Chapter 128. My mysterious Stalker

Chapter 128. My mysterious Stalker
He turned away. "I think I have some very good wine plunged somewhere in my bedroom." 

With that, he began walking away from there. "And take off those ridiculous shades. You look funny in them." He said lastly before exiting the room

"Father, the doctor said you should cut down on your alcohol intake." Austin said as he rushed after his father.

Gloria on the other hand made her way towards Leo and Laura, maintaining a smile on her lips. "Congratulations you two." She said as she rubbed Laura's arm warmly. "And your grandfather is right. Do take off those glasses, there's no sun I'm here anyways." With that, she turned to rush after her husband, leaving only four of them in the room.

"I should go see if the table is set." Demetri said as he turned around and left the room.

And they were down to three now.

A very awkward three at that moment.

Nathan hadn't said anything since Leo revealed the news of the both of them dating, but he very much knew his cousin had just said that to get under his skin and try and pick a fight with him. But he wasn't going to make it that easy to win.

"Well, aren't you going to congratulate us, dear cousin?" Leo's attention was now on Nathan.

"Congratulate you guys? That would be necessary since it's not like it came as a surprise to me." He said as he took some steps towards them. "But I would congratulate Laura here on listening to her guts and going for what she wanted. Even if it was quite a sad choice."

"We're really not interested in entertaining any of this talk right now." Leo said with a frown. "And it seems like the bruises on your face have healed. That's sad. I kind of liked the sight of it." With that, Leo moved to pick up Laura's purse for her. "Let's go to dinner."

Passing Nathan one last glance, she nodded before Leo pulled her away from there and towards the door.

"I'd advise you don't focus on leaving people bruised up but instead,  sort the one that's on your there."

At his words, Leo stopped dead in tracks causing Laura to stop in hers as well.

Leo turned around and glared at his cousin who stared at him like he hadn't just said anything.

“What did you just say?”

A mischievous smirk formed on Nathan's lips as he took some steps towards them. “Do you think your ridiculous glasses are good to fool me?”

Laura turned around to stare at Nathan as she felt a slight chill rush up her arm. 
“You don't have anything to do with his bruise, do you?” She suddenly asked, causing Nathan's stare to fall on her.

“And if I do? Then what?” He threw a question back as the smile remained on his lips.

“You bastard!” Leo moved to rush at Nathan but was immediately pulled back by Laura.

“Don't.” She stopped him. “Your family is here and you can't afford to make a scene.” 

Leo watched Nathan nod his head. “Listen to her, Leo and don't do anything stupid like you always do. I guess she is used to this bad temper of yours.”

“You're going to regret doing this, Nathan.” Leo's voice was low and serious while Laura's hand still held him from attacking.

“It's funny how you're quick to blame me for every bad thing that happens to you, cousin. It just shows how low you think of me.”

“After what you did to Laura, I don't think there's any lower way to think of you, Nathan.” Leo spat at him. “You're just trash who's going to pay for his doings one after the other.”

While Leo glared at Nathan like he could snap his head off in an instant if given the chance to, Nathan on the other hand seemed barely fazed by his cousin's outburst. Not like it was the first time he acted out like that and he very much knew it was not going to be the last.

“Don't chase the wrong fly, cousin.” He told him as he began making his way towards where they were and stopping just a few meters away from Leo. “You may just fall into a hole If you do.” With that, he walked past them and exited the room, leaving only Laura who was still in a daze about everything and Leo who had anger surging through him as he clenched his fist.

“Hey,” she slid her hand down to hold onto his clenched fist. “It's alright. Let's not do this right now, especially here.” She tried to pacify his anger.

Leo on the other hand took off the glasses and used his wrist to clean lightly against both eyes.

“Are the glasses affecting you?” 

“It's just causing a lot of heat to my eyes, that's all.” He said as he wore it back.

“Are you sure you wouldn't take it off? I think it would be better letting sir touch the bruise for faster.

“It's fine.” He released his hands. “Let's just go to the dining room. The quicker we eat, the faster we can leave here.”

Laura stared at him for a few moments before nodding. With that, the two of them made their way out of the room.

Lunch went by so fast and Laura barely spoke unless she was spoken to or asked a question. It was the same for Nathan. Many at times, he didn't even answer the question at all. After lunch, Leo decided to take Laura back to the office before driving off to his own company.

The moment Laura stepped into her office, she froze the door quickly and laid her back against it, taking in deep breaths as if she had just run a long race. She felt her heart pounding rapidly in her chest as her thoughts caused shivers to run up her spine.

It couldn't be possible could it?

Her thoughts dwindled back to her time back at the estate after they had finished with lunch. Laura had excused herself to use the restroom but she froze in her steps when she heard a certain sound. A very familiar one that set her heart at a fast pace and made her breath get caught in her throat.

The sharp sound of a lighter being opened and closed. Just like the one she had heard on the phonecall last night. It sounded over and over again, as if it was being played with and Laura took in deep breaths before moving towards where the sound came from. The moment her eyes caught sight of Nathan who leaned against the balcony with a cigar in his mouth, while the light was in his hands, she felt her heart fly to her throat. He was typing on his phone with his other hand before placing it back into his pocket.

And in that exact instant, Laura received a text. Not just any text but the one from an unknown number.

Her mysterious stalker.

Laura opened her eyes once more to take in her environment. She was still at her office and she exhaled a heavy breath before moving to fall on one of the couches like a sack of potatoes.

Could he be the one who had been behind the texts, the calls and the car of that night? Had his jealousy taken him to the length that he had first kidnaped her and now has gone to the point of even threatening her online with an unknown number.

“This cannot be happening really.” She muttered under her breath. Then she pulled out her phone to search for the message the unknown number had sent to her earlier.

“Your countdown is almost up. Don't say I didn't warn you.”

A sharp breath escaped her lips in an instant as she kicked her shoes off her feet in annoyance. 

What the heck was she going to do now?

Days had passed since that incident and Laura had decided not to tell Leo about the whole thing.

At least not yet.

She needed to be sure she was chasing the right shadows and not damagethe cousin's relationship more than it already is.

Since the news of Laura going out with Leo became known to his family, she spent most of her time at the Carter's estate of in gatherings with his family and she could not be more grateful. Everything was going perfectly, way more than she would have asked for, and she didn't regret a single thing.

It was evening and Laura was with Leo and his family at the estate. Laughs and chattering filled up the room in a lively way and everything felt perfect. 

Suddenly, a maid showed up in the living room and bowed lightly.

“Sir, there's a guest waiting outside.” She said.

“And who is that?” Archibald asked.

Suddenly, the sound of heels pulled all our attention until a presence appeared.

“That would be me, grandfather.”

Laura's breath caught in her throat.