Trapped In Beastly Desires

"To Qynvilee!"

Glasses clinked in the air.

In a restaurant, five women sat at a table filled with many kinds of delicious food and alcohol-free drinks. There was a state of euphoria in the air, an efficacious ecstasy that left a brilliant smile tarrying on the ladies' faces. All five moneybags gussied up splendidly, no doubt a man could drool at first glance.

"You know what, Kayla. I jumped out of my bed when I heard your company finally hit 5.6 billion dollars today. My man thought I'd gone crazy. If Qynvilee fashion company keeps thriving like this, it will be celebration all the way," an African American lady raised her glass to the air, swaying it as she danced.

"Guess what, guys. I found a 16-carat diamond ring in Corey's pocket yesterday, and today his sister told me Corey's planning to propose," said a ginger-haired woman, and proudly raised her fingers.

The ladies hollered in ecstasy, clinking their glasses once again.

"That reminds me, Kayla." a brunette lady glanced at a cinnamon-brown-haired lady who seemed a bit withdrawn. "Your anonymous dude, when is he going to put a ring on it? I mean, you're done with the Master's degree program you said you won't get married until you finish with it. More so, you've got all you want, you're twenty-seven and ready for marriage. Or has Mr. Anonymous decided to wait until you're thirty?"

Except for Kayla, four other ladies couldn't resist the urge to laugh as the brunette's last statement was hysterical. The ginger-haired almost spat the drink in her mouth, but she closed her mouth with her fingers and giggled.

"Oh, no. Kayla's family wants her to get married to Nicolas Hudson for her family business. Right, Kayla?" an ash-blond-haired lady asked Kayla.

Kayla was at a loss for words, she gazed at the ash-blond, confused what to say. Then again, her friends gazed at her, expecting to get an answer from her as regarding her relationship.

How could she guarantee her friends that she'd get married when she did not want to marry Nicolas, and the man she loved left her undecided because she only saw him on social media? All Kayla prayed for at that moment was for a miracle to happen so that she escaped the question. Lucky enough, her phone rang.

"I'll take this." She left the table. Later, she returned to carry her bag. Hanging the bag over her shoulder, she said with a regretful tone, "Guys, I'm so sorry I have to go. You know, my mom has been out of the country for eight fu- months, and I must see her today when she finally comes home."

"Never mind, sweetie - just go," the ginger-haired said and offered Kayla an assuring smile.

"Do enjoy yourselves. I'll be on my way." She waved them goodbye, and they waved back to say,

"Bye."

Kayla got to the parking lot. She stood at the front car door, closed her eyes and heaved a deep sigh of relief. She escaped her friends again, all thanks to God.

Opening the car door to enter, her phone rang. She looked to see who was on the phone.

A smile curled on Kayla's lips when she saw it was 'Chax'. Chax was her social media boyfriend, Mr. Anonymous as everybody calls him. She got into the car and picked up.

★★★

All members of Jonathan family gathered in the large, opulent sitting room. Three ladies sat on one couch, Kayla and Sam, a raven-haired boy, sat on another couch, while Mr. Jonathan, their father, sat on the single sofa. There was absolute silence in the room, the faces of the three ladies creased with jealousy as they listened to their mother's voice speaking through the phone which laid on the table.

"I'm not letting Kayla marry some billionaire I barely know, Jonathan. This family business rather collapses," June, their mother, said on the phone.

"What!" the three ladies whispered to themselves, stunned to have heard June say such a thing.

"Special girl," a brown-haired lady spoke with perceptible jealousy, and tilted her head to the left with her brow quirked.

"I recognize your voice, Maria. I'd love it if you go ahead and marry Nicolas," June said to the brown-haired lady.

"June. The problem remains that Nicolas requests to marry Kayla precisely. Giving him another of our daughter will be pointless. Or do you have an alternative?"

"What is it with you and this man, Jonathan? We all know the sad story about my father's company getting bequeathed to someone else today, yet I'm not worrying over spilt milk. Nicolas is only there to fund Linksway and not Asrijet, so why is he making choices in my house? Jonathan, I'd advise you tell Nicolas to pocket his money and let my daughter be."

"She keeps using the word 'my', Dad. And you do nothing about it," the tomboyish girl complained.

"Shut your mouth, Tally. If it pains you that Nicolas wants Kayla and not you, then you're welcome to replace Kayla. At least I won't see you again in my house," June told the tomboy who just spoke.

"But what if Kayla wants to marry Nicolas? Maybe we can begin the arrangement." Jonathan glanced at Kayla.

"Kayla, would you like to marry Nicolas Hudson for the sake of Mom and your siblings?" June asked Kayla.

June's question placed a frown on Tally's face. 'Mom and siblings. No Dad'.

