《When Fate Decided to Play its Part》


 CHAPTER ONE; FIRST TALK

    CHAPTER ONE; FIRST TALK


    CHAPTER ONE;


    The First Talk


    She was only in her first year in high school when Althea met Tyler. He was more dazzling than the


    sun, one can''t help but squint their eyes when they see him. Tyler was one year ahead of her.


    She was 15 that time, and Tyler was 16.


    Of course, as a normal teenager, Althea is also a victim of his charms. She sometimes blush when their


    eyes met, then hastily drag her eyes away, making the other intrigued and curious of her.


    She can even still remember their first conversation like it was yesterday.


    --


    Lunch.


    The cafeteria is full of students as usual. The ce was chaotic that even scraps of foods were flying in


    the air. The voices of other students are loud enough to drown the conversation of others. Some looked


    at the noisiest group with disdain.


    Lunch is supposedly peaceful!


    Althea, who was sitting alone near the corner, was busy with her books. Her foods are remained


    untouched on the corner. She cannot bother eating them since the her exams areing. She''s


    conscious about her grades. Failure is not an option for her.


    Her head is bowed as she was reading and high lighting the important words and phrases and she


    naturally did not noticed the almost flying figure heading towards her table.


    Althea''s focus is topnotch, she didn''t even noticed that a fight broke out.


    As the flying figure, who was unfortunately kicked by his enemy, flew towards her table, another sturdy


    figure appeared just in time. He stopped the figure from directly crashing towards Althea''s table, but


    because of the force, he was pushed back a little and managed to distrupt the still table of Althea.


    Althea was in the middle of highlighting a sentence when her table moved. The pen was pushed


    upward.


    Stratled, she raised her head to see what was going on. Many heads are turned towards her table and


    stared at the two figures in front of her. Some wereughing loudly, some were frowning since their


    lunch is ruined. It was too noisy that she can''t make up almost the words they said.


    But she still managed to caught one word; Tyler.


    Suprised, Althea focused her attention at the man who was currentlyughing while holding another


    man by his cor.


    The man, who was apparently Tyler, was facing his back to her. He''s body built is sturdy and the lines


    of his muscles are visible under his shirt.


    What is he doing here? Althea asked herself.


    As she was busy asking herself why, Tyler suddenly whipped his head to look at her over his shoulder.


    Incidentally, their eyes met.


    At once, Althea blushed and hurriedly lowered her head down. Why not? She has been crushing on


    him ever since she saw Tyler on the school grounds months ago. That time, too, their eyes met. As the


    weakest one between them, Althea was the one who dragged her eyes away and stumbling for


    escape.


    So, naturally, she did not saw him gazing at her back with amusement on his eyes. Since then, Tyler


    kept on noticing her everywhere.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Althea really scolded herself that day. Stupid! She''s usually calm and rational, but how can she be


    flustered by just one man?


    Come on Althea! You have faced many men already!


    "Hey."


    A low and tempting voice pulled her out from her internal battle.


    Althea almost jolted in shock, fortunately, she stopped herself. She looked at Tyler with wide eyes.


    Di- Did Tyler just talked to me?!


    She was already squirming inside but she her outer self remained calm, except for her traitor cheeks


    and ears that were currently reddening in shame and, well, a little bit of excitement.


    "Hey, hello."


    Althea mentally sighed in relief. Thank goodness, I did not stammered, if she did, she would literally dig


    a hole and bury herself, or just pray for the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She can''t take


    such humiliation. Not in front of anyone, and absolutely not in front of this man.


    Seeing that Tyler was still staring at her, she blushed even more and hastily looked down then she


    pretended that she was reading. Such an obviously lie.


    She wanted to persist and stubbornly hold their gaze together but she can''t handle the intensity of his


    gaze. She cowered, like she always did.


    Unbeknownst to Althea, a smoft smile with a hidden amusement appeared on Tyler''s face, only to


    disappear a second after.


    "Is this sit taken?" Tyler asked.


    Althea raised her gaze again, but carefully avoiding his piercing eyes. She was alreadyposed and


    the red tint of her ears and cheeks were already gone as if it never existed in the first ce.


    ''Aw,'' Tyler thought. ''What a shame.''


    If Althea happens to hear what he was thinking, surely, she will not only have red cheeks and ears, but


    from toes to head, will be colored with ming red. Her head might even let out some steam.


    But unfortunately for Tyler, she isn''t a mind reader, nor a psychic.


    Althea looked at the stic chair he was referring to and shook her head. She was thinking about


    saying it was, but she did not want to be rude. Besides, she have no friends in the campus. Not that


    she did not want to have one, it''s just that, no one approached her. That is understandable though, she


    is after all, a transferee.


    "No, it isn''t." She finally said.


    "Sweet!" Tyler sat down almost immediately after Althea said her reply and, once again, bore his gaze


    towards Althea.


    She can''t understand why he have to stare at her openly. She shrugged it off, thinking that he will stop


    looking at herter on.


    But, minutes passed, Tyler was still looking at her.


    Althea was feeling really, really ufortable under his gaze. She straightened her back and asked.


    "... Is there something wrong with my face?"


    "No, of course there isn''t."


    ''So why are you staring at me like that?'' Althea wants to ask, but she have no courage to do so.


    Althea just nodded and pretended to read her books again.


    Even if wants to focus, she can feel Tyler''s gaze on her. How can she focus?! One cannot focus if they


    knew that someone is staring at them. Of course she''s not an exemption. Unless she was already too


    focused about something before they gaze hard at her, she won''t notice.


    But Althea is fully aware that someone is staring at her. And that the man who was staring at her is not


    a random person, he was the person she was crushing for months now!


    She originally thought that it will justst for days, now, after many months, she confirmed that it did not


    even lessen, worse, it even intensified!


    How in the world?!


    Althea is a rational woman. She firmly believes that there''s no thing such as love at first sight! What a


    riddiculous thing it is! No logic at all!


    Still, she can''t exin it herself, for some reason, she took the liking of looking at him from a far. It was


    frightening. She never was like this from in the past.


    "So, how about you?"


    Tyler suddenly asked. Althea''s internal suffering paused for a while after she heard him talking to her


    again. She looked up and Tyler directly hold her gaze. His deep green eyes are holding her


    aquamarine one.


    Those eyes...


    Althea unconsciously holds her breath. Those captivating eyes again!


    "Althea, how about you?" He asked again. His eyes showing a small smile.


    Althea was startled. How did he know her name?!


    "What about me?"


    Tyler smiled and leaned back to the chair he was sitting. He crossed his arms rosed his chest, not


    breaking their eye contact even for a second.


    "Althea, how about you?" He paused for a while before his smile widen. But unlike his previous smiles


    that carries carelessness and amusement, the smile he was showing right now was full of seriousness.


    "Are you taken?"


    Silence engulfed their table.


    It took a minute or so until Althea understood what Tyler just said. She opened her mouth but nothing


    came out, she closed it again.


    Thi- thi- this Tyler is, Tyler is, Tyler is toome! He''sme! Superme! That was not cool at all!


    Even though she has that in mind, under the gaze of many students inside the cafeteria, Althea''s face


    heat up. Her face is colored in deep, deep, red.


    --


    If only she knew what will happen 4 years from that, she would never, ever asked that question.


    - - -


    No, if she did know, she will never, ever meet those eyes of his again.

 Chapter 1: Blurb

    Chapter 1: Blurb


    BLURB


    It all started with a fluttering eye contact.


    A conversation in the cafeteria marked their first exchange.


    And the snow witnessed the start of their small little silly game.


    "Impress me Tyler. Impress me and I might consider going out with you."


    "The game is on Althea, the game is on."


    Purple flowers was sent in the first day of courting.


    A silver eyed woman caused a stir in their hearts.


    And a bouquet of flower given to make their silly little game end.


    [Love returned]


    Their rtionship went smoother than expected.


    The sun and the moon was the witness of their small bantering and sweet nonsense.


    But many eyes saw the fall of their rtionship.


    He cheated. They broke up. She was devastated.


    And pregnant.


    She told him. He denied. She cried. He told her desperate.


    She went home and the time passed rather quickly.


    The fate is twisted; they met again.


    Both are not as the same as before, a lot of time passed after all.


    They met each other countless times. He learned to love her again. He confessed but he was harshly


    rejected.


    She hated him. It was understandable. But why is it that she was scared at him?


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Tyler never thought that the years where their paths are separated, dark and scary things was


    happening to Althea.


    What was it? And why was she scared and why was her anger towards him was stronger than anything


    else?

 Chapter 2: PROLOGUE

    Chapter 2: PROLOGUE


    Prologue


    Pitter, patter.


    The raindrops fell one by one, ttering against the ss window. Not long after, the sky cried fully,


    obstructing the person inside the room to see the outside through the window.


    Yet, the person was not bothered by it at all. The sound of rain did not even reached her ears as she


    stared intently on the her phone that was lying silently on her pale palms, her thumb anxiously rubbing


    against its edge.


    Momentster, Althea moved her fingers to type on the phone. She hesitated for a second before


    sending the text.


    :Tyler?


    She typed.


    :Can we meet?


    Althea sucked in a ratherrge amount of air and letting it out through her mouth shakily, while waiting


    a reply from that person. She waited expectantly.


    But seconds, minutes passed, and Tyler has yet to reply.


    ''Again,'' Althea thought inwardly. ''He did not replied to me again.''


    Her heart tighten and her tears are on verge of falling, but Althea stubbornly hold it in, making her eyes


    looks ssy.


    It''s been like this for a couple months now. She did not know the reason, but Tyler suddenly gotten cold


    and indifferent. They have been together for 3 years, and now, in their 4th year, he suddenly be


    like this.


    Althea can''t understand. She asked, but Tyler did not bothered exining. He just shrugged it off with a


    few words.


    "You''re just being paranoid."


    --


    Morning came.


    Althea wore her favorite purple jacket. She was going out.


    Making sure she brought everything she needs, she headed out for the small store near her apartment.


    It was cold, the winter is, after all, approaching. Althea did not hate winter, in fact, she loves it.


    When winteres, she would asionally sit near the window, with thick nket on her body and


    cup of steaming hot chocte with marshmallows floating on it at hand, together with Tyler. They would


    talk andugh about the past then n about the future.


    Those memories seems so distant now.


    Althea entered the small store, heading straight to the section she wants then after choosing, she


    headed straight to the counter and paid everything. She then headed towards the nearest Pharmacy.


    And after some hesitation, she finally grabbed the product and bought 5 pieces of it before going out.


    She stepped out of the Pharmacy but only to stop again after seing the familiar figure. She looked up.


    "Tyler..."


    Tyler too stopped and stared at her before greeting her back.


    "Althea, hey..."


    Then an awkward silence envolped them. It was understandable, they had not, after all, seen each


    other for a month now. And Tyler never spend any effort to reply her.


    Althea, fully aware of the situation, tighten her gripped on the bag that contains the foods and ''that''


    thing that she bought and mustered up the courage to speak up first.


    "Are, are you free this evening?"


    "No," Tyler said without missing a beat. "I''m sorry, I have group study tonight. You know that the finals


    areing up, right?"


    Althea lowered her gaze and pursed her lips.


    Yeah, right. Group study. I know that you can pass the exams with flying colors even by studying only


    with yourself.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    She did not voiced her true feelings. Instead, she nooded and tried to ask if she can join. As expected,


    the man refused. Althea did not pressed any further.


    "By the way, what are you doing here?"


    Althea opened and closed her mouth, doesn''t know what to say. She wanted to tell him, but she was


    still unsure. So, she lied.


    "Nothing, I just bought, uhm, medicines. I, I was running out of them." Althea is a bad liar. Everyone


    knows that.


    "Mhm." Tyler said, unconvinced. But he also did not pressed any further.


    And so, they bid goodbye to each other just like that and Althea unwilling watched Tyler''s back that is


    getting smaller and smaller as he walks away from her.


    With heart aching, Althea went home, alone.


    Then she brought out the pregnancy test kit.  Followed the procedure and waited for the result.


    Hourster.


    The moon is already out, the streets are illuminated by the street lights. Almost all of the apartments in


    a certain building turned their lights on but there was a certain apartment that didn''t despite the


    darkness.


    Althea was looking at the result for ten hours now with eyes puffed. But no matter how she looks at it,


    the result of the five test kits are the same.


    She''s pregnant.


    She wanted to inform Tyler, fast. But she did not want to tell him via text because of the seriousness of


    the matter. So, she texted him, asking where he was.


    Tyler did not replied, so Althea bolted out of the bed, grabbed her wallet and jacket, and went out.


    After asking around, she finally was standing in front where Tyler is ''studying''. In a bar.


    Althea wanted to cry. How dare he lie to her! But she can''t do it now, she have to tell him.


    Althea knows that Tyler loves bars and girls. But that was before they were together. He was loyal and


    loving when they became a couple, so why? Why is he back with this again?


    What did I do wrong?


