IN THE CAGE

55. TWO SIDES

...NORMAL pov...

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Putting aside the fact that Margot is now acting as she pleases and making Ace dongkol extraordinary, Ace's daily life is arguably running normally - or rather, not bad. He still wakes up at six o'clock, leaves for work at seven, does this and that at Diamond, visits uncles, factories and occasionally meets clients - everything goes smoothly. Then, when his work is done, Ace will return home with Fawn welcoming him with a bored look.

The girl was already such a favorite place for Ace to go home. Seeing Fawn frowning, rolling around bored, or sometimes eating with a serious face has always been an entertainment for Ace. The girl was adorable without realizing that she was so adorable.

Today again, with great enthusiasm-Ace returned home to find out what her pet was doing right now. He brought Fawn a box of pizza, hoping that the girl would sparkle cheerfully when she greeted him. Ace was very happy when Fawn met the food, because only then would Fawn have a carefree expression.

"Boss Ace..." Amidst Ace's steps towards the room, Ozan breezed toward him in a hasty step. His bodyguard who was in charge of monitoring the house bowed briefly before giving a report. "Boss Ace, something happened to Miss Fawn."

"Huh?" Ace's raut hardened instantly.

Did the girl run away? The question popped into Ace's brain like a sharp needle stabbing at his skin. He widened his eyes with fear that began to creep on his skin. 

"What's going on?" ask Ace, the voice is full of emphasis. The breath in his throat was stuck.

"Ah, I just got a report from Rio," explained Ozan, immediately rectifying the anxiety and tension that appeared on his boss's face. "Fawn, no, I mean, Ms. Fawn's mom is in the hospital today."

"..."

"Ace Boss?"

"Then, what's wrong with Fawn?"

"Ti-nothing. Miss Fawn is still in the room, "Ozan regrets that he mispronounced.

Ace blinked a few times before taking a long breath. He felt like he was saved, but at one time he was full of confusion. How can a name make his heart stop beating? What did he feel just now? A new foreign feeling he felt first-time-fear and anxiety.

"What's going on?" ask Ace then. Trying to keep his composure in front of the bodyguard who was now looking at him in wonder.

"Miss blood pressure. Lilian Alder is down. Now he is under the care of Rashid's family's personal doctor. Rio reported that surveillance for Miss. Lilian will be quite difficult now because of the tight guard at the hospital."

"You didn't pass this information on Fawn or anyone other than me, did you?" It would be bad if Fawn found out about her mother. The girl's desire to leave this house will be greater than ever, and Ace will not allow that. Ace won't let Fawn leave him.

"I'm just passing this on to you" Ozan's words were a relief.

"Don't let anyone else know about this, Ozan. Even Margot. Do you understand?"

"Good, boss." Ozan nodded obediently.

"Now, order Rio to remain on standby. I'll add money to his account if he takes work more seriously and stops whining."

Finished dealing with Ozan, Ace then sauntered back to his room. That uncomfortable feeling still lingered on his chest, creating an unfamiliar pain. It's not like the pain that makes you want to scream and whimper, the pain that creeps in Ace's heart now is something else. Something that made him feel empty and sinful. A feeling of guilt mixed with greed. His desire to keep Fawn for himself was great, but at one time he knew he had taken everything precious from her.

Cklek!

Opening the door, Ace breezed in. In her ivory-coloured room and lit in bright white-Fawnia Alder-the woman who had made her heart almost fall into the stomach, was sitting on the floor. Near the balcony window hugging his knees. The girl's eyes looked out of the window, at the slowly-close blue sky. The birds are flying out there, reflecting the freedom that Fawn's heart yearns for.

"Fawn, I'm home." Ace greeted with a wry smile.

Fawn's position at the time reminded him of Fawn's position when he had recently taken Fawn prisoner. The girl often sat by the window, a grim and sorrowful face.

Fortunately now, the grief has faded replaced the void. Fawn seemed to have accepted reality and could only swallow bitterness in silence.

"Oh, you're back..." Fawn looked up at Ace who sauntered towards him. "What did you bring?"

Fawn's attention was drawn to a box of pizza in Ace's hand.

"Pizza, for you." Ace handed him the food and sat down cross-legged on the floor. His eyes panned down to Fawn who was now smiling happily.

"Aaaah, I haven't eaten pizza in a long time. Hehehe. Thank you." Thank you." Fawn looked up and her smile paused as she looked at Ace's eyes that were highlighting him with seriousness. "Is there something?"

Ace forced a smile and shook his head. "It's nothing, I just had a lot of thoughts."

"What's the job problem?"

"That's it." No, the problem is Fawn. Ace thought about Fawn.

"You just have to do everything you can, you know. I'm saying this is not for smart ass, but.., if you think too much about everything, your head will explode. Just do what you want to do.., do you?"

"Did you get that policy because there's a lot of recluse in the house?"

"I've been able to become a monk in a temple with my ability to meditate."

"Oh, have you been meditating all day?"

"Yes..." Fawn nodded while biting off a slice of pizza that he took out of the box. "That's all I can do to free my mind from stress."

The word stress made Ace's face turn sour again. No need to ask what makes Fawn stress, the main cause is definitely Ace himself. Who wouldn't go crazy if your freedom was just a rectangular room with a boring, luxurious bathroom.

"Fawn, are you lonely here?" Ace voiced a question he should not have cared about. He shouldn't care about Fawn's condition, but he's scared. What Fawn is feeling now, he wants to know and he hates it.

Ace's question made Fawn chew slow. He looked at Ace in confusion and at one time - he calculated his answer with precision. What happened to Ace? Is that guy in a bad mood? Fawn was a little worried about him.

"I.., I'm definitely lonely." Fawn answered like an invisible spear that landed on her heart. Ace felt numb in his chest.

Ace regretted asking. He regretted knowing what Fawn felt at home. He would rather be a tyrant who does whatever he wants than be his current figure. Ace hates his current self, who understands Fawn and sympathizes with the girl. Ace hates.himself who has a special feeling on Fawn.

It began to weigh him down, a fear that kept creeping through his heart.

"Why are you asking?" Fawn put her pizza slices in the box. The head tilted looking at Ace. His expression was full of curiosity and vigilance.

"No..." Ace shrugged. "Just curious."

"Eh, sure that's all?" Fawn leaned her face, trying to figure out the meaning in Ace's black iris that held a mystery. 

"Don't you. you..." Fawn widened her eyes, her voice hesitatingly asking. "Are you going to set me free if I say I'm lonely?"

The question was just Fawn meant as a mockery. A joke to make them feel comfortable because he knew Ace would not set him free. Ace doesn't care about his feelings. Fawn knew that very well, so he had no intention whatsoever, not expecting any reaction from Ace as he made the joke. But...

Brak!!!

"Don't talk nonsense!"

A box of pizza that still holds a lot of slices that Fawn hasn't touched was brushed aside roughly by Ace until it flipped over on the floor. Yet Fawn lamented his now dirty and messy pizza, his jaw firmly clutched by Ace's hand. The man moved closer in front of his face, pressing down on him in a terrifying strength. His black bead fell onto Fawn's face trapped in her grip, spilling a deadly look full of horror there.

"You'll never get out of this house! Even in death!" Ace's voice was low like a whisper.

Fawn was trembling in fear.

The hatred that Fawn had forgotten-foiled out from the bottom of her heart, mixed with stifled emotions.

"You're mine!" ace once again. Either to convince Fawn or to convince herself.

He-until anytime won't let Fawn go.

"I hate you, Ace Hunter."

Words are painful to listen to. For Ace or Fawn.

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