Kayla became edgy to give an answer to June's question because her sisters shot her that shrewd gaze that could seize her breath. If Kayla follows the height of fear her sisters induced, and the anger that her friends were getting married before her, she might end up agreeing to marry Nicolas.

Kayla's sisters had always been jealous of her because of June's love for her, and her achievements.

"Kayla, are you there? Is anyone daunting you? Or is Jonathan discreetly trying to convince you?" Anger grew in June's voice because of Kayla's silence.

"No, Mother. I - I won't marry Nicolas," Kayla's voice quavered as she answered.

Everyone closed their eyes in disappointment, Maria wagging her head -Kayla refused; the business would keep declining.

"That's my daughter. Should Pinky have been Kayla, I know she'd agreed to marry Nicolas." a hint of excitement graced June's voice.

"I have a boyfriend, and he's well-off," a gold blonde lady, believed to be an avid fan of pink, protested in annoyance, frowning. She hugged her pink teddy bear tight and pouted.

"Mom's coming back home today after the meeting in Wilshire Blvd. Wait for me."

"Wait. You're home already?" Stunned, Sam asked, a grin widening his face.

"Of course, sugar, I'm home," June assured. "Goodbye, lovelies." June ended the call.

Pinky stood up, and glared at Kayla. "Special girl." She walked out of the sitting room, swaying her hips as she went.

Maria stood up and walked off.

Jonathan's phone rang, and he excused himself outside to take the call.

"I thought Mr. Anonymous was wealthy, Kayla? Maybe he could save the business, or - Is he headless? Or is he without form?" Tally mocked and quit the sitting room.

"Don't care what they say, Kayla. And don't let anything change your mind," Having the thought Kayla was hurt, Sam said.

Kayla smiled and stood up, giving him a hand. "Let's get back to business. And I'll tell you about Mr. Anonymous."

★

Mild noise from shareholders filled the conference room. Men and women discussed with each other in a low, dignified tone.

Mrs. June Jonathan sat alone. No one cared if she were there, almost like an empty chair sat there. June owned the upper hand when her business was in the shelter of incomparable riches. People feared her then, and avoided her because she was arrogant and aloof innately. This time, their sidestepping her didn't mean they feared her, but rather meant mockery.

June could see people pointing scornful fingers at her and laughing. What can she do? June wore a smile on her cold face, her cherry lipstick could still draw some unsatisfied men as her beauty still popped. June had stood tall for long enough, she was that master people respected; so her setback wouldn't change nor cripple her now.

"Mr. Anthony Kings is here," a man announced from the door.

All shareholders stood up to greet.

It took June a lot to conquer her pride and get up. Her business was about to be taken away by the man who bought every single share in the business. A man she had barely seen - she sees his secretary more. Had it not been her mismanagement and scam, she would have been whacking everybody in the conference room, this god-damned Anthony would not have seen her shoes.

A bronde-haired man in a navy suit walked inside the conference room with three men in black suit following behind him. One of the men in black carried his briefcase.

June's pride refused to let her look at the man. But when he was walking past the back of the people who sat opposite her, her eyes trailed him.

She only saw the side of his face, and with the little she saw, she knew he's good-looking. However, his vibe was quite unwelcoming and domineering, the young man might be a die-hard. Of course, he's a die-hard because he didn't intend to shake hands with anyone unless someone holds out a hand to shake him.

June's eyes stopped to trail him, she wouldn't adore a Prince Charming when hers was waiting at home.

Asrijet's new chairman took his seat; everyone took their seat as well. June beat down her overloaded dignity, flicked her shoulder-length beige blonde hair, and slowly sat down.

Everyone, except for Anthony, noticed June's overbearing movement and flared up within them. A woman had to roll her eyes in anger.

"A heartfelt greeting to you all. And shall we begin?" a smooth, deep, husky voice broke the silence in the room. Following Anthony's voice, the business tycoons started to flip through the pages in the files they had with them.

Anthony flipped open a page in the file before him and asked, "Asrijet petroleum company will finally be bequeathed to me today. I hope Lady Bossy is here?"

June wanted to say a word, but on hearing the name, 'Lady Bossy', her voice got trapped in her throat - she was struck dumb by fear.

June wasn't looking at the man who just called her that name, and she didn't want to anymore. Her mouth dropped open, but didn't utter a word - she was afraid to have heard Anthony call her 'Lady Bossy'.

Only one person calls her that name, and that person was someone she made sure never to remember nor see again. She hoped she wasn't dreaming because if this was her reality, she and her family will be done for; the family business he bought would vanish; her daughter, Kayla, will die.

That one person who called her 'Lady Bossy' was a big enemy from the Kings family. Her family and Kings family were big rivals in business.