    The ear shattering music boomed in the air. Althea can''t help but covered her ears until it was used to


    the loud music. She then tried to find Tyler.


    It was not hard to find him.


    He was at the table where you can see right after entering the bar. Althea was shock after seeing him.


    She can feel her body going numb and mind going nk.


    Tyler, he''s actually cheating on her!


    Tyler was leisurely leaning on the sofa with a woman on his side. His arm was wrap on her waist and


    he wasughing at what she was whispering at him. They were flirting like nobody is there aside from


    them. Disgusting, shameless!


    Enraged, she walked towards their table. Some saw her and can''t help but raise an eyebrow. And


    finally, the woman that Tyler was cheating with can''t help but sneer.


    Althea was known all around the campus since Tyler is pretty famous. But even though without Tyler,


    she can shine on her own. She was one of the prettiest in her department after all, she''s smart too.


    Althea was so mad that she almost lost her reasoning, but fortunately, she pulled it back in her. She


    stood in front of their table.


    Against the loud noise of the bar, she called him.


    "Tyler?! What''s the meaning of this?"


    Everyone who heard her can''t help but sneaker. What''s the point of asking? Can''t you see it with your


    eyes? Stupid!


    The woman in his embrace leaned on Tyler and looking directly at her with mockery. She then asked


    with a disgusting overly sweet voice.


    "Tyler, hon, do you know her?"


    Tyler did not even spared Althea a nce before looking down at the woman in his embrace.


    "No, of course I don''t."

 CHAPTER TWENTY TWO; 7 YEARS LATER

    CHAPTER TWENTY TWO; 7 YEARS LATER


    CHAPTER TWENTY TWO;


    7 yearster


    --


    [Mom-]


    [Althea- Run!]


    [Hello-]


    [Bang!]


    [Father...]


    ---


    7 Years Later


    In a small town of a certain country, a lush of greenery feild streched out like infinity. The green grasses


    unintentionally hid the slowly blooming little flowers from the random spectators like a child in their


    care.


    The cold and somewhat dry wind passed throught the bushes, tress, nts and flowers, letting them


    sway gently along the breeze of early spring.


    "Good morning ma''am." One of the workers in her shop greeted with a smile.


    The manager of the shop stopped for a bit in front of her and crouched to smell the flowers in the vase.


    After smelling the sweet and fresh scent of the flowers, she smiled in satisfaction.


    She greeted her worked back. "Good morning, how''s the shop doing?"


    The staffughed. "Still striving, yes. The sale shoot up this february, well, as always."


    The managerughed. "Many shits are still in love, aey?"


    The staffughed and nodded. "Yes, so it seems. Oh, by the way,where are you going?"


    "To the main shop," she said. "There''s something I need to check."


    "Really? How about your kid?"


    "She can handle it. I''m handing my kid to her just for a little while." She said then picked her suitcase


    from the floor. She showed her a polite smile before opening her mouth. "I''m going then, I just stopped


    for a bit to see what''s the situation here..."


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    "Okay! Have a nice day!"


    "Have a nice day too." She exited the shop and stepped down the three step stairs with her blond hair


    in a high pony bouncing up and down.


    She walked straight to her car when a local stopped her with baskets of fruits.


    "Althea?" the old woman asked then greeted her with a smile. "Good morning!"


    Althea showed a smile that was as rare as Middlemist Red 7 years ago (A flower that is close to


    extinction that you can only find it in two ces in the world).


    "Good morning Mrs. Brown. Good to see you again."


    "It''s good to see you too! You haven''t visited this town for a while, the old people already misses you


    and your kid." Mrs. Brown said. She looked down and saw the fruits she have in hand. Her eyes


    sparkled as she streched her hands to give it to her. "Here, fresh fruits. You should have this and feed


    your child."


    "Oh no," sheughed. "I can''t take this away from you."


    Mrs. Brown let out a heartyugh. "No, I insist. This is just a smallpensation from all of the things


    you gave to us."


    Althea didn''t refused any further and epted the gift in delight. She smiled at her and thanked her


    once again.


    "Oh right, when''s that brating here? I miss your kid."


    "I don''t know yet." She said truthfully. "I''ve been busy these days. But I will surely visit this town again


    with that stubborn kid."


    "Adorable kid, you say. Oh, I think I have clogged you for so long. I''m sorry about that. You''re free to go


    now."


    "Okay, thanks for the fruits again!"


    "Sure! Visit us anytime!"


    After bidding goodbye, Althea drove off to the city.


    The drive was silent until her phone rang. She nced at it and when she read a familiar name, she


    puts the call on bluetooth.


    "Hey." She said.


    "Hey, hey!" The girl on the other line said. "I''m in charge of Kite because you''re going out right?"


    Althea rolled her eyes after hearing her excited voice. And she can''t help butugh helplessly because


    she never changed. "It''s Kai, and yes, please take care of that kid and don''t pass out from stress."


    "Oh, no no no no." She said with augh. "I won''t, I enjoy taking care of Kite. If I can''t, I''ll visit your shop


    in the city. What was it called again?"


    My kid''s name is Kai, thank you. "It''s Narcissus."


    To imprint it in her mind more, she spelled the word for many times and told her to write it down. After


    she satisfied herself, she smiled and ended up the call.


    She focused on the road and drove off with a small smile on her lips.


    Let''s hope that this day will end up well.


    --


    There was meeting that was currently held inside a spacious conference room. There was almost 10


    people in ck and suits inside seating leisurely on their sits.


    As the meeting was on progress, the guy, who was looking stoic and cold, devoid of emotion, with his


    green eyes, he looked out of the window and saw the other buildin next to theirs.


    His mind wandered around, he wasn''t even listening to the presider of the meeting.


    On his hand was a founting pen that was rolling aroung his fingers. He absentmindedly rolled it and


    created a tapping sounds that distrupt the person who was talking in front.


    The sound was distracting and unpleasant but no one dared to tell him off. They minded their own


    business.


    The room they were in was 50 floors above the floor. You can see small formation of clouds just by


    looking out from the floor to ceiling window.


    The man sitting on the head of the table was following the movements of the clouds with his eyes. It


    was unknown what he was thinking.


    "Mr. Barns," there was a call from the distance. The voice only entered his left ear then exited on the


    other side. "Mr. Barns? Mr. Barns?"


    This time, the voice was raised. "Mr. Barns?!"


    The man was pulled out from his reverie. He looked back to the table only to see the people there


    looking at him. Some was looking at him without any emotions but some was looking at him with


    dissatisfaction but they didn''t dare to say it.


    He snorted inside his mind.


    Cowards.


    "Mr. Barns, the meeting has ended. We want your final say."


    "Oh." He just said. He picked up the file that was prepared for them and gave the guy some revisions


    he wanted and some specific details to be added. The guy thoughtfully noted it down and everyone


    listened thoroughly.


    After that, the meeting was adjourned.


    Everyone started to disperse from the room until he and his secretary was left.


    "Sir." His secretary said. "You''re appointment is all clear for today."


    The man furrowed his eyebrows as if he can''t understand why he had a free schedule. "Why? Did they


    cancel the appointments or something?"


    The secretary shook her head. "No sir, Ms. Sheryl said that I have to clear your schedule for today."


    His eyebrows met even more.


    When did he gave her the authority to just say anything she wants in mypany?


    He sighed. "What was it about?"


    "She said it''s your anniversary."


    "... Oh." He stood up. "Is that so."


    "Just buy something for her-" He walked right to the door when his phone rang. He fished it out from his


    pocket and answered the call after reading the caller''s ID.


    "Sheryl."


    "Tyler?" A familiar voice sounded. "Don''t be mean hun," sheughed.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Don''t make your secretary buy presents for me for our anniversary,"


    Tyler pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to remain calm. How did she even know about that?


    "Then what do you want?"


    "I want a present that you picked for me!" She said,ughter and excitementcing her voice.


    "... What kind?"


    "Hmmm, a ring?"


    He sighed. "We''re fiancee."


    Sheughed. "Then a wedding ring." He didn''t respond. "Okay, just kidding. Then how about sweets?


    Or maybe flowers? Or maybe just your time? Apany me please?"


    "..." There was silence before he answered. "I can''t apany you, I''m busy."


    "Oh please!" She eximed. "I know your schedules!"


    "Fine."


    "Great!" She said in delight. "Then I''ll be waiting in the house. Goodbye! Love you!"


    "Goodbye." He ended up the call and, by habit, tightened his tie around his neck.


    He nced at his watched and told his secretary that they''ll going down.


    "Oh right." He said after remembering something. "Search some random flower shop. I''m buying her


    flowers."


    The secretary nodded in understanding and as they were walking down towards the parking lot, she


    tapped the search engine and choose the very famous one around the area.


    "I have found it, sir."


    "Good." He sat down om the backsit, his secretary sitting down in front and his driver. "Let''s go."


    The driver looked at the secretary for instructions.


    "Let''s go to the flower shop called Narcissus. We''ll use GPS along the way."

 Chapter 45: A piece of truth and lie

    Chapter 45: A piece of truth and lie


    CHAPTER FORTY-THREE;


    A piece of truth and lie


    --


    His stares were prating and were heated as the sun, as if they were trying to melt her along with


    the floor. The usual cold and stoic he always wears was gone, it was broken with only two emotions;


    shock and disbelief.


    His green eyes were trying to focus on her and Kai but they kept on wandering whenever his mind


    enters that scene again and again.


    That was 7 years ago, he believed that he can vaguely remember the things that happened during


    those times considering it was already too long- but by the mere mention of her pregnancy- his


    memories that were locked and buried deep in his mind came rushing in like a like a broken dam.


    Sheryl finally noticed his reaction and when she deciphered and understood them- she was instantly


    engulfed with one strong emotion; regret. She bit her lips and cursed her loose mouth. If only she knew


    how to read the atmosphere and how to hold back and use her brain amidst of anger and panic- she


    should have not slipped like this.


    ¡®It seems like he doesn¡¯t really know about it.¡¯


    She wanted to stomp her feet in regret and anger again. ¡®Stupid, stupid.¡¯


    ¡°Tyler,¡± she called out for him, desperately trying toe up with an idea to make his mind astray from


    the topic she said. ¡°We should go now- the clients must be waiting- you said this project was important


    right? You said it was important to the point that I had to beg so you will consider bringing me here with


    you. Hey, Tyler!¡±


    ¡®She¡¯s desperate.¡¯ Althea said in her mind. ¡®She¡¯s desperate to the point that she even said something


    so embarrassing.¡¯ Althea sighed for her.


    ¡°Althea,¡± Tyler said as if he didn¡¯t hear Sheryl. He was originally standing with his back facing her but


    after that, he turned his body to face her and took a step forward in attempt toe near her, but


    Althea took a step back, implying him to not dare. He stopped his steps but his eyes didn¡¯t leave her


    figure. His stares were even more intense after she took her steps backwards. ¡°Are you running away?¡±


    His voice was threatening and low, he was warning her but she doesn¡¯t care. She sighed before looking


    down on Kai. He also looked up at her, staring at her with his blue eyes that he got from her. They were


    calm, they are still and unruffled. Althea let out a smallugh before looking back at Tyler. She smiled.


    ¡°I¡¯m not running away,¡± she said. ¡°Why would I even run away?¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Sheryl suddenly said. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything- no more nonsense!¡± She looked up at Tyler and


    shook his arm. ¡°Hon- let¡¯s go!¡±


    ¡°Is what she said true?¡± He asked. ¡°Is he,¡± his eyes wandered on Kai¡¯s figure for a moment before


    dragging them back to her. ¡°Tell me Althea, I want the truth.¡±


    ¡°No Tyler-!¡± Sheryl tried pulling his arm to bring his attention towards her. ¡°I was just kidding! It isn¡¯t


    true! Ah- right! He¡¯s not your son, he isn¡¯t. Maybe she got pregnant by a random man- so yes! He isn¡¯t


    necessarily yours!¡±


    ¡°Sheryl,¡± annoyed, Tyler shoved her away from him. His brows were furrowed and he was looking at


    her threateningly. ¡°Shut up. Don¡¯t wait for the time that my patient runs out.¡±


    ¡°Tyler!¡± She refuses to back down. She shouted. ¡°Have you forgotten that you called her desperate that


    time?!¡±


    Tyler flinched. Sheryl was satisfied, she continued, ¡°See? You yourself know her! So maybe he isn¡¯t


    yours.¡±


    Uncertainly and guilt crossed on his eyes , as if his own brain was mocking him, the scene keeps on


    repeating in his head like a broken tape


    "What the fuck are you talking about?"


    It was Althea who shouted those words to him when he called her desperate.


    "I never thought you can be this desperate," Tyler mocked. "I always thought that you were logical and


    not hasty, but here you are; iming that you''re pregnant."


    With that, he fall silent, it seems like his thoughts about being the father was gone, but deep down; he


    actually ¡¯hoped¡¯ it was true. For why, he himself has no idea.


