissed if she even takes another step back.

"You are being rude with my parents", I hissed in her ears. "Introduce yourself"

"I... I am... My... Adr..", she stammered, she was scared. I dug my fingers into her soft flesh making her yelp in pain.

"She is Adria", I answered his question. dad gave me a questioning look but soon covered it.

"Hello Adria, I am Damon, Austin's father", dad says with a warm, fatherly smile on his face. I groaned inwardly, knowing well that it is just an act from his smile.

Damon Hawk is a man you should never trust on your first meeting. He will play cool, manipulate with your emotions, decide how you fit in his opinion and then show you his true self.

"Hel..Hello", Adria said in a low voice and shook hands with my dad.

"Hey dear I am Charlie, Austin's mother", mom directly pulled her into a bone crushing hug. She might have sensed how scared Adria looks and needed someone to confront her.

"Hii", was all Adria could manage to say.

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Augustus being the asshole he is again started telling about my embarrassing moments from college.

Mom and dad were laughing hard. I just blushed, yeah! I Austin Hawk blushed.

Other times I might have punched him hard to do such things but now my sole focus was on certain someone who had captured all my attention.

A small smile was playing on Adria's face and I was able to say that she was controlling hard not to laugh, she was scared what I might do if she laughs.

"Aus..Austin", I was startled when she took my name. I had to blink several times to gain back senses.

"I am hungry", she said. Her voice itself told how drained she was. I wanted to confront her but I guess dad heard what she said cause he was looking at us.

I glared at her telling her to behave. And she did but her stomach growled loudly gaining everyone's attention.

Everyone laughed at her. Only if they knew that she was hungry since days.

"The girl is hungry let's go eat something", mom said and we walked to the dining room.

The dinner was served and everyone started eating.

"Adria, dear you were hungry so why are you waiting now?", mom asked and that's when I remembered I had to allow her.

"I..I..", Adria stammered not knowing what to say.

"Eat!", I commanded. She mumbled a 'yes' before starting eating.

But when she started eating I chuckled inwardly at her childish behavior. She was eating like an animal and...... ... I found it cute.

"She is not like your usual bimbos. She is quite cute. I like her", Dad commented and I looked at him in shock. He has seen me with numerous women, most through media, but never praised even one.

"When are you going to marry her", mom said shocking me. But what confused me was another feeling...... Did I just considered what she said?.... No, it can't be. I can't think of anyone else unless I get to know about Andrea. Unless I know the whole Andrea and Adria confusion.

But when I looked at Adria's face I felt a pang of disappointment in my heart. Her expression was as if she had seen a ghost. I got angry instantly.

"She is not my girlfriend. She is a mere mistress paying her Dads debt", I replied bluntly and there were gasps from the people beside us.

"AUSTIN!", mom shouted. "Mind your language. I..", she wanted to scold me but dad stopped her by holding her hand.

"Be calm Charlie. Don't panic yourself, we will talk later now eat", dad said and she instantly calmed down. Dad cared for her more than his life, more than me. But again they had their own twisted history. Marriage for mom was not all hearts and flowers thing, she suffered a lot before winning the heart of Damon Hawk. And now she has this man wrapped around her fingers.

"Adria eat!", I growled again when she stopped eating. Soon the dinner was done. I got a call from Dr. Black and I had to receive it. He called me to inform that Edward was making progress and guess soon he will gain his conscious

I went back hoping to tell this to Adria and see that angelic smile again on her face. But the girl was as if she had taken an ought to piss me off.

"Charlie!", she cried in front of my mom. "I .. I am not here by my will. Please help me. I need your help. Austin is keeping me here by force. He is really cruel. He ... he forces me. Please help me. He has kept my dad somewhere. I beg you...."

"Adria!", dad yelled her name making her stop her rambling. Dad was furious now, his expression showing his true self. I admit I could be worse than him at times but he was no better, if he became his true self he could do anything.

"Austin I was already disappointed in you that you didn't get married and instead kept a mistress. And you could not even control this woman, I never thought you are so weak. I wanted you to marry someone to produce an heir for Hawks Enterprises. Yet at the age of 26 you are still considering sleeping around more important", Dad growled angrily at me. Then his voice landed on Adria, a look of disgust on his face. "I don't care who you marry but keep in mind I don't want my grandson to be born from a mistress, you better get married soon. And if you still want to keep her teach her some fucking manners", It was the first time dad had used such words for me. I disappointed him, and this happened due to Adria. 

I was fuming with anger now, all directed towards Adria. God save this woman from my wrath.

