Chapter 46: A small surprise for Nick
2314words
As they stepped inside the mansion, small footsteps were heard running down the stairs. A boy with messy black hair and a wide smile ran towards them.
"Daddy! Mama!" shouted the boy excitedly.
Ramona immediately squatted down, opened her arms wide, and hugged her son tightly. "Esther, I miss you so much!" she said as she kissed the top of the boy's head.
Hunter stood a few steps behind Ramona, watching the moment with a gentle smile on his face. Esther, after releasing Ramona's embrace, ran over to Hunter and hugged his waist tightly.
"Papa, why is it taking so long? I don't think Papa will come home with Mama," Esther said in a voice full of longing.
Hunter lifted Esther's small body and sat her in his arms. "I'm sorry, Dad, honey. But now that Papa is here, and Papa won't be leaving again, haven't you brought Mama safely?" said Hunter as he looked into the boy's eyes with love.
Esther smiled broadly and hugged Hunter's neck tightly. "Promise me, don't ever leave me again?"
Hunter nodded, then kissed Esther's forehead gently. "Papa promises."
Ramona stood beside them, her eyes teary at the interaction of father and son. Her heart was warm watching how Hunter truly poured out his affection for Esther.
Hunter lowered Esther slowly to the floor and clasped her hands. "Now the three of us will always be together. Nothing can separate us anymore," he said as he looked at Ramona.
Ramona nodded, grasping Hunter's other hand. "This is a new beginning for all of us. Esther, from now on Papa and Mama will always be there for you."
Esther smiled happily, holding Hunter and Ramona's hands tightly. The three of them walked towards the living room, where the warmth of the family began to fill the large mansion. Finally, after all the trials, their little family can come together and enjoy true happiness.
The three of them sat in the living room, listening intently and glowing about Esther's school activities.
"Is Mama busy tomorrow? I really want to take my mom to school, some of my friends mock and say if I don't have a mother," Hunter immediately narrowed his gaze.
"Why don't you tell my dad? Who said that? Tell Daddy tomorrow, Daddy will teach him a lesson," Esther smiled and shook her head.
"There's no need to punish him, just show him that I also have a mother who is no less beautiful than his mother," Hunter held back his laughter when his son's attitude was exactly the same as his.
Hunter hugged Ramona's waist and said, "It doesn't seem like there's any need for a DNA test anymore, he's indeed my son." Ramona chuckled at that.
***
Hunter sits in the driver's seat, driving his car to the prison with his friends inside. In the back seat, Jess, Snowi, and Elors engage in a conversation full of laughter and jokes.
"How is Nick's face when he finds out that Elors has been a part of us all along?" muttered Jess with a meaningful smile.
Snowi laughed out loud. "I'm sure she would have sobbed, if only she didn't have that sky-high self-esteem!"
Everyone in the car laughed at Snowi's comment. Even Elors, who usually only gives a faint smile, couldn't help but chuckle.
However, behind his smile, there was a deep sense of relief. Eventually, his parents get justice for the brutal murders that Nick committed in the past. Elors stared out the window, recalling the long journey he had gone through to get to this point.
Hunter, who was watching Elors through the center rearview mirror, spoke in a serious but sincere tone. "After the court decides on Nick's sentence, all the property he took from your parents will be returned in your name. That means you can go back to your family's trade, Elors."
Elors turned his head towards Hunter and could only smile slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Hunter," he said in a low but grateful tone.
Hunter continued, "Stop calling me sir, you're our friend. So, stop being my advocate. Get back on track and get your family's life back on track."
Elors nodded slowly. He couldn't say much, because he knew that without Hunter, his life might never change. He can still remember that moment, a year ago, when he met Hunter at the port. At the time, he was just a young man filled with guilt and lost direction, not knowing how to continue living without his parents.
"If it wasn't for you, I might still be living with endless regrets. Thank you, Mr. Hunter," said Elors sincerely.
Hunter just nodded while staying focused on the road. In his heart, he felt satisfied that he had helped someone get back a decent life, especially someone who had lost everything to Nick's crimes.
The car continued to drive closer to the prison. Jess, Snowi, and Elors start talking about how Nick reacts when they give him a "little surprise". Laughter again filled the car, but this time, there was a different warmth inside. They knew, this wasn't just about the victory over Nick, but also about the justice that was finally being served.
They had arrived at the police station, and once Hunter got off, he was the most excited and enthusiastic to meet Nick and Sevano immediately.
Jess and the others, got out of the car in astonishment.
"Don't you think he's too happy that his cousin is in prison?" asked Snowi, making an angry Jess immediately hit her on the head.
Snowi grimaced in pain rubbing her head, "You always hit my head." Jess was annoyed.
"How can I bear not to hit you on the head if your mouth really doesn't know what you're saying, how he's not happy Nick went to jail, Nick was the cause of Uncle Gideon's murder, if I were in Hunter's position, I would do the same, but I'm more brutal by judging Nick myself without handing him over to the law," Jess replied with ambition making Snowi blink.
Liam, who had been silent since earlier, immediately quipped, "He was so happy that he didn't realize he was driving for us." They immediately threw their gazes at each other.
"Don't let him come to his senses after driving for us," said Snowi who was annoyed by them all.
They then went inside to catch up with Hunter to surprise Nick.
In the inmates' meeting room, which is separated by thick glass and a telephone as a means of communication, the atmosphere is tense. Hunter sat relaxed, wearing a neat suit that accentuated his confidence. When Nick walked in and sat behind the glass, Hunter waved his hand, giving a faint smile that more resembled a mockery than a greeting.
Hunter picked up the phone in front of him and motioned for Nick to do the same. With an annoyed face, Nick finally grabbed the phone in front of him.
"How does it feel to be betrayed?" asked Hunter in a mocking tone, his jaw tightening while his smile was slanted meaningfully.
