CALAIS' POV
“Why are you smiling?” Zayden broke the silence.
We are heading home right now after talking to Zerro. Zerro said something came up, so he headed out first. He just warned me to take care of Zainea.
“It's just that I'm quite impressed with Zerro's behavior. I thought after knowing that some stranger is using his love one's body, he'll go mad and take her away. I was wrong about him.”
God, why I'm so judgmental? I shouldn't have judged him immediately.
His phone rang. It's an unknown number. Unknown? I thought he doesn't give his number to just anyone? Who's calling him then?
He didn't answer it until went off.
“Mind to answer? Maybe that's important.”
“I don't answer an unknown call.”
“Who else knows your number? Are you sure you don't know that caller? You might have forgotten to save that person's number in your phone, who knows?”
His phone rang again.
He seems like doesn't have the plan to answer it, so I did.
“What are you doing? Don't take that.”
“Just drive, okay? I'll take care of this.”
“Is this Zayden Constello?” a man from the other line asked. I'm hearing an ambulance's siren.
“This is his wife. Who's this?” I'm sure it's not Tristan.
“The owner of this phone was shot.” Zayden stepped on the brake and made a U-turn when he heard that. That was sudden. Thankfully, I have the seatbelt on, or else Zainea's face would be bruised.
Looks like Zayden is very sure that the person he's thinking right now and the owner of the phone is the same. He didn't hesitate to make a turn.
"Hello, ma'am? Are you there?"
I have a bad feeling about this.
“Uhm, yeah. W-Who's the owner?”
“Hang on, ma'am. Where's his wallet?" he asked someone, perhaps. "His name is Zerro, ma'am. Zerro Constello. We're sending him to the nearest hospital. I'll just text you the address.” He ended the call.
The man texted the hospital's name. We reached there in no time.
“S-Should w-we... Should we tell this to Zainea?” I felt a sudden coldness. I don't know what to feel. Is Caileigh behind this? Who has the guts to shoot a Constello in broad daylight?!
This is what I fear the most. The people who are helping me right now are in danger.
“No. Don't. Go check how his situation is. I'll follow. I'll just call Tristan.”
I went out from his car and rushed inside the hospital. I asked the nurse where they brought Zerro.
He's in the emergency room.
Later, Zayden came. He's calm, but I can sense that he's tensed. He keeps on looking at the door of the emergency room. Sometimes he's checking his watch as if he's getting impatient.
The doctor came out. Zayden blocked my sight. He encircled his arms around my head and covered my eyes with his hand. Now, I'm a little bit facing his chest.
That give me a hint. The doctor is covered with Zerro's blood.
“How's he?”
“He's okay. Luckily, he was shot on his shoulder. If the bullet reached his heart, we don't know what might have happened to him. We'll going to transfer him to our VVIP room, Mister Constello. You can visit him later.”
“Ok.”
When they left, Zayden let go of me.
“His accident has nothing to do with you, so don't worry yourself. Just do your mission and don't let Zainea's affairs affect your real business.”
“It has nothing to do with me?”
“It's not Caileigh's doing, if that's what you are thinking.”
I feel relieved after I heard that. Thank goodness it's not her doing because if it is, I don't know what I can do to her.
“Then who?”
"The police are looking for the gunman."
"A gunman?"
Zayden nodded.
"I guess, Zerro sensed his presence that he managed to at least avoid being hit in a vital part."
"Aren't we supposed to tell this to your mother? We can't just hide everything."
He handed me his phone.
"She's out of the country. She has a sudden business."
I read the text message of his mother. It's so long.
"That's all about you." He grabbed his phone from me.
"Hey, I haven't even read one sentence! Let me read it if that's about me." I tried to get it back, but he puts it inside his pocket.
"She just said take care."
"Wow. That long message only means take care? Read it out loud. I want to hear it."
He raised his eyebrow.
"Take it from me if you want to read it. Anyway, go and visit Zerro—"
"And you? Don't tell me you don't want to visit him because you hate him. Don't give me that stupid reason because I can sense that you're worried. You care for him, but why do you always show your bad side to him?"
Is it really because of Zainea? Or the wealth?
"Being curious will only bring you to your end."
"That's exaggerated."
"It's your choice if you want to take care of him or not. I'll go ahead. I have something to do."
"What are you doing to do? Hey!"
Psh. He's avoiding that question. What's really in your mind, Zayden Constello? I wish I could read your mind.
In the end, I went to see Zerro. He's peacefully sleeping on his bed.
Who hired the shooter? Why does that person want to kill Zerro? Fortunately, the shooter missed the shot or else Zerro's dead.
Is it their father?
I shook my head. Why would he? Stop it, Calais. Don't just accuse someone when you don't know the truth.
I sat next to Zerro and stared at him until I felt the urge to sleep.
I woke up when I feel someone's gently caressing my hair.
"Good evening."
"U-Uh." I sit properly and fixed my hair. I even wiped the side of my lips. Okay. Good. I didn't drool.
He's now sitting while leading on the headboard.
I looked outside the window. It was dark. How can I sleep that long? Zayden didn't come, eh?
