Chapter 86. Predator

Chapter 86: Chapter 86. Predator

Chapter 86. Predator

He was about to start his vehicle, ready to follow them, when he saw both of them suddenly step out of the car. They were talking animatedly, making strange, exaggerated gestures that made him raise an eyebrow in confusion. Why were they stepping out? He watched Mia shut the door and double-check the handles to ensure the compartments were locked. Then, both of them turned and began walking away from the apartment, heading down the street. He frowned, his confusion deepening.

Weird.

He stayed completely still, tracking their movements through his side-view mirror. He waited until they had put a safe distance between them before turning the key. Easing the car into motion, he swerved around and followed behind at a crawl, careful not to move too fast or draw attention. He gritted his teeth in frustration. Following pedestrians in a car was tricky; without other traffic to blend into, it would be all too easy for them to notice they were being trailed. He ground his teeth together. Let me just wait a little bit.

He pulled over to the side of the street, watching until their figures shrank into tiny shapes in the distance. Only then did he press on the gas, trailing slowly after them while keeping a deliberate buffer. Reaching the end of the street, he saw them step toward the curb, flagging down an oncoming taxi and climbing inside. His frown deepened. Okay, suspicious as hell. She left her own car behind just to take a taxi? I really need to figure out what’s going on.

He waited until the taxi pulled away, merging straight onto the expressway. Accelerating quickly, he slipped into traffic, determined not to lose sight of it among the sea of identical vehicles sharing the same yellow paint and design. He kept his focus razor-sharp, eyes locked on that specific car. Scanning the back, he quickly memorized the numbers on the license plate, repeating them like a chant in his head.

They navigated the expressway for a while, taking a route that was becoming uncomfortably familiar. Misgivings began to knot in his stomach.

Oh, don’t tell me this is where they’re going, he thought.

Sure enough, the taxi pulled up to the gates of a sprawling, luxurious estate. Don parked at a discreet distance, watching as both of them stepped out, paid the driver, and let the taxi speed away. Side by side, they turned and walked toward the security gate.

His jaw dropped in disbelief. He fell back against his seat with a grimace, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Are they seriously going to visit her right now? he thought, panic mixing with sheer bewilderment.

What the hell are they doing here? This is literally enemy territory.

Frustration flared in his chest—he couldn’t just stroll through those guarded gates behind them.

He closed his eyes, let out a slow, steady

breath, and forced himself to stay grounded.

Calm down, Don, he reassured himself. Calm down. Nothing is going to happen. You’ve already turned the tide in secret. It just hasn’t manifested physically yet. Just wait and see how this turns out. But why the hell would she come here?

Rosa and Mia, meanwhile, were walking across the grand courtyard of the Lee family estate. Rosa kept fidgeting nervously with her fingers, her hands trembling slightly. Mia walked casually beside her, hands resting behind her back, her eyes darting left and right as she took in the sprawling, immaculate compound.

She glanced over at Rosa, noticing how the girl’s eyes were glued to the pavement, her lips moving in anxious, silent whispers as if arguing with herself.

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Caution yourself, girl. You look like you’re losing your mind," she murmured. Rosa cast a quick, jittery glance at her, then promptly ignored her and looked back down. Mia let out a sigh and came to a sudden stop. Rosa halted too, turning to look at her in question.

"You need to steel yourself," Mia said, crossing her arms. Rosa frowned, but Mia scoffed and shook her head before she could protest. "You’re about to walk into a room with someone who feeds on your emotions. She will exploit any sign of weakness the moment she sees it. You have to step in there like an iron lady. Do you get me?"

Rosa let out a bitter, nervous laugh. "It’s never been easy dealing with her," she murmured.

"I know," Mia said softly, her expression softening for a fraction of a second before hardening again. "But you’ve spent a whole month away from her. Whatever psychological shackles she used to keep you under her thumb should be broken by now. For heaven’s sake, Rosa, control yourself. You’re not a kid anymore, and I’m serious about this. You can’t walk in there and break down in front of her. You can’t let her see you falter, and you can’t lose your temper either. We are only here for one reason: to hear out the offer she has for you. That’s it. Nothing else. You are not here to submit or cater to her demands. Do you understand me?"

Rosa clenched her teeth, but she didn’t say anything. Mia pressed a palm against her forehead in frustration. "We cannot step inside until I know you’re ready."

Rosa looked up, offering a tight, forced smile. "Yeah, yeah, sure. I’m confident enough. Or are you just saying that so we can stall?"

When Mia gave her a sharp look, Rosa quickly shook her head, her voice dropping to a desperate whisper. "We’re wasting time, Mia. Please, don’t drag this out longer than it needs to be. I just want to get this over with as soon as possible."

Mia scrutinized her face for a moment. The tension radiating off Rosa was palpable, but beneath the fear, there was a genuine resolve to face this head-on and get it over with. Exhaling deeply, Mia gave a single nod. "All right, fine."

They resumed walking toward the entrance. "Just remember what I said," Mia added quietly. "Don’t let her pull your strings."

It didn’t take long to reach the front entrance. Mia stepped up to the massive double doors and knocked three times.

"Coming!" a deep male voice echoed from inside.

Rosa instantly recognized the voice, and her jaw set tight. "Oh my God, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me," she murmured under her breath. Mia stared at the door as well, a look of confusion flickering across her features.

The door swung open, revealing Mac. He was dressed casually in a hockey tracksuit, staring down at his phone and chuckling at something on the screen. The moment he raised his head and saw who was standing on the porch, the smile instantly vanished. His eyes darted between Mia and Rosa before lingering heavily on Rosa. A surge of conflicting emotions washed across his face—shock, confusion, and hesitation, as if he couldn’t comprehend why she was standing on his doorstep or what he was supposed to say to her.