    ¡°You know what,¡± Althea, who was silent the whole time finally opened her mouth to speak for the silent


    two. Tyler and Sheryl looked at her; the former¡¯s face was solemn with a hint of hidden distress while


    thetter looks like she was about to spat a venom but tries to hold back. Althea was looking as calm


    as ever- it nted panic in Sheryl¡¯s heart while it greatly disturbed Tyler¡¯s.


    Althea doesn¡¯t care about the two¡¯s feelings at all, she smiled and told them, ¡°Sheryl¡¯s right. Kai¡¯s not


    your son,¡± her face scrunched, ¡°and even if he is, there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll admit.¡±


    Sheryl¡¯s face rxed a little and she once again tugged Tyler¡¯s arm, ¡°See, see! I was right!¡±


    The tug was forceful enough to shake his whole body but the man was not paying attention to her at all.


    He has his brows furrowed as his solemn face turned fierce- as if he doesn¡¯t ept the words that


    came out from her mouth.


    Altheaughed in her mind about the irony of the situation. Usually, if men know that they identally


    impregnate someone, they will surely run and hide from the mother¡¯s sight- especially those people at


    the top like him, but look what¡¯s happening; he doesn¡¯t even believe that she was telling the truth.


    Too bad, she really is telling the truth.


    ¡°Then tell me why did you said those words,¡± Tyler said, his voice and facial expression was back to


    normal. ¡°Tell me why you said that.¡±


    Althea was just actually trying to be calm since she met the two. She tried her best to not sound rude


    and unpleasant especially in front of the person she used to despise and loath. There was still anger-


    but it was just a small fire- too small to even burn something. But- his question sparked something


    inside her. The question made her mad and it gained her anger.


    She squeezed her own son¡¯s hand, trying to calm it down. Her breaths are getting ragged and short


    and out of the three, only Kai noticed the change of her behavior. He looked up.


    He was just silent the whole time of their exchange, he can understand their words but the meaning


    behind them is something he find hard to keep in mind, hence, he kept silent and decided to drift in his


    own little world, trying to escape and wait for his mother to call him back when everything¡¯s okay.


    Like how he would to her whenever she¡¯s trapped in the nightmares she used to have.


    He looked up at his mother,pletely ignoring the numbing pain he feels with her grip. He didn¡¯t call


    out for her to stop it because it hurts, rather, he returned the intensity but the grip of his small hand was


    not even half of her mother¡¯s strength, but- it was enough.


    He called out, ¡°Mom.¡±


    His call was like a soft guiding bell for Althea. She snapped out of it and her gripped loosen. Realizing


    the thing that she did, she guiltily looked at the reddening hand of her son. She squatted down and held


    him on his shoulders. She tried to smile, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Kai. Does it hurt?¡±


    Kai shook his head- then stopped, and nodded his head. Althea bit her lips before standing up. Her


    eyes caught the ice-cream cart. ¡°Look, Kai, do you want to eat ice-cream?¡±


    He looked at the cart before nodding. Althea smiled at him before nudging him to go, ¡°Buy then. But


    remember not to but too much, ¡®kay? Your stomach will hurt.¡±


    Obediently, he nodded and with the money she gave him, he run towards it like how the kids his age


    would do.


    When he was out of sight, Sheryl opened his mouth and mocked. ¡°What was that Althea? Hurting your


    own son? What kind of a parent are you-¡°


    ¡°Shut up.¡± Althea sharply said with a piercing re. Sheryl shut her mouth. ¡°You have no rights to tell


    me about my parenting when you¡¯re not a mother yourself.¡±Althea paused before looking at Sheryl up


    and down. After that, she unknowingly let out a mockingugh before sneering at her. ¡°On the other


    thought, please don¡¯t try being a mother; I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯ll be horrible.¡±


    Sheryl gaped and was about to retort when her gaze shifted to the man besides her. She showed him a


    smile- not a happy smile. Just a in, emotionless one. ¡°About your question, yes, you were right


    about it that time.¡± Her smile disappeared; her eyes were as cold as ice. ¡°I was desperate. I was merely


    trying to catch your attention. And, you can rest assure, I wasn¡¯t pregnant that time.¡±


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    A lie.

 Chapter 46: Ugh.

    Chapter 46: Ugh.


    CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR;


    Ugh.


    ---


    "And that''s it," Althea said after a long silence among the three. She smiled at the two. "Mystery solved,


    cased closed- game over."


    She sighed and looked away. She watched Kai- who was currently walking slowly back at them while


    admiring the ice cream in his hands. He was cautious to not run with somebody and spoil his dessert


    again. Althea can only sigh again and roll her eyes in her heart because- who is stupid enough to not


    look and be cautious when walking inside a ce where many children run and y around?


    ''Ah,'' Althea said in her mind. She took a sneak peek of Sheryl before shaking her head mentally. ''Of


    course.''


    Only those people who is stupid enough to get absorbed in their own little world and put on an


    expectation that no one will have the guts to run into them.


    "I hope this won''t be brought up in the future." Althea paused. "Actually, I hope we won''t meet again in


    the future."


    "Hpmh," Sheryl scoffed. "As if I also wants to meet you in the future."


    Althea chuckled briefly, "Fair enough."


    "Do you want to eat it too, mom?" Kai finally reached them after his cautious and slow steps. While


    walking, he was also eating the treat so when he presented the ice cream to her, it was already halfway


    eaten.


    "Nope!" Althea ruffled his hair before smiling brightly at him. "You can have it all." With her hand on top


    of her son''s head, she looked at the other two and said her goodbye. "Then, we''ll get going. Goodbye."


    Before the two can reply, Althea already pulled Kai away ans headed towards the entrance of the


    amusement park. Sheryl gaped as she watched them walk towards it before sighing exasperatedly.


    "How rude! You see that Tyler? She''s rude! Tyler, hey! Why are you ignoring me?"


    Tyler was silent all along and he didn''t even looked at her all the time. His face was hooded and dark,


    Sheryl wasn''t even sure what he was thinking. She stomped her feet and pushed him to wake him up


    from his daze state. "Hey!"


    That was the only time he responded, he raised his head and looked at the direction of the parking lot,


    then, he said, "I''ll drive you back."


    "Huh?" Sheryl asked. "What?"


    "I''ll drive you back." He repeated and walked towards the parking lot.


    Sheryl ran after him, "Wait Tyler! How about your work here? Didn''t you said it was important?! Hey!"


    Tyler ignored her and fished out his phone from his pocket. He dialed a phone number. "Sharon,"


    "Yes sir?" A startled voice answered.


    "I want you to handle the matters about the amusement park." He opened the door of his car after


    unlocking it and then entered it fluidly. Sheryl was hustling to enter the car herself.


    "Sir?" Sharon said in surprise. "But-"


    "You''re just inspecting the site," he plugged the keys. "Don''t tell me you can''t even do that?"


    "... I''ll try my best."


    "Good," he hungs up and drove off,pletely isting himself from the world.


    Sheryl can only helplessly looked at him and didn''t try to talk. It would be useless after all.


    -


    Sharon looked at her phone helplessly and stood up, she nced at the women infront of her and said,


    "Ma''am, I have to go. Sir said I have to handle the matters regarding with... The amusement park."


    Victoria widened her eyes, "What?"


    Sharon nodded with a tight smile. Victoria gave off a long sigh and pressed her fingers against her


    temple. "Why though? I thought he was looking forward for the project?"


    "Hmm?" Her friend curious asked. "Is the project that important? Is it big?"


    Victoriaughed before shaking her head, "It''s not really a big deal, it just renovating the park."


    "Oh?" Her friend''s attention was perked up. It was the first time that Victoria talked about her son''s


    project. "Then why?"


    "Well," she gave a sheepish smile and took a small sip of her tea before responding. "I''m ashamed to


    say this, but, when he was a kid, both me and my husband- ex, ex-husband- was too busy to


    apany him."


    She sighed, "So, I can only give him guilty stares whenever we passed a amusement or any ces


    that kid''s normally goes."


    "So... Because of that, he has an unusual ''attachemet'' towards it and just decided to invest for it?" Her


    friend asked, unsure.


    "Well- that too!" Sheughed. "But," her voice lowered. "Even though he won''t say this- I think he likes


    children."


    Her friend leans in to absorb the new gossip, "Oh? Really? Then why is it that he still hasn''t a kid until


    now?"


    Victoria snorted. "How would I know? I really can''t understand that son of mine sometimes," she


    sighed.


    "But he has a fiance, right?"


    "Hmph!" She scoffed. "If it''s her- okay, fine! But it''s also okay if it''s not her!"


    "That''s rude! Why is it that you don''t like her? She''s pretty and nice!"


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "I don''t know," Victoria paused. "I just don''t like her."


    -


    Kai swallowed thest bit of the cone of his ice cream and savored it. When he was done, he looked up


    at his mother.


    Althea was silent the whole time they walk away from the other two. Kai was a kid, even though he


    always surprises the people around him, he is still, of course, a kid. He curiously asked her, "Is that girl


    a friend of yours?"


    Althea looked at Kai in surprise. When the question entered and registered in her mind, sheughed.


    "Friend? What rubbish is that?"


    He furrowed his brows, "If not, who was she?"


    "Hmm," Althea paused before looking up at the sky. "That''s a hard question. Ah, let''s put it like this-"


    she smiled at him. "She''s nothing but a stranger who shares a small memory of mine."


    "Memories?"


    "Yep!" Bad memories! She pulled him. "Let''s go! We need to enjoy the rest of the day!"


    She was the one who said that but she had a long face the whole day. She kept on sighing and spacing


    out, Kai also noticed the frequency of his mother touching the cold, silver ring she wears.


    Kai was enjoying it though, he didn''t care about his mother since she told him not to and enjoy his time.


    Although he asionally looks back at her, he indeed tried his best to sieze the day.


    Althea can also remember her being like this when she was a kid. She knew her parents were suffering


    about something, but when they told her to not bother what it was, she''ll obediently looks away and


    pretend she knows something.


    Like mother, like son.


    Althea had no idea whether tough or cry.


    In the end, Kai was the one who suggested to go back. Althea obediently drove themselves back.


    "Sorry about that," Althea said while driving back to the shop. "It was suppose to be our day."


    Kai shook his head while squeezing the plushie she bought for him. "It''s okay."


    "I''m really sorry about it, don''t worry, when I get back in track, I''ll take you there again. Or in different


    ces, like aqua parks and a zoo."


    "Really?" Suddenly, a spark of excitement lit up in his eyes. "The zoo? Is it where I can see animals?"


    "Yes, yes," Althea said with a smile. "You''ll see different animals in there."


    "Then I will see the flying dinosaurs too!" Kai said in excitement.


    Ugh! Victoria!


    Althea awkwardlyughed, "No Kai, you wouldn''t see flying dinosaurs in the zoo."


    "Why?" Kai''s voice got smaller. "But Victoria said I can see them there..."


    Ugh! Victoria!!!


    She sighed before pulling her car into a stop. She looked at her son withplicated expression, not


    sure of how she''ll exin things to him.


    She really wants to strangle Victoria right now.


    "Listen son," she started. "The dinosaurs- you know what extinction means?"


    "Oh," Kai attentively said. "No!"


    "..." She sighed and broke into a fit ofughter. "Nevermind. You see, there are no dinosaurs in the


    earth anymore. They are all gone."


    "... Gone?"


    "Yes, but we can still see them in museum though."


    "Then will go there!"


    She patted his head. "Good! Then we''ll hope to have a very nice day to n our trip."


    -


    And as always, god isn''t with her.


    "Hello there," said the costumer she has. "I would like to buy a flower."


    "... I thought you also doesn''t want to see me?"


    Sherylughed. "Althea, no. I was only angry at you that time. Now, I''m calm and collected. So, I want


    a heart to heart talk."


    Althea''s face scrunched.


    Ugh.

 Chapter 47: Kais Father

    Chapter 47: Kai''s Father


    CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE;


    Kai''s Father


    --


    Althea wondered what is it that she did wrong this day. She wants to know and keeps on visiting her


    memories and she found that she did nothing bad to get a bad karma.


    She was just having a peaceful morning; cooked their breakfast, watered their flowers, opened the


    shop- so she directly assumed that this day, like the other days, will pass peacefully.


    Who could have thought that the woman, who she met just a week ago, the one who shouted to Kai


    because of a very, very immature reason (she asked him what happened after they got home), told her


    that she, herself, do not wish for their paths to meet again, will have the guts to appear in front of her


    doorsteps?


    Althea can''t help but question the rationality of Sheryl. She also can''t help but shake her head because


    of disappointment.


    When they were still highschool, she viewed Sheryl as a righteous, decent woman. After all, she was


    raised in a wealthy household, where female is raised to be decent for their husband.


    Who could have thought that beneath that beautiful clothing she has, hides the skin of her snake.


    People should really quit judging people from their appearance.


    Althea, once again, sighed and her mood dropped drastically. Her eyes constantly wanders towards the


    corner where Sheryl was standing and ''admiring'' the flowers they have.


