“Dima, let’s make something delicious,” I said as I waddled down the stairs early morning, leaving my sleeping beauty to rest after our activities last night.

“How’s Princess? Is she all right?” Dima asked worriedly. I cleared my throat and was about to answer, but my mom responded, “Did you not hear her yesterday? She must be tired.” I blinked a few times and cursed under my breath when I saw my mom laughing at me. 

“Making breakfast for your wife after an intense workout?” She mocked. 

“Isabella,” Dima called to her, and she raised her hands in surrender.

“Mom, please stop using Julie to make Liara insecure.” I tried to reason with her. 

“Why’d Liara be insecure when she had you wrapped around her fingers?” She commented.

“We had a past that we don’t want to think about and start afresh, but thankfully you aren’t making it easy,” I said as I cut vegetables to make something for Liara. Dima helped me cut the veggies, and I thanked her. 

“What did I do?” She asked angrily.

“Yesterday you took Julie with you even though Liara stationed a caretaker for you and, to top it off, you rode her car. That bloody car is so precious to her that she never gave me a chance to ride it. And that’s not it. Even when she was injured or ill, she would opt to ride it herself.” I explained. 

“I didn’t know.” She responded with not even a pinch of guilt on her face.

“Then you should have asked before touching anyone’s belonging, mom,” I explained, that was like teaching a kid. It is a common behavioral trait that every single one of us should have.

“Did she complain to you about these things?” My mom asked, and I shook my head, staring at the ceiling.

“Liara doesn’t prefer talking behind someone’s back,’’ Dima said and I nodded.

“She didn’t utter a single word about it. Instead, she turned the mall upside down after you went.” I said.

“What?”

“She yelled at the Manager and asked him to apologize to the two of you and send all the things chosen by you both,” I explained.

“And her car?” 

“It’s also been taken care of. But please don’t repeat it. I cannot let her suffer more than she already did.” I confessed. My mom bit a piece of Apple and got up when the doorbell rang. 

“I’m going.” She raised her hand, stopping both of us.

“Madame, this is a token of apology from the department, and please convey our regards to Ms. D’Waner and inform her that her car is ready.” The manager placed all the bags in front of my mother and handed her the car keys.

“Okay.” I walked toward him and nodded, holding the keys and the bags.

“Thank you, sir, and sorry, madame.” He bowed, walking away from us.

“For your kind information, my wife was stabbed twice because of Julie and me, causing her to almost lose her right to birth a child. If you know what I mean.” I whispered into her ears. I cannot let Dima hear this, so I explained to my mom.

“What? How?” she exclaimed, looking at me in horror. 

“It’s a story for another time. For now, try to understand the real Liara and not the one she pretends to be.” I explained, walking inside the hall along with her.

“You love her so much.” My mom commented walking beside me and I gave her a side look.

“I guess I do,” I said, shrugging my shoulder.

“Believe me, that wasn’t the case when I took over.” We stared at Liara, who rushed out of her room already freshened up and with a new pair of clothes. 

“I’m on my way, damn it.” She spoke and walked directly towards Dima. Her hair was still wet, and I started realizing that I got attracted to how she pulled even the simplest dress. A white shirt and black pants were all she had on her body. No other added accessories or costly items. 

“What’s wrong sweety?” Dima inquired. I placed the bags on the couch and walked toward her. 

“Dima, I just missed an urgent meeting.” She said as she bit a piece of bread.

“I was making you breakfast,” I said, and she stopped eating. The bread slice hung between her lips.

“I’m so sorry. I need to rush before I get caught up in the traffic.” She explained and chewed the remaining piece.

“No worries, we will send you the lunch box. At least make sure you have that.” My mom butted in. Liara looked at her in shock and then at me. I shrugged my shoulder, and she stuttered, “Oh, okay.” 

“Here’s your car key,” I yelled as I saw she didn’t even know that her car was back. 

“Thank you.” She whispered breathlessly, and I was breathless too by how gorgeous she looked.

“You look hot in wet hair,” I mumbled as I put a strand of her hair behind her ear. “And I will probably get a headache because of the wet hair.” She shook her head, and I laughed. 

“Anyway, why are you so tensed?” I asked, walking beside her towards the car.

“I was meeting the Luchellies today and I’m already late.” She informed me, and I stood dead on the track.

“Why them? You know they are dangerous.” I said, considering Samira was marrying Barrak. 

“I had no choice. Barrak wanted to meet for a long but I kept on postponing the meeting..” She trailed off as she checked on her Lykan.

“I’m sorry about this,” I responded, pointing at the car.

“You must be.” She commented, surprising me.

“Anyway, bye, I gotta go.” She said, but I held her hand.

“You know I’m not used to you grabbing me abruptly yet.” She said, and I slowly walked towards her. Her body hit the car, and she blinked at me.

“I don’t think I’m over this body yet,” I said, drawing my hands from her face to her chest and then her abdomen.

