Chapter 15: Shocking Phone
2459words
With quick movements and full of rage, Hunter picked up the alcohol-filled crystal glass that was on the table and threw it against the wall. The glass shattered into pieces, scattering glass shards throughout the room. The sound of the fragments sounded loud, shaking the already tense atmosphere.
"Damn it!" shouted Hunter with burning rage, his voice filled with hatred. "Jeseline is really unreliable!" she added angrily. Without any regrets, Hunter began to throw away all the items that were on the table, ruffling his room in an outpouring of uncontrollable anger.
Liam who was nearby was just silent, his eyes focused on Hunter. He was used to Hunter's outbursts of emotion, and this time he chose not to intervene, allowing Hunter to vent his long-standing anger. No one could soothe his anger, even Liam knew that this was the moment where Hunter felt completely cornered, and the only way for the man to feel relieved was to let go of his emotions in a destructive way.
After a few minutes, the atmosphere in the room began to subside. Hunter finally sat down in his chair, his hard, angry face slowly starting to soften. His head lifted slightly, his sharp eyes began to focus again. With a slightly trembling hand, he grabbed a cigarette and lit it. The cigarette smoke billowed slowly, giving Hunter room to calm down.
Liam, who had been silent since earlier, observing Hunter from a distance, finally decided to approach. He took out a cigarette lighter and deftly lit his own cigarette. After a few seconds, Liam opened the conversation, his voice calm but sharp, trying to assess the situation.
"So, what's the next plan?" he asked, his tone full of understanding, but there was a hint of tension that could not be concealed. "Maybe I can do it. If you want, of course," Liam added in a tone of unforced offer, as if offering Hunter assistance in this tense situation.
Hunter remained silent, his eyes closed for a moment, smoking deeply in his cigarette. The smoke came out of his mouth slowly, as if trying to expel all the anger and complexity of his mind. At that time, he was not ready to answer, immersed in his own dark mind.
However, in the silence of the room, it could be seen that Hunter began to think more calmly. Everything that happened in the last few minutes only made him more confident in his next move, although he had not yet decided how exactly to move.
Hunter smoked his cigarette in a hurry, as if trying to suppress the anger that overflowed in his chest. After a few seconds, he let out that smoke violently, his dark and hateful eyes staring blankly ahead. In a heavy and stressful voice, he said, "I don't want anything, I just want the child to die, no matter what." His words were so firm, making the atmosphere in the room feel even more tense.
Liam, who had been silent all this time, just sighed heavily. He could feel the tension in the air and couldn't help himself anymore to sit on the sofa lazily. Once again, he lit his cigarette, staring at Hunter with a look full of confusion but also understanding. "What makes you hate it so much?" he asked in a heavier sound. "He's your flesh and blood, he's your son," Liam added, trying to explain, though he knew that Hunter might have been trapped in hatred that no one could digest.
Hunter instantly stared intently at Liam, his gaze full of burning anger. "I am not willing to have flesh and blood from the womb of a lowly woman like her," Hunter replied in a cold, hateful voice. Every word that came out of his mouth sounded like a sharp weapon that wanted to destroy everything. "And everyone in the world should not know that he is my son," he reaffirmed, reinforcing his hatred for the child who should be part of him.
Liam looked at Hunter with mixed feelings, there was a moment of silence before he took a deep puff of his cigarette. There was a lot he wanted to say, but he knew that Hunter was already trapped in an inexplicable feeling, and anything he said now seemed to be in vain.
Liam looked at Hunter curiously, though he knew the answer he would get would not be easy or pleasant. In a lower voice, he asked, "Now I ask, after you manage to kill your son, what will you do?"
Hunter stared intently at Liam, his red and angry eyes burning every inch of the space around him. In his silence, there was an emptiness that could only be explained by deep hatred. "Only then can I feel free and alive," Hunter replied in a heavy voice, as if every word that came out of his mouth was filled with anger that had been pent-up for too long. "For these five years, I've been almost madly searching for the whereabouts of that, and I was finally able to find her according to my expectations," she continued, her lips trembling slightly, holding back such a deep anger. "She gave birth to the fetus, she had lied to me by pretending to have a miscarriage at that time," she said, her face getting even harder, as if her remaining patience was running out. "There's a lot he has to pay," Hunter stressed, as if wanting the revenge that Ramona and the child he now saw as a symbol of lies and betrayal.
Liam was speechless, not knowing what to say. There was a lot of anger and hatred hidden in Hunter's words, and he knew that Hunter was not only talking about the child, but also about a past full of deep wounds and disappointments.
Hunter violently turned off the butt of his cigarette, pressing the end of the cigarette against the ashtray until the smoke billowed and left a pungent smell. With a stern and determined gaze, he stood up quickly. "Now let me do it myself," he said in a firm voice, full of hatred. Those words sounded like the final decision he had made without hesitation, as if nothing could stop his intentions.
Hunter immediately left, his steps fast and purposeful, heading for the exit of the room without looking back. His decision was unanimous—he didn't care about the consequences or anyone trying to stop him.
Liam could only look at him, his eyes full of worry and his confusion deepened. He took a deep breath, annoyed by what he had just heard. Bad feelings begin to envelop him, realizing that Hunter is completely obsessed with finding Ramona and destroying everything, even if it means sacrificing his own flesh-and-blood child.
Without thinking, Liam rushed to his feet, his pace quickly following Hunter, though he knew that protecting Ramona from a man as hard as Hunter was not an easy task. However, he could not stay silent. If Hunter went ahead with his plan, Ramona would be in immense danger, and Liam wouldn't let that happen.
