Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan) novel Chapter 488

"Clara, you're asking for trouble!" Zora's roar blasted through the phone.

Clara, on the other hand, was calm, her voice soothing, "It's up to you whether you come back or not! Mom insisted I call you once she knew you were back, so we're waiting! But if you don't show up tonight, I'll have to tell Jerome, and you know I can't put him off! What do you think he'll do if I tell him you’re already here?"

Without waiting for Zora to answer, Clara hung up.

I turned to Ronan, "Looks like she really is back! But where on earth could she be?"

Ronan said, "Clara is dead set on getting her back to the house; it must be a trap!"

"Why the hell does she want Zora to go back home?" Hannah complained. "What's Clara really after?"

"I think it's Clara's vendetta," I said. "She's been on Zora's trail for years, trying to drag her back to face the mess at home!"

I looked at Ronan. "I'm sure Zora will take the bait! We need to find Carl before Jerome's goons show up. What if Jerome doesn't give a damn about Carl?"

Ronan nodded, "Don't worry, the Rhylee family has people on it. They're staked out already, ready to bring the kid back at the first sign!"

I was about to suggest we also head to the Rhylee family's place when Ronan's phone rang again. He held up a finger to silence me and took the call.

After a brief "Mhm," he listened intently for a long time before hanging up.

"Zora showed up near the Rhylee family's territory, alone, no sign of the kid," he reported.

My heart sank, "No sign of the kid? Where could she have stashed him?"

"Larkin's been watching Maddox; he went home and hasn't come out, so the kid isn't with him," Hannah mused, puzzled. "Does Zora have another hideout?"

"Let's just wait! We'll follow her when she leaves," Ronan said resignedly.

He made another call, whispering instructions, "No matter what happens, let Zora go, but don't lose her! And send me the footage from the scene if you can."

The old woman, clearly agitated, slapped the arm of the couch, lamenting, "How can you speak to your mother like that? Do I even exist to you?"

"No! I don't even remember having a mother!" Zora retorted sharply. "Don’t you dare use your beliefs to control me. Does it matter if I acknowledge you? You call yourself a mother after what you’ve done?"

"You’re a beast!"

"Well, I learned from you! You slept around so much you don't even know who fathered me, and you dare judge me. Of course, I’m a beast; what else could I be when born from an animal?"

Zora's words shook me to the core. No wonder she was so cold and ruthless—her twisted psyche couldn't possibly harbor any warmth or compassion.

Her tirade left her mother coughing and gasping for air, while Clara watched the drama unfold with glee. "Zora, haven’t you always wanted to know who your real father is? You’ve dreamed of having a dignified dad, right?"

The mockery in Clara’s voice was almost palpable as the scene continued to unfold on the screen.