IN THE CAGE

36. ATTACHMENT

...ACE pov's...

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I stood on the second-floor balcony, sipping on a cigarette that was almost burned out. My lips were sour but the calm feeling coming from the puff of smoke filling my lungs made me feel comfortable. My previously elevated emotions had subsided on their own. Thanks to the cigarette that had accompanied me and thanks to the night air that greeted my face, I felt a little relieved.

"Boss Ace," Carcel came to greet me. The man with the new haircut style made me turn towards him a little surprised.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, I've come to pass on information about Joseph." Oh, Joseph. Right, I almost forgot that I ordered Carcel to find out the news of Joseph that I ordered removed this afternoon.

Of course, I didn't really ask my bodyguard to take care of the man's life. I'm just asking them to hurt Joseph, enough to hurt Fawn to feel guilty.

Yeah, that was my original goal.

I won't be that easy to get rid of the people Fawn cares about, it will be a futile act. Instead, I will use little by little the wounds his dear ones feel to tame them.

"How are you?" my many.

"He's in the hospital now. The bullet that hit his shoulder has been removed and he will be home for at least two or three days."

"Hmmm, what about Indira?" The stone girl would not stay silent if her people were harmed, I wonder what she and her useless husband would do.

"The Caspian family increased security at their main residence. Oh, Miss Indira also got at least three new bodyguards and a few more escorting her in the shadows."

"They reacted quickly," I chuckled happily at the thought of how stressed Evan and Anggara were now. The girl who was their weakness was in a threatened position. Something that never happened before. Although the attack was just Indira's bad luck because Joseph happened to be her personal bodyguard, I was very happy to realize that the two people were worried about Indira's condition. It would be interesting if I could see Anggara's reaction right now.

"Did they get any leads on the culprit?"

Carcel shakes. "Rio accomplished his mission well."

"The boy has talent" I said of Rio. He is the best shooter who has worked 2 years in our family. I found him when he just finished an international shooting match at xxx and recruited him instantly. I was amazed that my choice was not wrong.

"Ah-regarding Rio as well, she asked for an additional wage this month..." Carcel spoke with discomfort. "I-I've said that he's earned enough but---"

"I'll give it to you" I said. I don't mind spending some money if it means Rio's working well. On the contrary, if he were to work chaotically and ask for extra wages, I would make sure his head parted with his body.

"You've worked well, I think it's enough for today" I told Carcel. I finished my cigarette and dropped the nipple into the glass ashtray. Smoke billowed through the air, escaping from my lungs.

I passed from Carcel's face while taking the phone out of my pants pocket. I opened the online game and started playing along the way to the room. Maybe because this house has been firmly mapped in my mind, without even looking up, I still arrived safely to my dark room by the way?

I turned on the light switch and saw Fawn sitting leaning on the head of the bed. He's been there since I left him this afternoon. She won't be able to move anywhere for a while because I handcuffed her back to the headboard. It was a light punishment that was not even comparable at all to his actions that had already hit me.

Damn it, how could he still have such great strength with such a blanketing face? It doesn't seem very reasonable.

"Huh, you're back..." Fawn muttered weakly as she looked up at me. His eyes still implied hatred, but it was already not as aggressive as before. I did not respond to his words and chose to change into a black shirt. My clothes were smelling like tobacco.

"Let go of me" he said once again, whimpering in depression. "I won't do anything this time. I'm not gonna hit you, I'm serious!"

I put my dirty t-shirt on my shoulder and glanced at it humorously. "Do you think I'm handcuffing you because I'm afraid you're hitting me?"

I approached Fawn and sat opposite her. Eyes meet eyes. Hatred is met with ridicule. Of course, the hatred came from Fawn's eyes and it looked tantalizing. I love the aggressiveness that those eyes show.

"This is your punishment today" I said in his face. "You've made my emotions rise in the past day. Don't you realize that? I've been good to you..."

My hands were deliberately anchored under her earlobe, touching her pale skin that felt very smooth at the tip of my finger. Fawn gave a horrified cry with eyes that still shone with hate.

"I took my dog out to play around and breathe fresh air today, but look what I got.." I pointed at my bruised temple. "You bit me, Fawn. Is this your return for my kindness?"

