CHAPTER 16. BE MY SPYFeeling like a disowned pet, I couldn't take myself back to the palace looking so pathetic. I was sulking and it would get tongues wagging if I showed up in the palace in such a manner.I stopped by a bar in the area and had some shots of whiskey. Been a while since I had a drink, and right now, I was gulping them down as if my life depended on it. I was far from being okay, but the sun had set and the cloud was pitch dark. I had to return to the palace.I paid for my drinks and headed home.The palace was still busting with activities, as it always does. I avoided the main entrance and got inside through the back instead. I was in no mood for the formalities and meetings. All I wanted was to lock myself in my room and sulk to my heart's content.I'd barely made it to the elevator when Father halted my steps with his words.*Ryder, finally you're back,“ His voice echoed in the hallway.“Yes, Father. I'm back. And if you'd excuse me, I'll like to get some rest. I
CHAPTER 17. JOB-HUNT HARAI shrieked as another thunderbolt tore through the clouds. It was heavier than the ones before it and it struck down a flower vase. I took refuge in a newspaper vendor store and watched the owner of the flower vase in the next store weep for her loss. There were so many flower vases on display. And this was a small, market area, so there was no doubt what just broke was a huge loss. She struggled to take them inside, and I would have helped if I was still cleared for such tedious work. My pregnancy had me tied in a knot.I looked up at the cloud hopefully, but its gloominess killed whatever hope might have sprung up in me. There was no sign the rain would be ceasing anytime soon. So we were still at the mercy of these thunderbolts.My raincoat was drenched from the many hours I spent in the rain. I've been out all morning, just like every other morning for the past week.It's been a week since I quit working at the bar. I hadn't realized my rash decision
CHAPTER 18. HAUNTED BY MY NIGHTMARESHARALUCID NIGHTMARES.That's what they call it. Because in the nightmare I'm having at the moment, I'm aware that I'm dreaming, that I'm having another nightmare. And they weren't just any random nightmares, they were a reoccurrence of my past with Roland.*I'm walking down a lonely alley with a bag of groceries. I took this route to get home faster. Roland texted me half an hour ago that he was hungry and I should get my ass back home quickly. I almost bolted out of the mall at his text but I was yet to buy half the things I needed. I tried to be a lot faster, but it's been half an hour already. I'm terrified of what his reactions would be that I hadn't returned home at the exact time I got the text. I have to hurry back.I started sprinting and in a few minutes, I was approaching my doorstep. When I turned the doorknob and walked in, I thought he'd left. There was no sign of him.I heaved in relief and shut the door. Just then, I felt a hard p
CHAPTER 19. NO MORE HANKY-PANKY RYDERAlighting from my private jet, I was met with repeated camera flashes and was swamped up by a bunch of paparazzi and reporters. They held out their recorders and were throwing a bunch of questions my way.It was raining. Not the thunderstorm kind of rain, but yeah, it was raining. And it's unbelievable that these humans would stand out here to suck the life out of me when they should be helping those already affected by the constant rain.With my sunglasses on and an umbrella over my head, I was guarded to my car. The door opened and I slid in, shutting off their shouting and interrogation.“Stupid humans,“ I grunted. How could they be so jobless?“Welcome back, Sir,“ Tiffany spoke up. For a second there, I'd forgotten she was right beside me. Tiffany was my human secretary. When it comes to matters that involve my partnership and business deals with humans, she takes a record of all that. She maps out my schedule and emails them to Jason. Tiffa
CHAPTER 20. I TRUST YOU, BUT I STILL FEEL UNEASYRYDERThe few days I spent away from the pack on my business trip was the worst days of my life. Or maybe not the worst, but they were just as bad. I could barely get my thoughts together. I wasn't articulated enough and continuously zoned out. It's a good thing I still got the deal, regardless of how distracted I was. Back in my hotel room, I was always lost in my thoughts. The name 'Hara' reverberated in the walls of my heart. She was all I thought of, all I dreamt of. I was itchy to get back. I wanted to know what she's been up to. How she's doing. I was scared she might be having another complication with her unborn child. From what I lucked up from her thoughts, she's had a few complications in the past. I feared the constant rain and thunder might scare her at night. I hated that she was alone. I'd give anything to be with her, hold her, kiss her, fuck her. I'd kept Jason on her tail, and that was the only thing that had me a lit
CHAPTER 21. OUR LAST TALKOnce Abused. Now Loved.HARA“What?!” My outburst attracted quite a few stares. I immediately snapped my mouth shut, lowering my head and dropping my voice to a whisper.“Shhh… keep your voice down, will you?“ Cy. whispered, nodding apologetically at the few heads that had turned in our direction.“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so loud. But I don't understand a thing. Why would you get sacked?“ I asked, hoping this wasn't true.”I guess I did something I shouldn't have done,“ He replied with a shrug and a grin, turning to look at me over his shoulder.We were both behind the counters, we had the same shift for the day. “You're the most hardworking guy I've ever met. Everyone here knows that. Firing you is crazy.“ “I know. But the higher-ups don't know that,““Then let's go tell them that. I can attest to the fact that you've been perfect and there's no reason to fire you,“ I said. ”No, let it go, Suzy. I'm fine, really. It's all good,“ Cy. smiled, mixing
CHAPTER 22. A PORN BARHARA“But – but that's against the rules. You do know that, right?“ I asked skeptically.“I do, and I'm so sorry for putting you in such a hard spot, but I have no choice. I need to be home. I need to be with my child,““Isn't there someone else who can cover for you? Someone from your floor,“ Quizzing her so much seemed to be getting her more agitated. I couldn't help but feel bad.“We all got the same shift. I wasn't early enough to meet those whose shifts already ended.”“What about a friend–“ I got cut off by the constant buzzing of her phone. Her eyes lit in agony and she was looking up at me again.“Please, dear. My son's just 8 and he's got a walking disability. And did I forget to mention that he's alone? I can't be with him all the time, but in times like this, I should be by his side,““Don't you have a nanny or someone who'd attend to him till you get home?““It's just my Mum. But she's old and got dementia. Not much of a help. Please, dear. I know yo
CHAPTER 23. THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER HARAI was still in a daze, staring at the man who'd just played 'knight-in-shining-armor' and had broken my fall.His striking resemblance with the Alpha Prince left me speechless. His brown hair which synched with his brown eyes was the only significant difference he had from the Alpha-prince.The Alpha-Prince had sleek, black hair that was mesmerizing to behold. And he had a more condescending, haughty demeanor than this man.But I had to admit his smiles were enchanting. His cheeks had definite dimples which lit up his face in such a heart-fluttering manner.I hadn't realized I'd stopped whimpering until his smiles widened. “You look more beautiful without the whimpers,“ he said.Huh? My brows arched in confusion. I wanted to leap out of his arms but he held me down.“Easy, dear.” He cautioned. Slowly, he guided me to my feet, still holding my hands. I buried my face into his shoulder, clenching my teeth at the stinging pain from the part of m