CHAPTER 99: THE FIGHT BACK

Another desperate cry from Zara came through the phone, and Nathaniel felt his chest ripped open. He sprinted down the corridor, eyes darting in every direction.

"Help..." her voice came again, weaker, more frantic.

He skidded to a halt, ears sharpening. The voice came from the far end.

"Hold on—I’m coming." Gritting his teeth, he pushed forward.

As he rounded the corner, he saw a man pinning Zara to the wall as he tried to violate her. Another stood nearby, filming with a phone. The sight made his blood boil.

"Get the hell away from her," Nathaniel roared, his body moved on instinct.

The man filming jerked his head toward the sound, only to be met with a brutal kick to the chest that sent him flying. His phone slipped from his grip and clattered across the floor as he crashed down hard, gasping in shock.

The second man spun around and released Zara. "Who the hell—?"

He couldn’t even finish the sentence.

Nathaniel’s fist collided with his face brutally. The man stumbled back, groaning. But he recovered quickly and threw his fist at Nathaniel.

Nathaniel blocked the punch with ease, then delivered a sharp uppercut right under the man’s jaw.

The impact snapped his head backward. He reeled, staggered, and slammed into the wall behind him. Dazed, he gasped, his jaw throbbing from the blow.

Just as Nathaniel took a step forward to hit him again, the man who had been knocked down earlier got back on his feet and slammed his foot into Nathaniel’s back. The force sent him lurching forward with a grunt.

Zara let out a strangled gasp, her hand flying to her mouth in horror. Her heart dropped as she watched the two men close in on Nathaniel, unleashing a savage onslaught, fists and boots raining down on him.

"Stop it," she screamed in fear. "Don’t beat him."

Nathaniel crumpled to the ground, curling into himself, trying to protect his head and ribs as the assault continued.

Zara stood frozen, her body paralyzed by fear. Desperation surged through her. She wanted to do something, to help him somehow. She had to act, or those men would kill Nathaniel.

Her eyes darted around frantically until they landed on a fire extinguisher mounted at the far end of the hallway.

She sprinted toward it, grabbed it off the hook with trembling hands, and ran back, driven by instinct and fury. Her vision blurred with tears, but the survival instinct hardened her determination.

"Ah..." With a scream, she lifted the extinguisher above her head and brought it down hard on one man’s head.

The man howled in pain and stumbled back, clutching his skull.

The other one looked up. Before he could understand anything, Zara struck him square in the forehead. The impact sent him off balance, falling to the floor with a stunned groan.

Nathaniel blinked, dazed, frozen in place. The sight of Zara standing there stunned him completely.

She didn’t look like herself.

Her gown was torn, clinging to her in tatters. Her hair was wild. Her eyes were burning red, brimming with unfiltered rage. She looked like a woman possessed, carved out of fire and vengeance.

A while ago, she had been crying helplessly, begging for help. But now, that weak and helpless woman had gone. She stood like a storm unleashed.

Zara screamed again as she slammed the fire extinguisher down on the man’s head once more. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The second man, startled and terrified, scrambled up and fled without caring about his partner.

But Zara wasn’t finished. Her rage burned hotter than ever, eyes blazing. She lifted the extinguisher again, ready to strike the motionless man.

"Zara, no—" Nathaniel’s voice cut through the fury. She froze, her arms mid-air, her eyes darting to Nathaniel.

He stood up, his eyes not leaving hers. "It’s over. That man is out cold. You don’t want to kill him, do you?"

His words broke the violent trance. Her hands began to tremble, and her grip loosened. Only then did she realize how heavy the extinguisher was. Her body began to sway slightly.

Nathaniel moved closer and pried the extinguisher from her hands, setting it aside. "It’s okay. I’ve got you."

He slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Then, he pulled her into a firm embrace.

Zara collapsed into his arms, sobs bursting out of her chest. Her fingers clutched his shirt tightly.

He held her close, letting her cry. "You are safe now," he whispered. "I’m here."

While still holding her, Nathaniel quickly typed a message to Roberto: ’Come now. Zara was attacked. One man is unconscious. Take him out.’

Sliding the phone back into his pocket, he looked down at her tear-streaked face. "Let’s go home."

With one final glance at the man sprawled on the ground, Nathaniel wrapped an arm around Zara’s shoulders and guided her out of the hotel.

Riya saw Nathaniel and Zara walk out of the hotel together. "What the hell..." she muttered under her breath, disbelief washing over her.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

She had set everything up—hired those two men to disgrace Zara and lured her into a hotel room. It was meant to be Nathaniel catching her in a compromising position. Her goal was to destroy whatever shred of trust he had left in Zara. She wanted to prove Zara was nothing but a slut. But things hadn’t unfolded the way she had expected at all.

"How did this happen?" Riya’s brows furrowed. "He was supposed to throw her out of his life. But he was still with her."

She realized those two idiots had failed. They hadn’t done what they were paid for.

"Useless," she hissed. "Can’t even take care of one woman."

With a huff of rage, she stomped and pivoted to leave, but stopped dead in her tracks.

Zachary stepped out from the shadows, his tall frame blocking her path. His face was stone, his presence intimidating.

A chill ran down Riya’s spine. She instinctively took a step back, her heart dropping.

She had completely forgotten he said he’d be attending the event. And now, seeing him here, sent a wave of panic through her.

"Come with me," Zachary said, his commanding tone leaving no room for question or defiance.

He turned and began walking, not once checking if she followed.

Riya glanced around nervously. She hesitated, but she knew she had no choice. She couldn’t afford to cross him. Lowering her head, she trailed behind him in silence.