Chapter 10

Now that I thought about it, I had never been this scared or cautious around Zane before. Gosh, it seemed that people tended to change after losing everything they once had. Once the call connected, Zane's chuckles sounded from the other end. His dull, emotionless laughter made the hairs down my neck stand on end. My chest tightened as I spoke first. "Sorry, I was asleep and wanted to answer your call when it woke me, but you hung up." "Oh?" Zane let out several deep chuckles. "What are you doing now, then?" I tensed but instinctively replied, "Sleeping. Your call woke me, and I'm currently chatting with you on the phone while still in bed." I looked at my reflection in the washroom mirror, which didn't flinch as I told that lie. In truth, I was impressed by how good a liar I was. Zane's chuckle deepened. His laugh alone could send chills down one's spine. That proved someone who seldom laughed like Zane was unsuited to laugh. When he did, it was too jarring. "Does that mean I interrupted you from having a good dream?" Zane's voice rang out again. It didn't sound warm or furious, which made it difficult to tell how he was feeling. I laughed at once. "No. I was having a nightmare. Thankfully, your call woke me, because that nightmare was horrifying." Zane chuckled again. Each time he did, I felt the nerves in my body tighten a little more. He was truly frightening. The next second, he asked, "Where are you now?" It felt like the temperature around me dropped drastically when he asked that. I couldn't help feeling like someone was watching me at that instant. I headed to the washroom's entrance and looked at the surroundings outside. Yet, nobody was there. There wasn't a single soul. I was probably overthinking things out of guilt. Besides, Zane might be having fun with his old flame right now. Why would he show up at this bar? He didn't even like coming to such places anyway. Once I crossed off any possibility that he could be here, I smiled with determination. "I'm at home, duh. Where else would I sleep if not at home?" Another series of chuckles came from Zane. Again? Seriously! My nervous system would soon break down if I had to listen to him chuckle like that for any longer. "Good. Very good." Zane abruptly spoke, and his sarcastic tone made my heart stop beating for a split second. Why did I feel like something was off? I held my breath while cautiously asking, "So, what are you doing now? When will you be home?" "Me? I'm out having drinks." The word "drinks" was enough to send my nervous system into full panic mode. Shocked, I asked, "Where are you having drinks?" "The bar. Would you like to join me?" Zane's voice was rich. Although it should've sounded pleasant to the ears, I found it oddly chilling. I awkwardly laughed before turning him down. "N-No, thanks. I should go back to bed." I ended the call right after saying that. Geez! One should never tell lies. The guilt was one thing to deal with, but then, one would need to tell more lies to support the first lie. If one failed to make the first lie believable, they would still need to bear the punishment and fear for having told all those lies. At that moment, I prayed with all my might that Zane was drinking at another bar, that his sudden phone call was only a random check-up because he was bored. Either way, I couldn't stay at this bar anymore. I needed to rush home. I hurried out of the washroom, planning to bid goodbye to Isaac and Darcy before being on my way. Little did I expect to be pulled aside by a powerful force once I got to the hallway outside the washroom. Before I could see what was happening, someone viciously pinned me against the cold wall. I yelped in shock, but my captor's lips crashed onto mine, preventing me from making any sounds. That was when a familiar scent filled my nose. My soul nearly left my body as I took in the magnified handsome face before my eyes. It was Zane!