Fawn closed her eyes as I approached and gave a light bite in her jaw. I know what I'm doing is fueling her growing hatred for me, but I can't stop. Her desperate teasing was like a new addiction to me. The more he got angry and cursed me with his beautiful eyes, the more I felt butterflies flapping warmly in my stomach.

Fawn is something very new to me. He was the first person to make me realize that I had this dark side of myself. That, seeing her moaning in pain makes me so excited happy.., this is a mistake and madness, but she is the one who woke that madness from me. Therefore, he had to take responsibility for all the madness he created.

"Do you realize what you're saying?" Fawn argued with fierce eyes. "Do you think I'd thank you for giving me that little freedom? Freedom is my right, Ace! I am not your dog and will never be your dog. If you want to keep a dog, you better adopt a stray dog out there. Damn, you're crazy!"

Fawn is a high moral girl and very wise. All her words reflected the glory of her heart, that she was a sane, dignified girl. But he doesn't understand one thing, in this world, that kind of freedom is nonsense.

I pinched Fawn's cheek, making her face form an adorable strange expression. "I'm not going to adopt another dog, you've been very comforting to me."

"Ugh..., let me go!" He screamed again in front of my face, the wrath and despair made my heart beat. I wanted to silence her in a deep kiss but I didn't want to risk being bitten by her. I hate getting hurt.

"Keep yelling" I decided to go to the bathroom and wash my face. While I was getting out of bed, Fawn got back out of control and kicked the blanket furiously. Rage and mockery escaped his lips like a witty tone. I enjoyed each of his roars with a ruckus.

Fawn must be right about one thing, I must be crazy.

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"I've heard what happened at the mall the other day," were the words that came out of Uncle Jack's lips when we met at the company elevator. While the iron box with extremely cold air lifted us towards the 45th floor, Uncle Jack again continued his words. Today again, I don't think this man stopped scolding me. He is a man with a disappointment in the world.

"I'm so amazed at you and Margot" the uncle continued. "It seems you've been having so much fun lately that you've forgotten what our main goal is."

"I haven't forgotten anything" I said.

If I had forgotten, I would have definitely not been here and not used the name Hunter behind my name. Just because I had fun at the mall in a duration that didn't even reach 5 hours, doesn't mean I've forgotten our main goal of getting revenge.

"Margot and I just need a break."

"Wasting time instead of rest, Ace. I don't know exactly what's gotten into you lately, but I think I understand a little."

"What?" I hate people who talk to mysteries. Tell me clearly what you think on my face straight away!

"Fawnia Alder," said the uncle in a scornful voice. "You're so fixated on your new toy, aren't you?"

"Huhuh? He has nothing to do with it..."

"You said that but you hurt Margot just for the sake of protecting that girl. Don't forget the fact that you're putting our family in danger just so the girl can breathe some fresh air out there."

"What do you mean danger? We just went mama-"

"Playing around and barely being exposed by the Caspian and Rashid families? You gave the two families a chance to attack us for a girl! Don't forget this Ace, if Anggara finds out Fawn is in your hands, he can make that girl a reason to declare war on our family!"

"That's not gonna happen..." I will never let that situation happen.

"As long as Fawn is alive, opportunities for family warfare can occur at any time. You just ignored that fact because you had an attachment to that bodyguard girl."

"I'm not-"

"Listen, Ace. You yourself know how attachment can bring us downfall, right? Remember that photo Margot found in Harkin's hunting cabin? Your father's weakness is that you two, his children, because of that weakness, he was removed."

Uncle Jack approached me, staring at my face fixedly with pent-up disappointment. "His children's happiness was the main thing for Harkin. For the sake of keeping you and Margot free and selfish, she didn't secure you anywhere else even though she knew you were in danger. He won't take away your freedom and it makes him easier to control."

"...."

"Love is the thing that kills him, love is an attachment that we don't really need right now."

"What does uncle want?" I said with a tightened jaw.

"Lost all your attachments, Ace. Prove to me that you're not as weak as your father."

Ting!

The elevator door opened and my uncle pulled two steps away from me. He retraced out leaving me while I was still fixated in my thoughts.

Getting rid of my attachment to Fawn was what uncle wanted.

I know uncle's right but...

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