It was almost midnight but Steven had not yet returned, unlike usual, this time Clara felt worried because if Steven didn't come back that day it would mean that she hadn't seen Steven for 2 days. She also felt that the baby was uncomfortable and that made her frustrated.She continued to walk to and fro in her room while stroking her belly to try to calm the baby in her womb.Clara decided to leave her room, she met Bob who was standing guard there.“Bob,” Clara said."Yes Miss Clara, how can I help you? Are you looking for Eva?” Bob said."Oh no, she must be asleep, I just want to know if Steven is back?" Clara said."Oh Mr. Steven hasn't been back since yesterday, Miss Clara," Bob said.“Do you know where he is or what he is doing?” Clara said."No Miss Clara, I don't know where Mr. Steven is and what he's doing, but there's probably some important things he needs to get done," Bob said.“Do you know what he usually does? I mean, I know he's the head of the mafia but he must have s
His mind continued to drift away thinking about the worst possibility that would happen to Clara since he marked Clara and made her pregnant. That created a strong connection between the three of them. Steven's decision to mark Clara as his mate might be considered hasty, he doesn't even know Clara well, and vice versa.But Steven also couldn't lie to himself, as a Don, Steven could easily resist the temptation of the women around him but as an Alpha, he couldn't stop himself from missing the perfect opportunity to be with Clara.After 5 hours of being unconscious, Clara was finally able to open her eyes, her face still looked pale and her gaze was very weak, she scanned the room and realized that she was not in her room or the mansion."Oh Clara, I'm here," Steven said, but when Steven touched her, Clara immediately brushed him off."Don't touch me, how is my baby?" Clara said and touched her stomach."Our baby is fine, so are you, but the doctor asks you to be more careful, and don'
Clara was very happy when she met her mother at that time, she didn't stop holding her mother's hand, she also explained everything that had happened to her mother and it made Diana very shocked and devastated, but seeing her daughter in good condition at that time made Diana grateful.At least Steven didn't commit violence against her daughter, even though she was very disappointed and angry with the man."You look very beautiful Clara, your face is so shining, he seems to treat you well, or is this because of your pregnancy?" Diana said as she stroked her daughter's already visible stomach."Mom, he's not a good man, he kidnapped me, he raped me and made me pregnant like this, he locked me up and made me miss moments with my family, he's a very cruel mafia leader, he's dangerous mom, he can hurt anyone he doesn't like, he's not a good man," Clara said."Clara, you are pregnant and it's not good to talk like that, I'm not defending it at all, but look, I didn't even imagine something
Diana had been living in the big mansion for 3 days, Diana's presence there made many maids and guards confused because Steven was not someone who liked bringing random people into the mansion, even though they all knew who Diana was, she was still someone else to Steven.Since that incident, Steven has become increasingly aware that it seems Clara has changed. Her uncontrollable emotions when she found out about the other woman in Steven's life made him even more convinced that Clara might have feelings for him.Steven was smoking in his room when a call came in on his phone, he didn't know whose number appeared on the phone screen, but he picked up the phone confidently."Hello?" A familiar female voice sounded from the other line.“Steven, are you there? It's me, Angela," Angel said but Steven didn't say anything, he felt angry and disappointed every time he heard that voice."Steven, I know you were there and listened to me, I just want to apologize for everything I've done, I lef
It seemed like someone was trying to light the fire and start a war with Steven. He saw that his factory had been razed to the ground, there was no one left, including the workers who were trapped in the factory when the fire broke out.Steven's assistant, Mark, said that the fire came from the drug raw materials warehouse behind the factory, he also heard repeated explosions that caused the factory to collapse and burn.Mark didn't know what happened in the warehouse at that time because he wasn't there, and hearing all of Mark's explanations made Steven very angry."Find out who did all this, I'm sure someone needs my attention," Steven said and Mark immediately carried out his boss's orders.Steven was returning to his car when he got a call from Leo, a very coincidental call, the old man must have just wanted to talk about his daughter, Jessi."Hello?" Steven said."Where are you?" Leo said."What is it?" Steven said.“Come to my place now, I have something to say,” Leo said."If
The next day Clara woke up from her sleep, she felt that she had slept very soundly that night, she didn't see Steven beside her, but she saw that the curtains were open and sunlight was coming into the room.Clara sat on her bed and not long after, Diana came into her room with a breakfast tray in her hand."Morning sweetheart," Diana said as she approached her daughter in bed.“Oh morning Mom, what are you doing? I can eat at the dining table with you," Clara said."It's okay, I just want to serve my daughter, did you sleep well?" Diana said."Hmm no, I can't sleep well every time I sleep with that man," Clara said and Diana just smiled.“Mom,” Clara said."Yes sweetie," Diana said.“Do you think I can live happily with this baby?” Clara said."What do you mean?" Diana said."I will try to convince him that so we can go back home, he doesn't need to think about this baby and can do everything he hasn’t to do because of me," Clara said.“Aren't there a few good feelings you have for
