Chapter 45: Flashback
2616words
Without saying much, Hunter walked over to Ramona, then handed her a towel. "Please dry my hair," he said in a flat but firm tone. Ramona immediately put down her phone and received a towel from Hunter, without the slightest objection. As Ramona began to dry her hair, Hunter's sharp eyes accidentally glanced at Ramona's lit phone screen. He had read the name "Rafle" in Ramona's last chat.
"Was that your friend at the time?" asked Hunter with raised eyebrows. Ramona nodded casually, "Yes, he's my friend. Why?"
Hunter immediately sneered, playing with the tip of Ramona's shirt with his fingers. "Looks like he likes you," he muttered, his tone sounding half annoyed. Ramona widened at that, then rolled her eyeballs. "Yauuuu, I've considered him like my own brother. There is no way that will happen. What do you think of it?" he replied in a joking tone.
Hunter stopped his movements and looked at Ramona with a sharp look, full of disbelief. "How can there be a man who considers a beautiful woman like you as his sister. Obviously he wants you too," he grumbled, his tone full of jealousy.
Ramona just let out a small smile as she continued to dry Hunter's hair. He knew that Hunter was always protective of him. But suddenly, Hunter pulled his wrist, slammed Ramona's body onto the bed, and instantly overwhelmed her. Their faces were now only a few inches apart.
"Let's get married soon," Hunter said firmly, his tone serious. "I'm not calm to see you single like this. It seems like a lot of guys are after you."
Ramona smiled slightly at that statement. Casually, he wrapped his arms around Hunter's neck. "Then what about you? With such a perfect stature, don't many women adore you? Liam said some women even proposed to you in front of the office. They must be prettier than me, right?" teased Ramona while touching Hunter's cheek with her fingertips.
Hunter hissed softly, his eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Liam really can't be cooperated," she murmured grumbling, making Ramona chuckle.
Hunter looked at Ramona intently. "There is no other woman in my heart," he said in a low but confident tone. "My eyes are only on you. So, if you don't want this handsome man to be proposed to by many women, marry me."
Ramona's laughter grew louder at the remark. Hunter's slightly annoyed and adorable face made the atmosphere even warmer. Unable to stand Ramona's laughter, Hunter immediately kissed her neck fiercely. Ramona suddenly laughed, amused by Hunter's treatment, but did not refuse at all.
Behind all the jokes and excitement, the two know each other that what they have is real. Hunter's plan to end things is now clearer: his life will only be focused on Ramona, the only woman who has managed to steal his heart.
Hunter stopped kissing Ramona's level neck and dropped her body to the side, pulling her into his embrace. He embraced the slender body tightly, making sure the distance between them was no longer there. Her voice was low, full of firmness, yet it felt warm in Ramona's ears.
"I want to end this as soon as possible. Can you please cooperate?" she said quietly, making Ramona raise her head and look at Hunter questioningly.
"What do you mean?" Ramona asked in a serious tone, her eyes staring sharply at Hunter.
Hunter let out a long sigh as he played with the strands of Ramona's hair with his fingers. "The only way to destroy Nick is to immediately take the evidence of the murder," he said, staring at the ceiling.
Ramona was silent, her eyes widened, but she immediately nodded understandingly. He knew this wasn't just an ordinary idea; this was a plan that Hunter thought through. He looked at Hunter again, this time with obvious enthusiasm. "I'll do it. Quickly say, what should I do?" he asked excitedly.
Hunter looked at Ramona in silence for a moment. There was a sense of innocence in his gaze. Although Ramona was so excited, Hunter knew the risks of this plan were too great. However, he still explained, in a voice that now sounded quieter, almost like a whisper. "We made Nick and Sevano have a disagreement. If we can separate them and make them suspicious of each other, the chances of getting those items will be easier. Nick is not easy to believe, but if he is in love, he can get a little lulled and forget everything. Your job is to make them quarrel."
Ramona nodded, her mind starting to work hard, looking for the best way to carry out the plan. It didn't take long for a brilliant idea to come to his mind. He looked at Hunter with renewed enthusiasm. "I know what to do," he said in a confident tone.
Hunter opened his eyes slightly, curious about what Ramona wanted to say. "How?" he asked briefly.
