Chapter 16
În no time, they arrived in front at the manor. Miguel intacted the drives, “Wait here.”
[out oTV—the wealthy messing
The light in the mann, soon and on. The vet inkd himself it was probably just a mock stop to grab something. Aber all, that was how it aberys played outoTV—the weat half the city or asinele deumen. Hetalbinsell me tomri think it
Miguel entered the elevator and pressed the button for the second basement friel. When the doors opened again, motiem semot lights illuminated the basement’s layout.
There were the corridor, rich leading in a different derrtim. The ali was damp and candela musty, decaping stuell
The stunde doumane of the halways. It was silent except for the dicking of his leather shoes on the floor, adding to the ominous armosphere.
Amorest Tate, he stopped at a dose and nokon a bey to unlock it. The sounded metal scraping against metal was harsh. From inside, the clanking of chains could be heard, followed by a
Migel pushed the door open and stepped inside
In the center of the room, a print man with a ses amisschis face manchainedup. Hiuskin was pale from prolonged conferment, and his eyes burned with the wild intensity of someone diven, ba madness. Mipart Zocken! You finally camel Let me out!!
The churns raided bridly as he struggled against thanni.
Miguel’s expressim darkened. He walked over to the side, picked up a whip from the floor, and lashed il mercilessly at the man. The whip had borbs, and the man scoramed in agony with
Migori seemed to be vesting his rage, delivering blowatter blew unish the man’s skin was torn and bloodied. Bring bently, he finally tossed the whip aside. He grabbed the man’s chin and pronded, “You deserve this Dann it! This is what you owe mal”
|The man, heerly clinging to consciousness, spat out blood and gripet “Trai, you she sent ere. You promised i
mid a way out of the country—after it was done – You mward.
Miguel’s lips curled in a inister smile. “Teah, I told you to take care of and finish the job, but what did you do? The brand didn’t die, and now, I have to dran up your mess! You’d be
The man–calmly gasp des au in rapped breaths.
He could understand why Miguel stewed up retry two were lo just ba vent his anger Sure, he had‘ handled the task perfectly, but it hadn’t led to any serious. CONSEQUENCES.
Once Miguel had vented busanger, his expression softened, and the towering fury in his eyes faded He ignored the man on the ground and turned to leave
Onwardtable, a dusty photograph tay halt–stained with blood. It showed a family of there with a girl in the mide, her mile sweet and innoce
By the time Miguel iets Rivermouth kanor, hipexpression had crtursed to soc mat
When be recoved a call from Sheila, he patiently spoke to her in a garde andicalres
I’m on my way back. Go to deep and don’t wait for me, okay?
Mareful, after Entra and her friends left the lab, Kachel was filled with galt. “I had lost my cool, you would have had to how your head to the brands”
Zack chuckled. “Come on, we don’t mess worth people unless they mess with us first. They were walking all over un!If we had just sat back and done nothing, we would locked the fool
Enricumded “Tionow yin tade about me. Honestly, hearing you curse them out leli pretty good”
With her temperamem, she could never bring to do something like that. There were times the envied Rachel. She was a direct and unafraid to speak her mind she never held back
Seeing star she truly did Hameer Khel ally relased she saidingantly, “One day, well the rap, and these bastan will be begging at our feet!
Wielas early shoot the next morning, she vented before hurrying o
Kack, who had driven there, turned its Enric “Letmedeher you home. I didn’t drink night.”
She nodded and por ime his car
bining the ride, back ought up another matte, “About that kid you want to adopt – bow’s the process going? I’m worried Nigel might interfere now that you‘ se divorcing”
Entaa paased, unune.“I detikink he would pothullar, would he?”
Miguellad Sheila now and would surely want to have his own child. He probably wouldn’t care about an eight–y
561), she sent a WatsApp message to the datos of the orphanage to check on the situation.
e quickly replied that rimything matan track. Barring any unexpected issues, they would be able to complete the process next month.
Zack belt eelised. “When you haven time, I’ll go with you a pain
Linica’s bufluence changed lån över dine learning about the struggles of the children in the mountain, he had joined her every year na being clothes and books. He had even personally
As they were talking her phone rang tering the caller ID, sier quickly answered, “Hello, Mr. Pulcher.
die than octant vidi, page stood by the window, his tall frame exading suength. Hearing has the adlessed him, he sail in a deep voice, “Dib’t we agree you’d call me Zayer fuam now an?” Derasa besitated, feeling inexplicably awkward “well, waan hy that just a temporary alrangement when we met your pi
the chuckded solily. “Eslink we should keep it up in everyday life too & full, seamless disguise is the only way to make sure neone suspects got marriage is a sham.”
The jeansing was impeccable, and she found herself commed. “Alright, I call you Zayne from now on
If she saw bin as a man, addressing him by his fame older
was another at her fils, wouldn’t it be fine!
