Free Web NovelChapter 95: The method
Give them everything. Then take those things away. Introduce conflict into their lives. Make their life miserable. And then, when they’re at their lowest, offer them the one thing they need most. Give them hope. Bring them to your side. Make them your slave and have them see you as their master.
This strategy is one of the general’s many methods of breaking someone. I believe he is attempting to apply this specific method to Amera, but her situation is entirely different.
He hasn’t done anything for her. Or has he? Hold on—come to think of it, he was the one who gave us hints on how to find her.
That means he already knows who she is. He knows where she lives. And he knows her family situation.
He made me and my brothers search for her. He knew what would happen once we found her. He knew she wouldn’t be in the same situation after we found her. He knew we could change her status. In a way, he used us to change her and her family’s status. Her family lives better now. He used us to provide Amera with everything she has ever needed.
If that’s the case, if I’m right about things, then the next step is to take those things away, right? The things we gave her. But taking those things away could require taking us away too—removing us from her life. Which would be totally impossible. He knows this. Or has he decided to skip that step? Maybe he decided to skip the second step and move on to the next.
The third step includes conflict, troubles, and danger. After that, he’ll make her life completely miserable. That’s correct. I am right! He is trying to break her with this method. freewebnovёl.ƈom
I won’t let that happen, though. Definitely won’t. Among my brothers, I have the weakest bond with Amera because I decided to make things that way.
To be honest, I didn’t want to make that deal. I only made it because the others were making it, and I didn’t want to be the odd one out.
The idea of having a mate didn’t appeal to me. The idea of searching for her didn’t appeal to me either. The idea of searching for her was the worst. I didn’t want to do it, but I agreed to it anyway.
I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like to attach themselves to someone very likely to leave one day. I especially hate attachments. Attaching myself to someone who is not going to be mine was difficult for me. But a deal is a deal, right?
Well, what’s done is done. I’m one of Amera’s mates, and as long as I’m mated to her, I won’t let danger come to her. When it comes to safety, I like being one hundred percent. Since my mother went missing, I have been particularly sensitive, and I have been overprotective of the things I own—Amera included.
But this old man is trying to overturn things. Things are already difficult; why did he have to show up at this time?
"You sound so certain that your plan will work," Bryce scoffed, then moved to the closest seat and sat.
"Everyone is not like you. The situation might turn out very differently from what you pictured. The problem with you is that you always prepare and imagine a particular scene; you see everyone with one picture. But people are different. I believe things will turn out differently," Bryce stated.
The general snickered. "Will you place your life on the line, son? That’s if you’re so certain."
"Why not?" Bryce shrugged.
"You can’t be serious," Cooper groaned.
Bryce continued, "I’m ready to prove you wrong by all means," he smirked.
"Alright then. No one leaves this house for the next week. We’ll watch the situation from here. I don’t trust any of you not to do anything to save your little mate. If it happens according to your plans, your life will be spared, and if it happens according to mine, I won’t kill you. But I’ll lock you up for a year. What do you think?"
"I’d rather place my life on the line like we said. I don’t go back on my words," Bryce groaned.
Cooper grumbled, "You’re nuts."
The general gave a small laugh. "Alright, we’ll all watch from here then. This house will be on full lockdown."
"What about our businesses? I can’t believe this," Parker complained.
"What businesses?"
"Locking us up for a week—we’re no longer kids; this isn’t fair," Cooper complained.
Bryce stood up, grabbed his tablet, and walked to the double doors. He was about to leave but stopped upon my words.
"About my mom..." I started, settling my gaze on the General.
"Where is she? What did you do to her? Where are you keeping her? Release her to me. It’s been years already. Release her."
"Are you accusing me of abducting your mother?" The general scoffed, appearing shocked by my outburst.
"Then who took her? Who took her if not you?" I accused.
"Why would I take your mother?"
"Did you kill her?"
"If I killed her, I would have told you a long time ago. Do you have any evidence?"
"Do I need one?"
"Yes, you do. I always taught you to do things with caution. Speak with caution. Approach people with caution. Do not falsely accuse others either. I taught you that, didn’t I?" He leaned closer to the headboard and pressed a button.
The door opened, and his guard came in.
Shit.
"Are you willing to provide the evidence, or do you want us to take the hard step?"
"Do whatever you want. I don’t care," I sighed.
"Tell him where his mother is. He has been searching for years. I’m sure you know something. Why aren’t you helping him?" Parker said.
"Why should I help with that? It is his duty to find his mother. And if he wanted me to help, he should have asked for help rather than falsely accusing me." He moved his gaze to his bodyguard.
"What are you waiting for?"
"How many, sir?" he asked.
"Until he returns to his senses," the general replied as he exited the room into his inner room.
The bodyguard came to me and, without warning, punched me in the jaw, but I didn’t try to fight back and just allowed him to do it. The others also didn’t do a thing.
It’s not as if we enjoy these things, but we know the consequences of fighting back or being stubborn. Taking a few hits is much more bearable compared to what the general will do to us if we fight him.
We’ve tried to fight him in the past—Bryce has. Parker. Even Cooper. But we always lose. We never win. Why? Because we all have something or someone dear to us. Someone whom we want to desperately protect.
Parker walked out of the room, and Cooper followed him, but Bryce stayed. He stayed and watched as the guard continued to hit me.
When I could no longer hold it in, I collapsed, but the guard didn’t stop; he continued the attack. I feel like he won’t stop until I completely black out.
When I felt a hard hit on my head that caused it to bleed, I looked up to see him with a hammer.
Is he kidding me? Does he want to kill me? He lifted the hammer and was about to hit me a second time, but Bryce stopped him.
"That’s enough; I’m sure he has learned whatever lessons needed to be learned." Bryce held his wrist.
But the guard didn’t listen; he struggled to break free from Bryce, but Bryce continued to hold him.
The door opened, and the general stepped out. "You heard him; that’s enough. Do as he said, as he might actually kill you. If he kills you, I might not be able to avenge you since he’s my son," the general said to him.
The guard, whose name I still don’t know, stilled and lowered his head to the general.
"I can take him on," he said.
The general laughed. "Being huge doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be able to bring him down. Among all of my children, he was the only one I personally trained. I have avoided getting into a personal confrontation with him since the last time he defeated me in combat. I was afraid he might do the same thing again, so I now use other means to control him."
He clicked his tongue multiple times. "Take my advice; don’t fight him. It’ll do you no good."
The bodyguard sent a glare to Bryce before exiting the room.
Bryce left, leaving just me and the general. I forced myself to my feet, staggering as I struggled to steady myself.
"My mother..." I whispered, "Tell me where she is. Also, tell me what you plan to do with Amera. Are you trying to hurt her?"
"I can’t help you with your mother. And about your mate, I plan to do many things to her," he exhaled.
"Don’t you know why I introduced her to the four of you? I plan to use her to control you. It seems Bryce already caught wind of what I am trying to do. Why are you so slow-witted?" He clicked his tongue, shaking his head in disappointment.
"That’s the main reason I introduced her to you, and since she already holds a special place in your heart, isn’t this the right time to set my plans in motion?"
"Use her for her purposes."
"Amera won’t give in to you; she’s not as weak as you assume," I hissed.
"She won’t?" He laughed. "If she won’t give in, then it means that she is useless. And you know what happens when you become useless? You get disposed of."