Ramona smiled faintly. "What if we ask for Rafle help as well? We use my mother as bait. I'm going to ask Rafle to approach Sevano, claiming to be my future fiancée. I'm going to have him act as if he wants to reveal that you and I are trapping Nick. Sevano would definitely pressure and use my mother to make me speak. From there, I can trigger Nick's anger and make the two of them argue."
Hunter listened intently, pleased with Ramona's intelligence, but he was not entirely satisfied with her idea. "What should Rafle? Where are your feelings? How can you use your mother as bait? I'm not sure we can get your mother's blessing after she finds out about your plan to help me," Hunter said, obviously looking uncomfortable.
Ramona instantly patted Hunter's plane chest, startling her. "Nick and Sevano have never known my mother. We can use someone else to pretend to be my mother," Ramona said with a confident smile.
Hearing that, Hunter was silent for a while, then laughed softly while nodding. "Alright. In that case, let's execute this plan. But I don't want there to be too much risk for you, Ramona. Remember that," he said, now in a softer tone but still full of authority.
Ramona smiled, leaning her head against Hunter's chest. In that embrace, the two knew that even though this plan was full of risks, they would do it together, taking care of each other and trusting each other.
***
All plans went perfectly. Nick and Sevano end up having a violent disagreement after Ramona cleverly triggers a conflict between them. Shortly after, Nick decides to go to Los Angeles to find out the whereabouts of Ramona's mother. It was his attempt to regain Ramona's trust, after their relationship began to crack due to Hunter and Ramona's subtle manipulation.
Nick's departure became a golden opportunity that Hunter and Ramona took advantage of. They enter Nick's house with the main purpose: to retrieve evidence of Hunter's father's murder that has been hidden. Ramona, who had previously discovered a hidden basement behind Nick's walk-in closet, guided Hunter to the place.
"This is the basement," Ramona said in a low voice. "Here he kept everything—the evidence of the murder, the records, even the objects he used to kill. It's all here."
When Hunter saw the contents of the basement, he was stunned. The state of the space was creepy: the walls were full of graffiti and maps, the shelves were filled with objects with blood stains, and the atmosphere was grippingly cold. He held Ramona's hand tightly, his eyes full of guilt.
"How could I be so stupid to let you live in a murderer's house like him?" he murmured, full of regret. He felt that he had failed to protect Ramona and left her in great danger all along.
Ramona, who is used to this tension, tries to calm him down. He leads Hunter to the shelf where Nick keeps important files. "I'm sure this is evidence of your father's murder," he said as he showed a box of things. "This is the only thing that Nick takes care of very well. On each of these knives and gloves, there were blood spots. If you test it in forensics, it's likely that your father's blood is here. With this evidence, we can put Nick in jail."
Hunter's eyes were teary. He grabbed Ramona into his arms, holding back a small sip that finally escaped his lips. "I'm sorry," he whispered in a hoarse voice. "I have pushed you into this terrifying danger. You must be very frightened when you are beside him."
Ramona is touched by Hunter's sincerity. He slowly rubbed Hunter's back gently, trying to reassure the man. "I'm fine," he said softly. "I know you'll always protect me."
Hunter relaxed his arms, cupping Ramona's face with both hands. "Thank you for helping me so far," he said sincerely.
Ramona smiled slightly and nodded. "What's more? Let's take this evidence to the police station so that Nick can be punished according to justice."
However, Hunter shook his head vigorously. "It's not that easy. Sevano will definitely come to Nick and tell them everything. So, don't make any moves while Nick is gone. We'll let Nick and Sevano be suspicious of each other longer."
Ramona nodded, understanding Hunter's strategy. However, the moment turned tense when footsteps were heard approaching. Ramona turns her head and finds Elors, Nick's personal assistant, coming in and catching them both wet.
"Nick has come back from Los Angeles sir," Elors said in a formal tone.
Ramona looked at Elors with widened eyes. "Master? Aren't you..." He said in a confused tone.
However, Hunter smiled calmly and made Elors immediately bow respectfully to Ramona. "Sorry to surprise you, miss. I was ordered by Mr. Hunter to keep an eye on Nick for a long time, also to ensure your safety while around him."
Ramona breathed a sigh of relief, even though the tension still enveloped her. He looked at Hunter doubtfully, as if asking, "Can you really trust Elors?"
