009

Now standing outside the hotel, Chase exhaled and with a hand tucked into his pockets, he made his way towards the road to flag down a taxi.

"Where are you heading?" Zara asked, appearing in front of him. He didn't see her coming so he was a bit startled seeing her standing in front of him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, taking in her features. This was the second time he was seeing her after he got married to Raven.

"I came to speak to my husband to be… is that a crime?" She didn't allow him to give a response before tossing her car key towards him.

"Can you drive?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"Gray Honda Civic."

For more than five minutes Chase remained where he was not making any effort to move his feet. He had his gaze fixed on her as he tried to wrap his head around what was happening.

"Fine, if you are not driving, I will." Zara said, trying to snatch the key from him but he didn't let her.

Holding her arm, he pulled her to himself, "Why are you doing this?" His voice was firm.

"Must there be a reason?" She retorted, trying to wriggle from his grip but he held on.

"Answer me now." He yelled in her face.

Zara couldn't say a word after this, she kept staring at him as if he had gone insane.

"What do you and your family take me for? I understand that I'm way below your standards but tossing me about like I'm a dice is the height of it." He yelled.

With one powerful pull, Zara pulled her arm away from his grip and then began to rub it with a scowl on her face.

"I'm not a part of their scheme."

"Then why did you decide to marry me when I was at the verge of being divorced. I know you don't have anything for me, you even said it back there that you decided to help me out of pity."

"Fine, you heard everything." she scowled. Rolling her eyes to the back of her head, she said, "I decided to come for you because I wanted to escape from the leash my family had placed on my neck. I had always looked forward to living my life to the fullest but they wouldn't let me."

"Dammit!" Chase muttered, digging his hand into his hair. Swirling around, he tried to leave but he felt his leg was rooted to the ground.

Frustrated with everything, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and then dialed Wembley's contact.

When Wembley wouldn't pick up, he continued dialing his contact until he gave up.

"Please help me." She mumbled, holding his arm.

After staring at her for a while, he pushed her hand off. "Your phone." Without thinking twice, she pushed her phone towards him and he typed in his contact.

"Call me when you are ready." He said. After handing back her phone, he took his leave.

The next morning, Katherine and Raven were the first to arrive and a few minutes later, Zara and Chase joined them.

"Zara, are you sure this is what you want?" Katherine asked with trembling lips. All through the night, she has been trying to reach out to Zara but she wouldn't pick her calls nor reply to her texts.

"Yes." She affirmed.

"He is not good for you." Raven said. Just as she was about to start making her see reasons on why she shouldn't get married to Chase, Mr. Moon joined them with the documents.

Half an hour later, they finished signing the papers and were ready to leave.

"Chase." Katherine called suddenly, causing him to halt and with a smile as usual, he shifted his gaze towards her.

"Ma'am."

"If anything happens to my daughter, be ready to dance to the tune of the law."

"I will ensure her safety is my utmost priority."

"Take this." She said, pushing a document into his hand with which he reluctantly relieved her from.

"According to the will, if there is any reason for a divorce, you are forfeit working at the family company and all your entitlement will be taken from you." Her face was rigid and void of emotions.

"Mom." Zara scowled, her eyes glistening with tears.

"But because of my daughter, I will let you live in one of our houses for three months, after which you leave."

"Mom, why are you doing this?" Zara cried.

Falling on his knees, Chase pinned his head to the floor and with a loud voice cried, "Thank you so much ma'am, I will forever be grateful for your kind gestures." Pulling himself up, he received the key and the house address from Mr. Moon.

"Thank you ma'am." He continued thanking her until she left with Raven who sneered at him.

Now left with Zara, he turned towards her direction only to see her staring back at him.

"Let's go." He said and she immediately handed over her car key.

The drive to their new home was in silence. While Zara was staring out of the window, Chase was thinking of his new plan.

Suddenly, he picked up his phone only to see several missed calls from Wembley.

"He must have started worrying now." He mused, as he dialed his contact. It didn't take a second for the lines to connect.

"Man, where are you?" He rapped, his voice shaking.

"I'm heading home."

"Home? Aren't you supposed to be at work?" He yelled.

"If you are free, let's meet at San Jules."

"Sure." He replied and then hung up.

Several minutes later, he pulled up in front of an old building and then stepped out.

With Zara trailing behind, he made his way towards the house and then pushed the key into the keyhole.

"What's your plan?" Zara asked out of the blue.

"I don't have any." He replied, flashing her a smile which she scoffed at. Running his fingers through his hair, he parted his lips to speak only to close it the next minute.

"We need to come up with a plan. My mother wasn't joking when she said she will throw us out in three months."

"When the time comes, I will plead with her and she will have no choice but to give in." He replied, flashing her a smile.

This time around, she couldn't help but push him against the wall as she seethed with anger. With hooded eyes, she snapped, "If we eventually get kicked out, I will not forgive you."

"Come on, it's not as if I forced you to marry me." Pushing her off slightly, he pushed the door in, "I will be back before night falls." He didn't wait for her to say anything to this before he turned around to leave.

By the time he got to San Jules, Wembley was already sitting at their usual spot, sipping from his glass of juice.

"What happened?" Wembley asked when he joined him on the table.

Chase didn't waste time in telling him everything that has happened, starting from the previous night.

"I told you those people are after your life. What are you going to do now?" He was leaning towards him now.