CHAPTER 5

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

Nora turned immediately at the sound of the voice, shock, and excitement bursting within her. Never in a lifetime had she thought that she would hear her mother’s voice clear and sharp again.

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

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

Tyler’s men dragged her out of the room, doing the same with her mother. “Please be careful with her. She is very weak.” She pleaded as they walked out.

“And wear her coat.” She 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.

_

Nora left the hospital lost in thought, her emotions heavy as she sat in the car with Tyler. The driver ignited the car and it sped off the hospital.

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

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

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

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

She had no control over her fate, escaping one nightmare only to fall into another.

After much thought and coveting some distance, she 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."

She frowned. "Possession?"

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

He handed her the contract Landon signed.

Nora's fingers trembled slightly as she took them, her vision still unreliable- sometimes clear and sometimes blurry. But she needed it to work at this critical point.

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

Tyler waited, amusement filled his eyes.

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

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

‘Did Tyler believe they were related?’ 

As on cue, Tyler turned to her, watching as she read the terms of the contract. Their previous scene flickered in his eyes and he raised her chin to look at her.

Her eyes were beautiful but… he shook the thoughts away. Nora stiffened, at a loss of what to do. Wasn’t their previous encounter just for a moment?

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

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

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

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

Could she have made the wrong call?

_

The journey seemed long to her and until a few hours later when she saw them drive into an estate she was relieved.

They drove into his a black gate and she was amazed at the sight that lay before her. Not just the mansion and its view but also the people she could see standing outside.

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

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

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