y contained fury in my eyes seemed to challenge him, daring him to respond. His calm d

o more harm?" I added, my words sh

illed the room with a palpable tension. His footsteps echoed softly on the marble floor as he walked towar

e lump in my throat as I ins

or a brief, disconcerting second, I was sure I saw his eyes change color, a flash of something otherworldly. But perh

ds, yet my voice betrayed me with silence. The hesitati

chair, a clumsy misstep that sent me sprawling into it. The jolt of impact stole my breath for an instant, but at least

like a dark sentinel. His eyes...cold, bore into me

e got guts. Never...ever

every nerve ending screaming in protest. The thought of losing control, of breaking down completely, threatened to overwhelm me. Despite th

isted lullaby. "Hahaha..." Michael chuckled, his lips parting to reveal rows of crystal white teeth. The

ncantation. Even as he began to walk away, his tone carried a strange mixture of tendern

he spoke again, his voice now edged with impatience and expectation. "Give me a goddamn name

then took a deep, shuddering breath. "I don't really know his name..." My

g the severity of his disapproval. The term "child" rang in my ears, a word so loaded, so out of place coming from him. Even my own father, with all his years and author

bones. The shock of his outburst sent shivers racing down my spine, igniting a torrent of conflicting

encing me with a raised finger. His eyes locked onto mine, a mixture of curiosity and menace swirling within them. "Tell me what he looks like

ed fear I felt inside. "I... I didn't get to see his face or his physique clearly... but I think I remember a name now," I added

to both praise and mock me. "Good girl... now tell me, the name..." he

.. ee..." I mumbled, each paus

he way he looked at me, as if he were waiting for an answer that w

ed, the words barely audible as they sl

p within him. His chest rose and fell in measured rhythm, and his broad shoulders tensed so visibly that every muscle seemed to sc

entence, but the words were lost, swallowed by

s of people in this world, you choose to bump into no one else but Cameroon, huh!" His outburst was raw, imbued

thoughts cascaded through my mind, each one a mix of regret, fear, and a dawning understanding that I was ensnared in something far beyond my control. I cou

with a cold, inexorable finality. "You're in a much bigger mess than you think." His words

yet his ears seemed to catch even the faintest murmur of my despair. I stared

" Michael said, his voice dropping to a c

you. You will take it to your so called Cameroon. Is that clear?

It was a single, defiant sound, a spark of rebellion born of ex

hrough glass that framed the garden beyond. His attention to my dissent was minimal

His voice was cold and detached, as if he were questionin

c. "We only met that night, and that was it! How then am I supposed to take a message to him?" I pleaded,

ective for a moment, a fleeting pause that made me w

E!!" His voice thundered through the room, a deafening

ust t

cacophony of emotions, my phon