"Are you thirsty?"
He's staring at me.
"You miss Zainea? Do you feel uncomfortable seeing her face while I'm the one you're talking to? I can cover it for the meantime if you do." I covered my face with both of my hands. "Is this okay? Or should I face the wall?"
He let out a weak chuckle.
"No. You don't have to. It's just weird to see the woman I love with that kind of expression. I'm not used to it. Why are you here anyway? Aren't you supposed to be busy with your personal business?"
"I'm not a heartless person. The safety of everyone is my priority. I still have the rest of the days to finish my business. I know I can do that within two weeks, so I’m here to accompany you."
"Thanks. Where will you start?"
"I don't have enough evidence to reveal the truth, so I'll just go and provoke my sister. Or maybe, I can threaten her secretary. That's my plan, for now."
"If that won't work?"
"I—" I smiled at him. "If I can't get the justice I deserve, then, I will just take back everything Caileigh has. I will let her go home with nothing. If Zayden helps me."
"Don’t worry. If he won't help, I will. I promised Zainea that I'll give my best to assist you in everything, so you can always count on me."
"Thank you. I swear, I'll quietly leave once this is done. I won't cause you any more problem. Anyway, have you seen the gunman's face? Do you have any idea who sent him?"
"Don't problem that. I have all the resources to hunt that man."
"Oh."
A moment of silence.
Where the heck is Zayden? Does he have no plan on fetching me here? I don't have any money to take a cab! I can't even make a call, I have no phone.
"Uhm—"
"You like my brother, don't you? Do you have a plan on marrying him after you go back to your body?"
I was caught off guard of what he said. I don't usually show it; how come he knows it? Is it too obvious?
----------
THIRD PERSON'S POV
Zayden was driving his way to the Amadeo Mansion. He has enough evidence to prove that it was Zainea's stepmother who hired that gunman who attempted to kill Zerro.
He played again the voice message Zerro received from Mrs. Amadeo.
'Let's meet. I have something to tell you about Zainea. If you don't appear, I'll publicize what happened that night. You don't want her to be ruined, do you?'
Zayden gripped the steering wheel. He's pissed. Mad.
When he arrived at his destination, he immediately went inside the house. The maids, although told not to entertain any guest, give way when they saw how mad Zayden is. They are afraid to be fired, but more afraid to die.
Mrs. Amadeo is having a tea the moment Zayden entered. She smiled when she saw him.
"What brings you here, President Constello—oh! Should I just call you Zayden? Where's my precious daughter? She didn't come with you?"
The smile on her face irritated Zayden more. Whoever sees that smile would say that it's fake.
"Why did you do that?"
Mrs. Amadeo remained smiling after hearing those words form Zayden.
"Did what? I don't get you. Care to enlighten me?"
Zayden dropped all the pictures on the table.
"That's photoshopped. Don't believe that, son." She's so calm.
Zayden grinned. "Photoshopped. Alright. I can just give these to the police to verify if these are fake or not." 
Mrs. Amadeo lost her calmness. Her hands begin to tremble. Zayden saw how her mood changes.
"Anyway, the gunman you hired was caught. He confessed everything." It was a lie. The gunman is still out there hiding somewhere.
"Do you think after you eliminate Zerro, Zainea will be miserable? You're wrong."
"No. That's not me. I'm innocent. No. That's not me!" Mrs. Amadeo is continuously shaking her head while grabbing her hair.
Suddenly, she laughed loudly.
"No. You're the wrong one! I know Zainea is deeply in love with Zerro! I know she'll go after him, although he's dead." She laughed again. "That's why I planned everything."
Zayden was not surprised when Mrs. Amadeo confessed. It's his plan to provoke her. He thought it would be hard to make her confess, but she's gives in easily.
"She's one lucky bitch. She even survived that accident."
"Why did you do that?"
Zainea's stepmom cried.
"Where's my daughter?"
Zayden got confused. 'Something is wrong with her,' he thought.
"It's Zainea's fault! If she left together with her mother, this mess won't happen! We would've been living peacefully!" she shouted angrily.
Zayden looked at his watch.
'It's time.'
A siren from a police car was disturbed the whole mansion.
Earlier, Zayden texted Tristan to send police officers at Amadeo Mansion after 10 minutes.
"What's that?"
"It's time for you to pay for your crimes, Mrs. Amadeo." Two police officers entered.
Mrs. Amadeo walks towards Zayden.
"No, please. Don't send me to jail. My daughter... My daughter is alone. No one will take care of her," she plead.
Zayden removed her grip on his suit.
"You should have considered that before you acted."
"Zayden! Please! You'll pay for this!" The police officers carried her out after saying her rights.
Tristan came in and show a document to Zayden.
"She's mentally sick."
It was a file of Mrs. Amadeo.
The psychiatrist doesn't want to disclose Mrs. Amadeo's situation, so Tristan took the document secretly.
"She's already sick when she married Mister Amadeo. It worsens when her plan to kill your wife failed."
"Where's Zainea's father? Does he know?"
"I guess, no. He's now on his way here. This might've reached him."
