Chapter 10 The call from an unknown number
Vincent kept staring at their retreating figures with indignation in his heart. Natalia’s hostility provoked his fury. He was agitated as well. He turned around and hurried out.
Not only him, but Gaius was upset too.
“She doesn’t like us,” Gaius grumbled inside his head. “She hates us. I can see that in her eyes.”
“I don’t care…” Vincent hissed as he started running towards the woods.
“Are you sure?” Gaius questioned. “Then why are you angry?”
“Shut up…” Vincent roared, increasing his pace.
“I am your inner voice, Vincent. You and I... We feel terrible when she looks at us with hatred. You can’t deny it.”
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Vincent howled as he took off his clothes.
He let Gaius take control of him and ran further into the woods. Gaius ran with his full speed. The cold fresh air passing through his furs was refreshing. Over the past five years, he had seldom had the chance to take his full form and run through the forest. His restlessness also began to dissipate gradually.
While Vincent enjoyed his run, Natalia tried to erase the fear out of Jonathan's mind.
“You know, I always feel that you are brave. And mummy with you, there is nothing to be scared of.”
She crouched down in front of him and said, taking his hand in hers, “Grandpa brought him in for your safety. You shouldn’t be afraid of him, okay?”
"Is he going to protect me from the monster?”
His question made Natalia distraught. But she still smiled and responded, “Yes…”
"Will he keep you safe too?” Jonathan threw a curious look at her.
Natalia chuckled as she ruffled his hair, “Mummy can take care of herself. Go and play.”
“Alright, mummy…”
Only then did he smile and rush into his toy cart.
Natalia let out a sigh as she stood up, watching him play with the toys.
Tring-Tring-Tring…
She heard her phone ringing on the way to her room. She saw an unknown number blinking on the screen.
“Hello…” With a slight frown on her face, she answered the call.
“Hello, love. How are you holding up?”
This voice... the familiar and menacing voice that always chilled her blood… that was him, the person she was trying to avoid. But he didn't stop pursuing her. It was as if an invisible shackle was tying her to him. It seemed like she could never get away from him, no matter how hard she tried.
She forgot how many of his numbers she had blocked, but he called her from a new number anyway.
“Why did you call me?” She fumed.
“I miss you, babe. I wanted to hear your voice. It's been such a while since I've seen you."
Menacing laughter came out of the phone.
Natalia shuddered as scenes of her past flashed in the back of her mind. It would be a lie to say she wasn't scared.
But she hid her dread deep down her heart and said sternly, “Come to the point, Gerald.”
"Can't I just phone you and talk to you for a few minutes?"
“Huh…” Natalia chuckled. "A man like you can't do anything without a purpose."
“How sweet of you, darling. You know me so well.” Gerald smirked, rubbing the bare back of a slut lying next to him.
"I wanted to ask you why you stopped supplying the cars to my showroom.”
“Because I got better buyers. Moreover, our contract with you ended a couple of months ago, and I have no intention of renewing it,” she asserted firmly as she went to the balcony.
“Don’t do this, my love. You will regret it later.”
“Stop threatening me, Gerald. I am no longer your wimpy wife who meekly obeyed your every word," she snarled.
Gerald dug his nails on the back of the slut, anger darkening his eyes.
“Ah…” The woman whimpered in pain, but her voice was muffled as he squeezed her throat.
“Looks like you have forgotten a lot of things. I have to remind you again… to respect me, to follow my commands… hmm?”
His intimidating voice froze her blood. Natalia tightened her fist to control her emotion.
“You have no control over me.” She tried hard to sound confident, but couldn’t stop shaking. “Do whatever you want. I am not renewing the contract.”
Natalia ended the call shortly after she finished speaking. She gasped, covering her mouth with her trembling hand. The memory of his violence... how he beat her, chained her, and slept with her without her will... everything came to life.
Tears blurred her vision. She inhaled and exhaled to calm her restless mind.
Natalia was so engrossed in her dread and grief that she didn’t notice someone watching her keenly from the woods.
Vincent returned to the spot where he had left his clothes. He was about to shift to his human form which is when his sharp eyes caught the glimpse of Natalia on the balcony. The melancholy on her face froze him. He kept staring at her, wondering why she was so disturbed.
Jonathan, on the other hand, was peering through his binoculars towards the woods. It was one of his favorite pastimes. He liked to watch birds fly and squirrels run... And the joy he had when he saw a deer or other large creatures knew no bounds.
Today he saw an enormous black beast. To get a better look, he zoomed in on the binoculars.
“Beast… so big…” he muttered.
However, Jonathan flinched when the beast’s glazing hazel brown orbs directed towards him. He dropped the binoculars and rushed back into the room, shuddering furiously. He hid under the bed, covering his mouth with his tiny hands.
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Natalia’s words infuriated Gerald. He vented his rage on the lady lying next to him.
“How dare you yell at me like that?” He kicked her out of bed.
“Ah…” She fell to the hard concrete floor and wailed in pain, curling up into a ball and clasping her belly.
Her scream added to his wrath. He grabbed his belt and approached her with a dangerous moose.
The woman trembled in fear, looking at his furious look. His bloodshot eyes resembled those of bloodthirsty demons.
Smack…
Before she could comprehend anything, the belt landed on her bare body.
“Please…” She cried out in pain. “Mr. Hill, please don’t beat me. I didn't do anything wrong with you."
But Gerald was so mad that he kept beating her without listening to her plea.
“You dare to talk to me like that,” he howled. “You slutty bitch. Let me teach you to be respectful.”
Smack-Smack-Smack…
The cry of the woman shook the room. Nevertheless, he didn’t stop beating her until she passed out.