Amara stepped out of the prison still in anger. She couldn't hold it in—why were they doing everything they could to destroy her, even her descendant?
There was something wrong, something Amara didn't know the reason for. But Richard surely knew it.
"Bastards—" Amara stopped walking when Kaisar grabbed her shoulder from behind. "They must have more than one reason."
"Control your emotions first."
"They're targeting my child too!" Amara turned and glared sharply at Kaisar. "What did an innocent child do wrong? Because he's my blood?"
Amara asked for herself as well as for Kaisar. The man looked calm while Amara's emotions were still exploding.
"I'm going to see Charlie now—"
Kaisar immediately acted. He pulled Amara's hand and led her straight into the car. Kaisar started the engine quickly to leave the place.
"Please control yourself, Amara. That's what you need right now."
"You wouldn't understand because you've never felt this kind of wound, Doctor Diamond. Have you ever seen the most precious person to you threatened?"
When Amara asked that, Kaisar's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. His expression changed.
"They want your anger. They're looking for a gap. Be careful with what you do right now. Don't you want to protect Vero?"
Amara fell silent. Kaisar was right. Every action she took would become an important record. There would be no second chance to fix it.
Amara clenched her hair tightly. This problem was truly frustrating. The issue was she was alone and had to think of many plans at once.
One wrong move, and she was finished.
Amara then looked at the main road. Kaisar suddenly changed their route—not toward home.
"Why? Where are you taking me?" Amara asked.
"Looks like it's not only celebrities who have sasaengs." Kaisar occasionally glanced at the rearview mirror, then searched for a more roundabout route.
Amara was unfamiliar with the term, but she immediately realized one thing...
She looked back. There were many vehicles behind them, but one car stood out. Slightly behind, because Kaisar was able to control the speed rhythm and direction.
"God... I'm so stupid."
"You're not stupid... you just need a skilled partner like me beside you." Kaisar glanced at Amara.
"Even in a situation like this, you look more like a psychopath than a doctor."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Kaisar smiled.
Amara fell silent. She didn't know Kaisar well, but this man was very good with words. Even though she had warned him many times, his ears were like taro leaves.
Even so, she felt slightly calmer now. Kaisar's instincts were sharper than she had expected.
Amara grabbed her phone to call Lia again, worried the security could be breached by Charlie.
"Have you arrived home?" Amara asked.
"Yes, Ma'am. Vero is about to eat now. Earlier he had trouble eating because he didn't like the menu."
Amara exhaled slowly. "I'm on the way. If any stranger comes, never open the door."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"I entrust Vero to you, Lia."
The call ended.
---
Amara finally arrived home after two full hours of circling around to avoid the person following them. Seeing her calm house allowed her to breathe in relief.
"I've never been this nauseous dealing with problems." Amara put her phone into her bag, and Kaisar was removing his seatbelt beside her.
"Do you need a vomit bag?"
Amara turned. "Now I really want to kick you out."
Kaisar chuckled softly. They got out of the car, and Amara didn't immediately enter the house. Kaisar didn't bring a car; his personal driver would pick him up.
At least Amara truly had to thank this man.
"About your threat to Richard, were you serious?"
"For the most part... yes. He'll destroy himself. I know him—he's not smart enough to plan a situation to put me in prison."
Kaisar nodded slowly. They knew who the real target was. Even though the report about Vero was proceeding, Amara knew it wouldn't be enough. Charlie had more connections in many fields.
Including the police who handled Amara's case seven years ago.
"The person who chased us... he must have recognized your face. You don't have a problem with that?" Amara asked.
"You're worried?"
Amara immediately turned away. "Go home. My personal driver will take you," she said as she entered the house.
Kaisar smiled faintly.
Inside, Vero was playing alone in a room. Lia wasn't far from him. The child saw Amara arrive and stopped playing because Amara suddenly hugged him.
"What's wrong, Auntie?" Vero asked.
