School activities resumed, and Boma's heart raced with anticipation as she awaited the results of her first test. Early in the morning at 7:00 am on the dot, she was already in the campus to check the result. Lacking confidence in her performance, she wanted to do it when few or no one was there. She got there and was in luck. She was alone at the large notice board. The tension in the air was strong as she scanned the list of grades posted on the notice board. This was for one of her hardest courses and she had barely prepared due to clashes with her job and skipping classes with Teni. Her face paled as she spotted her name among the low scorers. She got an E. Taking a pen, she quickly blotted the grade and her name. She figured she would make it up during the exam. Queen, Bella and Tracy arrived to check on theirs. Even they were on average. Queen got a B grade, Bella and Tracy both got Cs. They were happy, hugging each other. Boma was envious and managed to congratulate them.

The restaurant's atmosphere shifted as the heavy oak door swung open, revealing Donovan and his right-hand men. His presence alone commanded attention, sending a ripple of hushed whispers through the room. Donovan strode in with the confidence of a king, his men flanking him like loyal sentinels. Patrons paused mid-bite, their conversations fading into murmurs as they took in the sight of Donovan's imposing figure. Some cast furtive glances, while others averted their eyes, instinctively recognizing the authority emanating from him. Outside, Donovan's men lingered, their presence a silent warning to any who dared to challenge their leader. Inside, Donovan approached the counter, his men trailing behind him like shadows. The serving staff, a mix of males and females, exchanged nervous glances as they caught sight of Donovan's approach. A young waiter, his hands trembling slightly, stepped forward to greet Donovan, his voice shaky with apprehension. On a normal day, they all walked

Boma stood before Donovan, her trembling form a stark reminder of the fear he easily instilled in her.As Donovan took her hand, she flinched, expecting pain. Instead, he led her towards the house, his long strides forcing her to keep up, almost dragging her along."D..." Her protest faltered weakly as she reluctantly followed.He paused. Then impatience drove him to hoist her onto one shoulder.She balled her hands into fists, ready to pummel him in protest like she used to do in the past. But fear and feeling like this time, the situation was different, prevented her. Alone in his bedroom, Donovan's anger simmered as he gently placed her on the floor, his eyes blazing with fury.He regained possession of her hand, keeping her facing him while the fire of anger blazed in his aquamarine eyes.Her chest heaved with the simmering tension as his free hand cupped the back of her neatly braided hair, keeping her attention on him."I swore to myself never to make you cry again." His tone

With Boma's resolve came a shift in her demeanor. Thus she raised her chin in defiance, her stance, confrontational."Where is Teni?"With his eyes still locked to hers, Donovan spoke, his order directed at his men "Please leave us for a moment." He said and they obeyed, leaving the couple alone.Now alone in his presence, Boma didn't know why it felt like his presence had become more dominating.Still, she managed to stand her ground, refusing to be intimidated by him.Donovan's eyes swept over her, recognizing her determination. It was admirable, at thesame time annoying. His lips curled in a small smile devoid of warmth."I'm sure you can recall the last time something like this happened between us.""What are you talking about?" She demanded without giving real thought to his words."I don't think it ended well for you." He stated, ignoring her question which forced the memory upon her. She recalled confronting him at his house over Fidelis. She shifted the memory aside, determine

Left alone, Boma's heart weighed heavy with despair. She sank onto the bed, the silence of the room echoing the turmoil within her. Each passing moment felt like an eternity as she awaited Donovan's return, her mind plagued by uncertainty and fear. When Donovan reappeared, his presence only served to intensify the tension in the room. He handed her phone back to her without a word, his stoic demeanor offering no solace. "Thank you," Boma said softly, glad to have her phone back. Donovan nodded curtly, his expression unreadable as he turned to leave. As the door closed behind him, Boma's sense of isolation deepened. She glanced at her phone, the screen offering no escape from the suffocating reality of her situation. Alone once more, Boma remained in the room as night descended, the hunger in her stomach a cruel reminder of her captivity. A knock at the door interrupted the silence, and one of Donovan's henchmen entered with a tray of food. "Queen, your dinner," he said, plac