AUTHOR'S POV

Hunter's mansion
04:02 pm

Zara helped Grace sit up. She put two soft pillows behind her back to make Grace rest her back comfortably.

" You scared us". Zara said covering Grace up with a duvet to her thighs and sitting across the bed in front of her whose eyes were fixed on her fingers.

" He was so worried. I saw him crying for the first time in the last 14 years of my working here. He was crying over you, holding you into his arms. He loves you so much". Zara said sitting beside her.

" I'm not loved, Zara. I'm just his desire. The desire he'll fulfill, no matter what it takes ". Grace said more like whispered.

Zara took Grace's palm in her hands and started caressing it softly. Grace's attention got pulled towards it. " So delicate, so beautiful like a fairytale just like your heart. I still remember you curling up in a corner when he first brought you here. I thought he'll treat you like he treated Violet but it was surprising to see a new side of him". Zara said looking down at Grace's palms. " The King everyone knows is just a little prince. He was just eight years old when he caught his father cheating on his mother. She died and a new woman entered his life as his mother. He tried but she never accepted him so he got distanced from everyone. He never blamed his father for cheating because what his father does is always right for King. He started to become like his father. New girl every night until he build this empire and brought you. He never got a chance to be soft. He wanted people to be afraid of hurting him but it turned out people were afraid of loving him. He had so much ego for having you, you are his religion. But you broke him. Years of waiting and it takes you a few months to forget everything". Zara explained.

" Having a cruel past doesn't make you right. I ran because it's suffocating to be around him. I thought life's giving me a chance but a little freedom gonna cost lives". Grace took Zara's hand in hers and rested her palm on her belly. " Many lives". She added in a broken voice.

" You love that boy?". Zara asked.

Grace shook her head. " I fell in love with his words, but unfortunately he was a good liar". A tear rolled down her cheek.

A knock on the door scared Grace. She tightened her gripped Zara's palm. " He'll kill my-".

Zara patted her hand and nodded assuring her she was with her." Come in ". Zara said loud enough for the person outside to hear.

A tire of the food trolley entered before the guy. Grace's lips parted as soon as she saw him.

" Scott, he's our new cook. You didn't eat breakfast. He cooks so well". Zara said standing up and exhaling loudly. " All the staff has changed but King said he didn't replace them". She mumbled giving someplace to let the waiter serve Grace while Grace's eyes were fixed on Scott's apron-wearing figure.

Zara went to grab Grace's medicine and Scott quickly handed Grace a piece of paper before leaving the room.

Grace opened the page to read. ' Island gonna burst. We don't have time. There are bombs planted by some of King's enemies. Come to the backyard. We'll be waiting there. Fast.

Meanwhile downstairs:

Draven got pushed inside the cell only to see a manly figure sitting in the corner of it. He walked toward the contour to see him burying his head between his knees.

" Caden?". Draven called as he half recognised him because of the darkness in the cell. Caden lifted his head to see but got back-to-back punches and slaps. " M*THERFUCKER. BASTERD. ASSHOLE. YOU SON OF A B*TCH. BLOODY RASCAL. LITTLE SHITTY D*CKHEAD".

" DRAVEN, HAVE YOU GONE MAD?". Caden pushed him away and wiped his bleeding lip using his thumb.

" NO, I'M INSANELY SANE". Draven snaps back. " I'm thirsty for your blood. If Kings won't kill you I'll gladly will. Do you have any idea how long I've been trapped here, what happened here- wait". Draven suddenly paused sitting in front of Caden. " Do you have any sister?".  He asked making Caden look up at him.

" Is she here? You met her?". Caden asked widening his eyes.

Draven immediately stood up and went towards the gate. " Violet? Hey Violet?". He called looking at the cell in front of him.

Vi was sleeping resting her head on the cell bars. Her hair was hiding her face. She stirred in her sleep hearing Draven's high pitches. She opened her eyes and gazed up to see Draven. " You are back? Are you alright?" She asked concern fully as she witnessed him getting taken outside a few hours ago.

Draven nodded simply and turned towards Caden who walked into the light.

Vi's eyebrows crashed at first then her lips parted. She stood up with the support of the cell bars. " C-Caden?". Her voice came out above a whisper. Her eyes filled with tears witnessing her brother. She didn't know how to react.

