IN THE CAGE

47. FEASTS

...ANGGARA...

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"Welcome to have me as your partner tonight, Anggara." Margaret Hunter spoke in a subtle tone that gave my body goosebumps. It's only been a few minutes since I met this woman, and she's made me very uncomfortable. His sharp eyes full of mystery were very contrary to his eccentric attitude and appearance.

Remind me why I need to go to lady Mikoto's party with this woman?

Yeah, correct. All this thanks to Evan and his orders in the shadows. If it wasn't for Evan, I'd rather hold a tree trunk than take this crazy woman to an event that's for God's sake-highlighted by many media outlets.

The skewed rumor is able to spread because of this awkwardness. Me and Hunter! I'd rather die than put my heart on them.

This is all like a curse!

"Aww, you brought your bodyguard today." Margaret said like a mockery. He was too ordinary to see me walking alone until he considered the whereabouts of Julian and the other bodyguards around me as something rare.

"I'm the leader of Spades, in case you forget." I greeted Margaret with a forced smile. My eyes went guerrilla everywhere, trying to suppress my anger and resentment at this absurd situation so that I wouldn't explode in front of Margaret.

In the moments that passed with my pent-up annoyance, my eyes involuntarily stared at the figure of Vera - in case I didn't remember wrongly, her name was Vera. He was standing by the door of a black sedan parked behind my car. Hair tied high, black suit wrapped around his unkempt white shirt.

I remember Margaret once saying that woman-Vera-loves me. But, seeing his now-very serious and heartless look, I doubted what Margaret had ever said. Vera couldn't possibly like me when she wasn't even paying any attention to me. The girl's eyes focused on Margaret.

A lie they had done that time to cover something up. A lie I need to tell.

"I see you've also brought your own entourage, too" I told Margaret of the five bodyguards including Vera in the car behind us.

"Oh, this is all because Ace is so overprotective of me. Haha. He won't let me go without a bodyguard, considering I'm very fragile."

"Huh, huh?" I want to laugh. My ancestors' fragile!

"It's good, more protection is better." I forced a smile and my cheeks began to cramp due to this falsehood. "Come on."

While I opened the door for Margaret, I saw the herd behind her immediately get into their car as well. Led by Vera, the bodyguards obeyed his orders until only he stayed outside. Before I covered the door for Margaret, I threw my gaze at the woman blatantly and she looked back at me while bowing politely.

She reminds me of Fawn, to be honest.just, Fawn has a lot of loyalty in her eyes, the girl doesn't.

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On the way to the party, I who sat side by side with Margaret was caught in a very suffocating silence. I don't know what to say to that woman - not when I think breathing the same air as her alone makes me sick, let alone talk? I hated the Hunter family for their perfection, and the existence of the ever-superior Margaret Hunter made me hate her background even more. The girl walked as if she owned the world.

I wonder what the firstborn Hunter was thinking? Does he feel the same discomfort as me? Did he mock me in his mind?

I had to say something, something that would allow me to stream any information to Evan. I need to get Margaret to say a thing or two to me. I need to seize this opportunity so...

"Margareth..," I said in a voice I forcefully removed from the esophagus. "I want to thank you for helping me that day - at Leviathan."

"Oh..." Margaret responded to me with a worried voice. "You don't have to think about it."

"After all, I need to thank you very seriously."

Maragareth laughed lightly, as if blushing. "Okeey, same. Helping each other is fairness. It's not something big."

Yes, I'm pretty sure help is indeed fairness in your eyes, Margaret Hunter. Considering how much you insulted me that night. Damn it, does he think I don't know if he's swearing at me?

"You're so adorable, sometimes I can't believe we're the same age."

"Huh, are you mocking me?"

"No, no." Margaret patted my arm softly, and that light touch made me develop a fake smile.

Yeah, that's right. I might be able to try that method.

"Well, we're there." Margaret looked out the window. A faint smile played on his face. "Thank you for inviting me to be your partner tonight, Anggara. I hope you can hold on beside me."

"What does that mean?"

"You know, I'm very popular. People might take me from you." The car door was then opened. Margaret blinked one of her eyes witty at me before descending. I caught up with him later and gave my arm to his arm.

Under the rain of camera light, I who was used to the rain of attention treaded with Margaret by my side. Behind the two of us, my bodyguard Julian and bodyguard Vera Margaret-sung us and protected us from photographers who took up excessive space.

"Someone will be in the headline tomorrow." Margaret whispered beside me, her faint voice and warm gusts of breath sweeping across my skin. It was uncomfortable - but I don't mind. My eyes glared at him briefly before entering into the hall with guests showering us with stunned gazes.

Yeah, look at this. I-Member Rashid entered the ballroom with a Margaret Hunter by my side. Look at this, Evan Caspian-I've fulfilled your wish!

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"Someone can be jealous to see me walk with you today." After wandering around, greeting the familiar faces that greeted us, Margaret said to me after chugging at the glass of wine framed in her grasp.

"Who?" I responded by pretending to be a fool. Margaret's intention was probably my lover, who didn't actually exist. I was too busy to even think about romance.

"You know what I mean.., Vera...,"

"Huh?"

"Handering. He's moved on." Margaret chuckles. "I mean all the young ladies who are present tonight, Anggara. You're the ideal son-in-law, future husband, and well you know, things like that."

"I don't care about them." I said and that was the only honest thing I said tonight.

"Don't be too cruel, men who often hurt women will be hurt more severely by God."

"You're very religious." I scoffed.

"Yes, I also believe in karma." Margaret's voice changed a little or did I hear it wrong?

"What did you say?" I asked and this time looked at him right in the face.

"Nothing" he said with a faint grin.

"M.m., okay. I didn't see Ace tonight, didn't he come?" This is something that makes me a little confused. Where did the main star go tonight? I think she is a very big contributing person at the fundraiser that lady Mikoto held.

"Ace doesn't seem to be coming" said Margaret. The hand swings the remaining wine in the glass to the left and right.

"Is he busy?"

"I think.." The answer was ambiguous, but I didn't pursue my answer at all.

"I'll say hello to my friend for a moment, Angga. If you want to join-"

"No, there's no need. I'll also say hello to my friend for a moment...,"

"Well," Margaret took her arm off my arm. "Let's meet when the fireworks start."

"All right."

A few seconds after I said goodbye to Margaret, I saw Evan calling me in the distance.

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