Hunter, gently, rubbed Ramona's shoulder. "Elors' parents were also killed by Nick while they were trading in Shanghai. However, Nick doesn't know that the American merchant he killed is Elors' parents. Therefore, I deliberately put Elors by Nick's side. He's my spy to get all the information I need, while also making sure you're safe."
Ramona was stunned. It was only then that he realized how far Hunter had prepared to protect him and carry out this plan. Even though they were in danger, he felt a little calmer knowing that Hunter was always thinking about his safety.
"Elors was the one who deliberately told Sevano and Nick if you had heard all their chatter when talking about my father's murder to trigger them to make a move," Ramona didn't expect it to go that way. Ramona is like a fool who really doesn't know anything at the moment.
The game Hunter is really neat and as detailed as that.
Hunter directly looked at Elors, "After Nick comes back he will definitely check the files. We make sure not to see or touch him, we assure Nick that we don't do anything while he's gone like Sevano said. That way their dispute will be longer. Once you have a chance you can exchange the evidence." Elors nodded in understanding and walked away.
"I'll go home, be normal when Nick comes home as if nothing happened, maybe after this incident, Nick will be a little shaky with you, so be a little careful and take good care of yourself, if something happens you have to run to Elors, he'll take you away from Nick right away, you understand?" Ramona nodded understandingly.
Ramona immediately hugged Hunter tightly as if Hunter wasn't willing to leave her.
Hunter hugged Ramona tightly and said, "I myself have to keep a close eye on my son. Nick or Sevano will definitely use our son for this." Ramona immediately described Hunter's hug.
Hunter cupped Ramona's face and said, "No need to worry, I'll take care of our son, make sure he's safe, you trust me right?" Ramona nodded making Hunter smile and kiss Ramona's forehead for a long time.
***
The next day Ramona comes to Hunter's office, this is for the latter's plan. They joked, joked, chatted, and even brought up about their plans, making Nick and Sevano disagree.
"You want to try it on the couch?" Hunter teased, making Ramona smile as Hunter kissed her neck and at the same time the door opened revealing Elors without knocking on the door.
It looks like Hunter is very upset with Elors' arrival, but Ramona immediately throws out her phone, which says that there is a voice eavesdropping in her bag. Hunter was silent while Ramona immediately handed the ballpoint pen that Nick put in last night to Elors. Without saying anything, Elors immediately left with the interceptor ballpoint pen out of the room.
"Honey, how can you tell if Nick put in a voice interceptor? Does that mean they've been listening to our conversation since then?" asked Hunter in surprise when Ramona was really careful and carefully observing her surroundings.
Ramona nodded and said, "As you guessed, Nick is starting to be suspicious of me. I deliberately provoked you to say all that. Elors has exchanged the evidence of his murder and it has been clearly proven that Nick killed your father. What are you waiting for, let's end everything right now. I want to live quietly with you and come back with my son." Hunter gripped Ramona's hand tightly full of anxiety and uneasiness, afraid that something would happen to Ramona.
"After this Nick and Sevano will definitely act, that's the right time to catch them," Hunter immediately hugged Ramona in fear. Ramona returned the hug and gently rubbed Hunter's burly back.
"I believe you won't leave me in danger," Ramona muttered confidently to Hunter.
***
Now Hunter and Elors are waiting for Ramona to arrive at Nick's mansion. Elors had fixed the interception pen by replacing Hunter's interception so they could know what Nick was up to.
Hunter listened intently to Nick's every word, his jaw tightening, his hands clenched and his gaze turning into angry flashes every time he heard Nick's taunts at Ramona.
But the peak of Hunter's anger was when Nick slapped Ramona. His hands were really clenched tightly, ready to kill Nick at this time.
"I really won't forgive you after this," Hunter muttered making Elors just shut up and observe from the side, this was the first time Elors knew if Hunter could be this angry only about women.
Shortly after, a phone rang from Ramona informing her that the evidence of the murder was in the weapons warehouse. As soon as the call ended, Hunter immediately got off the couch.
"Call Jess and Snowi, bring all the bodyguards to go to Nick's arsenal, after a while, take the police also to Nick's arsenal, get closer to the warehouse after I enter first," Elors immediately got off the couch and nodded in understanding.
Hunter instantly rushed to the arsenal with overwhelming emotions and such a great feeling in the desire to kill Nick at this time.
