My worst fear still happened.

Zane was in this very bar, and he had noticed me for a long time. 

As for the lies I told him moments ago, they felt like a sharp slap on my cheek. Every muscle in my body tensed as I stood still.

Zane's merciless kiss lasted for what felt like ages before he released me. His slender finger traced my swollen lips after that. 

His gaze lowered onto me as he smirked, but his tone was cold. "Have you somehow sleepwalked to the bar?"

He was at the bar and even phoned me to question my location, causing me to spew lie upon lie. The faintest hint of anger sparked in my chest.

I scoffed, saying, "You saw me! So, why did you deliberately call and test me?"

Zane's gaze darkened while he shot me a half-smile. "I thought you'd tell me the truth. I even gave you a chance, but you insisted on lying to the end."

His fingers lingered around my neck as if his powerf

Zane pinned me against the door and kissed me intensely once we got to the bedroom. His hands roamed my waist. 

He kissed me so hard that I fell into a trance-like state.

He let out a low chuckle by my ear all of a sudden. "Who are you trying to impress with that sexy outfit?"

I said nothing.

Then, he brought me to the bed and took my dress off with ease. A viciousness flickered in his deep gaze. "Did you doll yourself up because you knew he was coming back to the country today?"

I wanted to roll my eyes at him but feared I would anger him more. So, I could only mutter, "I'm always dolling myself up daily."

Zane snorted, his features contorting with disdain. 

That was when my phone rang again. It was still Isaac.

Zane picked up my phone and deliberately asked, "Do you want to answer him?"

I shook my head with all my might.

Zane's lips curved mockingly. "How could you do that? H

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!

My worst fear still happened.

Zane was in this very bar, and he had noticed me for a long time. 

As for the lies I told him moments ago, they felt like a sharp slap on my cheek. Every muscle in my body tensed as I stood still.

Zane's merciless kiss lasted for what felt like ages before he released me. His slender finger traced my swollen lips after that. 

His gaze lowered onto me as he smirked, but his tone was cold. "Have you somehow sleepwalked to the bar?"

He was at the bar and even phoned me to question my location, causing me to spew lie upon lie. The faintest hint of anger sparked in my chest.

I scoffed, saying, "You saw me! So, why did you deliberately call and test me?"

Zane's gaze darkened while he shot me a half-smile. "I thought you'd tell me the truth. I even gave you a chance, but you insisted on lying to the end."

His fingers lingered around my neck as if his powerful grip would break my neck in the next second.

My chest tightened once more. 

Zane smirked at me.

Chapter 11