CHAPTER 2

MYSTERIOUS MAN

Mila’s POV

I turned my head to the side, as I wondered whose voice sounded so assuring, just like the sweet sound of a mother's lullaby. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him. That man looked so familiar like I had seen him before. His raven black hair was slightly disheveled, giving him a unique look, maybe an angel sent from heaven; but he looked like a demon instead.

One sent from hell to steal my heart away. Merely by looking into his eyes, I was trapped. I couldn't stop staring, and I didn't know why. Angered by my emotions, I closed my eyes and pushed the bald man away immediately I noticed that he got distracted.

He fell to the ground and groaned, “You little bitch! Come back here.” he snapped as he got up to move closer, but the mysterious man's voice made him halt. “What do you think you're doing?” he asked, tilting his head as his lips stretched into a wide grin. I could sense the deadly aura around him, and deep down I felt like running away to hide. By his presence alone I was frightened.

What does he want and why was he coming to my rescue?

With my clothes slightly torn, I covered up my exposed skin and moved to the back, my cheeks stinging with pain. The bald man smirked, “Do you think you're in the position to bail thieves? Do you want to act like their knight in shining armor?” he asked, his voice dripping with disdain.

The mysterious man walked closer, his striking features becoming more evident, “But do you think you have the right to talk to me that way?” he asked with a smile, making the bald man raise his head to stare at him, "Look, these people here are thieves, and I'm only giving them what they truly deserve." Baldy continued, making me roll my eyes in anger.

Ever so slowly I approached Jett and wrapped my arms around him, controlling the urge not to cry. A few minutes earlier, he almost lost his life in the hands of that bastard. Seeing him in one piece filled my heart with so much joy, but as I hugged him, he winced in pain. “Mila, I'm hurt. Please, don't hug me like that.” he groaned, closing his eyes in pain.

Frightened, I moved to the back, giving him an apologetic smile, “I'm sorry.”

The mysterious man turned to look at me, a smug look on his face, “He called you and your lover thieves. Did you steal from him?” he asked, his voice laced with impatience. Frightened by his Intense gaze, I shook my head and said, “I..we didn't steal from him.”

The bad man chuckled, “You bastard! Now you want to lie? Won't you tell him how you pleaded with me to give you some food earlier? You wretched loser. You and your lover joined hands together to rob me! And now you're trying to act innocent?” he spat, his eyes blazing with fury.

Each of his words stabbed my heart a million times, making it hard to breathe. He had called me a wretched loser just because I came to him for food. Never in my life had I felt so embarrassed, and for once, I was at a loss. Yes, I was that poor. Going from shop to shop to beg for some food. Not because of me, but because of my siblings. Going without food for a few days wouldn't harm me, but my little sister and brother need to eat.

The mysterious man stared at me, his brows raised in question. Sensing his gaze, I didn't bother to raise my head. I was embarrassed. Too embarrassed to face him. Even though we only met once at the deserted cemetery, I ignored him completely. That day my mind was filled with grief. I noticed he tried to approach me but I didn't bother to spare him a glance. Drenched in the rain, I picked up my black umbrella and walked away.

Who would have thought we would cross paths again?

“That's okay.” I heard him say after a while, giving the bald man a look of warning. There seemed to be a threat in his words, like if he didn't stop, he was going to do something he would regret. The bald man chuckled darkly, “Pretty boy, this isn't your place. Leave before you get hurt.” he said coldly, perhaps warming up before a fight.

"Did you just call me a pretty boy?" he laughed out loud, the melodious sound like music to my ears. "I agree that my face isn't the kind you see every day, but being threatened by a weak man like you is a stain on my reputation.”

“What a narcissist,” I muttered under my breath, surprised one could be so full of himself. He seemed confident he would defeat the man no matter what, and indirectly he was praising his good looks. I rolled my eyes and turned to Jett who stiffled out a laugh. I glared at him, only for him to feign a frown, “What? He's funny.”

"You're calling me weak?" The bald man asked, his voice laced with anger. "Yes. Can I not?" the mysterious man smirked as he took a few steps closer while the bald man moved backward. The bald man seemed scared, but he was still trying to hold his ground. "Y..you can't! I'll beat you to a pulp if you don't leave this instant." he hardened his voice as he stared at the stranger.

"But you're the one who needs to leave because you have no right to threaten me." The stranger replied confidently, "I wonder if this is how you go around harassing women, but isn't that true? I mean, you just showed your animalistic behavior."

Hearing his words, I controlled the urge not to laugh. The stranger sure had a sharp mouth. Poking baldy in the right places.

"You bastard!" The bald man seethed as he raised his fist to punch the stranger, but before he could strike, the stranger twisted his arms backward.

The bald man groaned in pain as he tried to break loose, but the stranger was way too strong. If one should look at it from the body perspective, the bald man was supposed to beat him up.

He had a huge build, and the stranger looked slender with his muscles In the right places. "Too weak." I heard him say as he flung the bald man to the side like a ragged doll. Seeing him get a dose of his own medicine brought a smile to my face.

The bald man tried to stand, but he fell to his feet after every trial. His forehead had blood oozing out from it, and I wondered if he was too weak to fight back.

The stranger approached him again, but instead of him to fight back, he ran off without looking back. The mysterious stranger laughed out loud when he saw him run.

He approached Jett and me, giving us a forced smile, "Need some help?" he asked as he stretched his hands forward. I stared at his hand, wondering if I should hold onto him or not.

Men were bitches. Just because they help you once, they would want something huge In return. I raised my head to look at him directly In the eye, "We're fine, thank you for your help." I said coldly as I got up to help Jett.

"Do you.."

"I remember. The creepy guy at the cemetery. Thanks for your help, but I'll take it up from here." I said coldly, cutting him off. I wasn't ready to be indebted to a man, or rather because I wasn't ready to get stabbed again.