"Please sir, I wasn't the one who did all this, I don't know anything about the explosion," Mark said, his condition was very bad with his face bruised and his body covered in wounds.He was lying on the cold floor in a dimly lit room, Steven just stood looking at him with a cigarette in his hand which he occasionally puffed on."Tell me who told you to do it and I'll let you go before you die," Steven said."I swear I don't know anything about it, I just got back to the factory and heard the explosion," Mark said.“How did you hear that? The factory is already on fire and you heard the explosion from the warehouse!” Steven said, he knelt in front of Mark and pulled his hair, making Mark look at him with his face covered in blood."Sir, I beg you, I don't know anything about this, I couldn't possibly do it, I couldn't possibly betray you, my mother was alone at home and...aahhhhhh..." Steven burned him with a cigarette right on his cheek, making him scream in pain."Shut up! Don't ope
Since then, Steven has continued to ask his men to look for his mother's whereabouts, he even asked Emily and Larry to do it.Although initially Emily was shocked by Steven's change in attitude towards his mother, she was happy to help Steven."Haven't you received any news about your mother's whereabouts?" Emily said she approached Steven in her backyard."No, it's been a week since Audrey saw her, why is it so hard to see her?” Steven said.“You know what? Erick Bownie was found dead at his home, you know who he is, right? The guy died of a heart attack, Larry told me," Emily said.“So the man is dead? That's good, he deserved it, it's just that I don't like how he died," Steven said."But Larry said he has a daughter, not much different from your age, her name is Katarina, but no one knows where that girl is," Emily said.“Katarina? Does Larry have any data about that girl?" Steven said."He looked for everything he could but he only found that, he didn't have any photos or other i
Clara propped against the window, looking out at the gray clouds drifting across the sky. The rain fell gently, tracing on the glass like tears she no longer wished to weep. Ruby sat in the middle of the room, running light fingers over the music box Steven had given her. Its gentle song had been a solace to her, a gentle lullaby that had, for an instant, pushed aside her nightmares.Three evenings had passed since the present was received, and ever since, Ruby had slept wondrously. Clara wished she hated the man who sent it—hated tearing the note into pieces and damning his name. But she just could not deprive herself of what it was accomplishing with her daughter.And that was the worst which frightened her most.She had no idea where she was anymore. Her hard, cold heart, lie-resistant and now broken at such easy giving. Steven lingered in their lives like a ghost—lost, but still haunting all the glanced-over looks Ruby glances back over her shoulder at the door, all the bursts of
The clock on the wall quietly ticked by with the stillness of night as Clara remained sitting on the bed, her fingers lightly sweeping Ruby's forehead. The child convulsed again, sleep interrupted by something Clara was unable to decipher — an intensifying terror night after night."Mommy…" Ruby woke in her sleep, little fists clutching the blanket as though it alone restrained her.Clara felt her heart break for the hundredth time that week.“I’m here, baby,” she whispered, pressing a soft kiss on her daughter’s temple.It'd been weeks since they'd gone out. Weeks since Clara'd instructed Steven never to find them again. But even as far removed as they'd attempted to become, the outlines of that house — of all that'd transpired — pursued. Clara sensed it in Ruby's fidgeting, in the haunted way she inspected the periphery of the room as though someone would appear from it.Clara slowly lowered herself beside Ruby, wrapped her in a hug, and attempted to warm her shivering. Only warmth,
Morning light struggled to get through Steven's office window, dense folds of fabric, and flooded golden warmth into the room. Steven was awake. His mind had gone round and round all night. Ruby's small face before him as he had seen—how she concealed herself in Clara, weeping, her shakie little hands. But still, he could hear the call of "Papa" from her. The guilt had left, now supplanted with lust. It was a flame that burned within him, one that no whiskey or authority could extinguish.Steven sat forward in his chair, his eyes red-rimmed, a cigarette burning between his fingers. The smoke curled around, slow and heavy, just as the heavy thoughts rested upon his mind.He had stuffed the present—which was Ruby's favorite plush toy, a hand-carved music box, and a name-engraved necklace alongside Clara's. He wasn't trying to bribe her. He wasn't trying to purchase her back from him with gold coins. He just wanted them to realize that he still didn't forget them—never. That he hadn't re
