The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 73: Another Attack

“What do you mean? Vin hasn’t even told me who set us up!” I yelled, trying to push the guard away.

“Ma’am, your safety is our top priority, and we have to get you as far from that man as possible,” he told me as he tried to pull me away from Vin.

“Oh, no. You’re not one of the guards…” Vin muttered as he quickly pulled me away from the guy, and then pointed his gun toward him.

To be honest, I have no idea how to distinguish our guards from the others, but Vin knows because he’s been working with them for quite some time now. But then, if that’s the case…then why is he telling me to get away from Vin—

What…?

I swallowed the lump in my throat when I felt that Vin’s grip on me was tightening as if he had no plans to let me go. It hurt, it really did. But I couldn’t say anything because it felt as though my voice had been destroyed.

Not a single sound came out of my mouth even when I opened it to try and stop the two of them. No one besides myself knew how confused I was at the moment, and for some reason, I kept praying for Alvarez to come inside my head.

“You…” I muttered as I looked up at the person who introduced himself as Vin.

“Sapphire, stay there.”

And that was how I knew it really wasn’t Vin because if it was him, he would have called me by the nickname he made for me. Even so, I couldn’t do anything because of how hard he was gripping my arm.

This is definitely going to bruise and if Alvarez sees this, he will lose his mind. He absolutely hates it when I get hurt, even for the smallest things. He tends to me in a gentle way, but not to others, though. And that is why I don’t like it…

I flinched, and that was when the guards became more alert. It was as if they knew this would create trouble unlike any other they had encountered before.

Fuck…

“Vin…” I called the person, even when I hated the thought of doing so.

“I told you to stay right where you are, Sapphire.”

“Let go of me. Please…”

He looked at me with a surprised expression on his face, as if he was asking what was wrong. A lot of things are, to be honest, especially in the situation we are in.

As I contemplated what I should be doing, I heard something loud from somewhere outside. Damn it, did something happen out there? I already have a lot to handle here! I don’t even know where Vin is!

The guy suddenly pointed a gun at me, and that rendered the guards helpless. They were afraid to shoot because if they did, things might get a little dicey. As far as I remember, Alvarez has constantly reminded them that they can’t allow even a single bruise on my body.

That psychotic husband of mind went too far, but now I understand why. It might be used for a setup so that they can separate the two of us and cause an even greater rift within the balance.

But where the hell is Vin when we need him the most?!

“You fuckers!”

Oh, he’s here…and he looks so furious right now.

As he laid his eyes on the scene before him, it was as if his fuse was toyed with, and now he was going to explode with double force. Oh, damn.

I pursed my lips as I tried to raise my shoulder to show him that I was already hurt by this person’s grip. That was when he began to look like he was ready to kill.

And I knew he really was.

Normally, he would tell the guy he’s going to shoot him dead before he actually does, but he just took out his gun and casually pointed it at the guy. My mouth hung open as I stared at him, feeling scared. He’s a sharpshooter, I know! But that doesn’t change the fact that it is still possible for him to miss.

“Vin…” I called with a shaking voice.

He snapped out of it and looked at me for a brief moment, and then he sighed. “We can make a deal, Samonte. You let her go, and I give you a treat.”

The guy beside me laughed. “A treat? You still think I’m your oh-so-loyal dog? After what you have done? That’s hilarious!”

“Alright, that’s enough laughing. Take it or leave.”

“I can kill myself along with your boss,” he said as he smiled sinisterly.

“You’ll be dead long before you realize it.”

Vin’s tone was so scary that it felt like it wasn’t him anymore. He really is pissed, but I can understand that. Even in that kind of situation, I felt assured.

I won’t die here, at least not today. Again, it’s not Alvarez who’s with me right now, but I’m in no position to choose who’s going to save me. I should just be grateful Vin’s right here with me.

“Samonte, I’m giving you quite a lot of time already,” Vin warned as he raised his gun again.

He can shoot, but at the same time, he can’t. Whenever Vin glanced at me while I trembled beside this guy, his expression would soften, and his form would crumble. This guy has taken notice, and he’s going to exploit me to make things easier.

Damn, what does he even want and why is he here?!

“What…” I muttered as I tried to make his grip loosen. “What do you want? Please, I’ll give it to you as long as it is possible.”

I refused to cry because it would just make me look more like a loser. My body feels weak because of the fear, but I’m trying to save it so I can fight back. I can’t afford to cry and make myself even more vulnerable.

“What do I want?” The guy laughed, not taking his eyes off Vin. “I want your head. He ordered me to take you down on a trip to hell, and I’ll have my own free pass, too.”

He’s…crazy. Like, f****d up in the head.

But that wasn’t what piqued my interest the most because no one can instill that much fear in me anymore. This just…somehow feels like another one of those empty threats.