    Sheryl decided to ''postponed'' their ''heart-to-heart'' talk since it was morning and many people are


    rushing in to buy. Althea also has to personally attend their contracted buyer so she doesn''t have the


    time to entertain her.


    So Sheryl decided give her time.


    Does she wants Althea''s thanks? Yes.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Does Althea wants to thank her? In her dreams!


    Mnie can''t bear to see her boss sighing anymore. She can also feel helplessness each time she


    sighs like she was carrying the whole world on her back. It also dampen her mood and it could ruin the


    mood of their customers too.


    So, she went to rescue her boss and the shop. Or so she thought.


    Just before she can drop the flowers she was trimming back to it''s vase, someone ''rescued'' her boss


    for her.


    "Mom," Kai entered, carrying a phone in his hand. Althea turned to look at him. "It''s Charlotte."


    Althea almost sighed in relief. She took the phone and excused herself, letting Kai to man in her ce.


    When she entered the backyard, she answered the call, sighing.


    "Hello!" Charlotte paused. "What''s the matter Althea?"


    She sighed again before shaking her head, upon remembering that Charlotte can''t see her, she


    laughed. "Nothing! Just getting off the bad air inside me."


    "Really?" Charlotte asked.


    "Yep." She simply replied. "So, why did you called?"


    "Oh!" She eximed. Suddenly, her voice was filled with excitement. Althea can even feel it even


    though their far away. "Are you free this weekend?"


    Weekend? Althea started to visit her mental calendar. "Hmm, no, I don''t think so."


    "That''s great!" Charlotte said. "Actually, we''re having a party that time. Uh, for the business. But we-


    Augustine and I- have a trip that time, so..."


    Althea gave a cold smile towards nowhere, "So...?"


    "I want you to attend for us...?" Her voice was unsure and hesitating. "Pleaseeeeeee!"


    Althea faced palm. She lisened silently to her bbering and persuasion. When words aren''t escaping


    from her lips anymore, Althea finally talked. "No."


    "Althea- just this once!" Charlotte helplessly said. "Please! Just this once."


    "Charlotte," Althea said slowly. "I''m very thankful that you''re already calling me with my correct name,


    but no."


    "Why?!" She eximed.


    "Charlotte," Althea called her with a sigh. "First of all, this isn''t the first time you made me attend parties


    for you and your husband. Second, you know I hate parties with lots of people, right? Also, you know I


    don''t like the atmosphere there. It irks me."


    "Althea," she plead. "Please? This will be the first time that Aug have his break! We haven''t bonded for


    months now... Pity please?"


    "..." Althea listened to her pitiful cry and reason, she hesitated before groaning internally. "I''ll think


    about it."


    "Yey!"


    "Don''t get your hopes up," Althea stopped her before she thinks that she''ll absolutely go. "I''ll tell you my


    decision by tonight- or tommorow. I mean, there''s still 2 days before the weekend."


    "Okay!" Charlotte said in delight. "I''ll send you the addresster! Also- your dress!"


    "Okay," Althea simply answered.


    "Thank you Althea! Consider it carefully okay! I''ll owe you one again! Bye!" She ended her sentence


    with augh.


    Althea wondered why, but considering how idiotic and childish Charlotte is, she won''t understand her.


    "Bye." Was all she can say, and with that, their call ended.


    Althea turned her phone off before leaning on the door, sighing all over again.


    -


    Sheryl looked at the counter and saw that Althea was missing. She raised her elegant brows before


    looking around and still, she can''t find her.


    ''Did she just ditch me?'' She thought.


    When she was dwelling on that small little thought, her eyes caught the small figure that was sitting on


    the chair next to the counter with calm expression on his face.


    Sheryl''s brows raised even higher.


    That kid, he really catches her attention.


    Ever since she saw him that time, her curiosity was perked. She''s been wondering why is his attitude''s


    like that. It made her question how Althea raised him. They said, if the kid is matured for his age, it was


    a sign that the kid didn''t experiencefort during his childhood.


    To solve her questions, she decided to talk to the kid herself.


    She walked towards the counter and opened her mouth after reaching him, "Hi there."


    Kai raised his small head and blinked at her, he replied, "Hello."


    Sheryl paused, unsure what to say. She leaned on the table and shifted her whole weight on one foot.


    She stared at him. "How old are you."


    "..." Kai stared before answering inly. "Five."


    ''Five?'' Sheryl asked herself. ''He really isn''t Tyler''s son. Because if he is, he should be 7 or 6 by now.''


    With that thought, a smile spreaded on her face. "You''re mature for your age."


    Kai didn''t answer. Not that he doesn''t want to but he doesn''t know how and what to say. He inly


    didn''t understood her words.


    Sheryl didn''t mind. She as bottling the happiness of her confirmation about him being not the son of her


    fiance. She can finally rxed about the matter.


    Truth to be told, she wasn''t sure about Althea said. She doesn''t trust her. So she came here for


    confirmation and of course, her heart-to-heart talk. She knew that she shouldn''t trust a word of a kid,


    but- why would he lie to her?


    Unless he was told to, but that''s near to impossible. Considering Althea''s attitude and personality,


    there''s no way she''ll make her own kid to lie for her sake.


    Since it was, more or less confirmed that he really isn''t his son, something''s bothering her. She


    pondered over the question first before finally asking the silent kid. "Hey, do you know who''s your


    father?"


    Kai pursed his lips and wondered why is it that people keeps on asking him about his father. Does he


    looks like he doesn''t have one? "I do."


    This made Sheryl even more curious. "Then did you already met your father?"


    "I did."


    "Do you know his name?" Kai nodded. "Can you tell me?"


    Kai was confused but he didn''t ask why. He was asked about this twice in less than month already. But


    the old woman, Mrs. Goodman, didn''t receive his answer, so he told the second person about it, "His


    name is Augustine."

 Chapter 48: Other Side

    Chapter 48: Other Side


    CHAPTER FORTY-SIX;


    Other side


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    --


    Augustine?


    Sheryl''s heart thumped loudly against her chest.


    Herid back posture straighten and her eyes was looking fiercely at the boy.


    Kai doesn''t know the meaning behind her re but he also doesn''t care. He calmly shifted his eyes


    away and looked outside the shop.


    Sheryl didn''t have the time to scrutinize his action as her mind was running in fast pace to the point that


    even she can''t stop it.


    ''Augustine?'' She asked herself. ''Is it the Augustine I know? No, that''s not possible. There are many


    Augustine in the world, it''s impossible to be him.''


    But no matter how hard she tries to deny it, a big fat fact is presented in front of her; it isn''t impossible


    no matter how hard she made it sound.


    Amidst the ruckos inside her mind, she managed to ask Kai. She was low-key panicking and when she


    was about to ask the kid, she almost dive in front of him and mp his small shoulders.


    Good thing she wasn''t nning on shamming herself and stopped just in time.


    She tried her best to ask calmly. "Kai- Kai is your name, right?" She didn''t wait for his response. "Can


    you tell me you whole name?"


    Kai stared for a while and it made her anxious. She wants to him to hurry before his mother- Althea,


    comes back and block her opportunity to know the truth.


    The boy knows nothing about her inner dilemma. He jump off the chair he was sitting and walked


    towards the back of the counter. Sheryl almost yelled at him and grab his small arms just to stop him


    but she swallowed it down.


    Kai reached out for something behind the counter and then presented it to her. Sheryl had no clue what


    it was but she still epted it.


    It was a thin card, and when she read what it was, she discovered that it was his identification card.


    Like a hawk spying its prey, she read the name of the owner of the card.


    In bold letters, a name was imprinted on it; Alexander Kai G. Bryne.


    With that, her suspicion was confirmed. She almost forgot how to breath.


    '' It''s really him!'' She eximed. '' He''s the father?!''


    She stared at him in silence and he stared back with the equal silence. Now that she think of it, he does


    looks like Augustine. It''s faint but when you know their connection and think, he does carries


    resemnce of him.


    But his eyes, it''s awfully a carbon copy of his mother. Mostly of his features are from her too, that''s why


    you can''t really see it.


    She furrowed her brows and her temple throbbed.


    If she''s not mistaken, that guy is already married. She''s certain that it''s not Althea because she was


    there in the wedding ceremony.


    Although she can''t remember her name, she can still remember the wife''s distinct characteristic.


    It caught her attention- that was wrong- it caught everybody''s attention. It was; her silvery eyes that


    gives off a fiant radiance whenever it was exposed to the light. Her hair has a hint of silver too. It was


    odd but appealing at the same time so there''s no way she could forget about that certain person.


    Sheryl looked at Kai, "How old are you again?"


    "Five."


    After recieving the answer, she turned around and walked away, exiting Althea''s flower shop without


    saying a word.


    She ignored the gazes that Althea''s staffs gave her and opened the door. Her mind waspleted trap


    inside the loop of her thoughts.


    ''He''s 5 years old, and it was exactly 5 years ago when the two got married. I can''t believe that Althea


    got pregnant by a married man.'' She opened the door of her car. ''And assuming that they are really the


    parents, no, scratch that- because they are really the parents...''


    She mmed the door shut as soon as her butt hit the seat.


    ''Then that kid- Kai- is Tyler''s...'' She gritted her teeth and red at nowhere before opening her mouth


    to speak to her driver who waspletely frozen in front of the wheel.


    "Let''s go back." She coldly ordered.


    "Yes ma''am." The driver answered her like an automatic robot and drove away.


    Sheryl looked outside of the car and at the passing scenery.


    Her brows are still furrowed and her eyes were still dark. Her fierce re was also still up.


    ''Althea and Tyler, no matter how boulders the world gave to block the paths that leads to the two of


    you, another path just keeps on opening up.''


    -


    Althea stayed at the backyard for just a minute before she decided to go back inside.


    Although she doesn''t want to, she''s not rude enough to just push everything to Mnie and escape


    from Sheryl''s annoying presence.


    When she entered the shop, there was only Mnie and Kai inside. Her brows raised. "Where''s she?"


    Mnie helplessly smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "She just suddenly left."


    "Hmm," Althea said. "I thought we will be having a heart to heart talk?"


    Mnieughed, "I don''t know. I just took my eyes from her for a second and then she just kinda


    walked away. I don''t know what kind of thing she and Kai was discussing that made her look like she


    just eat meat despite being a vegetarian."


    Her remarks made Altheaughed. "Too bad I wasn''t here."


    She oh-so love to see that kind of reaction.


    She turned to face Kai. He was still on the chair like how she left him behind. Very obedient.


    She pursed her lips and asked herself, ''What kind of shit does his private tutor teaches my son? Is he


    hitting him or something to make him as obedient as he is? I''ll better ask Charlotte about this.''


    "Kai," she called. "What did you told Sheryl?"


    Her son shook his head, "I told her nothing. I just handed this to her."


    He gave his Identification card to Althea. She raised her brows after recieving it and can''te up with


    any rational idea why she reacted like ''she just eat meat despite being a vegetarian'', as what Mnie


    said.


    ''Well,'' she shrugged her shoulders. ''I don''t really care.''

 Chapter 49: Party Night

    Chapter 49: Party Night


    CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN;


    Party Night


    --


    "By the way Althea," Mnie said behind her.


    "Hmm?" Althea puts back her son''s ID on the counter and looked back. "What?"


    "Charlotte..." She hesitated. "Is your friend, right?"


    Altheaughed and pretended to think while leaning on the counter. "Hmm? Friends?" She turned to


    Kai and jokingly asked. "Are mommy and Charlotte friends? What do you think Kai?"


    Kai also turned to look at her and think, his blue eyes were sinking in depth of the ocean. Then, he said


    truthfully. "No."


    "What?" Althea dragged the question in amusement. "Why do you sa so?"


    Kai said with a serious expression. "Charlotte said that you don''t have friends. So I think you''re not


    friends with her too."


    "..." Both Mnie and Althea stared at him in silence before the former let out aughter that annoyed


    thetter.


    "What are youughing at?" Althea yelled at Mnie in annoyance. Mnie just shook her head and


    didn''t say anything about it.


    "Ah," Mnie suddenly had a realization which stopped herughters. "What did she say to you?"


    "Oh," Althea stopped as well when she remembered. She was about to bring Kai inside to take a bath.


    "About that, she asked me to attend a party for them this weekend."


    "Asked? Then you''re not going?"


    Althea shook her head. "I''m still thinking about it."


    "Why not?" Asked Mnie. "It''s just a party."


    "Well," Althea showed difort when she thought about why. Mnie noticed this and said that she


    doesn''t need to answer it if she didn''t want to. Althea shook her head. "No, no. It''s okay. I just... Don''t


    like going to a party with pretentious people."


    ''Pretentious?'' Mnie asked herself. ''Ah, it''s that kind of party.''


    "Then you''re not going?" She asked again.


    "Well," she said again. "I really have to think about it!"


    Mnie let out a smallughter, "Okay."


    "Let''s go Kai, let''s take a bath." Since their discussion is already over, she ushered her son back.


    Kai obediently followed his mother. "That auntie..."