Nick hissed, his eyes burning with anger. "I'll never give up, Hunter. You think you can destroy me? I always get up."
Hunter smiled widely, this time with a clear sense of satisfaction. "Of course, Nick. But you've forgotten one important thing..." He nodded slowly, as if enjoying the victory that was already in his grasp. "I've won."
Nick clenched his jaw, his gaze piercing Hunter's eyes. But before he could say anything, Hunter continued in a tone full of mystery. "Oh, yes. I have a surprise for you. You want to see it?"
Nick narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What are you planning now?" he asked coldly, though there was a hint of apprehension in his voice.
Hunter just smiled as he glanced at the door behind Nick. Before long, the door opened, and someone stepped in. The young man was well-groomed with a strong aura of confidence. Nick squinted his eyes sharply, trying to recognize the man.
"Elors," Hunter muttered as he pointed at the man casually.
Elors sat down in the chair next to Hunter, then picked up the phone that Hunter had given him. With a thin smile full of mockery, she spoke to Nick, "Did I surprise you?"
Hunter chuckled, enjoying Nick's reaction that changed from astonished to angry. Nick slammed the table hard, his voice echoing in the small room.
"You!" exclaimed Nick excitedly, his index finger pointing at Elors. "You're just a lowly bodyguard that I can finish off with my hands at any time!"
Elors remained calm, a slanted smile adorning his face. "Oh, so that's how you see me?" he said casually. "Alright, let me introduce myself well to you, Nick."
Hunter folded his hands in front of his chest, watching this little show with satisfaction.
Elors continued, looking at Nick sharply, "I'm Elors Lester." He paused, giving Nick time to digest his words. "You must know Lester's name, right? The American merchant you killed while trading on your way to Shanghai?"
Nick looked surprised. His face changed drastically, from full of anger to confusion mixed with shock.
"I..." Elors smiled coldly. "I am Lester's son. And now, I'm here, Nick. To ensure that justice is served."
Hunter chuckled softly, patting Elors on the shoulder as a sign of support. Meanwhile, Nick seemed to be glued to his place, his eyes widening. No words came out of his mouth, just a silence filled with disbelief.
"What a plot twist, isn't it?" Hunter finally spoke up, enjoying Nick's completely stunned expression. The meeting room was filled with an atmosphere of absolute victory on the part of Hunter and Elors.
Nick laughed discordantly, not believing that he would be betrayed by people nearby, this was really sad and sad.
Elors then warned before he handed Hunter his phone by saying, "I hope you can get the punishment that we both deserve." Nick laughed at the warning.
Hunter accepted the call and observed Nick's laughing expression, "Don't force yourself to laugh to cover up your disappointment. You're ruined, don't laugh anymore. Even I won't let you see the light in the slightest after this. I will really make you punished justly." Pressure Hunter who really wants justice can punish Nick fairly and appropriately.
In the tense meeting room, Nick suddenly chuckled, then said in a mocking tone. "You know, Hunter. You may have managed to put me in this cell, but there's something you forgot." Nick leaned forward, staring at Hunter sharply from behind thick glass. "Mom... He's just like me. We are one blood. Of course, the murderer's blood flows just as much in his body as it does in mine."
Hunter watched Nick with a cold look, but remained calm. However, Nick continued to provoke emotions with a sly smile on his face. "Who do you think has supported all my efforts all along, huh? "Your mother, Hunter! He is the one who always supports me to destroy you. He knew I wanted to destroy everything, and he gave me a way for it instead!"
Hearing that, Elors immediately spoke up, his voice firm but still calm. "Don't be provoked by it, Mr. Hunter." He looked at Hunter for a moment, then returned to Nick with a sharp expression. "The mistress only came to him to ask for help separating the master from Ramona. That's it. The lady was never as cruel as she said," Elors continued, explaining the truth. As someone who had been by Nick's side, Elors knew what was really going on.
Hunter remained silent, looking at Nick with piercing cold eyes. After a while, he finally said, "Let alone you who claim to be a murderer, Nick. Even if my aunt, Sonya, tried the same thing as you, I would treat her the same way. I've never been indiscriminate in protecting Ramona. Anyone who tries to touch her, including my own aunt, I won't let her escape."
Nick squinted his eyes sharply, his face implying anger mixed with frustration. But then, as if remembering something, he smiled sarcastically. "Ah... Do you think it's all over?" he asked, his tone full of provocation. "You forgot something important, Hunter. Your personnel are still one short."
Hunter only raised one eyebrow, waiting for Nick to continue.
"Jeseline," Nick muttered in a triumphant tone. "He's still out there. Whose side do you think he's on right now? He's roaming freely, and I'm sure..." Nick paused, holding back his laughter that was starting to break. "He's after your woman, Hunter. Ramona. Do you think he's safe?"
Nick immediately laughed out loud after saying that, his laughter echoing in the small room. Meanwhile, Hunter clenched his fists tightly, but he hid it from Nick's view. She leaned forward, moved closer to the glass, and looked at Nick with an expression so cold that it made the air feel frozen.
"I'll tell you something, Nick," Hunter said in a low but threatening tone. "Ramona is not just my woman. She is my future wife. In addition to being beautiful and cunning, she is also ingenious. I won't let anyone touch it. Including Jeseline."
Hunter then smiled faintly, a meaningful smile. "Wait a minute, Nick. I'll invite Jeseline to accompany you inside this cell. Don't expect too much of a quiet here."
Hearing that, Nick's smile slowly faded, though he tried to cover up his surprise. But Hunter and Elors knew, behind Nick's arrogant mask, that fear began to creep in. Meanwhile, Hunter stood up from his chair casually, glancing at Elors before saying calmly, "Come on, let's get this all over the place."