The boy who called her 'Lady Bossy' was sent to jail by her family many years ago when he was a child, and he died in prison.

The boy who died in prison years ago has come alive? If so, then a mighty enemy is back. Her family is in big trouble. Kayla's life is in grave danger. This must be a dream. Someone should wake up!

Plucking up the courage and hoping it was her mind playing games with her, she looked to the right to see the man who just called her that familiar name.

Upon seeing him, her heart skipped several beats and fell in a chaos. Her eyes widened with terror, as she gaped at the man she thought was dead and gone. The man who would definitely punish her family. The man who Kayla apprehends.

No way! This must be a dream! Clinton Kings, now called Anthony Kings, is back. He's back to put everyone in their places.

June vividly remembered the words Clinton said after the judge gave the final verdict, and the police marched him to the police van to send him to jail. "I'll come back for you. For all of you. I will kill you, Kayla! For betraying me, I will kill you. Mark my words."

Right now, June was gaping at the man who swore those words to her family; the man who made such promises to Kayla. And there he was, gazing at her with a mysterious smile on his face.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, June Christopher," Anthony said.

June was yet to recover from the shock that felt like she just had a face-to-face encounter with some gunmen, and from the look of things she might never recover from it. Throughout the meeting, June felt uneasy, suffocating herself with thoughts and immeasurable anxiety. She couldn't focus for a second, and Anthony made it difficult for her by questioning her as though she were learning in the classroom. Questions she barely answered.

The meeting came to an end with June condescending and being laughed at by the shareholders. She finally lost the family business to an old enemy. The same Kings family her family battled with many years ago.

Losing the company was nothing like a problem. Whether she lost a company, she didn't care because the loss ahead demanded her might, soul and everything to put into place and plan ahead.

After the meeting, Anthony had approached her in the parking lot and they tore into huge confrontation that almost sent her begging on her knees when he made it clear that he was hungry for revenge. Exactly as she feared. But she stood her ground, and would make sure he failed.

"Ensure to tell Kayla to get ready for a new beginning." This statement made by him in the parking lot galvanized her desire to act fast and save Kayla from what she thought was more dangerous. Of course, dangerous now he came alive after everyone believed he died. Dangerous that he might have become something unimaginable. He was definitely coming for Kayla. Already he began his vengeance with buying Asirjet.

June endured the heartache until she returned home. She was supposed to be happy to see her family, and make them happy to see her after eight months of being away. But instead, June seemed doleful from the moment she stepped into the house. Her obvious uneasiness provoked worries in her children and had them questioning her, especially Sam and Kayla who seemed to have knotted her to their hearts.

"You've never been this sad before, Mom. Did anything happen?" Kayla, who just hugged June, gave her a worried look and asked.

"Anything could have happened," Pinky said with a mouthful of cereals she scooped from a bowl of cereal she held, then waved her hand with disgust and went upstairs. Other daughters who misunderstand their mother walked away, only Kayla and Sam remained. Jonathan wasn't home.

"You aren't saying anything, Mom," Sam complained, frowning.

"Sam, I need to take a nap. It was a long day today. We'll talk about everything later." June couldn't fight the tiredness and worries in her voice; it was conspicuous to Sam and Kayla. Giving them the assurance, she plodded upstairs.

Since the situation was nothing June could handle on her own, she took Lena to a bedroom to share the problem.

Lena wasn't only something like her, Lena was that person she shared her ups and downs with, also the person with whom she confided her deepest secret. Lena had never seen her father before, yet she loved her mother, and could do anything for her. She was an illegitimate child in the family, who June had in her early age for another man. Lena was innately strict, and people avoided her because of her cold demeanor. Moreover, she was wealthy from her pocket.

There in the bedroom, June sat on the bed, shaking like she were held at gunpoint. She stood up often, paced and sat back down. She was devastated to the point where she wept.

Lena stood with her arms folded, trailing June with her eyes to examine her complicated gestures. Lena felt no worries because she was stone-hearted, she wanted to know what has happened to June that shattered her to such extent.

"Won't you tell me, Mother? You know you can't drown in your pain while I'm here." she stepped closer and stood in front of June. "Is it about Asrijet?"

"No, Lena." she wiped her tear with a flick of her fingers. "It's - I may sound crazy, but -" She ran her hand through her hair, confused how to say something that impossible. "Clinton Kings is alive."

Although Lena got stunned on hearing June, doubt kicked out the fear that would have dashed into her. Lena didn't show any sign of shock or whatsoever, rather a glimmer of doubt could be spotted in her eyes. "Are you seeing things, Mother?"

