*
*
Faith felt as though an invisible hand was tightly gripping her lungs.
The buildings and the scenery felt all too familiar. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the mansion in front of her.
This was the place she had dared to call home. To think that it was only a few months ago!
The security team had easily permitted her through.
Faith couldn't tell if it was because they recognized her as Sterling's ex-wife, or was it Sterling that ordered it because he knew she would come.
The thought spread a wave of shiver through her whole body.
She took in a deep breath to calm her nerves. She was surprised when the door flew open only after the first ring.
It wasn't Sterling who was staring right at her.
"Mrs. Sterling! Oh goodness! What a pleasant surprise!"
It was Mrs. Esther, the housekeeper. Her eyes were wide in astonishment, her lips curving into the brightest of smiles.
"H_Hi Mrs. Est__" Faith barely started when she was suddenly enveloped in the woman's tight embrace.
"This place has always been your home, I've always known that you wouldn't be able to stay away from it forever!" The woman beamed widely.
"I'm no longer Mrs. Sterling," Faith muttered.
While the woman's kind gesture somehow dissipated Faith's worries a little, she couldn't help but make it known that she wasn't here to stay, she was here for ____War!
"I came for Mr. Hunter, is he in?" She addressed Sterling formally, not missing the slight narrow in Mrs. Esther's gaze.
"Ah! Yes, He's in his study, should I inform him of your arrival or__" Faith watched the housekeeper's eyes shift from Faith to Julian who was protectively standing beside her.
"There's no need for that! I'll go see him right away."
Faith offered a tiny smile as she walked past Mrs. Esther.
She still remembered vividly every corner of the house, every step she took brought back waves of memories.
Nothing changed.
It almost felt as though she never left.
Soon, she found herself standing in front of Sterling's home office.
Her hands remained by her sides.
Should she knock?
The tight sensation in her lungs felt worse now. Her whole body started to tremble until she thought she would Faint.
It was Julian who rudely shoved the door open, the loud sound causing Faith to jerk slightly, her wandering eyes caught a glimpse of the spacious office just before Julian barged inside, and she forced her jelly-like legs to follow after him.
A low gasp escaped her mouth when cold brown eyes met hers.
She was frozen on the spot, with her feet in mid-air.
Her brain went blank!
He looked exactly as she remembered, at least physically.
But it was something in the way he stared back at her___
Perhaps she imagined it when the corner of his lip slightly lifted, and something dark and vicious flashed in his raw gaze.
And then it was gone. Replaced by the neutral mask she knew as well.
Her knees felt shaky, but this was about her baby! If he was responsible, she would fight him till her very last breath.
He wasn't alone in the spacious office.
Faith's eyes shifted briefly to the woman who was only a few inches away from Sterling, her brunette hair was falling freely across his shoulders as she stood behind the chair Sterling sat.
She was quite young and stunningly beautiful!
Who was she?
Why was she in Sterling's house?!
Seeing her leaning so close to Sterling made her chest burn, and her stomach twisted in a way that she didn't like.
Was she his new girlfriend?
What about Emilia?
Her eyes shifted to the intense dark eyes that had continued to study her, his powerful gaze up and down her body slowly.
Faith recognized the emotions that struck her.
Anger.
Why did her heart clench?
Why was she suddenly filled with rage?
The sight of the woman's stupid arm around his shoulders set her heart on fire, her chest boiled with resentment as her breath slightly hitched.
"Can you excuse us?" Sterling's gruff voice rang in the silent room.
Faith despised, even more, the sensation of triumph that overcame her when he asked the unknown woman to leave.
The woman nodded and walked away quite gracefully, but not before shooting Faith a curious glance.
Whoever the woman was to him should be none of her fucking business!
She was here for a purpose!
She walked towards Sterling until only the large desk separated them. Her nostrils flared in anger as she glared at him.
"Did you do it? I know you must have sent them! " Her voice was thick with resentment. She scanned her gaze around as though Maya would appear from nowhere.
Her face burned reddish when Sterling only continued to watch her.
"You better start answering before I__" Her voice faltered when he suddenly stood up. His palms were flattened against the desk, his eyes bore an unfathomable gleam.
"May I know exactly what you are talking about?" He enunciated each word gently.
Too calmly.
Why did it feel as though he was mocking her?
"You know exactly what I'm talking about! I know it must be you!" She glared at him spitefully.
They stood staring at each other; the only sounds were the sound of her shallow breathing. She refused to show her fear as he took slow, measured steps towards her, a predatory gleam in his eyes.
It was Julian who blocked his path, separating Faith from him.
"Stay away from her!" Julian glared at Sterling, placing a protective arm around Faith.
"My sister believes you took her baby away! Now did you?"
If Faith wasn't watching Sterling closely, she might have missed the intense flare of his nostrils and the violent emotion that lingered in his eyes.
"I didn't know you have a daughter!" His sharp accusation was like a knife stab against her chest.
"Is this the point where I congratulate you?" The corners of his lips were tilted even though his eyes remained icy with barely repressed anger.
Faith's breath was stuck in her throat, her palms felt clammy as beads of dreadful sweat formed on her forehead.
She had never mentioned that it was a baby girl!
She was right all along!
All these were done by him!
He knew Maya belonged to him.
And he wanted to punish her for hiding her from him.
But what choices had she had back then?
"I never told you that it is a girl! Where is she?! I don't care if you want to hurt me, but she's so tiny, she needs to be with her mother!" Faith didn't know if she was begging or demanding. She was angry, tired, and desperate.
She just wanted her baby.
"And you didn't ever think that she needs her father as well?! For how long did you plan to hide her from me!"
Faith fisted her trembling fingers under his sinister glare.
His eyes held a murderous glint that made her spine feel cold. She chose to look anywhere but him, it was better that way.
She didn't know what prompted her next words, maybe it was because she didn't want him in their lives.
She'd given birth to Maya alone, and she was capable of taking care of her own child.
They didn't need him.
"Why do I need to tell you anything? Maya is not your child! You are not her father!!"
*