Or am I simply going back to being empty? It’s simply either of those…

“If that’s the case, then what are you waiting for?” I asked as I flashed a sinister smile.

This is the side I have never got to release anymore since becoming a bride to Alvarez. It is hideous and should be hidden as I needed to become a damsel in distress.

However, with all the commotion occurring around me, I felt as though misfortunes were being directed towards me. Unfortunately, I don’t have as much courage as I had before, and things are quite difficult for me to accomplish.

And that is why…

“Let’s see who dies first if we both fall from this floor down to the ground?” I asked, still looking at him with an unfazed smile.

“Sha…”

Was that Vin?

No?

I don’t really know…

“Sha, don’t you dare.”

But the guy smiled back. “Bet.”

Oh, I guess we’re both crazy. If that’s the case, then I—

“Where’s Diaz?”

Fuck.

That voice, that arrogant tone, that furious aura I can already sense from afar. As soon as I heard it, I immediately snapped out of that…nightmare.

The guy sounded scared as well, and that was how I was able to take my chance to get away from him. At the exact moment he lowered his guard, I was able to get out of his tight hold on me.

“You—”

“Diaz!”

I turned to run towards Alvarez when he flung the door open, and then Vin took the chance to shoot the guy before he ran. Oh, was he not planning to jump out the window?

Alvarez scanned my body for bruises, and with the hand mark being visible on my arm already…I got worried. He stared at it for a little while before looking at Vin, who was staring at the corpse with a blank stare.

Vin doesn’t seem devastated, but he looks a bit horrified. He kept on looking at his gun and the guy a few times. I felt like he needed some time for himself, so I looked at Alvarez and tugged the hem of his shirt.

“Hmm?” he asked, still staring at the slight bruise.

“It doesn’t even hurt, don’t be like that,” I told him as I glanced at Vin again. “We should go.”

“Home?”

I nodded. “Home. Please.”

“Alright,” he replied as he looked at the guards. “Clean this up and make sure you don’t f**k up this time. This has to look like anything that is not murder because I don’t think the dog can deal with this today.”

I looked at Alvarez with furrowed brows. “Did you just refer to him as ‘the dog’?”

“I did. Now, let’s go.”

“But he’s not—”

“He is, in fact, your dog.”

“No.”

“Yes, he is.”

A sigh escaped from his lips as he scooped me up and carried me outside. It was a good thing that the employees left early because it was announced that we would be in the office for only half a day today.

On our way back home, Alvarez kept asking me to tell him what happened back there. But I couldn’t really tell him that I had acted like a complete psychopath earlier when I challenged the guy to jump with me and die.

That was…not me. Or was it what I used to be?

I pursed my lips and looked outside the window, seeking time to gather my thoughts. Damn, I suddenly feel like a kid that’s still unable to think and act accordingly. My mind is all over the place, refusing to cooperate.

“What do I do now, Alvarez?” I asked as I glanced at him.

“About what?”

“I can’t just sit still and act like a damsel all the time. I…I’ve lost my touch at this point!”

I used to be quite a good fighter, but ever since getting married, I have turned into a lazy bum that doesn’t even know s**t. Now that I’m beginning to acquire several of the fragments the old me had turned into.

“You don’t need to learn how to fight,” he told me as he pulled over in our basement.

Before he could get out, I continued to ramble. “Stay here! I’m not done!”

“Diaz, you don’t really have to—”

“I have to! I can’t just keep on relying on you all the time!”

He let out a chuckle as he stared at me. “Well, news flash, you can! That’s why we are married.”

“Why are you talking as if we both wanted this marriage?! We’re trying to make this work, that’s true! But what gives?!

“What do you mean?” he asked, genuinely confused. “Look, you don’t have to learn how to fight.”

“Why? So your ego would thrive because I’m a useless wife?” As I raised my voice, I felt a lump forming in my throat. And that was a sign that tears might fall anytime soon. “I am not your damsel, Alvarez! I need to learn how to fight for myself because I can’t afford to be useless!”

“That’s not the reason, mi amor.” He sighed and tried to stop me, his voice mellowing out with every word. “What purpose will I serve if I can’t even protect my wife? Everything I do, I devote to you, Diaz…”

“But that’s unfair!”

I hated how he could play the knight and keep his pride. Meanwhile, I’m this…spoiled brat. I can’t stand it.

“Why do you get to play knight all the f*****g time?! I can do just as much—Mmph.”

I was shut up by a kiss, one that explored my mouth so aggressively, as if beginning to lose all control. Alvarez…made sure I wouldn’t be able to bicker with him anymore as he pushed my seat backward and leaned closer.

“Too noisy, Diaz. A little too much.”