June got on her feet because of the height of shock that came with Lena's unbelievable question. Her brows arched with anger, she was about hitting the roof. "No. I saw Clinton Kings with my own eyes. He's all grown up, he called me Lady Bossy, and he confronted me. Worst being he's the buyer of Asrijet."

"What?" Lena's arms unfolded, and her eyes widened, her brows met in the middle - Lena was dead shocked. At first, she thought June told a lie, but this time it clicked that June might be right. But how possible? A boy who died had come alive? The part that ruined Lena's mood was Clinton buying Asrijet. Moreover, she knew Clinton had returned for revenge. Lena scoffed after she quenched her fear, and anger replaced. "It seems Alicia is good at playing chess." She looked at June. "Clinton is back, but he can do nothing."

"I wish he can't, Lena." She teared up again. "He threatened to ruin this family, which he already began with buying Asrijet. According to him, Kayla should get ready for a new beginning." She held Lena's arms. "Don't you understand that Clinton wants to harm Kayla as he swore in court?"

"He swore, Mom. But he cannot predict the future." She wiped June's tears with her fingers, then placed her hands on June's shoulders. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll take care of him."

June's eyes widened in apprehension. She took Lena's hands off her shoulders. "No, Lena." June felt displeased with Lena's assurance, and it frightened her because being up against Anthony would definitely cost Lena's life. June could not afford losing any of her children. "I will not let you take on Clinton. Like I always say, you know just a little about the Kings family."

"I know Arnold Kings was a monster, Mom. I can-"

She gestured in the fit of anger, and yelled, "Don't, Lena. And if you want me dead, then go ahead and take on Clinton."

"What then are we going to do to save Kayla and our family?" Lena asked with a shred of worry in her voice; her eyebrow quirked.

June sat, abounded with a million thoughts that left traces on her bleak face. Lena knew she was thinking about something, and could end up with a pointless idea.

June raised her index finger in the air, "Yes," She tilted cocked her head. "Yes. Nicolas Hudson."

Lena sighed and wagged her head in disbelief, she knew June was going to come up with an unfavorable idea. "Nicolas Hudson cannot save Kayla from Clinton, trust me when I say so." She folded her arms.

"Of course, he can. Clinton will beat feet when he learns that Kayla had mar..."

A knock came at the door - a knock that shut June up on the thought that whoever it was had heard their conversation. And when Kayla identified herself, June gasped out the deluging fear that came on hearing Kayla's voice. She felt it was necessary for the ground to open up and swallow her. If there was something June needed to keep from Kayla, it was Clinton's return and everything behind it.

On the contrary, Lena had no problem with Kayla being at the door, and June's frantic reaction annoyed her. What would happen if Kayla heared about Clinton? She'd abide in fear and more regret, what more? Would she snuff it?

"Get ready to talk to Kayla about Nicolas," Lena supposed. June wiped away her tears but never stopped looking pale, regardless of her attempt to look even a bit cheerful. "Come in, Kayla." Lena glanced at the door, then shifted her glance back to June.

Kayla walked inside and went straight to June. Kayla now seemed angry and not sad because June still couldn't stop worrying, and June did not attempt to say a word to her. "Will you tell me what's wrong?" her voice now mixed with annoyance.

June said nothing; instead, she put down her head and burst out crying.

Lena realized that June would not speak, so she became June's spokesman. "Kayla. Mom's worried about Linksway. And-" She placed her hand on Kayla's shoulder, her face looking like she was about to say something unpleasant to Kayla. "She wants you to marry Nicolas Hudson as quickly as possible."

For a dismayed moment, Kayla gazed into Lena's eyes, then at June. Her feelings entangled, yet June's desire was comedic to her. Kayla couldn't grasp why June suggested she marries Nicolas now. She scoffed in disbelief - she was near having a fit.

"Why're you doing this to me, Mom? I'm supposed to be married at this age of twenty-seven, but I'm not because you keep stopping me from being in a relationship, claiming you want the best for me and every man I want is contemptible. You asked me not to marry Nicolas, now you want me to go ahead and marry him?" Kayla's heart brimmed over with sadness, tears clouding her eyes. Shaking her head, she concluded, "No, Mom. I won't marry him."

June was angry to insanity because of Anthony's plans, but she unleashed her anger on Kayla's negligence by yelling at her, "Kayla, you must get married to Nicolas." Regret and despair were obvious in June's eyes.

"I won't let you keep telling me what to do. I won't marry Nicolas. Instead, I'll marry Chax," she yelled, almost about tearing up.

Lena took Kayla's choice as a good idea. She looked at Kayla. "If Mr. Anonymous loves you... then marry him." She faced June. "If you want Kayla to get married, I'll suggest you let her marry the man she loves."

"A man we all know nothing about? A man she hasn't seen before?"

