IN THE CAGE

78. I'M SORRY

...NORMAL pov...

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The earth stopped turning.

Arcelio Hunter - the man famous for his terrible black reputation - now stands in front of a Fawnia Alder, terrified. A Fawnia Alder - a woman who is a nobody. The woman who had no black reputation of being able to subdue the world - managed to make Ace stand before her with a breath stuck in the esophagus. The man's eyes were full of anxiety.

"What happened to my mother?" Fawn voice is flowing. He took a step back just as Ace was about to touch his arm. "What's this...?"

Fawn felt like she was drowning. His heart raced, agonizing and horrified at the image of his mother lying alone with breathing apparatus stuck to her face. The photo is real. And the most painful thing was that Fawn knew it was a new photo. Her mother never got sick that much.

What happened while he was gone? The question crept into Fawn's mind like a thorn that stuck slowly in her heart. It creates pain that gets worse and worse.

"Fawnia, your mother will be fine." Ace tried to calm Fawn who was looking at him sharply.

"You said you wouldn't hurt her."

"I didn't hurt him at all, I'm serious."

"Why is my mom like this? Ah..., is this because of me? You must be sick thinking about me..."

"Fawnia," call Ace. Fawn has been immersed in her own speculation. Creating assumptions that end up hurting him again.

"I have to go, no..." Fawn was stirring to herself. "I have to see my mom."

The speech was like a sharp spear that smashed into Ace's chest. The man widened his eyes and immediately caught Fawn's wrist tightly. "No," he intercepted without a second thought.

Fawn stared at Ace's Ace hand that was blocking him.

"You can't keep me here." murmured Fawn, there was no fear in his eyes. He stood there with courage combined with the flames of black rage. Tears welled up in her reddened eyes.

"Fawnia," Ace can't. Whatever the reason he couldn't let Fawn leave him. He doesn't want the girl to leave here. "Please!"

"You kept my mother's condition a secret from me, Ace." Fawn raised the topic back before Ace. "Even if you don't hurt her, do you think I'll stay by your side after all this? You...., how long are you gonna keep all this from me?"

"I told you he'd be okay."

"AND WHAT IF HE DOESN'T!" Fawn yells in Ace's face. Tears on his cheeks. "What if something happens to my mom? Aren't you thinking about my feelings at all?"

"..."

"No, you definitely don't think about me because you're selfish. You're a fucking asshole who's only concerned for yourself. You just love yourself!" Fawn jerked his hand from Ace's grip, hoping he could break free from the man's strong restraints. But vain. Ace didn't let go. And that makes Fawn even crazier. He's desperate.

Everything that was lodged in his mind like a disease that hurt his mind, tortured him and made him nelangsa during recent times reappeared to the surface. It made him more consumed by black anger.

"I'm warning you one more time..." Fawn whispered softly with tears still running down her cheeks. "Take me off!"

"I. No. gabe. Would..."

Breathing in, Fawn inevitably resorted to violence. With a lightning-fast motion, he twisted Ace's hand backwards, pushed the man to the dining table and snatched the gun lodged in the man's back. Before Ace could react and retaliate, a single shot hit the table.

Felix watched them both - stunned with a heart that almost dislodged from his chest. Bodyguards rushed into the dining room when they heard gunshots.

Just then, they found Fawn brandishing a gun at Ace who was now standing with no protection at all.

It should be Fawn who stood in the dominant position there, it should be him who controlled the situation. But for some reason, staring at Ace who was standing there - blushing eyes and a fear-laden expression - made Fawn feel her heart in pain. Tears were flowing more and more on his face.

"I've had enough of playing as your pet," Fawn revealed those words with quivering lips. "I.., I can't live like this anymore."

"What is laja-Fawn?" Margot joined in the dining room and stared at them with her jaw dropped open.

"Fawn's..."

"Fawn," Carcel joined there and brandished his weapon right at Fawn. Ace who witnessed it instantly widened his eyes.

"DROP YOUR WEAPONS DOWN!" Ace's shout was full of emphasis, warning anyone not to put his Fawn in danger. No one can hurt him. No one can touch his Fawn.

Carcel's worried.

"Carcel," Margot spoke, implying her reprimand that the house's head of bodyguards obey her master.

"Fawnia, please." Ace tries to calm Fawn who is still brandishing a gun at him, ready to throw one more bullet at Ace and make him die.

If only Fawn had the courage to pull the trigger, kill Ace who was now in his presence helpless..., all the revenge he craved, the vow he had dreamed of, the karma he wanted - he can do it now.

