In Love With My Bully-Chapter 93: Prison Visits

Chayara stopped at the entrance to the prison and took a deep breath.

It was funny how both her parents had ended up in jail because of ridiculously stupid decisions.

Her father, Sam, was serving life for kidnapping Mrs. Numero and attempted murder of her uncle. Her mother? Oh, just a casual attempted murder charge against the same woman.

The thing that made it all even more ridiculous was that she still didn’t fully understand her mother’s motive. But her father? Oh, his was crystal clear, fueled by years of hate and manipulation, all neatly packaged and delivered by Lilian.

Lilian the revenge-obsessed villain.

With a sigh, Chay stepped forward, went through the usual security checks, and was soon led into the visiting area. The place was as depressing as ever—dull beige walls, a few chairs, and the lingering scent of industrial-strength disinfectant.

She sat and waited, drumming her fingers on the table. A few minutes later, her father walked in, his familiar smirk appearing the moment he saw her.

"Baby girl," he greeted, opening his arms. Chay got up to hug him. Despite the orange jumpsuit and the grey now dusting his once jet-black hair, Sam still looked the same.

"How are you doing?" he asked, pulling back to study her face.

"I’m fine."

"What you been up to?"

"Nothing really. Just been working on my designs mostly."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Still don’t have a boyfriend, I see."

Chay scoffed. "How would you know?"

"Because only a boyfriendless girl locks herself away to work on her art for days on end."

Chay pretended to be deeply offended. "I don’t lock myself away!"

Sam folded his arms. "Oh really?"

"Yeah! Just last Friday, I hit the club with Queen. How about that?" She lifted her chin, daring him to argue.

He chuckled. "Still boyfriendless."

Chay opened her mouth to argue but hesitated.

Maybe... not for long?

Now that Drake was back in town, maybe—just maybe—there was potential for something more.

Sam’s smirk deepened. "Ohhh, looks like there’s someone."

Chay narrowed her eyes. "There is no one."

He gave her a knowing look. "Mmmhmm. You sure about that? Because you had that dreamy look just now."

"I do not..." Chay paused, horrified. "Wait, what does that even mean?!"

Sam just laughed. "Alright, alright. If you say so."

Chay groaned and changed the subject before her father started wedding planning.

"Actually, I came here for a different reason," she said.

Sam leaned forward. "What’s going on?"

Chay exhaled. "Could you tell Lilian to back off? She is everywhere I go, and I don’t want Uncle and Aunt to see her around me."

Sam sighed, rubbing his temples. "She is your grandmother."

"Yes," Chay agreed, "and after Grandpa died, I was willing to have a relationship with her. But the first thing out of her mouth was ’Let’s make all the Numeros pay for what they did to you.’"

Sam hummed thoughtfully.

"She won’t let it go," Chay continued. "And honestly? The Numeros haven’t done a thing to me. Instead, they’ve treated me like family."

Her father nodded slowly. "Baby, as much as I want you to stand your ground and not do something you’ll regret, I would still like someone besides them looking out for you."

"Dad, I am fine. I mind my business, I stay in my apartment, and I have more money than I know what to do with. If she’s going to bring all that toxicity around me, then I don’t want it."

Sam let out a tired sigh. "I’ll speak with her..."

"Thank you."

There was a brief silence before Sam gave her a knowing glance.

"You seeing your mother after this?"

Chay nodded. "Yeah. She’s actually excited to be getting out in a few months."

Her father smiled faintly. "Do you think there’s any hope of you making it out?" she asked cautiously.

Sam hesitated before answering. "I have the possibility of parole coming up in a few years, but I don’t want to get your hopes up, darling."

Chay nodded.

Hope was a dangerous thing.

She glanced at the clock. "I should probably get going if I want to make it to Mum’s visiting time."

Sam pouted dramatically. "Oh, come on! Don’t go yet. Tell me about this boy I know you’re into."

Chay groaned. "Dad, it’s nothing. Just a silly teenage crush."

Sam scoffed. "Nonsense." He leaned forward. "You deserve to be happy, baby. If you like him, just tell him."

"It might ruin our friendship."

Sam waved a dismissive hand. "You’re gorgeous, you’re brilliant, you’re talented—there’s no way he’d say no."

Chayara narrowed her eyes. "You’re biased."

"That may be true," Sam admitted, grinning, "but what I said is also true. And if he is being a jerk, just let me know. I still have my sources out there. We can arrange to have his knees broken."

Chayara let out a startled laugh. "Dad!"

"I’m just saying. Options."

Chay shook her head, standing up. "I really have to go."

Sam sighed dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. "Fine. Leave your poor, lonely father to waste away in prison, all alone."

"Oh, for heaven’s sake," Chay muttered, rolling her eyes but smiling. "I’ll see you next week, drama king."

Sam grinned. "I love you, sweetie."