"I don't have to see him face-to-face, Mom. Being familiar with him is more than enough." Her tone now shifted from anger to a sweet convincing voice, though a bit sulky. She hoped to win June's heart through some possible means.

"Familiar on social media?" June asked, becoming furious.

"Believe me, he's good." Kayla sat next to June, and pulled June into her arm, making sure June looked into her eyes. Then she kept that childish expression that could prick June's heart and break that resolve. "Chax and I love each other so, so much, and I know he's my Mr. Perfect. He even had my name tattooed on his back." She offered a smile that melted June's and Lena's anger, replacing it with bashfulness that curled a sheepish beam on their lips. Kayla gave June a gentle push. "Come on, Mom. Let me marry him. I promise you'd like him."

"We're talking about a quick marriage here, Kayla. Can you convince him to marry you very fast?"

Kayla feigned a playful frown - the fact they wanted her to marry quickly was annoying. "Why do you two want me to get married this fast? Isn't it just for Linksway?" she asked. "Well-" A smile of anticipation went across her face, her expression raised questions in Lena's and June's mind. "Chax proposed to me on the phone, and I agreed."

"What?" Lena imagined what kind of love it was. Whatever it may be, she felt happy for Kayla at least.

June was happy, for Kayla would escape Anthony once she got married to Mr. Anonymous. Nevertheless, she must get acquainted with this Chax her daughter loved that wanted to marry her. "Sweetheart. If you both love each other, then it's fine by me because I'd seen such a relationship before. But..."

Kayla's mood changed to apprehension when June mentioned 'but'. "But what, Mom?" Her voice came off as though anxieties drew her nearer to shedding disappointed tears.

"Your family would love to meet this man who loves you this much. When should we figure on your long-awaited Mr. Perfect? You know he has to propose to you in the open, so that everyone witnesses your engagement." She flashed Kayla an approving smile that lit up Kayla's mood.

A radiant smile dazzled on Kayla's face. "My Mr. Perfect flew in from UK today. Already, he'd planned to propose with a ring tomorrow. I was going to tell you about it earlier, but you threw a fit." She feigned a playful frown but replaced it with a warm smile before she continued, "Now I know you support our relationship, I'll bring him home tomorrow."

"Are you sure he doesn't mind coming to your house to meet your family?"

"I know Chax, he doesn't mind. Besides, isn't it a responsibility he meets my family before proposing to me?" She shrugged questioningly and glanced at Lena, who shrugged as well. She held June's arms. "Before he comes..." She pointed at June's face; narrowed her eyes in a suspicious but joking manner. "Your cold face must transform amicably." She touched the tip of June's nose with her finger. "Chax is quite a shy person, so I beg that you all make him feel comfortable."

"We'll see to it that the necessity is done. He just has to show up tomorrow," Lena said.

"And he'll surely come. Tomorrow is just by the corner."

Kayla would bring Mr. Anonymous home for the very first time; therefore, things had to be done specially, and too many things had to be sugarcoated.

June made every preparation herself. She chose the garden as the best spot for the outdoor dinner. The sun didn't shine to vertex, and the weather wasn't fervent, rather it was mild to the skin because the sun was about going down and the wind blew gently. Mr. Anonymous was filthy rich, so June saw to it that plenty of rich food were on the table - delicious edibles that could tease his senses and make him want to marry Kayla after having a bite.

Kayla's sisters who mocked Kayla for dating a man nobody knew, were eager to see Mr. Anonymous. Apart from Tally and Lena, all other daughters of Jonathan family dressed to kill, they planned to allure Mr. Anonymous if he turned out to be good-looking as expected. Everyone was willing to be at their best so that Mr. Anonymous found something interesting in the family that would keep him.

At three, the entire family of Jonathan gathered at the table, waiting for Kayla to arrive with Mr. Anonymous. Maria and Pinky started to whine once it seemed Kayla had delayed.

Everyone had been waiting at the garden since three o'clock, and time grew until 3:20p.m. Their patience dropped, aggravation filling them up from all angles, but only a few people displayed their irritation.

Pinky got off the phone and frowned. "Kayla's not picking up the damn call." She dropped it on the table. "I'm getting tired, and I'll leave here if Kayla doesn't show up in three minutes."

An amusing smile touched Sam's lips as he glanced at Pinky. "Really, Pinky?" he asked Pinky. Pinky scowled at him, she grasped the smile on Sam's face; she knew he was about to say anything near annoying. "Just leave already, Pinky. You don't waste time to flee from a place that bores you, so why delaying now? Has Mr. Anonymous glued your feet to the ground?"

She raised her middle fingers up in the air. "Go fu- yourself."

Sam spotted Kayla approaching toward the garden with a tall man he believed could be Mr. Anonymous. Blown over by excitement, he stood up and informed with a voice thundering with ecstasy, "They're here!"

