Chapter 16: Crazy Deal
2347words
"Where's my son?" he asked sternly to a large bodyguard standing beside the car.
The bodyguard didn't say anything, just nodded briefly before opening the car door respectfully. Ramona stepped closer, but her body instantly froze as her eyes caught the figure sitting in the car.
Ramona's gaze turned sharp, full of hatred and tension. She recognized the man—someone she had tried to avoid for years. His heart was beating fast, and various bitter memories came back to haunt his mind. However, without much thought, Ramona got into the car, closing the door hard behind her.
"Where's my son?" replied Ramona, this time directly staring intently at Hunter, the man who sat casually across from her.
Hunter, with a faint smile on his face, looked calm as if nothing was wrong. "Long time no see, Ramona," he said in a cold tone, ignoring Ramona's question for a moment. "You look fine."
Ramona clenched her fists, trying to contain the overflowing anger. He had no time for small talk or puns. All he wanted was one: to get his son back.
"There is no need to make small talk. Hurry up and give it to my son before I call the police," Ramona threatened in a stern voice, her eyes staring directly at Hunter.
Hunter only smiled sideways, a smile full of mockery and made the atmosphere even more tense. Without warning, he reached out and gripped Ramona's jaw firmly, shocking the woman.
"Never threaten me," Hunter whispered in a cold and stressful tone. His eyes stared intently, full of warning that penetrated to the core of Ramona's heart. "Me and you are different. Your threats mean nothing to me. So, if you want your son to be safe, obey me. Follow my words, and that's the best path for you."
After saying that, Hunter released his grip violently, making Ramona's head stagger back slightly.
Ramona held her jaw, trying to control the breath that was now hunting. However, despite feeling insulted and angry, her mind remained focused on one thing: her son's safety. He knows he has to suppress his ego for the sake of his child.
"Where's my son?" asked Ramona again, this time her voice lower, full of pleading. "He has nothing to do with us. Let him go, I will obey and follow all your words."
Her sincere tone and pleading eyes showed how much a mother loves her child. Ramona is willing to do anything to ensure her son returns to his arms safely.
"Wait until the DNA results come out. Then, I'll decide what you're going to do," Hunter said in a cold and authoritative tone.
Ramona, who heard the words, immediately looked shocked. "What? DNA results? You did a DNA test on my son?" he snapped in a tone full of anger and surprise.
Hunter immediately stared intently at Ramona, a gaze that was enough to make anyone feel intimidated. "Turn your voice down before I make you speechless forever," Hunter pressed in a dangerous tone.
The words made Ramona speechless, her body began to tremble. Fear began to envelop her. If Hunter really knew the truth about Esther—that Esther was her son—what would he do? What if Hunter decides to harm his son later?
Without thinking much more, Ramona immediately fell on Hunter's feet. Tears began to pool in her eyes, showing her deep fear. "Please... let go of my son," he said in a voice full of pleading. "I will do all your orders. Whatever you ask for."
Hunter looked at Ramona sharply, a gaze full of hatred mixed with curiosity. He brought himself closer to Ramona, their faces only a few inches apart.
"I ask this question for the first and last time," he said in a low but stressed voice. "Whose son is that?"
Ramona swallowed her saliva, trying to put the words into words. "After leaving Malta... I slept with a lot of guys," she said, trying to sound convincing. "Believe me, he's not your son. I can prove it."
Hunter looked at Ramona in silence, trying to digest the answer, while his mind was busy weighing the truth. However, before he could say anything, his phone rang. The sound broke the tension between them, but only added mystery to what would happen next.
Ramona sat tensely, anxiety shaking her entire body. His gaze could not be separated from Hunter, who was now receiving a call. Hunter picked up his phone, and his voice sounded cold as he asked, "How?"
Liam's voice was clearly heard on the other end of the phone. "The result is positive, sir. He's your son."
Hunter froze for a moment, then turned his gaze towards Ramona. A sharp gaze full of anger instantly fell on him, making Ramona's body tremble in fear.
Seeing that gaze, Ramona instantly crawled over, holding Hunter's leg pleadingly. "Please... Don't hurt him. Please," he said in a hoarse voice full of tears. "Don't hurt my son. I will do all your commands. Whatever you ask for."
Hunter, without taking his eyes off, turned off the phone with a quick gesture. He grabbed Ramona's neck with one hand, gripping her tightly. His gaze was getting redder, showing overflowing anger.
"Didn't I ask you to kill him?" asked Hunter in a voice full of pressure, his tone almost whispering but containing a piercing threat. "Why did you raise that child? You want to destroy me?"
Ramona shook her head quickly, her tears flowing endlessly. "No... I don't want to do anything to you," he stammered, his voice filled with fear. "I will raise the child myself. I'll live far away from you. The two of us will never see you again."
Ramona pleaded earnestly, looking at Hunter with tears in her eyes. "Please... let go of my son. He has no relationship whatsoever with us. Please, don't hurt him," he said in a hopeful tone, hoping for a speck of mercy from the man in front of him.
However, Hunter just looked at him in silence, gripping his neck even harder as if trying to judge how much honesty was in Ramona's words. The air in the car room felt even more tense, as if Hunter's decision would change everything in an instant.
Hunter stared intently at Ramona who was sitting beside him with tears continuing to flow. "After your lies in the past, I will not repeat my stupidity again," Hunter said coldly, his voice full of firmness and deep hatred. "This time, I won't believe anything that comes out of your mouth."
Hunter slammed Ramona's face violently, leaving her silent for a moment. He then gave a brief order to his bodyguard, "We are back in Malta."