Mister Amadeo is coming back after his business trip to Singapore. After the wedding ceremony of Zainea and Zayden, he immediately flies to Singapore without a word.
"Go to the hospital. Watch Zainea. I'll just make things clear with her dad."
Tristan left.
"Go back to work. Don't ever say a word about what happened today. You're all under my watch," he threatened all the maids. His words are enough to make them shut their mouths. They all left him in the living room. No one wants to stay in the same room with him.
He takes a look at Zainea's photo in his phone. The one taken in the elevator.
'Who the hell am I in love with?'
Tristan came back running.
"Boss, there's a problem." He showed his phone to Zayden.
A TV news anchor is revealing pictures of Zainea's crushed car and when she was in hospital.
ZAINEA AMADEO HIT SOMEONE, AND THEY KEPT IT A SECRET. THE VICTIM IS HALF-DEAD, said the headline.
Zayden massaged his temple upon seeing the news. Zainea's stepmom got another plan, and this is it. Ruining Zainea's image.
"I checked Mrs. Amadeo's phone." He handed the phone to his boss. "It's not her who disclosed the information."
"Call that news anchor and make him stop spreading such things."
"Boss, it's already the hottest topic in the internet."
"Shut the whole company down! I don't give a damn if the owner complains. It's their fault for hiring a damn careless employee."
"Where is my daughter?!" Mister Amadeo entered together with his secretary. After hearing that his wife is being arrested by the police, he immediately signed the contract with the investor he found in Singapore without reading the terms and took the earliest flight coming back home.
"What happened? Why did the police arrest my wife?"
"I'll explain everything to you later. For now, let's prioritize Zainea's safety. She might be in danger right now."
--
CALAIS' POV
I didn't answer Zerro's question. I just smiled and hurriedly excused myself out. Now, I'm here outside the hospital waiting for the cab I've called using one of the nurses' phone I borrowed. I even borrowed some money from her. I said I'll pay her back, but she insisted that it's free since Zainea's her idol. I know. It's embarrassing. This is Zayden's fault. How dare he leave me here without carrying anything?
A cab stopped in front of me. The driver opened the window near the passenger's seat, so I took a look at him. He's wearing a cap and a mask.
Is this the cab I called?
He signaled me to enter, so I did. I went at the backseat.
I said my address.
"Uhm, what's the time now?" I asked the driver.
He didn't answer. I have a bad feeling about this. He’s silent. Isn't it suspicious enough that he's wearing a mask and a cap? Why did I even ride in here?
Hey, crap! What if he's a killer?
"Sir, I'll just drop there." I pointed the nearest restaurant. He didn't stop. Instead, he went to the other side of the road.
"W-Where are we going?! This is not the way to my house! Stop! Just drop me here!"
The road was very dark, and it's scary. It's like in the movies where the main character is being tortured and killed by some psychopath.
I can see no houses. No, I cannot die. Not now!
Without any hesitation, I opened the door and jumped. I rolled on the road. I can feel the pain all over my body because of what I did. I guess, I got scratches. It stings a lot.
The cab stopped.
I wanted to cry in fear.
I saw his silhouette coming towards me, so I run away although I can't see anything. I kept on running.
Who is he? Why is he scaring the hell out of me? Is he being hired to kill me?
I looked back and saw the headlight of the cab coming forward. He's still chasing me.
Please. Please. Someone. Someone, save me.
The cab speeds up. I thought he's going to run over me, but he just blocked my way. He rushed to me and the last thing I knew, I'm lying on the road while feeling the pain on my head.
"That's what you get from trying to escape."
It's not a man. Her voice... I heard it somewhere. It’s familiar.
"W-Why? W-Who... W-Who are y-you...?"
She dropped the baseball bat she used to hit my head, and dragged me back inside the car. I can't fight. I feel so weak. My head is in pain.
"Secret." She laughed like an evil. "We'll be having fun tonight, Zainea."
She's driving to somewhere, and here I am, silently praying for Zainea's safety, if I can't make it. I'm losing hope. If I try to escape again, she might kill me on the spot, so I didn't dare. She didn't tie me or anything. Maybe, she knows that I don't have any more strength to do things.
I closed my eyes as I feel sleepy.
The woman suddenly cursed. I opened my eyes to see what's happening. I tried to sit. I stared outside the window for a minute to adjust my sight.
Another car is speeding up beside us. The moment it went in front of us, it made a full U-turn blocking us. Its headlights almost blinded our eyes. I smiled. I know. I know there is someone who came to save me... us.
"Who the freak is this person?!" the woman shouted as she tries to drive backwards. Her attempt to drive away was not successful. Another car is blocking at the back.
I didn't waste any minute. I opened the door with all the strength left and got out.
"Stop!! Come back here!!" she shouted. I almost tripped.
Four men-in-black came out of the car that's blocking at the back and surrounded the cab with guns on their hands.
When I turned my gaze at the car in front, a test escaped from my eyes the moment the owner of the car came out. I cannot see his face clearly, but I know it's him. His stance, I know it's Zayden.
I'm now safe. We’re now safe, Zainea.