***On the other side, at North Oregon, Caleb was playing chess with his uncle Demetrius when his phone rang.
"Hello, Hunter. Wazzup?!" He cheerfully greeted his old friend. Demetrius was stunned when Caleb suddenly stood up. He was perplexed.
"Okay, I got it. Thanks for letting me know." Then the call got disconnected.
"What's the matter? You look terrible." Demetrius asked while analyzing his next move. He moved the horse piece. "Haha! Checkmate!" He burst out laughing. But Caleb didn't move an eyelid. He was in deep thought.
"Uncle!" He decided to tell him the truth.
"Hmm? What's the matter?"
"It's Aisha!" He looked at Demetrius eyes.
"What about her?" He creased a brow. "If you will tell me where she is right now, then don't bother, I know she's in Central City of Oregon!"
"H-how did you know, uncle?"
"Huh! Did you forget who you are talking to? It's the great Demetrius! I have a lot of connections!" He boasted, and then he laughed.
"Then you already know that the bounty hunters are after her? And one of the bounty groups attacked her just this evening?" Caleb asked.
Demetrius eyes widened. He stood up frantically.
"What!? What did you just say? Someone attacked my Aisha just this evening?!" He cursed. He was anxious.
"Do you know who they are? Or the client who wants her dead?" He probed.
"Hunter didn't know it yet, neither did Aisha. But the guy who attacked her said that she has the highest bounty on her head in the underworld. Their are at least 3 people who wants her dead …" Caleb stated.
"Who are these people trying to mess with me and my daughter?! I will definitely make them pay!" Demetrius punched the table beside him.
"I guess you have to go and see what's happening in the underworld yourself, uncle …" Caleb leaned on the sofa, and then he smirked.
"I will, definitely! And I will make them pay!" He yelled. "And how about Aisha? How is she?" He was worried.
"She was injured----------"
"What? She was shot?! Where is she?!" Demetrius interrupted.
"Uncle, relax …! She was not shot! She only injured her arm and her foot. But Hunter has already treated her." He laughed at her uncle's reaction.
"That foolish girl! When will she even call me for help?!" He scoffed.
**At the mansion, Aisha entered the house silently. Everyone was fully asleep. She entered their room silently in hope that Ethan was already sleeping.
"E-Ethan...!" She froze in shock.
Ethan looked at her frustratingly. Aisha didn't know why. Was it because they didn't go home together? But she called him and he agreed.
"I-I'm sorry for coming home late … It's just that I, we -------"
"What happened to your arm?" He cut her off.
He noticed? But the room was dim. Was he watching me since I entered the mansion gate? Oh no, Hunter!
"What happened to your arm?" This time he was serious. He was approaching her.
"I, I fell down! I slipped my foot and fell down the stairs at my father's house. My arm was injured during my fall." She lied. "But I'm okay. It was just a mild fall so it's not a big deal actually." She laughed hesitantly. She couldn't even look at him in the eyes.
His fist curled into a ball. He knew she was lying. He suddenly touched her injured hand.
"Aaahhhh!" She yelled in pain. Ethan turned on the light then he pulled her and sat her in the bed. He inspected her arms.
"Remove your shirt." He commanded. Aisha gulped. But she was just wearing her sport bra on top of her shirt.
"E-Etha----"
"T-A-K-E O-F-F Y-O-U-R S-H-I-R-T, N-O-W!" He said in a cold tone.
"...."
Aisha tried to remove her shirt but she was having a hard time since she couldn't raise her left arm. Ethan saw her struggling so he helped her remove the shirt completely. He looked at her arms and then he cursed. He tried to touch it gently but Aisha cried in pain. He saw the other bruises on her body. He frowned. He stood up to get the first aid kit in the bathroom. He cleaned the bruises carefully and put ointment to soothe the pain.
"Did you fall from the sky to get a lot of bruises like this?" He sarcastically asked. Aisha didn't respond. She was in a daze. She recalled what the bounty hunter told her. Ethan pressed her injured arm. She came back to reality.
"Ahh! That hurts!" She burst in pain.
"You spaced out. I had to do it to bring your mind back."
"I-I'm sorry." She looked at him intently. For the first time, she was afraid. What would she do if they got him-- if they got Ethan and Eli..! She shrugged off the thought. No! She had to protect them.
"It's almost midnight. You should rest. I will call Doctor Sonny to check on your arm first thing in the morning." Ethan took a clean shirt from the drawer and helped her wear it.
"T-thank you..." She murmured then she dozed off to sleep. She was too tired from all the things that happened in just a day.
Aisha was sleeping soundly but Ethan couldn't sleep. He was lost in thoughts while looking at the moon. Suddenly his phone rang.
"The guys were tough. They wouldn't say anything," said the man on the other line.
"Make them confess no matter what! I DON'T CARE HOW YOU DO IT, BUT I WANT VALID INFORMATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE." Ethan seriously answered.
"Yes sir!" Then he hung up. Ethan once again stared at his lovely wife then he heaved a heavy sigh. He went beside her. He caressed her face. Guilt and worry was visible in his eyes.
"You foolish woman. When will you ever tell me the truth, huh?" He whispered.