    Auntie who? Althea raised a brow. "Who?"


    "That auntie who came here was weird." He said.


    "Weird? How weird?" Without even knowing the name, Althea know it was Sheryl. She''s very curious


    about why did his son thinks that way about her.


    "She was asking too many questions," Kai pouted his small lips. "It was bothering."


    Althea widen her eyes and stared at him in shock. Her hand that was reaching for the knob stopped


    midway. Kai also stopped when she did and nced up at her in confusion.


    Kai said that he was bothered. It was the first time he was bothered by something! Althea had an


    unknown feeling stirring inside her.


    Should she thank Sheryl or not?


    "Mom?" Noticing his mother''s silence, Kai can''t help but asked. His eyes were looking at her with


    curiosity and confusion. "Is something wrong?"


    "Oh- no-" she shook her head andughed awkwardly. "Nothing."


    She turned her head a way and just about to grab the knob to open the door so they can get inside, the


    door was opened from the other side.


    "That was really scary!" Jack was the obe who opened the door, he was looking at whoever was behind


    him, so he didn''t notice Althea and Kai. "Who could have thought that people will do that in a heavily


    guarded bank?"


    "Maybe their stupid," it was Ba. She was following behind him. "Ah, maybe they aren''t since they''re


    sessful."


    "Wait," Jack paused,pletely blocking the door. "They seeded on robing the bank and wasn''t


    caught right? Maybe they have a backer!"


    "Maybe," Ba responded then looked in front. She noticed the two first. "Good morning ma''am."


    "..." Althea smiled. She was still calling her that. "Good morning."


    "Oh!" Jack also noticed them. He greeted. "Hello Althea! Hello to you too, young man. What are you


    two doing there?"


    None of the two answered him which made him wonder why. Ba also wondered why, "Who''s


    blocking who?"


    Jack finally noticed the problem and awkwardlyughed before moving to the side. "Sorry Miss!"


    Althea just shrugged it off, "It''s okay, not that as if it''s the first time."


    Sheughed and entered the room with Kai following behind her.


    Jack awkwardly smile then looked down at the floor while covering his nape with his hand. Ba, on


    the other hand, was looking at him with confusion.


    It wasn''t really the first time. Everytime that he speaks with Ba, his intelligence decreases a lot, like


    he was matching up with her level of intelligence.


    Sometimes, it just makes herugh.


    -


    Two days just passed in a blur. Nothing unexpected happen for the past 2 days and Althea jad a


    peaceful time of decided about whether or not she''ll go.


    After some thinking, she finally decided to go.


    When she called Charlotte the morning before the party, the dress she promised arrived soon after. It


    was too fast to the point that she thinks that Charlotte already knew she''ll agree.


    That bitch.


    Anyways, it was already the night of the party. After getting dressed and telling Kai that she had to go,


    she drove herself to the venue.


    She parked her car on the basement of the hotel after verifying that it was really the ce. Grabbing


    her purse, she got off from her car then directly heading to the elevator.


    -


    A man went out from his own car and noticed Althea, he was about to ignore her when he noticed that


    her face was familiar. His eyes widen.


    "Hey-" another man went out from the same car. He looked at the other with confusion and asked.


    "What''s wrong?"


    The other man was staring at the elevator that just closed in silence before turning at the other. "Do you


    know Althea?"


    "Hmm?" The other asked in confusion again. "Althea who?"


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    The guy pursed his lips and stopped the urge to p his head down. "Althea! Tyler''s girlfriend- ex-


    girlfriend!"


    "... Which one?"


    "Stupid." The guy can''t help but smack his head. "The one in highschool! The girl we forced toe to


    a party so he can go too!"


    It was only then the guy remembered. "Ooh! Her! Didn''t she disappear like, 7 years ago? Why


    suddenly bring her up?"


    "I just saw her." He inly answered.


    "What?" He eximed in shock. "She''s back?! And she''s here? What a coincidence!"


    "Yeah," he also agreed. "A coincidence indeed."

 Chapter 50: Party Night 2

    Chapter 50: Party Night 2


    CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT;


    Party Night (2)


    --


    A ding rang, indicating that Althea already arrived.


    She raised her head and looked at the opening door of the elevator. No one was with her in the


    elevator, so she fluidly went out from the elevator shaft.


    After stepping out, she was blinded by the lights of the massive room of the hotel. She almost squinted


    her eyes.


    Soft and small murmurs entered her ears. There was also nging of tes and sses. Althea


    surveyed the area and noticed that the ce wasn''t crowded as she thought it would be.


    Maybe only selected once are wee here, Althea shrugged the thought.


    An attendant approached her with a polite smile, "May I see your invitation ma''am?"


    Althea halted and opened her purse then habded the invitation to her. The attendant looked at it briefly


    before showing another smile, "Thank you. Please have a pleasant evening."


    Althea watched her walled away and attend the other guest. No one noticed her arrival since none of


    these people know her face, all of them were busy entertaining the bigger fishes. She rxed a little.


    Listening to the melow music that was ying in the air, Althea walked towards the table of drinks.


    The party is pretty much the same to the ones she attended so far. But since she doesn''t have the


    interest to mingle and talk with the other people, she, as usual, sits or stand near the corner where no


    one will set their eyes on.


    Not that these old people will look at her in the first ce. Even without talking with them, she can


    prerty much guess that all of them are hungry with money and connection. And, who was Althea?


    She''s no one.


    She picked up a ss of red wine and out of hobby whenever her mind is wandering, she started to stir


    it slowly before putting it near to her lips.


    "Hi there," someone she doesn''t know said from behind. Judging from it''s raspy voice, it''s a man.


    Althea, who was about to enjoy her ss of wine, paused for a second before proceeding to act like


    she wasn''t there.


    I''m invisible, go away please.


    And, like how it always goes, her prayers were left unanswered. The man still approached her even


    even stood by her side, grinning like an idiot he was.


    Yes, sure, Althea is no one when ites to business world, but, have you ever forgotten that she


    once caught the heart of the most popr guy in their highschool?


    They broke up though.


    "Are you alone?" The man asked, looking at ger up and down. Even without looking at him, Althea can


    feel the lust he has for her.


    She tried her best to not shudder in disgust. She stepped away, indicating that she''s drawing a line and


    not interested with him.


    But foolish people are naturally foolish.


    "Why are you stepping away?" He was at least 10 years older than her. He was round as a ball,


    obviously getting fat from his wealth."Don''t to you want to have fun with me? I''ve book a room in this


    hotel."


    He shed a smile, and the golden tooth he has in front blinded her. Althea almsot spat out the red


    liquid she drank.


    A waste of money! Total waste of money! Who could have thought that she''ll meet someone this stupid


    in life? She thought these people only exists in movies!


    Who melts gold just to shape it like a tooth and stuff it inside your gums then align it with your white


    ones?


    Althea was shocked beyond belief so she didn''t see him approaching her and waa ready to grope


    something on her with his big fat hand.


    "Hold it," suddenly, a low threatening voice rang near the two. Althea was pped awake by the


    familiar voice while the man, also knowing who''s voice it was, stopped midway and started to sweat


    really hard. "What do think you''re doing?"


    Althea turned to see the green eyed human she never saw for days. She almostughed when she


    saw what kind of expression that person was carrying.


    "Ah- ah!" The man took back his hand and stepped away from her like jis feet was on fire. "No- nothing.


    Don''t misunderstand. I-I know her. Right?"


    He turned to Althea and tried to threaten her with his wide eyes but Althea just looked away and


    continued drinking her wine.


    He tried to smile but the person didn''t bought it. A pair of green eyes shifted to look at Althea. She


    shook her head gently, then the cold green eyes shifted back to the faltering smile of the golden tooth


    man.


    "Honestly Mr. Choo, I''m disappointed." The person who bears the one of the rarest eye color of the


    world said slowly. "If only you didn''t lie, I could have considered the proposal you made."


    "Wha-" The perverted guy, who''s named Mr. Choo, was shaken to the core. His already bulging eyes


    bulged even more. "But-"


    "No more buts, I don''t talk to peope like you," the person showed disgust, cracking the cold face she


    wore. "Who knows how many poordies you haveid your dirty fat hands on. There''s no way I would


    shake hands with you. Now, scram!"


    The round man hurriedly got away with frustration on his face while the other two just watched him.


    When he was finally out of sight, Althea let out augh. "Is that okay, Victoria? I think you lost one of


    your wealthiest business partner."


    "One of the wealthiest huh?" Victoria snorted then grabbed a wine of ss. "Who cares, there are


    plenty fish in the sea. Besides, I didn''t lose anything, rather, he lost me, so, ge lost something big,


    really, really big."


    Althea remained silent about her self boasting. "Really? You don''t mind at all?"


    "Hmm." She waved her hand. "Nope, hispany is getting bankrupt anyway. Corruption there is


    worst! I can''t even think of why he still has the audacity to ppay around like that."


    Altheaughed a little, her eyes wandering behind Victoria. Thetter noticed it and showed a grin.


    "Are you looking for him?"


    Althea''s face contorted, "Who? That son of yours? No."


    Victoriaughed and smacked her. "Stupid Althea, did I say a name? I didn''t!"


    "..." Althea is now ready to die from embarrassment.


    Victoria didn''t care about her cause of death. She smacked her again, but now, with elegance since


    they have eyes looking at them.


    Althea can''t help but get amaze by her strong sense of making her public image beautiful.


    "Don''t worry dear, he''s not here at the moment." She grinned. "Well, at least not in this party."


    -


    An elevator opened and two guys in suit exited from it. As soon as they stepped on the floor, their eyes


    begun to search for someone.


    ''She''s not here,'' the guy on the left thought. ''The other two isn''t here either.''


    "Hi Aaron, Dave!" A girl in sleeveless and backless dress approached them. "You both look stunning!"


    Dave, the one from the right, smiled at her. "You look lovely as well." He paused before asking. "Are all


    of the students from your batch already here?"


    "Hmm? Oh no, nlt yet. We''re still waiting for someone."


    "Who?" This time, it as Aaron who asked.


    The woman was confused but she still answered them with a smile. "It''s Sheryl."


    "..." The two looked at each other before asking her again. "Just her?"


    "... Well, not really, we''re waiting for the others as well, but they said they''re nor sure if they''lle or


    not... Why are you curious by the way? It''s not that as if this is your batch in highschool!" Sheughed.


    Truly, it wasn''t theirs but they were there since they got invited along with the others.


    "Are you also expecting her?"


    "Who?"


    "Althea." Aaron answered.


    The woman widen her eyes. "What are you talking about? Didn''t she disappear years ago? We haven''t


    even got any news from her!"


    "I saw her," Dave said. "Earlier in the parking lot."


    "..." She mused. "Maybe you mistaken her for somebody?"


    "We all know that Dave has the sharpest mind in our batch right?" Aaron tried to help him. "There''s no


    way he''ll forget a face of someone who was with him for almost four years."


    "She''s wearing a party gown, so I thought she''ll be here."


    "... Then she''s here? In the same hotel?" The woman said, "Then-"


    The elevator opened and two famr figure went out. As soon as they entered, the other people looked


    at them and went to greet them.


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    It was Sheryl and Tyler.


    The three watched them in silence until the lone woman talked. "Hey, you said she''s wearing a party


    gown right? Since she''s not here, there''s only one ce she''s in."


    "... Where?" Aaron asked.


    "On the floor directly below us," The womanughed. "So, who''s ready for the show?"

 Chapter 51: Party Night 3

    Chapter 51: Party Night 3


    CHAPTER FORTY-NINE;


    Party Night (3)


    --


    Slow/updates/until/July/15/(End/Of/School)/so


    lease/be


    atient/.


    --


    The three watched them in silence until the lone woman talked. "Hey, you said she''s wearing a party


    gown right? Since she''s not here, there''s only one ce she''s in."


    "... Where?" Aaron asked.


    "On the floor directly below us," The womanughed. "So, who''s ready for the show?"


    ''Show? What show?'' Dave asked himself. ''But whatever it is, I''m pretty sure it''s not good since April''s


    making it.''


    Aaron didn''t say anything, he just silently watched the two who just came in and instantly became the


    center of attraction.


    April igroned the two after saying that and looked at the two that was sticking together like a goddamn


    glue.


    No, it was Sheryl who was sticking at the other like a gum.


    At the sight of her clinging at him like how dhe used to do during their college times makes her blood


    slowly boils.


    To think that she saw her as a true friend during their college days but when she saw her snatching


    Tyler when Althea and him was still togetherpletely shatter her view of her.


    Everyone in the college thought that she was an angel in flesh. She was beautiful and her actions were


    neat and elegant.


    To think that she was a scheming bitch.


    She took him under Althea''s nose.


    And here''s a more unbearable fact: they were friends that time.


    Or maybe it was only Althea who thought they were.


    Because of that, Aprilpletely lost her trust to her, and she kept a safe distance between them.


    They were friends- or maybe just like what Althea thought- who knows what kind of thing she''ll use her


    for.


