Chapter 331

Chapter 327-2
If I hadn’t hidden the truth, I might never have secured my freedom, and more importantly, I might have lost any chance of keeping my child.
I place a hand on my still–flat belly, a silent conversation with the life growing inside me. “Baby, I whisper into the wind, “you won’t blame your mother, will you?”
All I have ever desired is to keep you safe, to keep you with me.
As the sky darkens to a deep indigo, I idly kick at the wet sand, my mind a thousand miles away. A sharp, piercing whistle shatters my solitude. I startle, turning to see two men approaching. Their clothes are disheveled, their beards unkempt, and their expressions are leering.
Lovely lady, are you alone?
One od them slurs. “A storm’s brewing; let us escort you home.”
When I don’t answer, the other one chimes in with a predatory smirk on his face. “Lady, are you unhappy? There’s a bar nearby. Let’s go over and have a drink?”
Every instinct screams at me to leave, to run. I turn to go, but a grimy hand lands on my shoulder, its touch making my skin crawl. “Don’t be in such a hurry…
Before I can even cry out, there’s a resounding thwack. I spin around to see Jace. He’s there, his face a mask of cold fry 15:35 as he delivers a single, brutal punch that sends the first man
< Chapter 327-2 sand. Lucky Draw The second one freezes, but Jace doesn’t. He frowns, his foot delivering sharp, precise kicks to the prone figures. Stop kicking! It hurts… they whimper, their bravado gone, replaced by pure terror. They never would have approached if I hadn’t been alone. Now, faced with Jace’s righteous anger, they are utterly broken. Get out of here now! Jace’s voice is a low growl, more terrifying than any shout. They don’t need to be told twice. They scramble and crawl, disappearing into the gloom like the cockroaches they are. I stare at Jace, my heart hammering against my ribs. “How did you…” I’m shocked. I had explicitly asked him to leave. At that moment, the first heavy drops of rain begin to fall, splattering on the sand around us. Jace, unruffled, retrieves a transparent umbrella from where it had fallen and holds it over my head. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks mingles with the patter of rain on nylon. I was afraid for your safety, he explains, his voice soft now, the anger gone. “So I shadowed you. Please, don’t be upset. Hold the umbrella; I can wait behind.” He makes to step out from its cover. I remain silent for a beat, watching the raindrops darken the shoulders of his jacket, bead in his hair. Then, I reach out and ake the umbrella handle, my fingers brushing his. I tim it so it 15:35 < Chapter 327-2 Lucky Draw Under his quiet, attentive care, the last of my anger and fear dissolves, replaced by a fragile bi renewed sense of peace. When we arrive at Urban Lane, the lights are on. Molly is there, happily devouring a box of spicy chicken wings, having let herself in after her classes. You’re back! she chirps, waving a glistening wing at us. “Care to join me for a bite? I’ve ordered plenty.” Sure! I respond. I take a seat and pick up a wing. When I was with Cassian, such greasy, indulgent food was frowned upon. Now, divorced and free, I relish the simple pleasure, biting into the spicy, crispy skin with gusto. After we’ve eaten our fill, Jace hands me a clean, soft towel. “Go shower,” he suggests gently. “You’ve been caught in the rain.” I nod, clapping my hands clean, and head toward the bathroom, the rhythm of the evening feeling strangely right. Later, as I’m towel–drying my hair, a tremendous clap of thunder shakes the windows, so violent it feels like a divine tribulation. Isn’t Zina coming here today? Molly asks, peering out the rain–lashed balcony door. The question reminds me. I retrieve my phone and dial Zina, curious about how her “talk” with Jeremy went. The line connects after a few rings. “Hello?” Zina answers, her 3640 voice sounding… strange. Muffled. 15:35 < Chapter 327-2 Zina, have you returned to your villa? I ask. Lucky Draw There’s a rustling sound, then her voice, strained and slightly breathless. “What?…Are you being annoying…” The line goes dead. I stare at my phone, a flicker of unease igniting in my gut. That sound… the tone of her voice… it was off. It reminds me of times back when she and Jeremy were still together, when calls would be abruptly ended for… specific reasons. At the thought, a shudder runs through me. Gemma, what did Zina say? Has she returned home? Molly and Jace are both looking at me, concerned as the storm rages outside. I force a calm I don’t feel. “Yes, she’s back. No need to worry,” I reply, turning away from their probing gazes. Inside, I’m grumbling. That woman. She’s with Jeremy again. And by the sound of it, their “talk” has taken a decidedly non–verbal turn. Some things, it seems, never change. B Write your comment 4/4 admin