Loving the criminal 7 (Bella's journey)

"Neither God nor the Devil can give aid to those without the will to fight…"- Brook (One Piece)

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When the sun finally sets, we all drift to sleep, after wishing a good night to our loved ones… on the other hand, some start to roam at that time to hunt for their meaningless dark life that seems like the night sky, with no stars shining on it. Indeed, we are scared of them. Scared that they murdered us or broke into our lovely warm house and robbed whatever we had. You got it right. We are scared of criminals.

"Where is he?" His scary husky voice echoed in the dark, vast room, making his minions too scared to look him in the eyes.

"Have I never warned you to keep an eye on him?" Not only is his voice scary, but also the deep scar that extends from his left cheek to his chin, and the tattoos on his neck give him a scary aura that screams danger. His presence only makes someone pee on his pants, and that man is none other than the almighty Zeus Michaels, Kerry's mafia dad…

"B-Boss, we tried to stop him, but he ran from us." One of his minions said, trembling in fear.

"Tried? You can't try when I own you. You must do it as you are told. But for now…" he pressed the muzzle of the gun on his forehead, and he shot without any hesitation. Well, he felt like killing someone tonight.

"This will be your punishment if you dare to disobey me again, got that? Or else, you will end up like your dear friend right here."

In that instant, his other minion bursts in, "Dieter is here, sire!" He says, his chest rising and falling. "And he is asking to meet you right now!" As if the fire wasn't enough, gasoline poured on it.

Silence briefly falls in the room. The news must have shocked each one of them. Of course, it was quite a shock... Dieter Wright. His old foe. Probably the most devilish and cunning enemy of his, whom he never wanted to cross a path with. but here it happened. He managed his way in sooner than expected. Meaner. Stronger.

"Dammit," he mutters a curse before marching, his guards following him from behind.

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~Hanalei Bay Beach, Hawaii~

"This is getting insane!" The heavy-looking eyeglasses bounced on her face, a sign to show her excitement. She couldn't shake off the sense of thrill while the air of Hanalei Bay whips her face. Never in her lifetime did she think her naked eyes would be blessed to witness. As a make-up artist who worked for years, it sure brings joy to finally step foot in this place.

"What is exactly insane?" Bella smiled playfully to finally see the crew happy and excited as a little kid. Of course, she felt the same. It wasn't easy ascending the stairs of fame. She became one of those well-known celebrities she grew up admiring. She is suddenly one of them...

How amusing?

"Okay, everyone! Stop dwelling and better get started with the photo shoot!" Her manager called out.

But where was Simon? As Bella's amber eyes scanned her surroundings looking for a sign of Simon, there... she saw him. He was lazily standing, his back rested on the car, arms folded at his chest, and a bored look written on his face. But those eyes. they were strong. She could even see them instantly looking at her with the shiny colors of the feelings she couldn't quite understand. She gave him a warm smile, hoping he would sense she was genuinely happy, and he was one of the reasons.

Of course, things did start looking up. Even the smiles plastered on her face were genuinely not as fake as they used to be. Yes. she is so happy that it hurts her face and makes her believe there won't be anything bad that will happen one day... there won't be black clouds that will cover the shiny blue of the sky.

But won't there be a time for the sun to set?

"Oh, she finally arrived." Her manager announced, his eyes looking at a woman's figure coming their way with her team. Bella already knew it was her rival, Ava Michaels, a woman who has been nothing but a troublesome path in her journey to success.

She was here to do a lingerie commercial with Bella. As much as they despise each other, work is work that must be done no matter how she hates doing it. And Bella has a passion. And it was her job.

"Hi," Ava smiled at everyone as she neared them. "I am glad to make your acquaintance." She shows kindness to Bella's team, extending her hand for everyone to shake. Bella knew it was just a happy-go-lucky mask. She knew how mad, miserable, and cunny the woman behind that mask is. All the scandals, the drugs, and the greed have eaten her.

"Well, then let's get started. The sooner, the better." Ava's manager says when everyone continues to stare at Ava's attractiveness and elegant ambiance.