Caden stood there craving to give her a bone-crashing hug but there were rods between them. " I missed you. I MISSED YOU SO MUCH". She cried out loudly.

Caden couldn't help but bow his head. " I'm so sorry". He apologized. 

" Caden ". She sobbed. " Why are you here? They'll kill you." She asked.

" No one comes here by choice ". Draven said lowly.

" But I did ". Caden said puzzling Draven.

" What do you mean?" Draven asked.

" They think they brought me here. But it was me who made them take me with them. There was no way I could find this island if they wouldn't have taken me here by themselves". Caden moved his head up.

" Is there a way out?". Draven asked getting hope to meet his family.

" Here comes the way ". Caden said looking at the entrance of the cell. Elijah walked inside hurriedly wearing a security guard's uniform.

" That f*cker is up to something big. They have brought tonnes of dynamite". Elijah pulled out a bunch of keys and started searching for Caden's cell key from them. " Oh, hi doctor". He greeted Draven.

"HI?". Draven tried to choke Elijah.

Elijah was fast to move back but the right key left in the lock.

" What the f*ck. Are you a beast or something?". Elijah asked touching the fresh scratch mark on his neck given by Draven. " Caden tell this scaredy-cat not to-".

" Elijah?". Vi called slowly from behind.

Elijah's head snapped up. He stared at Caden with wide eyes. His heart started to thumb against his chest as Caden nodded with a small smile assuring him. He was not ready to face her. He'll never be.

" Elijah, I'm here". Vi said
clenching the cell bars.

Elijah somehow encouraged himself to turn. As soon as his gaze fell on Vi he went closer to her. He expanded his hand towards her and touched her tear-stained cheek. " Oh my lord. It's really you". He moved back not knowing what to do. He ran his palms on his face looking back at Caden again and again. " Caden, our Vi". He said smiling but his eyes cried. " Our Vi". He fell to his knees in front of her and fully bowed. His body shook and his sobs were heard all over the cells.

" Elijah?" Vi palmed her mouth looking down at him.

Draven was more than confused now. He expanded his hand and managed to unlock his cell. He walked outside and immediately opened Vi's cell.

She walked out and sat in front of Elijah who was still a crying mess. " Elijah?" Vi called him in a broken voice rubbing his back.

He moved his head up. His eyes were all red. He didn't fear showing his vulnerable side and pulled Vi into a tight hug. " I'm so sorry. I came too late". His words vibrated against her shoulder as he cried even harder holding her tightly.

" It's okay". She said rubbing his back her eyes were uncontrollably streaming tears. " Shish... I got you". She mumbled into his ears.

Soon his sobs died and he controlled himself. " Now move". Caden pushed Elijah away and helped Vi stand up. " You are the strongest girl I know ". Caden said kissing her head.

Draven unlocked all the cells and gathered all the prisoners together as per Caden's plan. " To backyard". Caden said showing them the way.

" Aren't you coming with us?" Vi asked.

" I've one last prisoner to free. I'll be there in a few minutes". He said and approach the exit but suddenly saw Scott entering removing his apron. " Ship number two". He said hurriedly.

" Where's Elly?". Caden asked.

" She-". Suddenly his watch beep. " Why the GPS I gave you showing sea's location- wait... Did you shit my $888 edible tracker on the way?". Scott looked like he lost both of his kidneys.

" I was bursting. I had to ". Caden replied frustratingly.

" Even if it'd the end of the world he'd probably be calculating his sh*t". Elijah showed up along with Vi.

Scott gawked. " Violet?". He asked with crashed eyebrows. She nodded her head not knowing who he is but Scott has been hearing about her since he met Caden and Elijah. " I knew we gonna meet in a situation like this". He muttered.

" Where's Elly I asked?" Caden asked again.

" She's -"

All of their heads snapped upside as they heard a loud blasting sound.

" Elly?" Caden was about to run upstairs but Scott stopped him.

" I'll come with you". Scott said but Caden shook his head.

" You are needed here. Don't worry about her I'll take her with me". Caden said looking at each of his loved ones before running upstairs.

• He's a murderer, no matter how beloved.

Chapter published on: 21 August 2022.