Chapter 221 - Hounds from hell

When Wilbur and Francis knew Casey and Ethan were behind Leena's accident, revenge was seeping into their blood but Leena was intending for peace. Venting her anger and hostility does not decrease the hatred towards them. Life sometimes gives a second chance and it's not worth wasting precious time on plotting, planning, and focusing the energy on the negative. If they want her to be paralyzed for a lifetime, she was determined to make them guilty by standing up and she did it.

Ethan collapsed on the floor hearing the shocking news. For five years, he has been searching for the answers to her disappearance, and now reality hit him real hard. His voice muffled suffocating him to even breathe. 'She suffered because of my imprudence. I brought her into the mess.'

"I am leaving." Taking a deep breath, Ethan spoke up. "Before I leave, I wanted you to know. I loved her with my whole heart."

"If you have loved her, you wouldn't have laid a hand on her," Wilbur had nothing but scorn for Ethan.

Ethan squeezed his eyes shut when the unwanted memory triggered again. He left the place without turning back.

...

"I am so excited for the wedding day, mom." Casey grinned tracing her wedding dress's fabric. "This dress is beautiful."

"You are going to look like a princess." Casey's mom chuckled. "Until the wedding_"

"Ethan!" Casey screamed as her gaze shifted to the man just arrived. She hurriedly approached him. "When did you come_"

"Why did you meet Leena before she disappeared?" Ethan spewed the words with a malicious gaze. There was only disgust for her. Was he blind in the past to love this woman?

Casey's body went cold with dread all of a sudden. How did he know? Did Leena confess everything? Her hands went clammy thinking of it. 'But why would I get scared when she slipped and fell by herself? It's all her fault.'

"I_I did not meet her," Casey said.

"You are still denying?" Ethan scoffed.

"There is no proof_"

"You delivered the pictures to my office, published the pictures in the university, diverted Leena to another location when she was supposed to meet me at the cafe. She was physically and mentally breakdown by that time. She was in no state to discern right from wrong. You seized the opportunity and pushed her from the cliff. I am such a fool to discover your betrayal for five long years. She did nothing wrong to you. Why did you do it?" Ethan grasped her throat and squeezed it tight. His voice turned thin and cruel. "Did you think I would come back to you if you kill her?" Ethan yelled tightening his grip around her neck.

"E_than lea_ve." Casey coughed unable to breathe.

"Leave my daughter, Ethan. She is not such a kind of girl." Casey's mom cried and tried to pull Ethan's hand, but nothing was stopping him today.

"Your daughter is the worst creature I have ever seen."

"I am not going to kill you today." Ethan loosened his grip on her throat. "The torture Leena suffered, I will make sure you suffer tenfold. Mark my words today. I will ruin you."

Harshly, Ethan pushed her away to the ground and stormed out of the house.

"Ethan, wait," Casey screamed but he was long gone. "I will go and talk with him, mom."

"Wait, Casey!"

Casey left.

Scared that Ethan would annul the wedding, Casey stepped into the car and started to his office without knowing she was being followed. Right when she entered a secluded area, Casey hit the breaks when a car cut into her lane all of a sudden. "Who the hell was your driving teacher?" Casey yelled getting down from the car. She was already in the worst mood and someone is going to pay for it.

Stepping out of the car, a man strolled towards Casey. With a chuckle, he added. "I will let you meet my teacher today."

Casey's fear spiked when two other bulky men stepped out of the car. Strangely, she sensed something wrong with the men. "Who are you_" Not before she completed her words, Casey was knocked on the head and everything went blank.

"Make sure we are not leaving any clues here." One of the men dumped Casey's body into the car trunk.

"Chill bro! No one will know about it."

...

By the end of the day, Leena and Jane were exhausted from shopping. They planned to shop again on the weekend since they are still left with many things to buy.

"How many days it's been, traitor?" Holding Carrot's leash, Leena opened the door and let her in. "Did you miss me?" Carrot gently wagged her tail slightly opening her mouth.

