Fallen Actress' Comeback: Torn Between the Director and the Mafia Lord-Chapter 38: Attacked

Chapter 38

~Xena’s POV~

The slap came from none other than Zoa.

My vision flickered white for a moment, a ringing spreading through my ear as I staggered back. The shock hit first. Then the sting. Then the realisation that Skai, my baby, was standing right there, staring up at me with those wide, startled eyes.

Fear punched straight into my chest.

I blinked several times, steadying myself as I looked at the deranged friend I used to have.

"Xena, you witch!" Zoa shrieked, hair wild, eyes bloodshot, something unhinged twisting her face. "Thought you were a good friend, but it turns out you were a stupid person! After everything Liam and I did for you, this is how you repay me?"

Her voice was loud—too loud. Skai flinched and stepped closer to my leg. I instinctively moved my body between them.

When Zoa lifted her hand to slap me again, something snapped inside me.

I caught her wrist mid-air, fingers digging hard enough that she gasped. Then I returned the slap she gave me, my palm cracking across her cheek.

"You said?" My voice trembled from adrenaline, not fear. "I should be the one asking you that. How dare you come here and spew nonsense when I almost got jailed because of you?"

Zoa glared at me, clutching her cheek like it was the greatest offence ever done to her.

"If not for me, who helped you when you had your bastard daughter? How would you have survived?"

A bolt of heat surged through my chest.

"I am thankful you lent me money," I said sharply. "And don’t forget I repaid that debt—with interest—from my modeling gigs. But never call my daughter a bastard again."

"No?" She stepped closer, eyes glittering cruelly. "Then who the hell is her father if she’s not a bas—"

POW.

Another slap. This one came from me, but it felt like Skai’s dignity swung my hand.

"Get out of my sight."

"I won’t." Her voice dropped into something uglier. "Not until you give me the briefcase. Because of you, Liam was beaten severely. You stole from those guys when he asked you to return it. I got locked in an underground prison for two days. Do you know what that does to a person?"

I gave a harsh laugh. "I can see it made you into a deranged skank."

"You’re wicked and ungrateful. An ingrate!" Zoa snapped, stepping forward again. "Give me the briefcase before I order someone to beat the living daylights out of you."

"I’m the ingrate?" I scoffed. "Take a good look in the mirror, Zoa."

My mind flashed with memories—me lending her money in school, feeding her, covering for her countless mistakes until Liam appeared in her life four years ago and turned her into this... creature. This parasite.

Zoa’s eyes turned wild, and she lunged at me.

Before I could move, Skai darted forward with a sharp, panicked cry and bit down on Zoa’s hand.

"AHHH!" Zoa screamed, flinging Skai off. "You little—!"

She raised her hand to hit my daughter.

My heart stopped.

"NO—!"

But before I could move, a gloved hand wrapped around Zoa’s wrist, stopping the strike mid-swing. The grip was so strong her body jerked back.

Then, he released her.

Zoa stumbled, her heel snapping as she crashed onto the pavement, landing hard on her butt. She groaned and glared at me—not the man who had just stopped her.

My breath hitched. Something about the man’s stance... his silence... A cold chill ran through me.

"I’m sure you were the one who rattled," Zoa hissed.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about," I said, tightening my hold on Skai. "And there is no briefcase with me. I told you—I lost it."

"I don’t believe you," Zoa spat. "You want to keep the money for yourself. You think I didn’t ask around? Your nanny did her surgery. If you didn’t tamper with the goods, then how did you afford to pay for—"

"That’s because I covered it," the man said calmly.

My blood ran cold.

He took off his sunglasses.

Zoa’s face drained of colour instantly. "Y-You... you... What are you doing here?"

I froze. My breath stilled in my lungs.

"He... you weren’t supposed to be here," I whispered.

He ignored me entirely, his attention fixed on Zoa.

"I thought I warned you not to go causing trouble for Miss Xena once you were released."

Zoa swallowed violently. "She started it. She slapped me and—" Her eyes turned malicious again. "I was right. She ratted us out."

"She did no such thing," he replied simply. "But the only wrong she did was agreeing to help you fleebags. As for the briefcase—I have it. It has nothing to do with you or her. And the mafia involved, I’ve settled them. You and Liam have no business with her anymore."

A cold shiver crawled up my spine.

A part of me already knew the answer, but hearing his voice... calm, controlled, too familiar... I felt ice spread through my veins.

"It was you..." I whispered numbly.

He finally turned toward me briefly—eyes sharp, calculating—before glancing at Skai, who peeked from behind my leg. Then he looked away again.

"You’re still here?" he said to Zoa. His voice dipped into something deadly. "Unless you want the same treatment as your boyfriend... I suggest you scram."

Zoa’s gaze flicked to his coat—and the gun holstered beneath it. She blanched completely.

Without another word, she scrambled to her feet and took off running.

Silence fell instantly. Only then did I feel my knees weaken.

He turned around to see us and stepped closer, his presence heavy enough to push the air itself back.

His eyes scanned the surroundings first before focusing on us. "Are you two okay?" he asked.

I nodded automatically, though my pulse thundered. "Thank..."

When he looked at Skai, I shifted instantly, shielding her entirely with my body. He scoffed, almost amused, then returned his gaze to my cheek.

It felt as though he had X-ray vision, seeing past my skin. I tried not to shudder at how intensely he stared.

"Luckily, it won’t bruise," he murmured. "Otherwise, the boss would’ve killed her for laying hands on you."

My breath caught as I whispered subconsciously. "Boss...?" He didn’t answer and turned to leave. "Wait," I blurted. "Who... who are you? What is your name?"

He paused, a faint smirk lifting one corner of his mouth. "My name is not important."

"I want to know," I insisted, though my hands trembled slightly. I hated that he noticed.

"Most people who learn it," he said quietly, "don’t live long enough to tell the tale."

A shiver ran straight down my back.

Still, I swallowed hard. "Then tell me this—why did you pay for my nanny’s fees?"

He turned slightly. "I didn’t. That was my boss’ doing."

My brows knitted. "Your boss?"

He nodded once. "Then who is he? Tell me his name."

"I can’t." He began walking away. "But he’s someone you know."

My heart dropped. Just as he stepped off the sidewalk, Skai rushed out from behind me and grabbed his hand.

He froze and so did I. "What’s your name?" she asked innocently.

Silence followed. I held my breath too.

"I want to thank you." She took out a lollipop from her pocket and gave it to him.

Not smiling, he exhaled quietly, and answered. "Ares."

And without another glance, he walked away.