Zach, who was driving, glanced at the expressed slightly.
rime replied, “It’s rocking urgent. I just wantedtecheck when you’d be back”
Altes a pasar, atit afraid she night neunderstand, he explained, “Traalivady to co pin, and I’m about to sleep. I was concerned you might not be able to get in.”
She chuckled “T’in alirady on my way back. Go ahead and sleep. I have the key”
She pul
her was on her way, Zayir finally relaxed. He let mut a soft bumi before hanging up one away and looked up, ratching Zack’s amused expression in the rear view mİLTOL…
Chapter 17
Entra asked, puzzled, “Why are you looking at me like that h
Zackwinked at her “That so–called bushand of yours from the sham marriage?
She explained, “He’s about to sleep and was worried I wouldn’t be able to get in, so he called to ask when I’d be home
When zack spoke next, his words were laced with implication. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”
Zayne was just worried about her bring est so late, but he didn’t say it outright. Instead, be made up an excuse about fearing she’d get locked out. That was not how gay menusually handled things. And that name — Zayne. How gross! No self inspecting bottom would be caught dead with a name like that
Erica didn’t catch the meaning behind his words and joked. “What, is he some kind of chainsaw psycho? just waiting for me to walk in so he can chop me up?”
Zack looked at her carefree smile and shook his head with a chuckle. Forget it, he wouldn’t bother waming her. She just got divorced, so she might as well have
some fun with a man.
Soon, they arrived at Zayne’s n
cresidential.complex.
Zack did some quick mental calculations. The property prices in this area were over three thousand dollars per square foot. A small two–bedroom would be at least 650 square feet, meaning it’d go for about two million dollars. And from what he heard, there was no mortgage. Zayne’s net worth wasn’t too bad.
He worked in sales, but as the company’s top salesperson, he was surely malding a decent income. Zacks only concern was whether he had picked up the usual bad habits of salesmen Heavy drinking gambling, or frequenting brothels–he hoped Zayne wasn’t that type
Thinking of this, Zack, eamestly advised Ennica. “Look, I don’t care about anything else. But if things get intimate, you’d better use protection. If he won’t wear Jone, tell him to get lost, dot it?
She was completely confused. “Huh?”
“Ainight, E
poon back Zack shoned her out of the car and drove off.
Innca stood there, baffled. What was that all about?
As she reached the front door, she tookcout her key, Just as she inserted it into the lock, the door was swan; upenicom the inside..
She was startled as she looked at the man at the door. “You’re still awake?”
Zayne was dressed in casual loungewear. His broad shoulders and narrow hips gave the loose clothes a relaxed yet flattering fit. He raised the cup in his hand. “I just came out for some water, and 1 heard you at the door.”
He suddenly paused, his gaze flickering as he subtly observed her “Have you been drinking?“”
Ennica explained as she changed her shoes, “I had dinner with two of my besties today.”
He nodded expressionlessly. At least she hadn’t been drinking to drown her sorrows.
After a brief exchange with him, she went to take a shower. When she came out, she saw a bowl of mushroom soup on the table with a note beside it. “Drink up. It’s what’s left from dinner. It’ll help you sober up. Otherwise, you’ll feel terrible in the momine”
The handwriting was bold and elegant, pleasing to the eye. Enrica smiled, picked up the bowl of soup, and sipped it, feeling a wave of gratitude. “He’s s0 thoughtful–probably a bottom, just like Zack.”
After finishing the soup and washing the bowl, she went back to sleep.
in the master bedroom, Zaybe was sitting at his desk. The desk was a simple, unsdomed piece, but appeared much more elegant as it had been enhanced by his
He listened attentively to the sounds outside, only relaxing when everything fell silent..
Enrica was so cited that she was out like a light the second she hit the pillow
The next day, she got up and was just finishing getting ready when she heard the door open. Zayne walked in carrying breakfast. “Hey, you’re up? Come eat first.”
Today was the day of the trial, and they would soon be heading over. Her heart was heavy, and she didn’t have much of an appetite. But to keep up her strength, she had to eat property
Zayne glanced at her, noticing her obvious silence. “Are you worried about the case?”
Enrica didn’t deny it.
He said, “Don’t worry. You’ll win.”
His voice was steady and firm. She knew he was only trying to comfort her. Still, she smiled, not wanting to brush off his kindness.
She was likely to lose the trial today, and she’d have to see how much the compensation would be. She couldn’t just let Zayne bear the cost, so maybe she could ilisoins splitting it with Zayne. As for her halt, she’d have to write an LOU first.
Alterlinishing their breakfast, the two took a cal to the courthouse
Authey made farin way up the long steps, a sharp, unceremonious voice rang out from behind. “Enrica! Stop right there!!!
e passed mid- step and turned around to see the Zucker family approaching Rohana, Jilliana, Miguel, and Sheila were all present, flanked by two lawyers and Two assistants Together, they made for an imposing entourage.
C