“Really?” she mocked with a smirk. I knew she was joking, but I didn’t let go of her and closed the distance even further.

“Liara we-“ she pushed me harder as we heard Anthony’s voice. He looked at us in horror and I thought to punch him in his face.

“What are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you to go with Aria to her hometown? Do you think you will get away by defying my orders?” Liara grew angrier.

“Chill alright. I’m taking you to SAMs and after your meeting with Luchellies is over, I will go to her hometown.” He spoke. Liara stood her ground and tried to argue, but he silenced her and said, “They are Luchellies, no commoners. I’m not letting you entertain them alone when I know because his ex would join us along with Andersons.” He commented.

“Hey!” I said.

“What? Correct me if I’m wrong.” He spoke back.

“Enough!” Liara pinched the bridge of her nose and silently entered the car without even looking at me. 

“My men found Luchellies men around the corner of this mansion. Tell your mom to be more careful.” Anthony said as he stood beside me. I nodded, and he pushed me a little, making me stumble back so he could enter the passenger seat. 

“Fucker.” I cursed and saw him showing his middle finger as they drove off. 

“Mom,” I yelled as I headed back inside the mansion.

**†****†****†****†****†***

“What proof do you have that she is alive?” I asked Gabriel Anderson, who took a whiff of the cigar between his fingers.

“Man, can you at least answer something for me to believe that it’s true? If you didn’t want to talk, then why call me at such an urgent notice?” I asked, growing frustrated. I was about to head to Shimmers as the manager wanted to talk, but this old man asked me to meet in this old rusty club that maybe was meant for old men like him.

Slow music played of perhaps ninety’s with a dimly lit atmosphere. This freaking club was at the farthest end of the city and I had a hard time finding the exact location without proper internet. 

“This is not as simple as you think it is.” He answered, shaking his head as he gulped down another swig of his drink. 

“Then explain,” I responded, getting a headache.

“Didn’t your police friend inform you he got a clue about her being alive? What did you do about it?” He asked in a monotonous tone. I grew skeptical about how he knew this, which Liara didn’t know yet.

“We didn’t get a proper clue. I don’t want to touch the matter so sensitive for Liara without having a proper clue.” I answered honestly. 

“I thought you were better than this, but that man might have died down five years back.” He commented.

“Can you get to the point without irritating me? I think we aren’t going anywhere in this discussion.” I said when he mentioned my past.

“I was the one who sent the clue, or you can call it information, about Samantha being alive.” He spoke, blowing off the cigar.

“What!!” I exclaimed. He knew she was alive and wanted me to look into this matter.

“How did you-? I mean, why send me the clue?” I asked, petrified by this man’s presence. 

“I’m helpless. I’m in no position to help my only daughter and the love of my life.” He spoke, still looking at the window. His expression didn’t give me any clue what exactly he wanted from me, and that made me even more furious.

“Bulllshit! Love of your life? Only daughter?” I slapped the table hard, frustrated by his monotonous tone. He was behaving as if he had been the victim all along. Did he have any ulterior motive? Do I need to be careful around him? I wondered.

“You were the one who forced Liara’s mother to abort Liara and married a rich chic when she denied it. Now you dare to play the victim card? Do you think I don’t know what you did? How clever of you.” I said breathlessly. I was angry, for sure, but more importantly, I was frustrated by how he didn’t react to my acquisitions. 

“I’m not playing the victim card here. I’m here to request you to save my family.” He turned towards me. This would be the first time after we met in the bar that he looked at me. 

“Your family?” I asked.

“Yes. I’m tired of fighting alone in this, and I’m not doing good for either of them.” He answered.

“I’m confused,” I confessed. 

“I need you to believe me and help me save Samantha and Liara.” He held my hand and said. 

“First, prove to me that Liara’s mom is alive,” I said, removing my hand from his hold. 

“Okay. Regardless, you need to understand that wherever I did, it was all because I needed to protect Liara.” He said I scoffed because I was certain I would only believe him when I see Samantha myself. Until then, I was skeptical about even entertaining this man. 

“So, what now?” I asked because he suddenly remained silent and I grew anxious.

“We wait.” He said, pulling out his phone. I pried further and then saw him checking the location of someone plus watching the CCTV camera of an old dungeon-type of building.

“Keryl? Why are you spying on her?” I asked when I saw the name tag above the location was where Keryl lived. 

“I can take you to that place where Samantha is only when Keryl is out of sight.” He explained. I felt as if I was growing deeper into a black hole. The mystery was never ending and nerve-wracking.

“Keryl and my father, along with Suzanne, have abducted Samantha. They have silenced me using Samantha as bait.” He said. I felt like someone stationed me on a treadmill. I couldn’t move and my body was getting thrown away with the force the treadmill had moved. 

“What the heck!” 

**†***†***†***†***†***†***†***†**

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