Following Sam's information, they all became excited, smiling with a thousand expectations. Out of excitement, Maria, and Pinky jerked up to their feet, seeming even happier than every other person. Pinky, who claimed to have a well-off boyfriend, started making sure her dress looked well, she even looked through her phone camera to see if her make-up and her hair looked perfect. Lena saw all these and only scoffed.

With a broad smile on their faces, they watched Kayla and Mr. Anonymous approach from a distance. When they started advancing near the place where everyone sat, June's brows arched in familiarity. June got entrapped in confusion, she tried to examine his appearance carefully and tell whether she knew him or not. She wished she didn't.

June's confusion carried on until Kayla and Mr. Anonymous were some steps away from the table, the pieces fell in place, and she realized she'd met Mr. Anonymous before.

On seeing him, June's heart jolted and hung in her throat. Fury and deep fear collided, and struck June with insanity. She began shivering like it were snowing, her lips trembling, acting like a mute in danger. No doubt she'd end up having a heart attack. She tried holding herself together, but it was impossible. How could it be possible when the enemy she had been running from had come as Kayla's own boyfriend?

Jonathan, who sat next to June, noticed the uneasiness that had her perspiring. "Will you tell me what's wrong? Or should I ask Lena to pacify you?" he asked in a low tone.

June's quivering finger pointed at Mr. Anonymous. "It's him," she spoke with a low, terror-struck tone at first, confusing Jonathan. Then she stood up and picked up a knife, pointing it at Kayla and Mr. anonymous, who now stood at the end of the table. "It's him. It's him," she shouted.

June's sudden behavior threw everyone at sixes and sevens. They all stood up, watching June act like a lunatic, slashing the knife at Kayla and Mr. Anonymous and saying Chax stayed back.

Why did June suddenly start acting up after seeing Kayla and Mr. Anonymous? That was a question nobody could answer as the situation was ever so subtle, they all believed that June had gone crazy this time.

Kayla and Chax avoided June's slash by standing far from the table.

Kayla felt a great deal of sadness that rushed tears into her eyes. She stood in front of Chax like a shield, gazing at June, who was misbehaving. June made her believe she had found her Mr. Perfect. Now there June was, trying to chase Chax from her life as well. June had done enough, she had kept her single since she was a teenager until now she was twenty-seven. Enough is enough, she wouldn't mind ignoring June this time.

"Move away from him, Kayla. He's not the one for you. He's your enemy, and he's going to hurt you, he hates you," June yelled. "Stay away from my daughter, you dead punk."

"Mom, please stop," Kayla pleaded. She couldn't contain the feelings any longer, so she teared up.

Mr. Anonymous watched June. He had that bamboozled look on his face, which made it seem like he were watching an inexplicable event. Kayla said Chax was a shy person; that was who Chax appeared like at that moment. Shy, calm, and perplexed.

"What has come over you, June? Get a grip," Jonathan urged.

"This is not a time to get a grip, Jonathan, this man has to leave right this instant. He has come for all of us. Kayla, this man will kill you as promised." June tried convincing Kayla, but she wasn't thinking straight for some tough, discreet reason.

Lena's mouth dropped open when she realized that June was speaking about Clinton. She became afraid, gaping at Mr. Anonymous. Lena couldn't think of a way to stop Kayla nor speak the truth because people who knew nothing about the past were there, all she did was gaze with baffled eyes. If she joined June to convince Kayla, she'd as well be taken as a lunatic and an ingrate. What should she do?

"Kayla. Aren't you listening to your mother? Get away from him, and we'll talk about this later," Was all Lena said.

Kayla closed her ears with her hands, not wanting to hear those words June was saying that drove her insane. Lena's warning, too. She couldn't believe her ears, Lena too? The first ever time Lena had asked her to leave the man she loved, why were they doing this to her? Did they plan it together? Kayla shook her head with her hands still on her ears. Not again. June and Lena ruined everything.

When Chax intended to put his arms around Kayla, "Get your bloody hands off her." June threw the knife at Chax. Everyone snapped their eyes wide open, stunned by what June just did. She threw the knife, but luckily Mr. Anonymous and Kayla escaped it. As if that weren't enough, she picked up another knife, "You son of a b-" She tried to throw the knife.

"Stop it, Mom! Enough of your drama," Kayla shouted to make June stop. The scene quietened for Kayla to speak. Kayla held back her tears so it didn't distort her voice. "Just because I've respected you from the day I was born until this very moment doesn't mean I'm your fool. You've stopped me all the time, Mom. But not this time."