"I love you Fawnia" Ace admitted with eyes clouded by tears. "I'm sorry I hurt you all this time."

"If you love me, let me get out of here." Fawn said with a hiccup. "I.., I hate it here!"

"..."

"I hate you." Fawn acknowledged those words with a sobbing that grew increasingly. "You ruined my life, Ace.., if you don't free me now I'll-"

"FAWN!!!" Ace shouted loudly as the gun pointed at him, moving instantly under Fawn's chin.

Fawn ready for death. He is not afraid of anything anymore. Not on the bracelet that's holding him. He has given up completely. He couldn't stay in that house any longer. Not when his mother suffered alone out there. Not when sanity starts to leave him.

Fawn does not want..e absolutely do not want.., love Ace Hunter.

He knew, lasting longer by the man's side, he'd end up crazy. Loving Ace Hunter - the man who has infused a permanent wound in his heart, the destroyer of his life - is an unforgivable form of madness. A stupidity and a curse. Fawn would rather die than give her heart to the devil.

"I hate you" Fawn repeated the words. Not to insult Ace, but to convince himself that the painful thump that now gripped his chest was not sadness. All this is hate. Hatreds.

"Fawnia, please don't do that..." Ace felt an invisible hand strangling him. Makes it hard to breathe. His sight fell on the gun still lodged in Fawn's chin, ready to take the girl's life in one shot. Ace doesn't want that. Even if it was death, Ace would have been more willing if the death had been directed at him, not Fawn.

"I'm sorry, I'll let you go. But please, don't hurt yourself again." Ace doesn't know how the morning ended like this. Kare who was supposed to be a happy meal they both cooled down on the table. No one paid attention to his hard efforts because Fawn was standing there, hating him.

"Fawnia.." Ace's voice slid loose. The tears that welled up on his black bead, a smooth fall rolled towards his chin. "I'm sorry."

"I'll set you free, so please.., keep that weapon away from you." Ace's breath was tight. Fearing a mistake, Fawn could end up lost from his presence like air. He doesn't want that.

"Fawnia, I'll take you away from here - so please, don't do anything rash." Margot is making a sound. He took one step forward and Fawn was instantly on alert for his movements.

Margot gaped. "I'm sorry...,"

There, while Fawn hesitated over the solemnity of Margot's words and Ace-Haru and Vera watched from the back line with a heart that was stirring in fear. Vera felt tears gather in her eyelids. He was scared and concerned at the same time.

No one can save Fawn now.

The girl had already made two Hunters at her feet, and despite the fact that it was so enchanting, Fawn only felt an incredible wound. This situation should not happen, if only their relationship did not start in an abject bond.

None of this would hurt, if only he hadn't fallen in love.

"I'll let you go" Ace said that once more, and Fawn lowered the gun from her chin. He returned Ace's sad gaze with the same wound. He'll lose that man forever. When he flew out of this cage, he would never find that love again.

"I'm sorry," Fawn muttered softly before turning her back away. This time, not a single person shadowed his steps away. Only the eyes-only eyes were staring at him with a feeling of misgivings and hurt.

"Carcel," Ace muttered to his bodyguard who was still there. Looked at him with doubt.

Carcel didn't feel letting Fawn go was a good idea.

"Give Rio an order to keep an eye on Fawn." Ace picked up a photo that was splattered on the floor. "Make sure he gets safely to his mother."

Ace's hand clenched tightly, squeezing the photo already coming. The sadness that was left within him, turned into a burning fire. He was in a tremendous rage.

"Someone needs to learn not to ruin my life."

"Ace, are you okay?" Margot approached her sister worriedly. "How did this happen? What happened to Fawn?"

While Margot was after Ace, Margot did not miss the opportunity to turn to Vera for a moment. "Fawn followed and took him wherever he wanted."

Margot then returns to Ace. "Are you sure you want to let Fawn go, Ace?"

The pain lodged in his chest again created a tremendous pain. Ace was propped up at the table and gazed at the cooling kare there. "Do I have a choice?"

The answer is no.

He could not make Fawn stay by his side, not when the girl hated him.

No matter how hard he tried, Fawn would leave.

"FUCK, GODDAMN, DAMN!!!" Ace's shout surprised everyone.

Along with Ace's emotional outburst at that moment, the glass table before him flipped over with food breaking down on it.

Sirna, all the beauty Felix wanted to capture that morning turned into a nightmare.

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