Chay bent down and kissed his cheek. "Love you too, Dad."

As she walked out, she heard him call after her.

"And think about telling this guy you like him!"

Chayara groaned and speed-walked out before he could make her entire love life a family discussion.

*****

Queen Numero had made her peace with many things in life. She had accepted that the Numero family name came with a ridiculous amount of expectations. She had accepted that she would eventually have to marry because of some outdated, sexist rule written in stone by men who probably still believed in carrier pigeons and arranged marriages. And she had accepted that people would forever see her as the headstrong, intimidating, larger-than-life woman she had trained herself to be.

But one thing she had not accepted was Liam wasting her time.

Sitting on her balcony, she enjoyed the cool evening breeze as she cut into her grilled salmon. The meal was perfect. The city lights twinkled in the distance, and for a moment, she let herself relax. That was, until he arrived.

Liam strolled in like he owned the place, dressed in that casually handsome way that always made her want to lick her lips. How dare he look that good? His rolled-up sleeves showed off his toned forearms, his dark hair was messily perfect, and his eyes twinkled with amusement. That damn smile.

"Hi, honey," he purred as he sat next to her.

Queen didn’t even look at him. Instead, she continued slicing her fish as though she were preparing for battle. "Don’t ’honey’ me, Liam."

She stabbed a piece of salmon dramatically with her fork and shoved it into her mouth. Delicious.

Liam sighed. He knew the storm was coming, but like a fool, he had still shown up without an umbrella.

"What’s wrong now?" he asked, knowing full well what was wrong but hoping to survive anyway.

Queen finally turned to him, her expression one of controlled fury. "Oh, I don’t know, Liam. Maybe the fact that you treat time like a joke? Maybe the fact that you didn’t pick up when I called? Maybe the fact that I don’t enjoy being stood up like some desperate, pathetic woman who has nothing better to do?"

Liam groaned. "Queen, come on—"

"No. You come on," she snapped, pointing her fork at him. "Do you think I don’t have better things to do? Do you think I sit around twiddling my thumbs, waiting for you to bless me with your presence? I am Queen Fucking Numero. I am not some side quest in your life."

Liam closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. He was exhausted. His patience was already thinner than the tightrope he walked on with her.

"Can I at least explain?" he asked.

Queen folded her arms. "Nothing you say will make me care. Were you dying? Were you trapped under a car? Were you bleeding out somewhere in a gutter?"

"No, but..."

"Then I don’t care," she snapped.

Liam exhaled and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Queen, you’re being dramatic."

Queen let out a dry laugh. "Oh, sweetheart. I haven’t even begun to be dramatic."

She picked up her wine glass, took a slow sip, and then stood up, walking away with the grace of a queen leaving a peasant in the dust.

Liam stared at her retreating figure, biting back a groan. Why did he love this woman?

No, really.

What was it about her? The power? The fire? The fact that she could terrify grown men in boardrooms without breaking a sweat? Or maybe it was because, despite all her sharp edges, he knew her.

He knew that under all that control, there was a woman who cared too much. A woman who had been raised in a world where emotions were seen as weaknesses. A woman who had everything handed to her but still learned to fight for everything.

He sighed and got up, following her into the condo.

He found her in the living room, standing by the large window, arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line. He stepped closer, grabbed her wrist, and turned her around to face him.

"Come on, I’m sorry," he murmured.

Queen lifted a skeptical brow. "Are you?"

"I am."

He leaned in to kiss her, but she stepped back, holding up a hand. "Sex isn’t going to fix this, Liam."

Liam smirked. "Are you sure?"

Queen’s eye twitched.

She hated how much she wanted to grab him by the collar and shut him up with her mouth.

But she wouldn’t. She had principles.

Liam, being the persistent little menace he was, traced a finger along her arm, slowly, deliberately. "I missed you, babe. Can’t you give me some sugar?"

Queen rolled her eyes. She was still mad. But also, she liked being worshiped.

"Ugh," she groaned. "Fine."

Liam grinned in victory before capturing her lips with his.

Queen melted for half a second before she regained control, grabbing his collar and pushing him back toward the couch. Liam let her. He loved it when she took charge.

The kiss deepened, her fingers threading through his hair, his hands sliding over her waist, pulling her closer. Electric. That was the only way to describe it. Just as she was reaching to undo his shirt buttons...her phone rang.

Queen pulled away, breathing hard, her eyes sharp with annoyance.

Liam groaned. "No. Ignore it."

Queen checked the screen. "It’s business."

Liam slumped back against the couch. "Your company owns you."

Queen smirked. "Yes, and you should be grateful. You will have the world once we are married."

Liam snorted. "Oh wow. So I’m a kept man now?"

"Yes. Now shut up while I take this call."

She answered, instantly shifting from horny girlfriend to ruthless CEO mode. Liam watched, equal parts amused and turned on.