June teared up. She was helpless. Except for Lena, Jonathan, and Kayla, no other person knew everything that happened in 2002, and June tried to avoid making them cognizant of it. She tilted her head to the side, suggesting Kayla took pity on her and heared her out for once. "Please, Kayla-"

"Not a word from you, Mom. You've chased every man who loved me, and I danced to your tune-" She paused. "This time you've managed to chase me along with the man I love. I'm leaving with Chax, and there's no coming back for me. Never again." She began storming away. Chax followed her.

"Kayla," June called out, running after her.

"Stop right there, Kayla." Lena went after Kayla. Kayla realized they were coming after her and quickened her steps. "Don't be stubborn, and stop there."

"I'm speaking for your own good, Kayla. You don't deserve Mr. Anonymous. He'll hurt you. Just take a good scrutiny of his face, and you'd understand." June followed Kayla behind, pleading with her. Kayla covered her ears with her hands as she walked, she preferred not to hear a word from June, let alone hear words that could change her mind. "Kayla, please listen to me."

"Kayla," Lena called. Seeing that she walked the same track as Chax, she halted and walked to his front, putting him to a halt. Glaring daringly at him, she folded her arms and smirked. "Stay away from Kayla, you dead hooligan."

For a few seconds, Anthony stared impassively at her. He tried so hard to be at his best; he would not allow anyone make him unleash his true nature before getting what he wanted. And if he must get what he wanted, he must keep up with the untainted act until Kayla caught in his trap.

"Pick your words carefully, Lena. Otherwise, I'll make it worse for every one of you." He proceeded to the garage.

Lena watched him walk away, still having the daring smirk on her face, though there was a hint of defeat and fury apparent in her eyes.

Kayla entered the car and slammed the door at June. There in the car, she still covered her ears. Her body vibrated heavily as she cried, whimpers escaping her throat with every sob.

June pounded her hands against the window, begging Kayla to hear her out, she even started saying, "Don't you remember the year 2002? Clint is -"

"- stop being a child, June," Anthony's voice disrupted, walking toward the other side of the car to sit next to Kayla. "Why waste your saliva? Can't you see the soundproof windows are closed, and your sweet Kayla can't hear you?" He grabbed the door handle to open it, "Leave the garage, else I'll order the driver to run you over."

Enraged, June stormed to the place where he stood. She grabbed his shirt, giving him a pleading glance. "Let Kayla go, please," she cried out.

A huge enemy like June had the audacity to grab his shirt. He was bad-tempered and little things made him blow his stack. But when he resolved to do something, he could go any mile to achieve it. Therefore, he'd avoid doing anything capable of ruining his plan.

Anthony was quiet for a second, until then, "If you look into the car, you'd understand that your dear Kayla had fallen into the trap already."

His words frightened June and made her look curiously into the car as he had said. She saw Kayla on the phone, what more did he expect her to see? June thought until it dawned on her. She streaked to the other side of the car to see what Kayla was doing.

Kayla was blocking the phone numbers of her family members. So she meant what she said about cutting ties with them?

June's heart fluttered, and fell in a turmoil. The fear of losing Kayla to Anthony subdued the whole of her. She started pounding hard on the window, screaming for Kayla to step out of the car. "Kayla, he's Clinton. He's going to harm you. Please, don't do this-"

"- I'm inviting you to our engagement party." He entered the car and shut the door.

His words rattled June, she gaped at Anthony before proceeding to pound harder on the window. When the car was leaving the house, June chased the car until she could chase it no more.

June's family members already came to the garage. They watched her cry as if she lost a dear person. Meanwhile, Kayla only left with the man she loved. What's wrong with this woman?

★★★★

Kayla's drowned in pain after all that happened back at home, her expectation shattered in one fell swoop. Although she believed ignoring June and Lena was the best thing to do, she wasn't all happy about ignoring them, and she had no idea why. However, nothing could make her relent this time. She must marry Chax. So many women she knew had gotten married, she as old as she was should also get married.

There she sat in the car, driving to Chax's home, Kayla rained tears. Her phone rang continuously, and buzzed with messages. She either declined the calls or let it ring until it stopped. Both her friends and family called and texted her.

Chax didn't offer to console her, he rather fixed his eyes through the window. Meanwhile, Kayla looked forward to apologizing for the embarrassment her family caused him. She often glanced at him, searching for words to mollify him with because she sensed he was upset.

While Kayla tried to find words to console Chax, the texts and calls zoned her out and snatched her ability to think. Fed up with the distraction, she made to put her phone on silent. But on looking into the screen, her heart skipped several beats and her breath caught in her airway.

June used Tally's phone to send her an unnerving text that gave her chills and made her blood run cold, throwing a wrench into her. Her eyes tarried on the screen without an intent to look away. Kayla's sorrow rolled away, confusion took over.