Sunlight streaming in through the drapes gently illuminated the room where Clara sat beside Ruby. Her daughter's fever had finally subsided after a sleepless, endless night, but a thin strand of unease still nestled in Clara's breast. She combed Ruby's hair gently, her shaking fingers lined with weariness.A gentle knock on the door."Clara," Diana replied. "There is a man at the gate. He claims he is here making a delivery to you."Clara stood up from her chair, scowling in distrust. "A delivery? Who from?"Diana shrugged. "He wouldn't tell me. But he did leave his name… Steven."Clara's heart constricted.Steven.She stayed there not wanting to disturb Ruby and departed. Standing outside was a tall, dominating man in an overcoat made of black cloth, sunglasses hiding his face although it was early morning. Next to him stood a black automobile. Clara was not familiar with him, yet the cold calculated look brought so forcefully back Steven's world."You are Clara," the man said courte
Clara clasped the windowpane, her gaze drifting over the darkening sky as rain crashed against the pane like secrets struggled so urgently in her head. The world outside was as bitter and mournful as the things swirling round her head. Within, Ruby flung in bed, crying thin wails that caught at Clara's own sorrowful heart.Things were not what they ought to have been.Since they'd set out from Steven's estate, nothing had felt right. Ruby cried herself to bed each evening, waking up with a freezing scream, with no idea what terror afflicted her small body. Clara attempted it all—singing to Ruby, reading aloud to her, cuddling her—but to no avail. Ruby's night terrrors did not abate, and Clara's own sense of helplessness just increased."She needs him," Diana had whispered that morning, looking at Ruby with concern. "Perhaps you should have Steven go see her."Clara had stormed. "No, Mom. He kicked us out. Told us never to return. He made the decision."Diana had sighed, but remained s
As days passed, Clara felt that something wasn’t right with Ruby and her life, there was a feeling that she couldn't describe in words. The fear that every night always becomes a nightmare for her. That also seemed to be what Ruby felt, since they returned to Diana's house, there wasn't a single day when Ruby could sleep soundly, even Clara's presence couldn't calm her down.Diana had asked Clara to ask Steven to come because she felt that maybe Ruby missed her father by her side, but Clara immediately refused, she felt that Steven had thrown her out and asked them never to return to the mansion, after all, that was what Clara had wanted for a long time.Clara's presence in the mansion with Steven was only because she was tied to something, Ruby was the reason she was there, she could have reported everything to the police but was she able to put Steven in prison, since she saw how strong Steven was with all the wealth and power he had. Steven could easily eliminate someone and cover
At that time, Steven returned to meet Ray somewhere. He had been waiting for that man for a long time until Ray finally came over to him.“Sorry I'm late,” Ray said."I won't waste any more time, I will help you find Angel," Steven said."Thanks, Steven, I know you will help me find it, what can I do?" Ray said."Tell me who is the person who took advantage of it, you said I know who that person is and he did this on purpose to bait me," Steven said."That's Leo, I'm sure you know that man because Angel once said it and-""What? Leo? Since when did Angel work for him? And…” Steven stopped short when he remembered something Angel said when they met."What is it?" Ray said."Nothing, if it's Leo, then he knows what steps I will take after this, he's like my shadow, he always finds out what my weaknesses are and is ready to stab me in the back," Steven said.“Then what should we do? I'm sure we can't just stay here without certainty like this, I'm sure Angel is definitely in trouble, she
Clara seemed lost in thought in her daughter's bed, many thoughts were bothering her, and she didn't even know why these thoughts felt like they were entangling her, making her space feel tight. Her meeting with Steven was not a good thing, only trauma left a mark on Clara's life regarding Steven.But there was a space in Clara's heart that seemed unable to make her hate the Alpha, the don, that much. Clara looked at her daughter, Ruby. Her sleeping face looked similar to her father's. Even though Clara never wanted to admit it.'Knock..knock..'"Come in," Clara said and Steven was there, Clara could feel the Alpha's presence, but she didn't want to look at him.“Clara, I want to talk to you,” Steven said."What is it?" Clara said.“Come with me for a moment,” Steven said."No, I have to accompany Ruby," Clara said."This is an order, meet me in the reading room now," Steven said and left Ruby's room. His voice sounded serious, she even felt that Steven's attitude was quite cold towar
Clara woke up that morning from her deep sleep, she could feel a warmth in her body that she rarely felt in the morning, a warmth that made her very comfortable, Clara didn't feel like opening her eyes that morning, she wanted to continue sleeping and enjoy her morning for a long time.But when she realized that the warmth she was getting was not from the morning sun entering her room, her eyes immediately opened and found Steven's face who was nearby. She could even feel the warm breath of the Alpha who was sleeping next to her.Clara's initial reaction should have been to push Steven's body away from her and shout at him but what Clara did was the opposite. She also didn't understand what was happening to her body, but being in Steven's arms was the most comfortable thing she felt. She found her body calm and peaceful as if all the problems in her life had just disappeared.Clara just stared straight at the Alpha who was still asleep at that time, she noticed the curves of his face,