Ramona sat pensively in her neat study. The pencil he was holding seemed to fall on the blank paper in front of him, as if it was a silent witness to his restless mind. Occasionally, his fingers moved restlessly, scratching the surface of the table or touching small objects around him, yet his mind was far from what was in front of him. Many things were spinning in his head with unfinished plans, decisions to be made, and tensions piling up.
Suddenly, a gentle pat on his shoulder startled him. Ramona was stunned, her body reflexively twisted slightly, her originally blank face now turned into a surprised expression. "Rafle, when are you coming?" he asked, a slight agitation, a voice that sounded drier than usual.
Rafle smiled warmly, responding in a calm and patient manner, "Just now," he replied, holding out Ramona's cup of coffee and toast. "I know you definitely need this," she added, feeling the tension that still enveloped Ramona.
Ramona took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "I'm sorry, I'm a little unwell," he lied, though he knew Rafle could definitely sense that something was wrong. But he immediately grabbed the coffee cup, hoping that the fragrant aroma of coffee could slightly refresh the mind that was swirling in his head. Quickly, he took a sip, hoping to calm down.
Meanwhile, Rafle looked at Ramona with a sharp, but attentive gaze. He didn't say anything, but he could feel that something was bothering Ramona's mind. The momentary silence between them seemed to make room for Rafle to understand the situation.
"What's bothering you?" asked Rafle, her tone soft, attentive, as if to make room for Ramona to open up. Ramona, who had previously held a coffee cup in her hand, now placed it slowly on the table. The slightly trembling hand was tucked in front of his chest, and he let out a deep sigh, trying to calm himself down before speaking.
Ramona stared straight ahead, her eyes focused on something unseen, like recalling the moment that made her down. "The biggest fear of my life finally happened yesterday," he said, his voice hoarse and heavy, as if carrying a very heavy burden.
Rafle immediately watched Ramona's face carefully, trying to understand what she was feeling. There was a silence for a few seconds, before Rafle asked again, "The appearance of that obscure woman?"
Ramona just shook her head, as if she was unable or unwilling to explain further about the woman's figure. His face looked tired, depressed by the thoughts that continued to haunt him. The fear was still clearly drawn in his eyes, and Rafle could feel how deep the anxiety he was feeling. However, he knows that Ramona needs time to fully open up, and he chooses to remain silent, giving Ramona a chance to continue her story if she is ready.
Ramona took a deep breath, her gaze blank and distant, as if trying to drive away the fear that crept inside her. Suddenly, with a slightly trembling but firm voice, he said, "It looks like I have to get out of here, Raf. Los Angeles is not a safe place for my son."
Rafle who was sitting beside him, heard it seriously, but his expression turned confused. His eyebrows were raised, and his forehead was furrowed. "Where are you going?" he asked, his voice a little annoyed, but also full of curiosity. Rafle tried to understand, but at the same time he felt that something was wrong.
Ramona was silent for a moment, her eyes dreaming as if looking for a place that could provide protection for herself and her child. He knew that Los Angeles was no longer a safe place for him, especially after events that increasingly threatened his life. However, he didn't know where to go, which place could give him peace and protection that was completely safe.
Silence for a moment. Rafle waited, patiently but with an expression that showed concern. Ramona opened her mouth, but the words seemed to be stuck in her throat. His face looked full of weight, and his body was a little stiff, as if he was afraid that if he said more, everything would get worse.
Ramona looked at Rafle with a determined look and a hint of sadness. After a few seconds, he finally replied in a stern voice, although he seemed a little hesitant, "Maybe I'll go to Belgium. I'm going to start a new life there, away from someone who won't be able to find the existence of the two of us."
Rafle was shocked to hear the decision, and instantly his expression turned confused and slightly angry. He directly asked in an angry tone, "Who exactly is that person? Why isn't Los Angeles safe for Esther?"
Ramona looked at him deeply, her eyes trying to contain the feeling that weighed down her. He let out a deep sigh before replying in a quieter voice, "Sorry, Raf. There are many secrets that I can't tell you."
Hearing that, Rafle felt as if there was an invisible wall between them. His face showed disappointment, but he didn't reprimand any further. He stood up and seriously, spoke determinedly, "I'm ready to guard you guys from anyone. I will give you protection, I will guarantee your safety and I will make sure no one will be able to touch you."
Ramona looked at him for a moment, then smiled faintly, although the smile was full of mixed gratitude. "Thank you for your good intentions," he said in a soft voice, "But this guy... not human. He is a demon."
The statement made Rafle speechless. For a moment, the atmosphere became silent. However, shortly after, Ramona's phone rang, breaking the silence. Ramona's eyes instantly went to her phone screen, while Rafle looked at her with an anxious expression.
The number is unknown without a name. Who is he?
Ramona lifted him up with a little hesitation and greeted him, "Hello."
For a long time someone on the other side was silent until a voice was heard, "You recognize me?" Ramona's eyes widened so wide when she knew the hoarse heavy voice.
Ramona spontaneously stood up from her chair and made Rafle follow her with an anxious look on her face, "What's wrong?" asked Rafle confused.
"Hey boy, let's say hello to your mom," Ramona said angrily because she heard the instructions of the man on the other side to someone.
"Mom, is he your best friend? Why have I never seen her?" was Esther's voice that made Ramona's heart suddenly beat so fast.
Ramona pulled her hair back, biting her lower lip anxiously.
"Don't touch my son! Or I'll finish you off," Ramona threatened, making the man on the other side just silent.
"Come and see me myself!" the man ordered before turning off his phone.
Ramona immediately rushed to grab her car keys and ran away to meet her son.
