登入After walking for some time, I found a small outdoor café just down the street and collapsed into a wrought-iron chair. The rich aroma of fresh coffee and warm pastries did nothing to calm the storm raging inside me. If I didn’t find somewhere safe to live soon, men like him would keep circling me like prey. How was I supposed to secure an apartment when he had already declared the entire city his territory? I wanted to believe he was bluffing, but I’d rather be too careful than live to regret it. There was only one place I could think of. Mitch. I wasn’t sure I could ever feel comfortable with him again after everything that had happened—or if he would even take me back. But right now, I had no choice but to try until I found something else. Going back to Julia’s place wasn’t an option. Not after what happened last night. Even if I had to return there tonight, I was determined not to spend another night under that roof. My phone suddenly rang. I pulled it from my purse, alr
My eyes widened the instant I heard his voice.*How is this even possible?*Andres...“Lena… I’ve been expecting your call.”His words slithered through the phone like smoke. My hands tightened around the device until my knuckles turned white.A cold wave of fear and disbelief crashed over me.“Lena?” He chuckled softly, the smile audible in his voice. “Why have you suddenly gone mute? I’ve been hoping you’d reach out. Nice place, isn’t it? You can have it for free. Stay as long as you want. You don’t have to worry about rent.” His tone darkened with possessive pride. “This city is mine, Lena. Any apartment you find… I’ll make sure it’s yours. No charge.”My stomach twisted violently.I hung up without a word.My heart slammed against my ribs, each brutal beat echoing in my ears like a war drum. *What the hell was that? Has he been stalking me?* That was the only explanation.The walls of the apartment suddenly felt like they were closing in, ready to trap me inside. *Why can’t I
LENA'S POV The next day, I got myself a new phone and SIM card. Julia had advised me to choose one from her neighborhood, but I didn't want to be anywhere near her home after her husband's weird move last night. By late afternoon, I was exhausted, but I finally connected with Mr. Hargrove. He sounded confident on the phone, promising something that might actually work for me. It was almost evening when we pulled up at the place. The house in front of me was nothing my budget could afford. However, I followed him in. We got into the elevator and stopped at the 7th floor. The moment Mr. Hargrove unlocked the door to Unit 812 and swung it open, I froze right there in the entryway. My breath caught in my throat. Floor-to-ceiling windows flooded the open-concept living space with soft evening light, making everything glow. The wide-plank luxury vinyl floors gleamed under recessed smart lighting that seemed to adjust itself as we moved. Quartz countertops, matte cabinets, brushed
TARZAN’S POVA sharp knock cut through the silence of the suite.I was slumped on the floor, wrecked. I hadn’t slept at all. The pain I’d felt the night before had been so vicious I’d genuinely believed it would kill me.“Come in,” I rasped.The door opened cautiously.Diana entered first, followed by the hotel manager, the director of operations, head of security and finance director.The moment they stepped inside, they froze.The suite was in ruins. Empty bottles littered the floor and a heap of burnt cigars beside me. The curtains were half-drawn, trapping the room in a gloomy half-light even though the afternoon sun blazed outside.Diana rushed forward and dropped to her knees beside me.“Boss, are you okay? Should I call the doctor?”I must've looked sick from all the crying I did last night.I lifted my eyes slowly.“It’s not your job to worry about my well-being,” I said quietly. “I called you here for something more important.”She stood and stepped back, her face tight with
“Julia has always been skinny.” He chuckled lightly. “I wish she’d add some flesh. Men like women with a little meat on their bones, you know.”Heat crawled up my neck.“As an African man,” he added casually, “I’ve always appreciated chubby women. They’re the best.” He paused, his gaze drifting over me. “Can you encourage her to put on some weight? Hitting bones can be very off-putting. Especially the sagging skin… Your skin are tight and plump. Your tanned skin is nice too. Are you by any chance mixed?”“I… I don’t know.”I wrapped my arms tighter around myself, as if I could shield my body from his stare.*Is he drunk?*How could he speak like this to a stranger? Insulting his own wife’s body while she slept upstairs?Before he could say anything else, I cut in. “I… I really need to use the bathroom, do you mind giving me some privacy?” I mumbled.He seemed to notice my discomfort at last and gave a small nod. “That’s all right. I’ll leave.”"Thank you".He headed for the door, the
I wished I hadn’t left the phone he’d bought me back at the suite. If I still had it, I would have called him right now and unleashed every curse I could think of. I hadn’t lashed out earlier—I’d been too shocked, too numb. Instead, I had pretended I didn’t care.But now the anger boiled over.I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to hit him. I wanted him to feel even a fraction of this agony.I shot to my feet, grabbed the pillow, and slammed it against the edge of the bed again and again. I punched and beat it with every ounce of fury I possessed, my breaths tearing out in ragged gasps.When I finally stopped, my chest was heaving, my face wet with tears, strands of hair clinging to my damp skin. A loud, broken sob tore from my throat.“Why, Tarzan?” I whispered hoarsely to the empty room. “Why did you try so hard to win a ‘yes’ from me, only to do this? Was it really just the chase? Maybe I’m too old for these games.” My voice cracked. “I hate you… I fucking hate you.”I collapsed on
Tarzan's entire face lit up with excitement when I suggested that. "Couple pictures?" he repeated with a teasing grin. "Yes, yes. Don't make it weird." He laughed and took my hand gently. We started walking toward the photo booth section near the edge of the amusement park, decorated with fa
LENA'S POV I stood exactly where Tarzan had left me, patiently waiting for him to return. Fifteen minutes had passed. Maybe that didn't sound like a long time, but in a crowded place where people constantly moved in every direction, it felt much longer. A knot of unease slowly tightened in my
“And that’s the final one,” Tarzan announced, handing the last stuffed animal—a soft white bunny with floppy ears to a beaming little girl with curly hair. "Muchas Gracias". She said and planted a quick peck on his masked cheek, standing on her tiptoes , before giggling and dashing off to her
After we are done with our popsicles, I took Tarzan into the arcade section. My eyes were instantly drawn to a massive stuffed bear hanging high above a shooting booth. It was enormous—nearly my full height—with glossy chocolate-brown fur, a wide stitched smile, and paws so big they could swall