"It's great to see you, Bellanca." She runs her verdant from head to toe, then sets them to Bella's amber ones in a challenging gaze.

"I wouldn't say the same, Ava." Everyone seems too busy to pay attention to them.

Ava takes a small step toward her without breaking eye contact and then stands face-to-face with Bella. "Just know I am better. everyone will cheer only for me, and I will make them forget about your existence." She smirks. "I will rearrange things and get them back to where they were."

Bella knew she was scheming something bad. probably to hurt her. "We will see." Still, she smiles like a confident woman who won't back down. Like a Wonder Woman who will fight back with bravery.

__________

The atmosphere in the room looks so calm until you see the two men sitting on a couch, facing each other and the bodyguards on two sides waiting for a signal to attack, making the calm atmosphere intense. 

"So?" he asked, rolling his glass of whiskey.

"My boy isn't involved in these kinds of things." The other one said, narrowing his eyes.

"Are you sure?" he asked bending.

"Dear Dieter, why waste my time in this useless matter? I thought you called because you missed me." He also bends until their faces are so close that they can feel their breath on their face. "You know that it's my time for hunting."

"Oh, you are still a comedian, Zeus. I thought you would change into an emotionless monster when you started this life."

"Stop beating around the bush. I have no time to waste. Just get into your point." He is a busy man, after all. Busy by doing evil things…

"Let's make a bet, Zeus." He said, extending his pinkie finger.

"Dieter, I thought we stopped playing this thing when we were kids." The atmosphere turned even more serious. "We both know that I will cut that finger of yours if you lose this bet."

"Oh, trust me, I will let you. But it's only if you win." The smirk on his face tells that he already knew he wouldn't lose this bet. "If my daughter is involved with your kid, I will throw him in jail. And don't worry, I have a piece of evidence." He said, pointing at the scattered papers on his side table. "But I won't let your son die in jail if you gave me Hilarie."

"If not?" He asked, connecting his little finger with the finger extended in front of him. Little did he know it was a bet he would lose along with his beloved minion, Kerry, or risk his wife, Hilarie.

"You will cut my fingers as you said." The smirk on his face makes his enemy who was seated in front of him doubt his decision.

"I will do it with a smile on my face."

"Don't forget your words, Zeus." He warns for the last time. "Your son or your wife."

Then he sends a gesture to his men and waits with a smirk on his face and eyes instantly staring at his foe.

"Sir?" his minion hands him a fat envelope, then leaves after a bow. Zeus knew this bet was something he shouldn't take easily.

"I could never stand by and watch as my daughter falls into the lion's den. Either the lions die or I kill my daughter. And your son happens to crawl his way into her life like a snake that I love to torment so much." He spits the words out with seething hate and utter disgust in his tone. "I will be kind enough to let him die in jail." He throws photos on the table, and Zeus loses it when his bloody eyes take in the view of Kerry kissing passionately the daughter of his number one enemy. And another photo, of Kerry dancing with her in a nightclub in Brazil. Another, his son cuddling with his very foe's daughter as if they are promised for each other.

Is this it?

He lost the bet?

Like that?

"And your daughter, Ava, is also creating a problem. If you don't want to lose her too, tell her to behave. She is threatening my daughter, and I will not tolerate anything when it comes to Bella." Zeus was still silent processing how things got messed up like this.

"Where is my son?" Then he asks flames of rage burning in his ocean blue eyes, making someone wonder if water and fire could exist together.

"Oh, he is here enjoying his time as a guest." The man was evil. He was ruthless and unimaginably mindless. That's why everyone around him feared him.

"Leave Kerry alone, Dieter," Zeus says fear of losing the bet radiating in his tone. "We aren't sure yet. I will never give you Kerry or my wife before confirming it with my naked eyes."

A nasty smirk makes its way to his face. "Oh? don't worry, your son will confirm it to us." Then he gestures to his guard, ordering him to bring the key of his bet, Kerry.

Then immediately, the guard dragged a man who was tied and face covered with a cloth who was none other than Zeus's flesh. He looked at his son. His son who betrayed him. His son whom he is about to lose because there was no way he will hand over his wife...