"What is she doing?" Alliana asked her friend, Olivia, as the two of them secretly observed her cousin, Hannah, who was acting strangely just a few steps away.
"She... maybe... I don't really know," Olivia replied, unable to explain what her friend is doing.
With every step she took, Hannah kept on looking at her surroundings, as if she's afraid that someone would suddenly appear.
"Is she alright?" Alliana asked again, her concern for her cousin's well-being evident in her furrowed brows and narrowed eyes.
A mixture of concern and curiosity filled her mind as she tried to make sense of her cousin's behavior.
She knows that something is wrong, she could sense it.
After all, how could she not notice when the girl, who usually has her confidence oozing out of every single pore in her body, suddenly looked as if someone had drained her usual energy and confidence during the entire class?
However, what irritates Alliana even more is that even though she could feel that something was wrong, she couldn't point her finger at what it was.
"Come on, that's Hannah that we're talking about. Who dares to bully her?" Olivia said after a while, completely unworried about Hannah's sudden change of behavior.
She couldn't be blamed for her way of thinking, though.
After all, Hannah is the eldest daughter of the Salvador family, the pampered princess who's treasured by her elders and protected by her brothers.
Harming her would be equivalent to committing suicide, which is why Olivia couldn't think of anyone who would dare to harm her.
"Come on, let's go," Olivia added as she gently pulled Alliana toward her car so they could head to the closest shopping center near their school.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Alliana realized that Olivia was right. Only a fool would dare harm someone from the Salvador family.
Moreover, since her cousin did not say anything to her, Alliana realized that she should back off and patiently wait instead until Hannah decided to voluntarily open up about her problems.
Unbeknownst to the two of them, as soon as they left, a black car drove straight towards Hannah as if it were waiting for her to be left all alone.
As the black car screeched to a halt in front of her, blocking her path like a madman, Hannah's heart skipped a beat.
The car's tinted windows prevented her from seeing who was inside, adding to her unease, but even though she couldn't see the person behind the wheel, Hannah had a sinking feeling that she knew who it was.
'Please don't let it be who I think it is,' she quietly prayed in her mind.
However, much to her dismay, her prayers weren't heard, and as if in slow motion, the driver's seat window rolled down, revealing Ivan's breathtaking beauty.
Seeing him, fear clenched her chest as she took in the menacing sight of the man in the car, and instinctively, she took a step back.
Memories from her previous interaction with the man resurfaced in her mind, and it made her want to run away. However, she immediately composed herself, not wanting to seem timid or scared.
"Hey, isn't that Hannah?"
"Does she have a boyfriend?"
"That man doesn't look like her driver, doesn't he?"
Many students who haven't left yet have started to gawk at the two of them, curious about their relationship.
Hannah's popularity at her school has long gotten her used to being the center of attention wherever she goes. However, the same cannot be said about Ivan.
It's easy to see that Ivan didn't appreciate the attention, as a glint of annoyance flashed through his eyes, so without even saying anything to her girl, Ivan wordlessly signaled Hannah to get in the car.
Hannah felt a surge of conflicting emotions within her. The eyes of the curious onlookers bore into her, intensifying the pressure of the situation.
She was aware that defying Ivan's orders would only draw further attention and potentially escalate the situation. However, she doesn't want to be anywhere near the man either.
It was almost like the murmurings of the students around them were filtered, and only a buzzing sound could be heard by Hannah.
"Won't you get in the car?" he asked all of a sudden.
Ivan's deep voice reverberated in Hannah's ears, sending a chill down her spine because of his sensual accent, which made Hannah's heart race.
The sensation was both unsettling and strangely enticing, a mix of fear and intrigue swirling within her.
'Hey, no more fearing, Hannah,' she quietly mumbled, reminding herself of the promise she made in the bathroom two days ago.
Mustering all of her courage, Hannah turned to look directly into his eyes, her blue-grey eyes locking with the intense stare of his amber ones.
Ivan's charm, which was his handsome face and the innocent smile on it, was a powerful weapon that had drawn in many people before her, and there was no denying the captivating appeal he radiated.
She knows she shouldn't. She knows that he's dangerous, but her pride wouldn't allow her to back down and keep on running from the man like a scared puppy.
Without another word, Hannah stepped closer to the other side of the car, her hand reaching out to grasp the door handle. She hesitated for a while before opening the door and getting in.
Ivan watched her actions with a smirk on his lips. He can see that she's afraid of him, yet she wouldn't back down because of her pride.
'A prideful chick,' Ivan thought while looking at her.
As soon as she buckled in, the car immediately drove away without wasting another second, leaving the curious onlookers behind.
For almost thirty minutes or so, as the car glided through the city streets, an eerie silence settled between Hannah and Ivan.
There was an overwhelming feeling of anxiety in the air, with every second that passed being filled with doubt and unsolved problems.
'Did I make the right decision by letting my pride win and getting in his car? What if he really kills me this time?'
With her mind racing about what Ivan had in store for her, Hannah's nerves started to unravel.
Sneakily, she cast secret glances at Ivan's way, attempting to read the unfathomable look on his face. However, his expression stayed neutral, as if he were only really fixated on the road ahead.
He was completely unaffected by Hannah's presence, his mind consumed by his own thoughts and plans.
Another half an hour passed by, and Hannah's worry grew even more when she noticed that they were getting further and further away from the places that she's familiar with.
The realization that they were going toward the riskier areas of the city made Hannah grow even more uneasy.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, she mustered her courage and broke the silence.
"Ivan," she began cautiously, her voice laced with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked.
Hearing her words, Ivan finally glanced in her direction, his eyes shining with a tinge of humor, making him look like a mischievous man who can't do anything wrong.
A subtle, astute smile danced around the edges of his mouth, but he said nothing for a while, savoring the suspense that filled the car.
"You'll know later, but for now, it's a secret," he said. However, his response only fueled Hannah's curiosity even more.
Unfortunately for her, before she could ask again, Ivan opened his mouth first.
"Where have you been these past few days, love? I haven't seen you," he asked.
Ivan's question took Hannah by surprise and caused their conversation to briefly veer off topic.
She blinked, her brain trying to come up with a suitable answer that wouldn't put her in danger.
"I've been...occupied," Hannah replied, sounding a little hesitant in her response.
"Taking care of personal matters, you could say." she added.
As he studied her closely, Ivan's lips parted into a knowing smile. His gaze narrowed a little, as though he were trying to find any sign of dishonesty in what she had said.
He had a good understanding of when people were lying to him and was no stranger to deception. However, he didn't immediately reveal her lies.
"Really? Is it not because you're hiding from me?"
***🦋***
Author's Note
Where do you guys think Ivan is taking Hannah? And what can you say about Hannah's decision to get in Ivan's car? Do you want to know what will happen next? Are you curious as well? To find out, slide to the next page and read more. I promise you will love it. Happy reading to you, cuties!