Chapter #5

ZARA LANG

I thought Eiser wasn’t as terrifying as I’d imagined. Have the rumors about him been exaggerated?

The ruthless, merciless mafia boss everyone talked about was nowhere to be seen. Instead, all I saw was a lonely man. 

I was still sitting at the dining table, enjoying my breakfast. It had been almost a week since I arrived here. 

Nothing particularly special had happened, except that Eiser had been taking care of me. 

Not directly, of course, but he was kind enough not to hurt me cruelly. 

A few hours ago, he received a phone call from someone. Whatever it was, the relaxed expression on his face had instantly turned tense. 

Maybe it was just my imagination. 

Who knew?

“You. Come with me. Now,” he ordered.

“Where?”

“You’ll find out when we get there.”

My body still ached, yet he was telling me to follow him. Was this some new form of torture?

If it was, then I take back everything I said about him not being cruel. 

He didn’t even look at me. He simply expected me to follow. 

I let out a long, exasperated sigh. How did I end up like this?

Me, Zara Lang, obedient? That had never happened in my entire life. 

Good Lord. 

“Could you slow down a little? Have you forgotten that I’m still a patient?” I shouted in protest. 

I heard a low grunt from Eiser. 

The next second, he turned around and fixed me with a sharp stare. The he slowly walked toward me. 

“Hey, what are you—”

Before I could finish, Eiser suddenly lifted me off the ground. 

Good grief!

My body nearly tipped over because he picked me up carelessly, like a sack of rice slung over one shoulder. 

I groaned. 

“Put me down, Eiser!”

“Be quiet, or I’ll drag you,” he replied coldly. 

I swallowed the rest of my complaints. 

This was Reins Eiser, after all. He would do whatever he wanted. 

Besides, what was the point of resisting if it wouldn’t change anything?

***

This man was truly unbearable. 

Now I was sitting in a car with Reins Eiser, having no idea where he was taking me. 

Outside the window stretched a breathtaking coastal road lined with towering cliffs overlooking the vast ocean. 

The scenery was stunning. 

“What a beautiful place for a kidnapping,” I muttered to myself. 

“What did you say? A kidnapping? What do you mean by that?”

Eiser’s calm voice came from behind me. 

I turned to look at him. 

His expression was unreadable. 

“Where are you taking me?” I waited for an answer. 

After saving me, was he planning to torture me after all?

“You sure ask a lot of questions.”

“Of course I do. I deserve to know what’s going to happen to me, especially when I’m in your hands. For all I know, I might not even be breathing an hour from now.”

I narrowed my eyes warily waiting for his reaction. 

But instead—

A quiet chuckle escaped him. 

I had no idea what was so funny, but Eiser was actually laughing. The moment he noticed me staring, his face became stern again. 

“I can assure you that you’ll still be breathing today.”

I pursed my lips. 

Deciding not to argue any further, I turned back toward the window. 

A while later, I realized the car was heading toward a single destination. A mansion perched on a cliff. 

My eyes widened as the enormous estate came into view. 

I’d heard wealthy people loved their privacy and often built their home in isolated places.

“We’re not heading to that place, are we?” I asked, pointing at the grand mansion. 

Eiser didn’t answer. 

But the faint smile on his lips told me everything. 

I bit my lower lip and swallowed hard. 

If that was where I’d be staying, contacting Danny and the police would be nearly impossible. 

Then how was I supposed to catch Eiser if I was acting alone?

I hadn’t thought this through at all. How stupid. 

The car continued toward its destination while I remained lost in thought, trying to come up with a new plan for my undercover mission. 

***

REINS EISER

There was no way I could refuse Mother’s request to attend that party. It was irritating because Lyorine would definitely be there. 

This time, I had to make it clear to her that the arranged marriage would never happen.

Although I had once genuinely liked Lyorine, I would never marry her.

Besides, who would willingly marry a woman who had slept with his own father?

Yeah, I saw it with my own eyes. My father hooked up with Lyorine. It was sickening.

If my mother knew the truth, she would never allow that woman anywhere near our family. 

Damn it. 

I really hated this fucking family. 

As I was thinking of a way to reject the engagement, my eyes drifted toward the dining table. 

Right. 

I had her.

The woman I rescued from the streets. 

Bella. That nightclub girl. 

Looking at her more closely, she wasn’t bad. 

The only problem was her personality, she was like a wild cat. Which was perfect. My mother and Lyorine wouldn’t be able to push her around. 

So I decided to bring Bella to my mansion. 

Then I’d take her with me to meet my mother at the party. 

Unfortunately, I’d forgotten that she was stubborn, outspoken, and nearly impossible to manage. 

Case in point, she had already started arguing with me, and we’d only just arrived at my private mansion. 

Fuck.  

This woman was nothing but a wild cat, claws out and ready to fight at every turn. How had I ever convinced myself that she could help me deal with my mother and keep Lyorine away?

***