"I know you can't live without me." Leena giggled while Carrot ignored knowing that Leena will always act high when it comes to her.

"Hey Carrot!" Leena started. "You are going to meet someone special today. Are you excited?" She was thrilled to see Devin's reaction upon seeing Carrot.

Carrot furrowed her brows anxiously. Of course, as long as they are not a competitor in garnering Leena's attention.

"Play with your toys. I am going to sleep for a while." Leena dragged her tired body into the room and checked her mobile. There was no text from Devin. He must be in a meeting. She jumped onto the bed and dozed off.

It's been a long time, Carrot was away from home, so, she made a mess in the house. She pulled the tissue papers from the bathroom, unrolled them, stuffed the papers into her mouth Carrot likes the game of having Leena chase after her because with that she can get more attention. Bored with the shredded tissues, Carrot tossed them and pulled the pulse toys from the cabinet, and started playing with them.

A while later, she heard the door unlocking followed by rough footsteps. She immediately threw the toys and rushed into the living room, and halfway, she halted when a man appeared in front of her. Who is he?

If Carrot was scanning him from head to toe, Devin was shivering in cold as if he was thrown into Antarctica. Terror mounted with each step. Cold sweat creased on his face. "L_eena." He whispered, his voice was weak and feeble. When the World sees dogs as cute animals, Devin sees them as hounds from hell. He can't understand how people go all googly woosh over them. To him, they are like sharks.

Carrot stepped forward curiously while Devin stepped back, his heart skipped a beat.

"Leena! Leena!" Devin screamed when Carrot came right next to him and started l.i.c.k.i.n.g him. Devin wanted to run but even to take a step forward, he was frightened.

Leena jolted awake from her sleep and made herself into the living room when she heard screams. She was shocked to see Devin's face turned paler than usual.

"Stop it, Carrot," Leena screamed and pulled her away from Devin. Is he scared of dogs?

Devin hid behind Leena and shielded her body as a weapon.

"Are you scared, Devin?"

"No. I_I am just allergic." He muttered but Leena could sense panic in his voice. Oh my! Devin is scared of dogs. Finally, I got something else to tease along with Chiku's name. He always calls me and Drew scared cats because we are afraid of ghosts. Now it's my time.

"Hiding behind a girl is shameful." Leena teased.

"But it's effective." He shamelessly said hugging her tightly.

"Are you a m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t?"

"No sweetheart. I am Buddhist."

Leena clenched her fists in hostility. Putting her thoughts of kicking him down, Leena turned her attention to Carrot who was looking at her innocently. It was obvious, Carrot wants Leena to introduce the new person.

"Just wait for a while, Carrot. He is a little scared."

"Devin," Leena spoke up. "Carrot wants to meet you. She doesn't hurt you. She is very friendly."

Devin denied shaking his head. He doesn't want anywhere near those jaws. After a little coaxing from Leena, he loosened up a little and gazed at her.

"No l.i.c.k.i.n.g him, Carrot?" Leena warned.

Carrot nodded her head and extended her paw to Devin.

Devin did not take it.

He squeezed his eyes shut when Leena forcefully pulled his hand to shake his hand with Carrot. 'Scared cat! He is like a spider man tormenting people around but the mere sight of a cute dog was making him run tails between his legs. Did he kidnap Trent and tortured him for real? I doubt it.'

...

"Don't work when you are home." Leena threw the files Devin was reading aside and cuddled to his side.

"Yes madam." He wrapped his arms around her. "I am curious. Why Carrot?"

"It's because I first saw her when I was eating Carrot. Sometimes, I name people and things weirdly."

"What's wrong?" Watching his zoned-out expression, Leena thought Devin was envious. "Are you jealous that I didn't name you uniquely? You are very special Devin. I named you Mr.Adonis, babylicious..."

Leena was babbling nonstop but Devin's mind was running through a memory. A memory that triggered pain which he has never experienced. 'Mighty Zeus because you texted me when I was watching a Real steel movie.' Was it a DejaVu or something happened for real?