Amara released the hug and placed both hands on her son's shoulders. "Mommy just missed you."
"Missed me? Don't we meet every day?"
Amara smiled. "Yes, you're right. But Mommy still misses you while working. Have you eaten?"
Vero nodded.
"Vero... can Mommy ask something?"
"Ask what?"
Amara paused. "You're comfortable living with Mommy, right? You won't leave Mommy? It's okay if you're not ready to call me Mommy yet, Mommy just wants you to stay by Mommy's side, Vero."
Vero stared silently at Amara, who kept being gentle to him since they met. Even though he hadn't called her Mommy, he didn't hate her.
"I won't go anywhere."
"Really?" Amara asked to make sure.
Vero nodded. He then took a drawing book from his small study table and brought it to Amara.
"This is my school assignment. Can Auntie come to school tomorrow? I have to explain my daily activities at home in front of my classmates."
"Really? Of course! Mommy will come!" Amara responded enthusiastically.
The child smiled, making Amara unable to stop looking at him. This was the first time Vero smiled at her—seriously!
After agreeing, Amara went to her room to shower and change clothes. The suffocating days seemed to disappear seeing Vero's smile and request earlier.
"No one is allowed to ruin my child's day."
Amara remembered—Richard still had his father working for him. If she disturbed Richard, would Charlie be slightly distracted?
Amara took her phone and called someone. She needed manpower inside the detention where Charlie was.
"Oh, damn. There will be a storm today..." Kaisar's voice came from Amara's phone.
"What do you mean?"
"This is the first time you've called me directly. Say it... you need me, hm?"
Amara exhaled softly. "I need your intelligence. You worked in a prison before, didn't you? Do you still have connections?"
"Of course..."
"Give that man a little shock therapy. Whatever you can do, I'll support you, Doctor Diamond."
"The reward?"
"How much do you need?" Amara asked.
"I need one dinner with you, can you?"
"Oh my—" Amara looked at her phone screen. She really wanted to curse this man. "So can you do it or not? I'll find someone else!"
"So that means you agree? Deal... I'll do as you ordered."
Kaisar ended the call first, making Amara bite her lower lip softly. Since Kaisar entered the drama of her plan, Amara felt her mood wasn't as rigid.
However, Kaisar wasn't the type of person who could be fully controlled like a 'subordinate.' With his title as an experienced doctor, Kaisar surely didn't come from a poor family.
---
The next day.
The breakfast tray was pushed through the gap beneath the door. Usually, the sound of plastic hitting the floor would trigger small commotion. But this morning, the cell was silent.
Everyone ate calmly. Except one tray belonging to Richard. No one dared to touch it, but no one allowed Richard to take it either.
The tattooed man sat relaxed while chewing, his eyes watching the pale and weak Richard. With his chin, he pointed to the corner of the cell.
"The bathroom there."
A black bucket and a filthy mop were pushed toward Richard. The other prisoners stopped eating. Their plastic spoons hung in the air. They waited.
Richard looked at the faces around him. There was no personal hatred there. They were simply playing roles in a neatly arranged scenario.
His trembling hand grabbed the mop handle. Dirty water seeped through his fingers, the smell bringing back last night's nausea.
For the first time since the police handcuffed him, pure fear crawled along Richard's spine. Not because of the tattooed man, not because of poisoned food, but because of one fact...
Someone outside was controlling his life and death in here without dirtying their hands at all. And Richard knew exactly who that person was.
"Damn.., why won't you help me?" While doing his task, Richard felt disgusted by the filthy bathroom condition.
"Aaaaaarrgh!"
Richard screamed in frustration and kicked the bucket until the water spilled. He couldn't stand being in this place. No!
Richard walked toward the iron bars, gripping them tightly and looking outside.
"Dad, help me! Dad, get me out of here!"
"Stop shouting, bastard!" A man's voice thundered behind Richard.
Richard realized he was about to face another problem.