Chapter 19 RESIGNATION
\[8 AM, IXORA’S HOUSE\]
Mr. and Mrs. Castellan were in the dining room, having breakfast with Blake, who had come to visit Ixora.
“It’s nice to finally meet you in person, Blake,” Georgia said.
“Thank you, ma’am, it’s also an honor to meet the first lady,” Blake smiled.
“So, when did you return?” Smith asked.
“It was last night. Actually I didn’t want to sign any autographs or take any pictures at the airport, that’s why,” Blake replied politely.
“And I wanted to surprise Ixora... I know she’d be shocked to see me,” he added.
The smile on Georgia’s face fell. Blake noticed it.
“Aunt, what’s wrong?”
“Where do I start?” she sighed. “Something is wrong with Ixora, I am sure of it. I know we don’t get along, but I gave birth to her, and I know when she’s not alright. She is surely hiding something from me,” Georgia explained.
Smith looked at her.
“Where is she and why hasn’t she come down for breakfast?” he asked.
“Last night, I went to her room, and she wasn’t anywhere to be found. I even asked the guards, and they said they didn’t see her leaving the house.”
Blake exhaled.
“Have you laid a complaint?”
“We’ll have to wait until it reaches twenty-four hours. Besides, she might be at that low-life girl’s house,” Georgia said.
Blake faced her, but said nothing.
“Ixora, where are you?” he muttered.
\--
\[IXORA’S ROOM\]
Ixora kicked her leg when her nose caught the smell of the environment. It smelled exactly like her room.
Flashes of what happened to her at the hideout revealed themselves in her mind. She sat up panting heavily.
Her brows thinned when she saw she was in her room.
“Was that only a nightmare?” she asked herself, looking around the room as if she were in a stranger’s house.
She remembered going to give Drexton the cup, flaring up and lashing out at him. He grabbed her...her dress...the knife and then blacked out.
How then did she end up in her room?
She traced her gaze down to her breast and saw the cut was there, and some dried blood. She confirmed that it wasn’t a dream or her illusion.
He tore her dress. She gripped the edge of the duvet as she wondered what had happened to her after she had passed out.
“Did he bring her home? Or did he? He couldn’t do it... I am sure of it,” she thought, and climbed down the bed, straight to the bathroom to freshen up.
As the water poured down her body, she couldn’t help but think about the event. What made her pass out, and why doesn’t she remember how she got here?
She came out of the bathroom and let the towel fall on the ground as she stared at her body in the mirror.
She creamed her body and put on a casual outfit before leaving her room for breakfast.
As she climbed the stairs, she could see her parents already having their breakfast. Another person was with them, and she couldn’t see his face since his back was to her.
Her flip-flops seemed to have gotten their attention as they turned to her...well, except for the person that was having breakfast with them.
“Is he Mr. Miller?” she muttered, but waved it off since she could tell this one was younger and his hairstyle was different from that of James.
“Good morning, mum, dad,” she greeted, and the person finally chose that time to turn.
Time froze, and Ixora’s eyes went wide as she found her voice.
“Blake,” she muttered.
Blake stood with his arms wide. She ran and engulfed him in a deep hug. Blake hugged her back.
A tear crept out of her eyes when she remembered how Drexton burned the keytar.
She sniffled.
“Woah, are you crying?” Blake asked, breaking the hug.
Ixora smiled and hit his elbow.
“Punk, why would I cry?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back? I would have personally come to get you from the airport,” Ixora said with a smile.
“I wanted it to be a surprise. So, tell me, how do you like my surprise?”
“I love it...love it...love it,” Ixora smiled.
“Besides, how would you have been able to come when you weren’t at home last night?” Blake added.
Ixora looked away and scratched her neck. “About that... I was at Hazel’s place. We both had a sleepover,” she lied.
“A sleepover and you came out of your room instead of the door,” Georgia asked, going close to her.
Ixora tightened her fist as she remembered Drexton was the reason why she was slowly becoming a liar.
“I...uhm I... I came in through the window,” she stuttered.
“Since when do you have to sneak into your own house?” Smith asked.
“We were both being silly. Well I... I have to go to work,” she said, and rushed upstairs while the three exchanged glances.