    She''s not a fool, like any body else.


    And hearing the news of her being possibly here, a hint of excitement bubbled inside her.


    Sheryl, oh the jealous Sheryl, let''s she what kind of reaction you will make after seeing them together


    again.


    ---


    The clinking of sses and soft murmurs were still going but thay are much quieter than before.


    It doesn''t reallyforts her since she can feel their stares on her back.


    Sure, no one approaches her anymore. Sure, she won''t get attacked by a random perverted rich


    person anymore.


    But she instead gathered a lot of unwanted attention. And lots, and lots, of it.


    Althea groaned internally and gulped down thest fluid in her wine ss.


    Victoria, who was silently sipping her wine noticed this and can''t help but ask. "Why hurry? Is


    something bothering you?"


    "Nothing." She shook her head.


    The other didn''t believe her. She raised her perfectly curved brow. "Really?"


    Taking the doubt in her voice, Althea sighed. "It''s nothing, really. It''s just.. a little bit suffocating in here."


    "Hmm." Victoria''s green eyes observed her. "Really? Maybe because of your dress. Show some skin


    Althea! You''ve been wearing long sleeves ever since we met!"


    Despite the hint of teasing in her voice, Althea showed a hesitant and ufortable smile. She


    avoided her gaze and looked elsewhere then went to grab her wrist and slowly rubbed it with her


    thumb.


    It was a small movement but it didn''t escape Victoria''s prying eyes.


    Knowing that the topic is closed, forcedly, she took another sip of her ss and puts it down, changing


    the topic. "I don''t what to be rude, dear, but, how did you ended up here?"


    "Oh, it''s not rude at all." Althea smiled at her, the difort was gone without trace. "I came to fill in for


    a friend."


    ''A friend? She has an influential friend?'' Victoria gasped. "Oh, the one you told me and my son about in


    the cafe! The friend that helped you build your shop!"


    Althea nodded. "It''s her."


    "She can''t attend? It''s a shame." Victoria can''t help but voice out her disappointment.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    She wanted to met what kind of girl is she friend with.


    "She said she''ll spend quality time with her husband," Althea let out augh. "I don''t even know that her


    husband like that kind of thing."

 Chapter 52: A Familiar Face

    Chapter 52: A Familiar Face


    CHAPTER FIFTY:


    A familiar face


    --


    Dave leans on the table while looking at the dancing crowd in the center, casually sipping the alcohol


    he has in his hand. His head was bobbing along the music that was airing on the air. His eyes caught


    Aaron who was walking towards him. He straightened his back and ced the ss of alcohol back on


    the table.


    He looked behind Aaron and saw that she was not there, he curiously asked. ¡°Where is April?¡±


    She was with him just a while ago, Aaron was dragged by her to somewhere Dave knows nothing


    about and was excluded by the topic they were talking about.


    Aaron was silent for a moment before opening his mouth, ¡°She run off after saying she has to prepare


    for the surprise.¡±


    ¡°What surprise?¡± Dave asked again. The feeling of being left out was really suffocating. If only they


    included him on their discussion too, he will not be asking questions.


    Aaron, aware of what was going inside his mind, shook his head and replied with helplessness in his


    voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know either, Dave. She didn¡¯t mention anything about it to me.¡± He paused for a good


    second before proceeding. ¡°She did say something though.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± He was disappointed by his words but caught his self-back. ¡°What was it?¡±


    A small smile- which resemble of ma merely ufortable twitch of his lips- surfaced on his lips. ¡°She


    said to sit back and watch the show she made unfold. And, as we wait the three meets again, we have


    to see a small surprise she made for the other two.¡±


    ¡°Small surprise?¡± Dave unconsciously let his eyes wander towards the two who were sitting on the


    round table, surrounded by others.


    Tyler was as stoic as he was- aplete opposite of someone he -knew from the past. Sheryl was still


    smiling as how she used to be- but her smile has the hint of something he cannot understand.


    They had changed. Dave asked himself; how about her? How much did Althea change?


    He averted his eyes away and talked again to the person next to him, ¡°How will she find her?¡±


    Aaron paused, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡±


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the owner of this hotel, of course she¡¯ll know.¡±


    Right, he forgot about that certain fact. Daveughed. ¡°Then while we wait for her little show before the


    bigger show, what should we do?¡±


    Aaron shot him a sideway nce before looking at the two who were the center of the attention. ¡°For


    the time being, we need to stop them from leaving the area.¡±


    -


    ¡°Hi,¡± April greeted a chubby former ssmate of hers. ¡°How¡¯s the program so far?¡±


    ¡°April!¡± The chubby person said in delight. He wiggled along the music and he beamed at her while


    carrying the microphone. He was the mc of the night. A bubbly person. Every time he dances, he looks


    like a human size gummy bear in April¡¯s eyes. He looks cute.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine so far!¡± he shouted against the booming music. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    April smiled at him, ¡°Nothing! Just¡­ Is the next part being the slideshows of photos?¡±


    ¡°Hmm!¡± He nodded his head. ¡°It is indeed that!¡± Heughed loudly and wholeheartedly. ¡°I really like this


    part of our get together. A perfect time to expose dark things from the past!¡±


    Heughed again, April alsoughed along and said, ¡°Not only that though. Showing the pictures in our


    high school days also meant one thing.¡±


    Ever since high school, April was very good at baiting people into the discussion she wants. The mc


    was caught by the bait and he leaned in, trying to absorb everything she will say. ¡°What? What is it?¡±


    April showed a sly smile and leaned in, as if she were about to expose a nasty secret of their


    government. Then, she said very slowly, ¡°It¡¯s also a perfect way to dig up the memories of the past that


    one of the people you hate will get annoyed at frustrated at.¡±


    The mc gasp and backed away, with his hands covering his mouth, he stared at her wide eyes. ¡°That¡¯s-


    that¡¯s perfect!¡±


    April handed him a USB sh drive with a scheming smile. ¡°Here.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± The oblivious guy epted the stick-like stic.


    ¡°A USB sh drive,¡± she said in a matter-of-fact voice.


    ¡°I know that!¡± He gave her a small re. ¡°But why are you giving this to me?¡±


    April smiled again, ¡°I want you to use thister.¡±


    He gave the other a knowing look, ¡°Does this contain a memory of the past that the person you have


    does not want to remember?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± She hummed and tilted her head, slightly looking at the person she hated then looked back at


    him with crescent eyes and small smile in her red, luscious lips. ¡°I suppose¡­¡±


    This also made him grin. He loves dramas the most. ¡°I just hope this won¡¯t destroy the party tonight.


    This is a rare chance of us getting together after all.¡±


    April did not give any response about that, instead, she patted his fleshy shoulders. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be


    entrusting that to you for the time being. I hope you¡¯ll execute it properly.¡±


    ¡°Execute what properly? I will just lend this to the technical.¡± He mumbled while looking down the ck


    stick on his hand before realizing something. He looked back at April and asked with a small from on


    his face. ¡°Where are you going by the way? ¡°


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll be back don¡¯t worry. I will just guide a lostmb to its herd.¡±


    --


    There was a sshing sound heard and noises of mors and gasp rang.


    ¡°i-I¡¯m sorry ma¡¯am-¡° a panicking waiter. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it!¡±


    ¡°Goodness!¡± It was Victoria¡¯s startled voice. She approached Althea and asked in worry, ¡°Dear- are you


    okay Althea?¡±


    Althea grimaces a little, looking at her wrist that was soaked by hot water. It hurts- but not really. It just


    stung her a little bit. She pursed her lips before shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡±


    ¡°I-I am really sorry ma-¡° he was cut off short by Victoria¡¯s sneer.


    ¡°Hush it, youngd!¡± She said with a visible scowl on her beautiful face. ¡°Why were you rushing earlier?


    Are you stupid? And why were you holding a bowl of hot water in here-¡°


    ¡°Hey!¡± A drunk man shouted from afar. Victoria and Althea looked over only to see an old fat man with


    his face red, pointing his fatty finger towards the waiter who was cowering in fear under the gazes of


    big people inside. ¡°Where is my hot water?! Hurry!¡±


    The waiter almost shrunk down on his own body in fear, he casted his gaze down and his mouth was


    refusing to open. Even though it does, he will not, knowing that only sobs wille out.


    Victoria immediately understood the behavior of the waiter who carelessly brought a bowl of hot water


    with him while walking in great speed and failing to look in front of him. She red at his direction, the


    drunk noticed it and begun yelling at her.


    ¡°What are you looking at? Don¡¯t you know who I am?¡± He sneered. ¡°Keep that look of yours and I¡¯ll


    make sure that youpany will face bankruptcy!¡±


    Victoria can feel her blood boil and rush to her head as she continues to look at the bbering man in


    front of her.


    The audacity to threaten her! He will be the one who will face bankruptcy instead! The other guest


    cannot help but look at the drunk man with sympathy. If only he was sobber, he would choose his


    words wisely and will not dig his own grave.


    ¡°You-¡°


    ¡°Victoria,¡± Althea called out, tiredness in her voice. ¡°Stop.¡±


    It was as if her words were magical, Victoria indeed stop. She frowned at her then caught a glimpse of


    her hand covering the wrist that was identally poured with hot water with white, thin handkerchief.


    Victoria groaned inside before rolling her eye elegantly. ¡°Hmph,¡± she controlled herself because Althea


    needs the attention first than this guy. Instead of dealing with him personally, she signaled her guard on


    standby to drag him out.


    Then everyone in the venue looked at the spectacle.


    After the eyesore left her eyesightpletely, she turned to Althea. ¡°Let¡¯s get you to the hospital.¡±


    Altheaughed. ¡°No need it wasn¡¯t even that painful. I don¡¯t think I got burned too.¡±


    Victoria refused to believe her, ¡°No, we have to go.¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t bother, really. I¡¯ll just wash it in the bathroom instead.¡± Seeing that she was


    still not letting her go, she sighed. ¡°I¡¯m fine, really.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Okay then, I¡¯lle with you.¡± She said with a great reluctance.


    Althea sighed in her mind again, what is with her and her worry for her? It is not that they know each


    other for a long time.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. I can go by myself.¡± To not let her have a word she left after saying another goodbye.


    Victoria just watched her retreating and sighed. She is stubborn, and she can say that to herself too.


    She nced sideways and discovered that the waiter was still there, standing like a statue. She


    frowned and dismissed him, he left without any second thought.


    --


    Althea walked through the corridors towards the path where the bathroom leads, as what the attendant


    instructed her. She noticed the details of the walls of the hotel, and she can¡¯t help but admire it. When


    she arrived, there was no one inside.


    ¡®Perfect¡¯, she went in and stood in front of the mirror, putting her purse on the sink and adjusted the


    sleeve of her right hand. It was where the hot liquid was poured. Like what she thought, it didn¡¯t even


    burn her skin. It was not really a boiling water or a water that was fetched out from the kettle after it


    boiled. It was lukewarm, and it makes sense since a person will be using it.


    Althea opened the tap and puts her arm under the running water. The rushing of water was the only


    noise inside the big bathroom and Althea¡¯s mind even wandered away as she stared at the cold liquid


    touching her skin.


    That was when the door of the bathroom opened.


    Startled, Althea looked back only to see a woman, by her age, stand in front of the door with a smile on


    her face.


    It was weird.


    And oddly, she looks familiar.

 Chapter 53: The Beginning

    Chapter 53: The Beginning


    CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE:


    The Beginning


    --


    In this world, many people have simr features as the others despite having no blood rtion at all, so


    seeing someone familiar is not umon- but it is notmon either. So, seeing a person that is


    oddly familiar to her, Althea was not even disturbed.


    What disturbs her was the way she looks at her and her smile. She was pretty, she cannot deny that.


    She has this milky white and as shiny and smooth like a crystal ball skin that was obviously tended by a


    renowned dermatologist, it even glows since she was wearing a red backless and sleeveless party


    dress. Her red lip was plumped, and it looks bouncy, her hair was even gorgeously tied with loose hairs


    hanging. She screams an aura of a goddess with wealth.


    Yes, again, she is pretty. And she looks smart. And feisty.


    But then again, why is a beauty looking at her like she was a cow who was being guided towards the


    butchery? Althea had no clue at all.


    They were just staring at each other in silence until Althea cannot bear it anymore. She tried smiling at


    thedy. ¡°You¡­ Also want to use the bathroom?¡±


    That was a stupid question, she knows. But what kind of thing does she needs to say to her to escape


    an awkward silence? How to speak with a weird person? Also speak weirdly. Oh, right, she forgot to


    mention, she is still at the door! She is not even entering!


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    She is just standing there- how weird is that? Althea¡¯s awkward smile faltered, and she decided to


    ignore her when she did not even give any answer to her question.


    Whatever, she should do what she wants.


    After deciding that, she turned back to face the mirror and looked at her arm that she was just soaking


    by water. The hot feeling that lingers earlier was gone and was reced by the cold one. It even got


    colder as the air hits it. And Althea does not like the cold, just the whiteness of the winter.