'Chax is Clinton Kings. Mom was meaning to warn you about him. He's sugarcoating his true intention to trick you. Clinton didn't die in the year 2003, it was all a lie. He's back to take revenge on you as promised. Run, Kayla! Run!'

All Kayla's life, she had lived believing Clinton died, but it seemed everyone was lied to. Or was this June lying to make her abandon Chax because she clearly remembered the day of Clinton's burial.

Kayla pushed her head toward Chax, gazing at him with fear in her eyes, which she tried to hide. She examined him to see if it was true what June claimed. Clinton had a birthmark behind his left ear, just at his nape. She needed to spot the mark on him.

The man who sat next to her had a birthmark at the same spot. Furthermore, Clinton had the habit of tapping his fingers lightly on any surface his hand rested on. Chax did the same thing as Clinton there in the car, and it felt like Kayla's heart raced with every tap of his fingers.

But what if Chax was an imposter? Yes, he must be. But how come he possessed Clinton's qualities? No, he must be an imposter. Confusion and fear overwhelmed her. Clinton had promised to wreak vengeance on her, which scared her. But ... this man cannot he him! What the-, she must be certain first. She glanced over at Chax often, now thinking of a way to excuse herself and call June.

Kayla throttled down a bit of her fear to avoid coming off nervously. "I'd - like to use the restroom." Anthony gave her such a look she barely understood because his expression seemed quite flinty and enigmatic. Terrifying.

Anthony gazed at his prey for a moment, then broke the gaze and ordered the driver, "Pull over."

The driver pulled over at a bar they almost drove past.

Kayla stepped out of the car without her bag. She walked with a peaceful, brisk gait to convince Chax that nothing was wrong. Immediately she walked into the bar, she rushed straight into the restroom to call June. Her hands shivered as she was unblocking June's number.

June did not pick up at first. Kayla became frustrated. She dialed June's number twice again. June still wasn't picking up the phone. Devastation had Kayla beating her feet on the floor, pacing and uttering profanities. The thought he might be an imposter trying to lure her into harm killed her.

The severity in the text June sent convinced her that something was wrong - she felt it deep in her bones. Especially the part where he was eager to marry her, proposing on phone just a month of knowing him. Then he was doing things Clinton did She was a fool, agreed, but she wouldn't let him fool her completely.

She tried Lena's line. Lena didn't pick up, either. "The- c'mon, pick up the phone!" Intending to dial Tally's number, Lena called. She quickly picked up. "He cannot be Clinton, okay. Tell me why you think a dead person can rise up-"

"I too, I'm surprised but you need to come home, Kayla. Anthony is not who you think he is. He confronted Mom in Wilshire Boulevard, and claimed he's Clinton and he'd wreak vengeance on you, so, clearly he has bad intentions-" Lena was interrupted by June's panicking voice.

"Kayla, dear. Please tell us where you are. Had Clinton got you? Did he hurt you?"

"He's not Clinton, Mom!" Kayla growled with the pain and uneasiness in her voice. She relaxed a bit. "I'm still in Malibu, I'd find my way home-"

The restroom door burst open. Kayla flinched out of shock, and her phone fell on the floor. A big man in black suit and sunglasses stood at the door, who she recognized was Anthony's driver. He had come to get her, the imposter sent him.

The forbidding aura he oozed heightened Kayla's fear. She started stepping back, shivering. June's and Lena's voices muffled in her ears, her fear placed her entire focus on the man.

"Stay away from me," Kayla said with fear and anger in her tearful voice, glaring at him. "Leave me alo-" She was about yelling when the man pulled a gun at her.

"Get back into the car," he commanded. The gun rendered Kayla helpless, she had no choice but to follow the man, unknowingly leaving her phone behind. "Pick up the phone," the man said.

Kayla obediently followed the driver to the car and they drove off. If it weren't for the gun, she surely would have escaped. She came to realize that she didn't mask her uneasiness properly, because Anthony caught her. And truly, for the man to hold a gun at her, Anthony really had bad intentions.

Kayla set her eyes on Anthony. Whether this man was Clinton or an imposter, she believed she was staring at the consequences of the mistake she made in the past. In the process of finding her Mr. Perfect, she found her demise. She saw Clinton's corpse being buried into the ground; therefore she'd rather die than believe Anthony was Clinton, not minding Anthony's surname was Clinton. Nothing the imposter did could fool her.

Anthony knew she were there, he sensed her extreme rueful presence, but refused to look at her. He had the whole time in the world to do things to her - things more than just looking at her.

Anthony still had his eyes fixed through the window when his voice broke the silence in the car. "The plan was to wait until we get married." He turned his head to look at her. "But since you figured out already... your new life begins from now on."