Hearing that, Ramona immediately panicked. She sat closer, trying hard to find a way to protect her son. "Please... Take me down. I want to pick up my son," he said in a pleading voice, tears flowing more and more.
Hunter turned his head slowly, his eyes narrowing sharply as if piercing Ramona's soul. "Shut up," he threatened coldly, "while I haven't beheaded your son."
The threat made Ramona's body tremble violently. He immediately covered his mouth with his hand, holding back the sobs that were getting harder and harder to contain. Her tears broke out, but she didn't dare to say anything anymore. In her heart, Ramona prays that her son will survive even though she doesn't know what to do now.
Ramona began to panic when she realized that the car she was riding in was not heading to the hospital, but was turning towards the airport. With a hunting breath, he asked, "Wait, why are we going to the airport? Then where is my son?" His tone was full of anxiety, but Hunter was just speechless, his face remaining expressionless.
Hunter put his hand in his suit pocket calmly, then pulled out a small syringe. He flicked the needle to make sure the liquid was ready, then without warning, injected the contents into Ramona's neck. "What are you injecting into my body?!" Ramona asked with a trembling voice, the pain from the injection began to spread throughout her body.
Hunter still didn't answer. In a matter of seconds, Ramona felt her body weaken. His vision began to blur, and his head felt heavy. Before he could say more, he lost consciousness, his body drooped limply in the chair.
Hunter got out of the car, then easily lifted Ramona's unconscious body. With a confident step, he took her to her private jet that was already waiting. Without hesitation, Hunter left Los Angeles, taking Ramona back to Malta, to the place where all their troubles began.
Ramona blinked her eyes, trying to adjust her gaze to the light in the room. The unfamiliar ceiling of the room made his heart pound. Immediately, he got out of bed and found Hunter sitting on the sofa by the window, casually smoking his cigarette.
Without thinking, Ramona got off the bed and rested at Hunter's feet. "Hunter, please return my son. I will obey all your words, please," he said in a trembling voice, his eyes full of tears.
Hunter turned off his cigarette butt in the ashtray in a slow motion, then took a stack of paper and a ballpoint pen from the table next to him. He threw the two in front of Ramona without a word.
Ramona took the paper with trembling hands. Reading the contents of the file, his breath stopped. "This... a deal?" he whispered, his eyes following every line. The deal explains that he must work for Hunter at Bianchi's company as a spy, digging up information for Hunter's revenge mission. In return, Hunter promised not to touch his son.
With his hands trembling, Ramona looked at Hunter who was now squinting sharply. "What is the meaning of this deal?" asked Ramona in a trembling voice, trying to understand the plan behind those cold words.
Hunter leaned forward slightly, his voice low but full of pressure. "It means you work for me, Ramona. I don't care how you do it. I want the information I need, and you have no choice. This is the only way to keep your child safe. The choice is simple: sign it or lose him forever."
Ramona was silent, her heart was like being sliced. However, for the sake of her son, she knew she had no other choice.
Ramona rose from before Hunter, her eyes full of anger and despair. "Why are you doing all this? What do you really want?" he shouted, his anger peaking.
Hunter slowly stood up, his gaze cold and sharp. In an instant, he grabbed Ramona's neck, making the woman gasp. "Who asked you to yell at me? You can only obey my words. There is no rejection of any of my orders," Hunter pressed in a cold and authoritative voice.
Ramona tried hard to let go of Hunter's grip, her eyes radiating a different determination. She was tired of pleading and humbling herself before the man. In a hoarse voice, he said, "I don't want to. I am not willing to bow at your feet. I will save my son in my own way."
Hunter smiled broadly, then threw Ramona's body until she fell to the floor. "Why is it so hard to talk to a stupid woman like you," he said mockingly as he walked to the window, pulling the curtains until the sunlight entered the room. He stared out casually, then turned back to Ramona with a sneering smile.
"Wake up, Ramona. You're not in Los Angeles," Hunter said coldly. "Your son is in my hands. You have no other choice but to follow the rules I set."
Ramona clenched her fists tightly, trying to contain her emotional outbursts. His heart was raging, full of pain and anger. He knew Hunter had taken him back to Malta, away from the environment he was familiar with, and in full control of his son. Hunter stood before him, triumphant, while Ramona vowed in her heart to find a way for her and her son to be free from the man's clutches.
Ramona looked at Hunter again with an emotional look. "What do you actually want?" he asked again, his tone sounding firm even though his heart was beat hard.
Hunter just smiled coldly and slowly sat back on the sofa, staring at him calmly. "Sign the file and start working tomorrow," he said, his voice sounding relaxed but full of pressure.
Ramona narrowed her eyes sharply, not believing the request. "Give me a guarantee or proof if you won't touch my son," he said demandingly, trying to find loopholes to ensure his son's safety.
Hunter smiled faintly again, then leaned back on the sofa. "You can still see him every time you complete a mission that I have missed," he replied, his gaze piercing. "He was in my place. I won't do anything to her as long as you are obedient."
Hunter's words made Ramona feel trapped in the man's game. He clasped his hand tightly, holding back the frustration that burned in his chest. However, for the sake of her son's safety, she had no other choice. With heavy feelings, Ramona took the file and signed it. The black ink on the paper felt like a sign of surrender to fate.
Hunter smiled triumphantly, clearly satisfied with Ramona's decision. He stood up and walked closer to the door of the room. "Get ready," he said in a low but intimidating tone. "Tomorrow you'll be a spy in the lion's enclosure."
After saying that, Hunter left the room, leaving Ramona alone with the paper that now tied her life. Ramona clenched her fists hard, realizing that her struggle had just begun.
