Chapter 63: I Won't Compel You

Ophelia swallowed hard, feeling the tension in the air thickening with every passing second. "Should I really?" Nikolai's voice was low, almost a whisper, but the intensity in his tone made it impossible to dismiss. Ophelia parted her lips, ready to object to his repeated question. Something in his demeanor suggested that he believed she was in the wrong, which only fueled her frustration. How could he twist the situation like this? She had every right to be angry with him after what he had said, so why was he acting like she was the one at fault? "Yes!" she finally breathed out, her voice laced with defiance. For a brief moment, she saw his eyes widen with a wildness that made her choke on her words. She blinked rapidly, realizing that she was provoking him intentionally, and oddly enough, she didn't feel bad about it. "What are you trying to do?" she inquired, her eyebrows lifting in perplexed awe. Was he attempting to terrify her? Was he playing the victim in this scenario? Oph