    She picked up the handkerchief she ced on top of her purse and began tapping the wet arm gently,


    ignoring the stares of the other.


    Aprilughed in her mind.


    To think it was really her. Althea, the one who went missing for seven years. Even the school was


    wondering why an honor student suddenly started taking a long absence without any letter or verbal


    notice, but then, the honor student did not evene back after many months until it was counted as


    years.


    To think she will have met her here again, and coincidentally, this time of the year. Their reunion. And


    the only year where Sheryl manages to convince Tyler toe with her here. Aprilugh again just by


    imagining Sheryl¡¯s regret that she made hime.


    ¡®Ahem,¡¯ April cleared her throat mentally and inhaled. ¡®Let us calm down and do our work here.¡¯


    ¡°Althea Grahams?¡± She called her out. When she turned to her, April feels proud that she can still


    remember her surname. She smiled at her. ¡°I am here to guide you to the next venue of the party.¡±


    She turned the tap off and looked at her, asking, ¡°Next venue? We switched?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± April said with a wless smile. ¡°Unfortunately, a hose was damaged at the top floor where your


    previous venue was, and it ended up leaking down. Since it was a disturbance, some wanted to go


    home and end the party there,¡±


    April pause, letting her digest her lies. She was hoping that she will not catch her lies, since Althea had


    a reputation for being smart before. Seeing that she keeps on listening, she continued her very well-


    nned lies. ¡°But some of the guests does not want to and decided to switch venues. So, we are on


    the next floor now.¡±


    Althea was silent after that, April grew nervous.


    She does not want her ns to fail!


    Then, she begun nodding. ¡°Is that so? Did Victoria send you? Is she already there?¡±


    Victoria? April almost spats her eyes out and choke on her own saliva. There is only one Victoria at the


    party she was in and that was Tyler¡¯s mother! She actually knows her? What a small world!


    April wasposed despite the internal chaos of the new discovery made in her mind. She smiled


    again. ¡°Yes it was he-¡°


    Her eyes wondered down and was distracted by her wiping her arm with a white handkerchief, she was


    about to ignore it, but a mark caught her attention. She immediately paused, Althea noticed it and


    casually covered her arm with the handkerchief, not letting her see more about it.


    April got her intention, so she continued her words like she saw nothing. ¡°Yes, it was her. Madam


    Victoria was already there, so, when will we get going?¡±


    It was a mark, a scar- to be exact. The scar looks like her arm was wrapped by a rope tightly for days


    that it even left a mark on her. Without even looking at the other arm, she oddly knows it has the same


    marking. There was also shing scars- small and big. No wonder she was wearing a long-sleeved


    dress.


    Althea pulled the sleeve down again and picked up her purse from the sink, she got out first. ¡°Guide the


    way.¡±


    --


    The others were dancing for a while now in the center. Tyler nced at themzily as he leans on his


    seat. It was a bad choice toe with her here.


    He can see nothing her but a bunch of stupid people and leeches. The toxicity ofparing yourself to


    others and making the people lower than them jealous- pathetic. He was even trying his best to ignore


    the leech next to him who was still bbering about his achievements and saying that one day, he


    wanted to work with him.


    No. Tyler does not need someone like him. He was too full of himself. It¡¯s the worst.


    Then the MC of the night climb up on the stage, carrying his microphone and his big shinny smile. The


    music lowered down, the people who danced began sitting down on their respective seats, then he


    spoke with enthusiasm.


    ¡°Who¡¯s ready for the next event?!¡± Shouts andughter were heard. ¡°Like every single shameless


    person here in this floor, I am also very, very excited of what¡¯s next.¡±


    Heughed; his cute fat body was shaking slightly. ¡°Are you all ready to see the past you? When we


    were all ugly ducklings?¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Someone shouted from the crowd. ¡°And start already!¡±


    It induced another round ofughter. ¡°Okay, okay- let¡¯s hold our horses, aye?¡± Heughed and looked


    towards the direction where the technical is. The operator showed a thumbs up. He nodded to him and


    looked back at the crown again. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s ready. Then please, enjoy the show.¡±


    The beginning of the slide was just as boring as what Tyler thought it would be. Although he can hear


    laughter and teasing to the person on the pic, he really cannot go along with them. This was not his


    batch, he knows it. He does not belong here.


    Seeing that the slide will be still long, he stood up and silently went to the door- trying to leave the


    venue as stealthily as possible. And when he arrived at the unguarded open doors, he thought he can


    finally slip out.


    ¡°Dude,¡± a familiar voice called out in a hush. Tyler looked back to see his old friends from high school. It


    was Dave and Aaron. Tyler nodded.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Dave asked him, he was also the one who called him.


    ¡°¡­¡± Tyler does not know where to be honest. ¡°Just, going out.¡±


    ¡°Wh-¡° he was cut off by the sudden silence of the venue.


    The people here were justughing earlier but now there was aplete silence. The three was


    bewildered and turned to look. Dave had his eyes widen in shock, even the asionally emotionless


    Aaron, and the suddenly cold and emotionless Tyler has their eyes slightly wide.


    They knew she was nning something- but to think this was what she was nning.


    Althea and Tyler were together since high school, and this is a high school reunion. Although both are


    not on the same grade- thetter being one year ahead- Tyler was always going to her every single


    day. He was with her every single programs and events in schools. So, there¡¯s no way you can¡¯t see


    pictures of them together.


    And that time, Tyler was the one who was too clingy, and the slide and the next slides after the first


    made them remember everything from the past. Especially the man who was standing next to them.


    Dave did not dare to look at him, instead, he looked at Sheryl instead. And, she was, without even


    checking twice, downright furious. She was ring at the projected pictures. The pictures where Tyler


    was too sweet and cling to his ex. The picture where his eyes showed his feelings for her.


    A rtionship she destroyed in the past, thinking that she will get the emotion and affection he was


    giving to her.


    But she did not. Not even an ounce.


    Everyone was silent and they do not even know why.


    That was the scene when April showed up, along with the girl on the picture. Althea.

 Chapter 54: All Eyes

    Chapter 54: All Eyes


    CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO:


    All Eyes


    ---


    Meanwhile¡­


    It was already evening and the people in the shop was having dinner. It was only Ba, Jack, Kai, and


    Mnie. The shop was already closed for a while, but Jack did not go home. He decided to stay to eat


    with them.


    ¡°Hmm!¡± He moaned in delight. ¡°Your cooking is really superb, Mnie! I would really like to stay for


    dinner again next time.¡±


    Mnie almost chocked on her food and looked at the guy who was still chowing down the food like a


    hungry wolf who has not eaten anything for the past few months. Then she shrugged her shoulders


    and said nonchnt, ¡°It is just mac and cheese, and some fried chicken, but thank you.¡±


    Jack shook his head, ¡°No- don¡¯t ever underestimate the power of cheese and chicken.¡± Ba nodded


    with his statement while stuffing herself with Mnie¡¯s fried chicken wings. She just loves the


    tenderness of the meat and its aroma. It¡¯s hunger inducing and its sweetness with a hint of spiciness


    was really good.


    Mnie just nodded and said her thanks, not wanting to talk with him anymore.


    Kai was just silent in the background; he was not listening to them because he was watching Tv.


    Mnie noticed it, she watched the focused Kai and curiously peeked at the Tv, wondering what it was


    that is keeping him immerse. And she can¡¯t believe what she saw.


    ¡°You¡¯re watching the news?¡± she asked the boy.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s interesting.¡± He simply answered.


    Mnie raised and eyebrow and asked again, ¡°What is interesting about it?¡±


    ¡°The current news.¡±


    This caught the attention of the other two and looked at what kind of news was showing on the tv. It


    was some news about kidnapping, robbery, and hostage taking. The older three was bewildered.


    ¡°Why is that interesting?¡± Jack asked him.


    ¡°My mom,¡± the boy said. ¡°Charlotte said she was kidnapped once.¡±


    ¡°Wha-¡° a sudden switch of video on the tv distracted Mnie and its content.


    The reporter, with a script on hand, said seriously, ¡°Just in! A hotel in the 11th street was entered by a


    group of robbers that were in run from the police and took everyone in the hotel hostage. There are


    many known businessmen in this hotel and¡­¡±


    ¡°Goodness,¡± Mnie eximed. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the hotel your mother is in, Kai?¡±


    Kai was also silent but he visibly tensed.


    Ba, who was silent all along furrowed her brows. ¡°Jack, are they the robber who robbed a heavily


    bank you mentioned two days ago?¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Even though his anxious, he remembered. ¡°It¡¯s them! They are even using the same van. They


    really are gutsy!¡±


    ---


    Whenever they took a step towards the said new venue, Althea had this inkling feeling that bad thing is


    about to happen. But, as usual, she ignored it since most of her intuition is wrong. Like throwing a ball


    of paper into a trash bin only to find it rolling on the floor 1 meter away from the supposedlynding


    ce. It does sometimesnds, but out of ten throws? She can only dump 3 to 4 ball of papers at least.


    So yes, she cannot believe in her intuition.


    But after she arrived there where Vitoria¡¯s supposedly be in, she wished she trusted her intuition even


    just this once and turn back. Then make an excuse that she is not feeling well or about Kai or the shop.


    She could have created many lies just to escape! But it was already toote since all of them saw her


    already.


    When she first arrived, the first thing she noticed was the three tall men standing in front of the door like


    a statue. They were rooted on the ce while their backs facing the two of them. Her and whoever this


    girl next to her.


    Althea felt that the back of one of the men was familiar, but, then again, she dismissed it like how she


    dismissed the same feeling to the other. She was curious of why the hell the venue was so silent-


    except the music on the speaker, none of these living people are talking at all!


    By the looks of it, it was a party, but not like the party she expected. No old geezers or old women and


    none of them looks the same as the people she knows on the other party. So, she knew she went into


    the wrong room. She was deliberately guided into a wrong room. It was stupid that she did not even


    considered twice or thought twice before trusting a stranger.


    But since she was already here, she might as well as check what is happening. The silence inside the


    party makes er curious. So, she curiously, stupidly, took a sneak towards where all of them were


    looking. They were looking at two different directions, all their eyes were contained with awkwardness.


    Althea wondered why and looked inside.


    Her eyes saw a looking furious woman she hopes she did not know about. It was Sheryl. Without any


    doubt, this made her heart jump and she looked around at the venue once more. Her heart was


    pounding harder against her chest as she internalizes every single detail in the room.


    ¡®Please,¡¯ she pleaded in her head. ¡®Make it not the thing I think it is.¡¯


    And, as how it always works, no one headed her plea and made it the opposite of what she hopes. Her


    eyes read the words:


    Highschool reunion.


    After reading that, she thought it might be a normal high school reunion. An event that has nothing to


    do with her. Bur presented in bright and bold letters was the year of their batch and their very school.


    Her eyes looked at the elevated tform where a chubby man was standing.


    And she knew him. He was the most annoying person she knew in high school.


    Then her eyesnded on the projected pictures that was the very reason of the silence inside. It was


    like a flick that triggered her memories from the past. She looked back and gaze at the other girl with


    detest visible on her eyes. She caught it and her small smile widen, as if she already knew she figure


    everything put.


    Althea also knows this girl. She was one of Sheryl¡¯s underling from the past. April.


    As if trying to mock her, April opened her mouth and said out loud. ¡°Hi guys. Look who I brought with


    me.¡±


    The ce was already silent, and her voice was not even that low, so everyone heard it, and turned


    around.


    Althea pursed her lips into thin line when the three men in front of her also turned around. Tyler, along


    with the two men she knew the face but not the name,nded their eyes on her.


    Tyler, with his eyes a little bit open and the tip of his ears were slightly red as if he remembered


    something that makes him embarrassed or aroused, opened his mouth and called out a name that no


    one in the room heard for 7 years. ¡°Althea.¡±


    With that, every single pair of eyes were on her.


    And Althea only has on word in her mind.


    N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Fuck.

 Chapter 55: Hostages

    Chapter 55: Hostages


    CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE:


    Hostages


    --


    There is one thing that Althea hates the most ever since she was young. And it was: unnecessary


    attention.


    In her younger years, she was constantly inside their home or their backyard, tending the garden. She


    sometimes helps with their shop and do deliveries but talking and interacting with other more than that?


    No, she cannot remember doing that.


    But for the past two years, she learned how to socialize and talk with others. It was good for her, said


    her doctor. It was good talking with older people and strangers, but people from the past? She has to


    think twice before even making eye contact with them.


    Standing in front of a room that is full of familiar faces, Althea can feel her chest tightening and her


    breathing be ragged. Feeling their stares and gazes directed to her, she can feel herself drowning


    with hatred and disgust.


    It was like as if she traveled back through time, 7 years ago.


    Although this is a high school reunion and 7 years ago was their college days, most of them also went


    to the college she was in. Their high school and college were connected, so most students go there


    after graduating high school. So, basically, most of the people here were the same in their college.


