IN THE CAGE

117. A FEMALE

...NORMAL pov...

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"Looks, you said Anggara wasn't the one I should worry about, Evan." Maximillian sits elegantly in the middle of the greenhouse that is part of his mansion. A cup of coffee accompanies his conversation with the lone Evan Caspian, his golden son who looks not shiny at all now.

"She's not a threat" Evan's reply showed a hint of hesitation.

Not that Evan begins to judge Anggara as a threat and doubts his own words, Evan only, he feels all his confidence falls out in front of Max.

His father loved him very much, always considered him a very valuable figure. Therefore, in order to repay his father's affection, Evan always wanted to show Max that he was a competent figure. He wants Max to know that he can be the pride of his father.

Evan was supposed to boast of Max, but with Anggara, Evan felt he was humiliated.

Evan remembers well saying that Anggara was already in his grip. Because indeed, Evan felt that he was in control of Anggara. He already held onto the man's weakness, that of Indira. However, like spitting Evan in the face, Anggara did not even do the easiest thing that Evan had ordered.

Why would a bodyguard from the Hunter family have such high marks in Anggara's eyes? No, no. It's definitely not love. Even if it is love, Anggara is unlikely to risk the security of Indira for the sake of love. Indira is the weakness of Anggara. Evan doesn't understand this at all. Did Anggara underestimate him? Thinking that he wouldn't be able to hurt Indira?

'Should I prove my seriousness?'

Sometimes the question comes to Evan's mind, the temptation to hurt Indira so that Anggara can obey him. However, hurting Indira was also an act that gave him other hassles. Do not forget also about the two Indira guards who dared to die protecting him. They're very, very irritating. All this is sickening.

"Evan, I don't want to incriminate you. You know that, don't you? I think, if the situation is hard for you to control, I can take the situation from here." Max's words didn't help at all.

Evan's frustrated.

He can do everything himself, for God's sake. Why do her parents feel the need to help her? Does he look like an incompetent man here? Evan wanted to scream, but to scream he would only make himself feel sinful.

Max sincerely intends to help her, Max loves her very much and love is not a mistake. Evan couldn't hurt his father by acting like an asshole. But..., all this is very messed up because Ace and Anggara have grown like thorns in the eyes!

"Dad, like I said, Anggara is not a threat. He just.., the relationship and the bodyguard I guess, has nothing to do with our fight." Evan tried to negotiate. Although actually, when Max invited him to discuss, Evan knew Max already had his own decision. Max only comes to inform Evan of the decision.

"You're too innocent, Evan. The bodyguard had been working at the Hunter residence since Harkin was alive. He must have understood enough what was good and not good to do. Bodyguard has its own guidebook. Ace wouldn't have let him live if it wasn't for some reason."

"Ace doesn't know their relationship." Might?

"We're talking about Ace Hunter here." Max took a breath. "He's more dangerous than Harkin."

"If you knew that, I should have eliminated Ace all of you."

"Do you know how many times you've tried to do that?" Max shows displeasure at Evan's criticism. During his life, it was impossible for Evan not to know how many times Max experimented to get rid of the youngest Hunter, but all his efforts ended in vain. Thanks to Ace's strict escort system and Ace's own individual abilities are not something to be underestimated.

"I'm sorry." Evan plays his fingers under the table. He did not know how to look at his father. He's disappointed.

"Evan," call Max calm. "Dad did this for your own good. In the future, all the problems concerning Ace Hunter and his plot, even Anggara, let Father handle the rest. You've been working really well, but really well isn't enough. I need the perfect result."

"Does that mean I'm still not quite in Dad's eyes?"

"You're my precious son, Evan"

"But I'm still lacking as a leader, isn't that right?"

Max grabbed his coffee cup on the table. The silence that Max showed back then was also like justification in Evan's eyes. That, no matter how much Max loved her, the man still saw her as a 5-year-old boy who had not been able to do anything about it. Evan is forever in Max's eyes - a figure who will never grow up.

"Do what you want to do." Evan sighed.

There is no way to refute Maximillian, not least Evan wanted to hurt the man. But Evan doesn't want to. He would give up now, but that wouldn't mean he gave up.

Ace Hunter, anytime, your enemy is still me!

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"You look in good shape, Indira." Evan crossed the room, stood in front of the window before stepping wide and flipping the tray of food that lay innocently on the table. The noise of broken glass and aluminum trays hitting the floor made Indira gasp.

"What's your problem?" Indira stood up. His eyes shot towards Evan with nervousness.

"My problem? I don't have a problem." Evan responded with a faint sigh. "That having a problem with me is a more appropriate question because for God's sake, your bastard brother knows how to provoke my emotions, Indira."

"A-Consider? Whatchu mean? Aggara did nothing!"

"You guys stuck in here know what? I'm not even sure if you know your idiot brother is risking you for a lowly woman!"

A lady? Indira heard that and was immediately stunned.

What does it mean..., Anggara has one..., woman?

"You're surprised, right? Your bastard brother..."

"That's good news." Indira cut off Evan's words. "I'm very happy. Anggara finally found the person he loved?"

"Love, huh?" Evan wants to puke. "The empty muzzle is disgusting, Indira."

"Just because you don't believe it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Love has found Anggara, and I'm proud of him." Indira is so positive it is painful, blinding.

"Do you understand what you're saying?" Evan doesn't understand at all. "The hero will abandon you, Indira."

"That's great. I don't give a shit. As long as Anggara is happy." In fact, Indira was fed up with the sacrifices her brother had made for her. Now, if Anggara really turned a blind eye to his safety, Indira felt it was better. Indira has been praying for this situation to happen for a long time.

"Aaaah, I'm curious.., how beautiful would my sister-in-law be?" Indira with all her heart changed the topic.

Evan who was bored at his behavior chose to ignore Indira. Evan leaned against the window frame, hand calling a number stored on his phone as Jem.

Evan contacts Jem until finally their call is connected.

"Hello?" The languid voice of Jem greeted his ears.

"Hello, Jem." Say hello to Evan. "I'm tired of playing pull with you. You..., do you remember the question I once gave you in the hospital?"

"Are you still looking for that answer? The thing that made Ace angry, like that?"

"You said I had a weakness. Then tell me what it is!"

"Why should I help you?"

"Give me the answer now if you still want to live a long time. I'm not playing games now."

"Uuh, I didn't play around either when I said my family was threatened, Evan." Jem's voice is a joke. "You know what Ace was capable of doing to us, don't you? Also, my sister insisted on protecting Ace tau. I can't act if I still want to live under Ace's mercy."

"How about you think about me, Jem. Ace's not the only threat out there."

"I can't divulge anything. I'm sorry."

"JAM!!" evan's voice is rising.

"Alright, I'll give you the last clue..." Jem laughs complacently over his game of torturing Evan.

"Say." Tell Evan, his expression tightened.

"Ace's weakness is a woman."

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