"Rosa," he called out softly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he said her name.

Rosa offered him a bitter, sarcastic smirk. "Hey," she replied, her tone dripping with quiet sarcasm.

Mac let out an awkward, breathless chuckle. Standing beside Rosa, Mia shifted her gaze back and forth between them, trying to parse the strange dynamic unfolding in front of her.

She had fully expected Mac to open the door with his usual arrogance and spite, yet here he was, suddenly acting hesitant and soft. What am I missing? she thought. Did something happen between these two that I don’t know about?

"We’re here to see your mom," Rosa said bluntly, cutting through the silence.

Instantly, a flash of disappointment crossed Mac’s face. "Oh," he muttered.

"Is that Rosa at the door, Mac?" The unmistakable, commanding voice of Mrs. Lee resounded from deep inside the house.

Rosa flinched at the sound. Mia noticed the reaction and scoffed softly to herself, rolling her eyes.

This girl, Mia thought, she really can’t keep her composure.

"Yes, Mom, it’s her," Mac called back, his eyes still glued to Rosa.

"Let her in, please. I’ve been expecting her," Mrs. Lee replied.

Mac hesitated for a moment before stepping aside, opening the door wider. Rosa didn’t spare him a second glance as she walked past him into the foyer. Mia followed casually behind, maintaining an elegant posture while flashing a cold, menacing glare at Mac. He frowned, quickly averting his gaze from her.

Once they were inside, Mac closed the door gently and walked into the living room. "Here, have a seat," he offered, gesturing toward the couch.

Rosa shot him a look, her eyebrow arched. "I know where the seats are, and I’m not a guest," she snapped.

Mia’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Oh, I like that, she thought with an appreciative smile. Getting feisty already.

Mac faltered, visibly awkward at Rosa’s sharp retort. Seeing his hesitation, Mia stepped closer to him, keeping her distance from Rosa so they wouldn’t be overheard.

"I don’t know what you’re trying to pull by acting soft now," Mia whispered, her voice laced with venom, "but she’s never getting back with you. You were never real to begin with."

Mac frowned, scoffing in disbelief. "What makes you think I want anything to do with that bitch?"

Mia’s gaze turned deadly. "Say that to my face again," she whispered darkly.

Rosa noticed the tense exchange from across the room. "What are you two talking about?" she asked, looking between them.

Mia turned to Rosa with a sweet, reassuring smile. "Oh, Rosa, baby, you have nothing to worry about." She snapped her eyes back to Mac, her gaze burning with malice. "I dare you to say that word again," she breathed.

Mac scoffed, rolled his eyes, and walked away toward the dining room a few meters off. He sat down at the table, casting a perplexed glance back at Rosa, who sat timidly on the edge of the sofa, nervously wringing her fingers.

What would my mom even want with her? he wondered to himself.

Mia strolled over and took a seat nearby, keeping her watchful eyes fixed on Mac, though occasionally checking on Rosa.

Moments later, Mrs. Lee stepped into the living room. Dressed casually, she nonetheless projected an undeniable aura of power and dominance that commanded the room. Driven by pure muscle memory, Rosa instantly stood up from the couch, clasped her hands together, and bowed low. Mia raised an eyebrow at the submissive gesture, but reluctantly gave a brief bow as well.

"Oh, well. It’s a pleasure to have you beautiful ladies here," Mrs. Lee said, though Rosa could clearly see the flash of displeasure as her eyes fell on Mia. She clearly hadn’t expected Mia to be here.

"Why don’t we go straight to the point? We can have our little chat in my home office," Mrs. Lee suggested, gesturing toward a door at the far end of the vast living room.

Rosa managed a nervous smile. "Okay, ma’am," she stammered. Her heart was pounding so hard against her ribs it ached, as if she might pass out right onto the floor at any second.

As Rosa took a step forward, Mia folded her arms behind her back and casually trailed right behind her.

Mrs. Lee froze in her tracks. She turned and frowned sharply at Mia. All three of them came to a sudden halt. Rosa looked back, realizing Mia was following her into the office, and let out a nervous laugh, her eyes darting between Mrs. Lee and Mia.

Mrs. Lee glared at Mia, her eyes narrowing into cold slits of displeasure. "I’m afraid this meeting is private—just between Rosa and me," she stated plainly.

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

Rosa quickly reached out and grabbed Mia’s hand. When Mia looked at her, Rosa gave her a desperate glance and shook her head frantically, silently pleading with her not to make a scene.

Mia stared at Rosa for a long moment, then turned her gaze back to Mrs. Lee.

Mrs. Lee chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "I admire your loyalty to your friend, but I really don’t understand why you’re being so defensive. Do I look like I’m going to eat her alive?" Her tone was polite, but the subtle threat and mockery underneath were impossible to miss.

Mia pressed her lips together. Good Lord, Rosa, she thought, filled with concern, do you really think you’ll be able to stand up to this woman on your own?

She wanted desperately to go in there to make sure Mrs. Lee didn’t cross any lines, but seeing Rosa’s pleading expression, Mia forced a neutral smile. "Of course, ma’am," Mia said smoothly.

She turned around to step back into the living room, but not before casting a sharp, final warning look at Rosa. Rosa blinked, exhaling a heavy breath as Mia walked back toward the sitting area.

Turning back, Rosa faced Mrs. Lee, who stood waiting like a predator preparing to strike.

"Shall we?" Mrs. Lee said, gesturing toward the office door.