‘I’m not afraid of him.’ 

‘I’m not afraid of him.’ 

‘I can do this.’ 

‘I’m not afraid of him.’ 

.

Hera chanted a little encouraging prayer inwardly. 

To her surprise, Danny and Abby didn’t get down from the car. They took off with a brief explanation that Danny had to take care of something important. It seemed he’s getting some stuff for the party. Hera didn’t ask for the details as she thought, she’s better off trouble. 

Abby said she needed to be somewhere and accompanied Danny. She had got her own set of friends, and unlike Hera, she often went out with her friends whenever and wherever she wanted. It’s not that Hera didn’t want to hang out with her friends, it’s just that she’s not allowed to go. Danny never questioned Abby, and it never bothered him where she went or what she did. But whenever it came to Hera, he would become the commanding Jailer, controlling her life and she no more than a prisoner. 

Abby had gotten what Hera wanted for herself, but never had it. The freedom to live her life as she would please. 

And not to forget, she had Hunter, the evil master to answer as well. He literally ruled her life. 

The beautiful mansion was a refreshing sight for one’s eyes, yet it didn’t soothe Hera’s anxious nerves. People dream for years to own such a building. It’s a three-storey mansion, after all, and the house was ridiculously huge. 

The only thing Hera loved about it was the two gardens, both in the front and back of the mansion. The basement had a garage where Hunter’s expensive cars were parked. There’s a swimming pool in the backyard right in the middle of the back garden. The ground floor had a fully furnished kitchen, a dining hall, a living room, and it had eight guest rooms for the staff, including Hunter’s bodyguards. 

The second floor had twelve bedrooms, and they each came with an attached bathroom and toilet. It’s divided into two parts, six rooms on each side and a living hall in the middle. Hunter’s friends and his bodyguard Mathew used the entire floor. 

The third floor had Hunter’s huge bedroom and an equally huge library next to it with an interconnecting door. It had a swimming pool for his personal use and his gym. On the other side, it had a soundproof home theatre and a game room. 

It wasn’t just a mansion. It was Hera’s paradise once. 

‘Not anymore. Dreams never come true.’ 

Now it had become nothing but Satan’s hell in her eyes. She sighed before ringing the doorbell. The House Keeper Jessica Lanson, a lovely woman in her mid-thirties, welcomed Hera with a broad smile. Hera took a deep breath and entered the house. The cook, servants and maids, everyone greeted Hera. After exchanging pleasantries, they all went back to their business and Hera flopped herself on the soft sofa cushion. 

“He’s not here,” Jessica whispered next to Hera, making her jump in surprise, and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. 

‘He’s not here. He’s not here. He’s not here. Oh, for fuck’s sake, give me a break.’ 

Like, how many times had she heard these same words in the past two days? It’s as if people around her were chanting it like a spell. Well, shouldn’t Hera be thankful to them for providing her with that exclusive information? But she’s well aware that it was just the calm before the storm. Meanwhile, she might enjoy her limited time of freedom until the calm remains. That’s why she didn’t dare question his whereabouts. 

And Hera noticed the mansion actually filled with blissful silence without its usual chaotic state. She couldn’t resist voicing her thoughts as she didn’t see any of Satan’s crew yet, and the lovely Housekeeper Jessica explained the reason behind the serene atmosphere. Nobody’s home except for the servants. Hunter’s friends were all gone out since morning and would be home late. Hera’s face lit up as that information automatically brought a relieved smile on her face. 

‘Whoa! Seems like, it is literally my lucky day.’ 

Jessica asked one of the servants to take her backpack to her room upstairs, and Hera immediately jumped to her feet to stop the servant. She instead requested her to carry it to the last unoccupied guest bedroom on the ground floor. Jessica’s perfectly shaped eyebrows shot up in silent query, but Hera ignored it and asked to feed her stomach. She rubbed her tummy to emphasize that she’s starving and to her luck, her stomach growled in agreement. 

After eating the food to her heart’s content, Hera decided to sleep until the calm remains intact. She walked out of the dining hall with a request to Jessica that she shouldn’t be disturbed till morning. While she passed through the living room, Hera’s feet halted. As if she’s spell bounded, her eyes roamed around and landed at one particular point. An enormous picture hung on the wall demanded her full attention. 

Hera walked up to it to have a closer look. It wasn’t that she was seeing it for the first time. No, she’d seen it countless times, it’s Hunter’s family picture, after all. The only picture he had of his parents in the whole mansion. Needless to say that it’s very precious for him. 

What made the picture unique was that instead of facing the camera, they were showing their backs to it. Hunter was only a toddler in it, and his parents were both holding his tiny hands in theirs. Hera could see the wedding bands on the couple’s ring fingers. 

Hunter’s mother was wearing an elegant knee-length black dress that hugged perfectly to her well-toned sexy figure. Her strawberry blonde hair was long, thick and wavy. Her legs were long, and her milky white skin was shining. Her wrist adorned with a sparkling diamond bracelet which shone as bright as the sun. Anyone could guess that she’s a beautiful woman, even from behind. 

Hunter’s father was a very tall, well-built, strong man. His pitch-black hair was slightly messy due to the wind. His back looked exactly like that of grown-up Hunter. Hera subconsciously smiled. 

‘The handsome devil got his good looks from his father for sure.’