Soon she came downstairs fully dressed for work, and when they tried to stop her, she hurried out without saying anything.
Blake got a text from Audrey asking him to come back.
“Aunt, I have to go, I will talk to Ixora, take care,” he said, and they nodded as he left.
\[BLACKTHORN AUTOMOBILE\]
Kian was the one doing Ixora’s work. She didn’t come to work and didn’t inform them. The worst of all, Drexton hadn’t for once asked why she didn’t come.
Ixora got to the office and saw Kian in her workspace.
“Are you okay? Why are you just coming to work at this time of day? You know Drex...”
“I am not here for work,” she cut him off and went inside Dreton’s office without bothering to even knock on the door.
She scoffed when she saw how he had his attention on whatever he was working on, not even sparing her a glance. What she didn’t know was that he was already aware of her presence.
She rolled her eyes and stepped closer to his table, handing him an envelope.
Drexton didn’t glance at her as he collected it, opened it and read the first sentence of the letter.
MY RESIGNATION LETTER
He kept the paper on the table and tapped on a button. In just a few seconds, Kian walked in with a file in his hand. He gave it to her. She took it with her brows furrowed against each other.
“What is this?” She asked in confusion.
Drexton still didn’t even spare her a glance, nor did he bother to respond.
“It is the document you signed the day you got hired here,” Kian replied instead.
That was when it dawned on her that the day she signed the document, she wasn’t able to read it because of the way he had stared at her. Nonetheless, she opened the document and began reading it.
The more she read, the more her eyes kept widening at each turn.
She had signed her life over to this demon in front of her. She couldn’t just quit her job unless he set her free.
She didn’t sign any business agreements. She had signed herself to her. She stared at him in shock.
Drexton looked at Kian, who bowed his head and left. For the first time since Ixora stepped into the office, he focused his gaze on her.
“What...what is this?” Ixora asked, still shocked by what she had read.
“What did you make me sign?” she asked again with heavy breaths.
“I didn’t force you. You signed it willingly,” Drexton smirked darkly.
“This isn’t the agreement I signed. What the hell did you do to the real document?!” Ixora yelled.
Drexton breathed out, allowing himself to sink deeper into his chair.
“You never read the document....so how is this fake?” he smirked even deeper.
“You tricked me into signing this! You’re a monster!” she cried.
Only hell knows how much her tears please his eyes. And the fact that he’s the reason for her tears—more interesting
“I know.... pet,” he said darkly.
“Don’t forget....you signed your life to me,” he added, his voice becoming even darker than before.
“You will regret this, Drexton Blackthorn. You will regret this,” Ixora muttered, loud enough for his hearing.
“Waiting.... pet,” he dragged the last part as if trying to prove a point to her.
Ixora stormed out of the office. The determination had returned to her eyes.
The smirk remained. He’d regret it. She dared to threaten him when she had no idea how she had passed out. The knife was laced with medicine, and it made her pass out.
She was talking too much. Her sight was beginning to irritate them. If he hadn’t done it, Jaxon might have done something worse. Maddox took the antidote since his blood came in contact with the knife.
He shut his eyes. The only thing he could see was her...her tears, her fears, her boldness, her smile, and her everything.
\[6 PM, U.C. POLICE STATION\]
“Have you found out anything about the Hell Devils?” Mrs. Vaughn asked.
“No, Mrs. Vaughn, we’re still working on it,” Inspector Williams replied.
“What do you mean you are working on it! It’s been three months now, and yet there’s nothing! It seems like you are not competent enough for this job! Should I just hire someone else?” Mrs. Vaughn yelled in anger.
“Keep your voice down, ma’am, we are trying our absolute best to catch these killers, and we are going to catch them,” Inspector Williams assured.
“Well then, get on with it quickly. I want my husband to get justice! I want his murderers to be brought before the law. Don’t you get that!” Mrs. Vaughn yelled.
“Watch your tone, ma’am, this is a police station,” Inspector Williams cautioned.
Just then, Ixora ran in.
“I want to make a complaint.” She had a cold face as she spoke each word.
“Go on,” Inspector Williams said.
“I know who they are,” Ixora said again.
“Who?” Inspector Williams asked.
“Hell Devils.”