Chapter 136: Warning
Mira’s body trembled as Zack clasped her hands, his grip firm and unyielding. A wave of revulsion surged through her—so overwhelming, it left her frozen. She wished, in that instant, for the ground to open beneath her feet and swallow her whole. Anything would be better than enduring the vile touch of this man.
Memories she had buried long ago clawed their way to the surface, vivid and relentless, like ghosts refusing to rest. The cold sensation of his skin against hers made her stomach churn violently, her breaths becoming shallow and erratic. She couldn’t think, couldn’t move, as if her mind were shackled by fear.
"Wow," Zack drawled, his voice cutting through her turmoil. His tone was laced with mock admiration, making her skin crawl. "You’ve grown so beautiful over the years. What have I missed?"
Mira’s heart raced, her instincts screaming at her to escape, but her body wouldn’t obey. She stared at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of fury and disgust, before finally snapping, "Get your hands off me!"
But he only chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent a shiver down her spine. His grip tightened, trapping her wrists in a vice-like hold. She yanked back with all her strength, but his hold only grew stronger, his smirk widening with every futile attempt.
"I’m stubborn too," he murmured, his voice laced with dark amusement. "You’ll come to learn that about me, baby."
That laugh—it was a sound she hadn’t heard in years, yet it felt like it had been etched into her memory. Low and predatory, it seeped into her veins, making her skin crawl as though ants were swarming her body. Desperation clawed at her chest as she tried to free herself, but Zack was quicker.
His hand shot up, grazing her lips before she could pull away. The touch sent a bolt of disgust through her entire being, so visceral that she recoiled with a strangled gasp. She frantically rubbed her lips with the sleeve of her dress, as if she could scrub away the taint of his touch.
Zack’s smirk deepened, satisfaction gleaming in his dark eyes. "Wow," he said, his tone mocking, "you’re getting so, so stubborn. I like that."