"I am sorry, Dad. And I assure you I will bring her under control soon", I said looking at her in such a way that she should know how angry I was. I sensed her shaking due to fear.

"CARA!", I screamed and soon the maid was in front of us. "Take her to our room and make sure you lock it", I order and the scared maid took her away.

"Dad I ... "

"What you think Austin, just because I decided to get retired doesn't mean that I stopped working. I know everything about you, that girl. I know who she is. I know who her father is and what you did to him, I know you think she is the same brat who left you a few years back leaving you devasted. I don't care how you treat that brat but make sure you bring her under control. Make sure you teach her......"

"Damon", dad stopped when he saw mom's expression. She was pale looking almost scared...

"Charlie.... ", he whispered and went near her.

"Don't... don't touch me"

"Charlie baby liste..."

"No Damon, you promised me. You promised you will not make him like you. I never stopped when it was about business but now.... You are ask... asking him to do the sa...... You are turning him into a monster Damon. I don't want my son to be like that. Like you", she concluded, her last sentence made dad stumble back. He was shocked. "You.. you are scaring me...... again"

"Charlie you know that's the last thing I want", he whispered almost sounding hurt.

"Stop yourself, Damon. Why are you asking him to punish that girl?"

"Well, she hurt our son! She left him! Her dad cheat on our company"

"All are accusations, Damon. It's yet to be known whether the girl is the same one who left Austin. And the other part, her father betrayed our company whats her fault?", she whispered the last part and turned to me. "Just because a soul is weaker than you does it mean you will torture her, keep her locked, whip her, starve her, burn her", she said and my eyes went wide, the marks were hidden weren't they? "Did you really thought I won't be able to see it Austin? I can't believe you became so cruel! I just can't....", the room now filled with her sobs.

"Mama.."

"I am not your mother. My child can't be a monster like you", she yelled taking a step back.

"Mom.."

"What's her mistake Austin, she looks like the girl who disappeared from your life? Or because  her father is a con? She misbehaved in 'your' opinion? What's her bloody mistake?"

"I.. I ... She...", for the first time in my life I did not have words to say. I was speechless.

"Let her go Austin", she says and my whole world stops. The mere thought of having my life without her shook me. I can't, I don't know why but I can't let her go.

"I.. I can't"

"Why?"

"I don't know", I screamed and was now pulling my hair due to frustration.

"Austin", mom called and suddenly hugged me. We sat on the sofa and she took my hand in hers. "We all do mistakes. But we get a chance to correct them. Bring your good self out. Treat her ..."

"I was good Andrea, still she left me. I am a monster with Adria and there she is in my bedroom waiting for me", I stated coldly.

"She is scared, she can't even speak a word. Is that your way to keep her with you? If you want someone who will stay with you and have no emotions then sorry Austin, I don't think you will get it from a human. Adria might listen to you and do what you want but inside she will have emotions, she will have the haterade, you will kill her from inside slowly,unless she would think death as a better option than life", her words held deep meaning which I did not have the courage to ask.

"Give her a chance. Treat her like a princess, she deserves to be loved. Everyone does. Take care of her and trust me she will never leave your side", she said and gave me a smile.

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I walked into my room and found Adria curled up at the farthest corner of the room. She was snoring softly. "Cute", the word involuntarily came out of my mouth and I squatted beside her watching her face. She shivered a bit and that's when I realized that she was sleeping on the cold floor.

'She is been sleeping there since days, on the cold hard floor', my subconscious spat at me but I ignored it.

"Adria", I said softly tapping her shoulders.

Her beautiful eyes opened slowly, taking their time to adjust to the light but when she registered that it was me who woke her up her eyes went wide, fear clearly evident in them.

She crawled near the bed and kneeled beside it, keeping her head bent low. The way I ordered her to. 

"Adria", I called wanting her to look at me. But she didn't. I held her chin and pushed her head up so that she could look at me.

"I am sorry", she cried and that's when moms word flashed in my mind. She was so weak and vulnerable.

"Get up", I asked softly but her lips trembled again.

"Please..", she cried.

"I said get up", I couldn't control my tone anymore it came out a bit harsher. She stood up immediately. "Sleep on the bed", I said and her expression changed immediately. I remembered my own words but I wasn't planning to do anything of it.

She quietly laid on the bed staring at the ceiling. I discarded my clothes and slide beside her. I snaked my arms around her stomach and pulled her close to me. 

She was so close to me and though it was nothing sexual it felt good. It felt. .... right.

That night I had the most peaceful sleep of my life.