CHAPTER 5: His Wife

Nora POV 

"I can't leave…" A muffled sound boomed in the quiet room.

I turned immediately at the sound of the voice, shock and excitement bursting within me. Never in a lifetime had I thought that I would hear my mother's voice clear and sharp again.

But all I saw was an old fragile and frail woman back in her confused, delusional state. I turned back bitter and dejected, the only string of hope I had was lost. How could I have imagined that my mother would be lucid again?

I was now at the mercy of a stranger. Who I believed had a hand in the underworld—I was a hundred percent sure. That did not amaze me, after all, I just discovered the hidden identity and operations of Darius, Landon's father.

Tyler's men dragged me out of the room, doing the same with my mother. "Please be careful with her. She is very weak." I pleaded as we walked out.

"And wear her coat." I screamed again.

Landon collapsed on the bed when it was just him. He was glad to have gotten rid of the pest in his life but a part of him felt bad.

The door opened and Josephine entered. She was out of her nurse wear and was now changed into a body hug gown that stopped right at her thigh.

She removed the large coat she wore on it and approached him. "Settled already?"

Landon nodded.

"Finally!" She jumped in excitement and rushed to give him a hug. "Thanks honey, for doing this for me."

Landon smiled stiffly. He hadn't done it for her but he was glad to know she was. He held her tightly in his arms, and she kissed him all over his face.

He chuckled, knowing what was next.

I left the hospital lost in thought, my emotions heavy as I sat in the car with Tyler. The driver ignited the car and it sped off from the hospital.

I took a glance at him, his sharp jawline in a rigid line and his lips pressed together.

I took one more look at him trying to decipher what he was thinking but his eyes were cold and unreadable as always.

I was indeed grateful to him, at least for saving us from the clutches of Landon and his dad but I couldn't control the fear and suspicion laced beneath the gratitude.

What was waiting for me where we were going? Or rather what were his plans? Should I just believe that an enemy closer to me was better than him?

I had no control over my fate, escaping one nightmare only to fall into another.

After much thought and covering some distance, I finally summoned the courage to ask, "Why did you help me? Why did you take my mother too?"

A dangerous silence evaporated the atmosphere.

Tyler's tone was slow, teasing when he replied. "Don't overthink it. I wasn't helping you. I just don't like my possessions thinking about someone else."

I frowned. "Possession?"

A look of surprise appeared on his face and he reached out to the compartment, bringing out an envelope.

He handed me the contract Landon signed.

My fingers trembled slightly as I took it, my vision still unreliable—sometimes clear and sometimes blurry. But I needed it to work at this critical point.

I tried to read out the outlines, glimpses of sharp edges, but the words on the contract remained a blur.

Tyler waited, amusement filling his eyes.

I squinted, willing my sight to focus. And then I saw it. Landon had signed away all my rights. The contract was filled with explicit terms, most of them degrading.

The one particular statement I could read vividly and which hurt me the most was Landon clearly stating that Tyler could do to me as he wished and addressed his control over me as his foster sister.

Did Tyler believe we were related?

As if on cue, Tyler turned to me, watching as I read the terms of the contract. Our previous scene flickered in his eyes and he raised my chin to look at him.

My eyes were beautiful but… he shook the thoughts away. I stiffened, at a loss of what to do. Wasn't our previous encounter just for a moment?

I had no time to think when his lips pressed on mine again but had warmth this time. Tyler started gently but kissed me deeper when I showed no response. His hands moved to the back of my head and he went for it, the kiss lasting for some minutes.

Tyler took a minute to look at me and stopped when he saw the lack of excitement in my eyes. Was it because of the blindness or was I not just interested in him?

He leaned back on the chair and focused his sight on the journey ahead. I sighed, doing the same.

Did he buy me to become his sex toy? My mind went back to my mum and I feared for her. The gratitude I felt earlier quickly disappeared, and anxiety filled me.

Could I have made the wrong call?

The journey seemed long to me and until a few hours later when I saw us drive into an estate, I was relieved.

We drove through a black gate and I was amazed at the sight that lay before me. Not just the mansion and its view but also the people I could see standing outside.

Tyler smirked. "You'll be meeting a few people soon. Just follow my lead."

We stepped out and met the gang elders waiting at the entrance. One of them frowned looking at me from head to toe. "Bringing home another stray?"

Tyler chuckled. "Not a stray—my wife."