Chapter 57 Chapter 57

Chapter 57 Chapter 57
"Mercy makes you a target. Power makes you untouchable”
Hale stepped back into Clara’s hospital room expecting to find her asleep but Instead, he found her standing.
She was barefoot on the cold hospital floor, one hand resting lightly against the IV stand for balance. The thin hospital gown hung loosely over her frame, but there was colour returning to her cheeks and body.
For a brief second, he was relieved then it was replaced by irritation
“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” His asked angry
Clara turned slowly, she looked far better than she had twenty four hours ago, she was steadier though there was still a fragility to her movements.
She offered him a small grin "Walking”
Hale crossed the room in long strides. “You’re not strong enough to be walking"
She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t lose all my abilities to function, Hale. I was drowned by an evil witch, not turned into a vegetable"
Her attempt at humour hung in the air, Hale did not seem to find it funny.
“Get back into bed” His jaw tightened
The playful light in her eyes flickered at the sternness in his tone
“Oh, relax for Godsake” she said, though her grip on the IV stand tightened “I just wanted to see if my legs still worked"
“I’m not asking” His voice dropped lower, more controlled “Lie back down before I make you.”
The command settled between them heavily.
Clara’s breath caught, she hated how he was treating her like a fragile child. Hated the way he assumed authority without hesitation and yet there was something else coiling in her stomach.
The way he stood tall, shoulders squared. The quiet dominance in his voice and the certainty that she would obey.
Her mind betrayed her, wandering down a path she should not be walking. Disobey him, a reckless part of her whispered. Let's see what he does.
The memory of him locking her in that cage flashed through her mind, the way his voice had softened when he praised her, the dark satisfaction in his eyes.
Heat rushed to her cheeks, maybe she wanted to be punished.
“Clara.” Her name left his mouth in a warning tone.
Not loud or aggressive, just enough for reality to snap back into place. She swallowed and, without another word, carefully climbed back onto the bed.The movement alone made her dizzy.
She lay back, exhaling softly, trying to steady her breathing. The memory of his praise, of the cage, lingered unpleasantly vivid. Her thighs pressed together instinctively before she could stop herself and Hale noticed, Of course he noticed.
His eyes dropped from her flushed face to the subtle tension in her legs
“What are you thinking about?” he asked quietly
His voice wasn’t teasing now, It was tinged with curiosity.
She immediately forced herself to relax, unclenching and smoothing her expression.
“Work,” she lied “I was thinking about work.”
He chuckled darkly “Recover first,” he said, voice low “We have plenty of time to do other things.” His gaze lingered on her deliberately. “You’re damned with me forever, remember?”
Her lips parted slightly.There were a thousand things she wanted to say to that; You don’t own me, I’m not damned, You don’t scare me anymore but before any of those words could form, the door opened.
The nurse stepped inside with a warm smile “Well,” she said brightly, “you’re recovering quickly.”
Clara returned the smile politely, grateful for the interruption. Hale stepped aside but remained close and watchful
“When can she be discharged?” he asked without preamble
The nurse glanced at the chart. “We’d like to run a few more tests to ensure there aren’t lingering complications from the cold exposure. Hypothermia can affect organs in ways that don’t show immediately"
Hale nodded once "When will that be complete?”
“If everything looks good, tomorrow evening,” she replied. “Possibly the day after, just to be safe"
He accepted that answer with visible restraint then the nurse moved closer to Clara’s bed, checking her pulse and blood pressure. She adjusted the drip carefully, replacing the nearly empty bag with a fresh one.
“Any dizziness?” she asked gently
“A little,” Clara admitted
“That’s normal.”
Hale watched every movement the nurse made as if memorizing it
“Can she eat?” he asked
“She’s receiving nutrition through the IV,” the nurse explained “But if she feels up to it, something very light would be fine. Maybe soup or plain toast. Her organs are still recovering, and we don’t want to trigger vomiting.”
Clara wrinkled her nose faintly
“I’ll have something sent up,” Hale said.
The nurse smiled. “I can arrange that"
After a few more routine checks, she excused herself
“I’m not hungry,” Clara said immediately.
“You’re eating,” Hale replied without looking at her “you look like you’ll break if I touch you,” he added bluntly.
She stared at him wide mouthed “You are so insufferable.”
Silence stretched between them then Hale’s gaze shifted slightly, darkening.
“Are you open" he began slowly, “to torturing someone who hurt you?”
The question hit her like a slap, her body recoiled instinctively “No,” she said immediately, shaking her head. “Absolutely not.”
His expression hardened, He stood up straighter, shoulders broad and imposing "You will" The certainty in his tone made her stomach churn
“I won’t,” she insisted, though her voice wavered slightly
“You'll let people push you,” he said evenly. “You let them hurt you, humiliate you and even try to kill you?"
“That doesn’t mean I become like them"
“That’s exactly what it means"
She stared at him in disbelief as He leaned down slightly, hands braced on either side of the bed, trapping her gaze.
“The more you let people get away with bullying you,” he continued, “the more they will do it. They’ll keep pushing, testing”His voice dropped lower “They’ll push you to the edge, Clara till you're unable to take it anymore and you'll jump off the edge to your own death. The world will not blame them, that's just how life works"
Her throat tightened
“I won’t let that happen,” he said firmly. “I will never let you be prey, so I’ll teach you,” he finished. “I’ll teach you how to be the hunter"
She stared at him, heart racing, there was something terrifying about the way he believed that and it was disturbingly comforting too.
Mayor Brattfield’s office felt suffocating. He sat behind his desk, phone pressed tightly to his ear
“Bryant,” he said urgently. “We need to talk.”
There was a pause on the other end “It’s about Hale,” the Mayor continued, voice strained “He called to threaten Rihana.”
Bryant’s displeasure was evident even through the phone. “I warned you about her impulsiveness.”
“I know,” the Mayor snapped, rubbing his temples. “But right now that doesn’t matter. I need to know if you can use your influence over him.”
“My influence?” Bryant repeated flatly
“Yes, he’s your grandson. Surely you can talk sense into him.”
A long sigh echoed through the line, “The blood relationship between us" Bryant said slowly, “is almost nonexistent.”
The Mayor frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means,” Bryant continued evenly, “that I do not control him and I certainly cannot stop him from killing someone who crossed him.”
The words sent a chill down the Mayor’s spine “You’re telling me you can’t do anything?” he demanded.
“I’m telling you,” Bryant replied, “that Rihana touched someone important to him.”
“And that justifies murder?”
“Yes, it does actually"
The Mayor stood abruptly, pacing now “I already lost my son, one that was suppose to be in your care” he said, voice cracking slightly “I will not lose my daughter too"
Bryant remained silent for several seconds, He was thinking of the possible solutions. Afterall, he was pretty fond of Rihana
“She’s old enough,” he said calmly. “It’s time she gets married.”
The Mayor stopped pacing “What?”
“If she belongs to someone powerful enough,” Bryant continued, “Hale will think twice about hurting her. Marriage is protection even for reckless girls.”
The Mayor’s chest tightened “You’re suggesting I trade my daughter for safety?”
“I’m suggesting,” Bryant replied evenly, “that you choose which loss you can live with.”