    The people who showered her with stares of disgust and mockery. What is worst, the two who was the


    very reason why she came back home was also here, inside the room, together with the other people


    who mocked her from the past.


    If only it did not happen, she would not go home and experience that shit.


    ¡®No,¡¯ Althea let out a bitterugh inside her mind. She stared at the shock and awkward faces of the


    people. ¡®Even if I did not get home because of it, that would still happen one way or another.¡¯


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Sheryl stood up from her seat and asked her. The party seems to have


    already came into a stop. The music and the slides already stopped ying, even the lights went still.


    ¡°Did someone invite you here? Did someone tell you about this?¡±


    She asked that in great disbelief. Her eyes were wide in shock as she looked around, trying to find who


    the hell invited the ¡®uninvited¡¯ person. None of them tried to sh wit her gaze, they looked away


    except from the very girl who really invited her, April. Sheryl looked shock before furry made its way to


    her pretty face. ¡°April?¡±


    April just shrugged and looked away, not caring a little bit about her. This made her even more mad,


    she stepped out from the table and began to advance towards where the five are standing. Althea


    raised her eyebrows and said, ¡°I apologize for going her without an invite. I did not know parties such


    as these needs one.¡±


    Everyone, except Tyler and Sheryl, looked at her in shock. She finally spoke! And it was really her!


    They thought they were hallucinating!


    Althea sighed and shook her head before staring at Sheryl- who has her face red in anger- again in the


    eye. ¡° But I guess you are not the one to talk about dropping uninvited either. Since you just suddenly


    came to my shop, issued a heart-to-heart talk, but who disappeared after without even the talk? Is this


    perhaps the topic you want to have a hearty talk with?¡± Althea raised a brow. ¡°You¡¯ll give me ¡®hearty¡¯


    talk about not going here but changed your mind since you thought no one will invite me either way and


    bailed?¡±


    Sheryl gritted her teeth, not wanting to say that she was right but wrong about why she left earlier than


    she expected. She thought that she must speak to her about not going here before Tyler or anyone say


    it to her. She cannot afford to see the two again in the same room. It was enough on the incident on the


    amusement park, also, he is going to an important business trip the next day, so she thought that she


    can keep the two away until then.


    But she thought exactly what Althea said. She thought no one will. But April really had to ruin it all. Now


    the three of them is in the same room once again.


    It is absolutely mortifying for her.


    Tyler, who was just silently looking at the two and listening, furrowed his brows and red at Sheryl.


    ¡°You came to her shop? Did I already told you not to bother them anymore? Is the ruckus you made


    that day not enough for you? You¡¯re not ashamed about what you did to Kai and even went to where


    they are?¡±


    Sheryl reddens from embarrassment and she red at him. ¡°Tyler!¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Althea went to check the time on her wristwatch before looking at the two again. ¡°I have to get


    going since this is not really the ce I should be in right now, also about that, you have nothing to


    worry about. She had already¡­¡± Althea hesitated, trying to find the right word about it. ¡°Sincerely


    apologize about yelling on my son.¡±


    This shock those people who never knew she has one, even April and Aaron have a visible shock on


    their faces.


    She has a son?


    Then, like a key that perfectly matched the lock inside their minds, they remembered the rumors that


    Sheryl spreads about Althea faking pregnancy just to get Tyler back, this earned a lot of criticism and


    mockery, but the subject of the rumors was gone. The other one did not even confirm or denied it, so


    after some time, the rumor died out.


    Could it be?


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Bye.¡± After such short phrase- no, it is not even a phrase- it¡¯s just a single word, she turned her back


    and walked away. Before anyone can react, none of them can see her anymore.


    ¡°Shit,¡± April cursed under her breath. ¡°She¡¯s gone.¡±


    That was when they retrieve back their souls and small murmurs begun to circte between circles.


    Tyler looked at where she went and without a single word, he stepped outside, trying to run after her,


    but he was pulled back inside by someone.


    ¡°Tyler!¡± Sheryl shouted after grabbing his arm and pulling him back. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Tyler stepped back cautiously to not step on her before looking at her coldly. ¡°Do I have to tell you such


    trivial matter like that?¡±


    Sheryl was furiously red, she shouted again, silencing the others. ¡°Of course, you have to! I am your


    fianc¨¦! I have at least the right to know! What? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going after her?¡±


    Tyler inhaled, trying to calm his nerves from her shouting. ¡°Let go of me, Sheryl. Let go of me before


    my patience run out.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with you Tyler?¡± Asked Sheryl, her eyes were tearing up. ¡°Why are you like this? She just came


    back, and you are already treating me like this?¡±


    Tyler only stared at her for awhile and she did not back down either. The silence continued between the


    two and It was like as if theypletely forgot where they were at the moment.


    None of them dared to talk and Tyler¡¯s sigh broke the silence, he looked at her deep in her eyes and


    dropped a cold bomb. ¡°Sheryl, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on about in your head, but I always treated


    you like this. I can¡¯t remember changing my treatment to you even for a bit.¡±


    His words broke her, the tears she desperately holds back fell and she red at him. ¡°You are cruel


    Tyler.¡±


    Her words made him flinched because he remembered Althea saying the same to him 7 years ago. It


    was funny, he thought he has changed, but he did not even just a bit. He even agreed to be her fianc¨¦


    knowing he cannot reciprocate her feeling for him. Knowing that he is not ready to love anyone.


    He thought because he was busy and has no time to think about anything.


    But deep inside, he also knew it¡¯s not that.


    He was not ready to love anyone yet, unless it was her.


    Who knows love can stay long inside a human being? What is more- a man that is known to think with


    their dicks.


    Tyler held her hands that were clutching him tightly and attempted to remove them. ¡°Let go.¡±


    ¡°No-¡°


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, sir.¡± An anxious voice sounded from behind of Tyler. They all turned to see a pale looking


    attendant. ¡°I apologize, but you have to stop your party ande with me immediately and evacuate to


    the safe room.¡±


    This made everyone jump up and create a ruckus.


    ¡°Something happened?¡± April asked with furrow brows. She was the owner of the hotel; they could


    have at least informed her first.


    The attendant looked at her. ¡°I am sorry ma¡¯am, but the event escted quickly, and we had no time to


    inform you. A group of thieves that was on the run went inside this hotel, killing our guards in the


    process, and¡­¡± He hesitated. April knew why, he does not want to agitate and cause panic to the


    others, but she urged him to speak. ¡°And¡­ And they hold all of us In the building hostage.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± She asked. ¡°How? They are just bunch of thieves. They can only have guns and knives with


    them at least.¡±


    The attendant gulped. ¡°No, ma¡¯am. They have bombs.¡±

 Chapter 56: Left Behind

    Chapter 56: Left Behind


    CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR:


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Left Behind


    --


    Bomb?


    April paled after hearing the phrase. Even Tyler furrowed his brows. Dave looked at Aaron and the


    latter was thinking deeply. Sheryl gripped Tyler¡¯s arm tightly and said, ¡°Is that so? Then we should get


    going to the safe room. But- is that sturdy enough to protect us from exploding bombs?¡±


    April red at her, ¡°Do you think our building is made with cheap materials? Unless it¡¯s nuclear, of


    course it will withstand it.¡±


    Sheryl red back, ¡°If you¡¯re that proud of your hotel, why did those even enter here?¡±


    April looked at her in disappointment, ¡°Ha! You were pretty smart when we were high school but for


    some reason your personality and intelligence decreased in rming rate during college. Did you not


    hear what this guy said earlier? They killed the guards.¡± She snorted and rolled her eyes; absolute


    disgust wascing her stares and voice. ¡°Stupid. What can human do with guns? Evade them in a


    super lightning speed like superheroes?¡±


    ¡°You-!¡± Sheryl was red from frustration and embarrassment. She red at the other and tried to


    advance but Tyler pulled her back, cing her back to her ce.


    Tyler opened his mouth, ¡°Enough with the useless bickering. You¡¯re only making yourself look stupid.¡±


    The two was speechless with this and they can only sneer and look away. He did not spare them any of


    his attention and spoke to the attendant that was anxiously looking there and here. ¡°Lead them there.¡±


    The attendant visibly rxed, he nodded fervently. ¡°Yes, yes sir!¡±


    The other also stood up and trailed after the attendant while whispering to their group of friends. Some


    were already calling somebody, some were looking anxious and scared, while the others were


    composed and calm, like they had already experienced this once in their life.


    They were only less than thirty, so it was not that crowded at all. They were restless and was ready to


    run to safety, but they know nothing about the route where the safe room was. So, they obediently


    followed the attendant with constant pressure for him to hurry up. The attend was in fear as well, so


    there was no way he will stay outside any longer.


    While everyone was busy trying to get to safety, Tyler¡¯s eyes were darting towards everywhere. Dave


    noticed this and asked, ¡°Who are you looking for Tyler?¡±


    Tyler did not reply and when his eyes did not see what he was looking for, he forcefully unsped


    Sheryl¡¯s hands on his arms and jogged towards the front where the attendant was, leading the way.


    ¡°Tyler- hon- wait! Where are you going?!¡± Sheryl¡¯s cries were left unheard by Tyler.


    He matched the pace of the attendant and asked in a hurried manner. ¡°Have you seen ady while


    coming here?¡±


    ¡°Sir? Ady?¡± The attendant asked. ¡°I have not sir. Most of the guest were already evacuated and I did


    not encounter anyone going here.¡±


    Tyler furrowed his brows even more. ¡°No one? But she left at the same direction where you came


    from.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± The attendant also furrowed his brows before paling. ¡°Are you sure she did not enter the


    elevator?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Tyler answered. ¡°There are only two elevators in this floor as far as I know, and both are in front


    of us all the time. I know she took the stairs.¡±


    ¡°But I came upstairs-¡° the attendant paled. ¡°She maybe went downstairs sir! That not good!¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    He was hesitant but still said it, ¡°It was fortunate enough that we already evacuated the guests on that


    floor on time, but after that, three of the intruders were already roaming on that floor.¡±


    Tyler pursed his lips after hearing it. That was when Sheryl, April and the other two went to him. They


    noticed his expression but only Dave dared to ask. ¡°What¡¯s wrong Tyler?¡±


    Tyler looked at the four and spoke to Aaron. ¡°Hold her down for me.¡±


    Aaron pursed his lips before shaking his head in surrender, ¡°¡­ Sure.¡±


    Dave was confused, so was Sheryl. Tyler nodded and said gratefully. ¡°Thanks.¡± He patted his back


    before dashing away.


    Sheryl widens her eyes and she yelled at him. ¡°Wait- hon! Where are you going?¡±


    He turned deaf ear about her call and went to where Althea went. Sheryl attempted to follow suit, but


    Aaron grabbed her arm. She shouted at him in annoyance. ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    Aaron, the master of ignoring annoying people, turned to drag her towards the direction of the safe


    room. Sheryl continued struggling.


    Dave just now understood the meaning behind Tyler¡¯s words, and he can only look at Sheryl


    awkwardly, thinking how painful it was to be left by her own fianc¨¦ just to look after another girl.

 Chapter 57: A Glimpse of the Past

    Chapter 57: A Glimpse of the Past


    CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE:


    A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST


    --


    Althea just realizes how stupid she was after arriving on the floor where the venue of that party was on.


    She should have taken the elevator instead of the stairs since she was trying to escape. She was so


    stupid to take a path that will take her more time to get into the basement- the parking lot- and drive


    home immediately.


    She always does this whenever her mind is in chaos. Meeting familiar people and remembering


    unpleasant memories from the past because of it has never been good for anyone, especially if those


    memories are bad enough to engrave deep traumas on them.


    In her case, it was not them who gave it to her.


    ¡®But,¡¯ the corner of her mouth twitched. ¡®If I ever did decide to take the elevator, it would be more


    embarrassing since it is in front of them. If I suddenly turned my back on them then stopped just to wait


    forever for the elevator to open while them staring at me from the back- isn¡¯t that more embarrassing?¡¯


    Yup, that would be more embarrassing. It would be nice if there was a door and she will dramatically


    open it, dramatically drop off herst phrase, then dramatically turn her back- and dramatically shut the


    door, then storm off the room.


    A dramatic exit.


    ¡®Ugh,¡¯ she groaned in her head. She cannot evenugh about how stupid she sounds. She shrugged.


    ¡®Whatever, better to take the elevator in this floor instead. But- ¡®


    She stopped and looked around the hallways and rows of doors. One of her brows raised. ¡®Where am I


    supposed to find the elevator?¡¯


    She looked around and she cannot see a map hanging on the wall. Weren¡¯t they supposed to be


    hanging on the hallways? Since she cannot she them on where she was, she decided to turn on the


    next hallway.


    She strides on the hallway with her rather long legs. The crispy sounds of her heels that keeps on


    hitting the tiled floor was the only noise that makes the floor looks not haunted by theck of other


    sound and human beings wondering around.


    The floor was quite and still. It feels like the floor was¡­ Deserted.


    That was then Althea noticed the oddity of the situation. The quick pace of her steps slowed down by a


    lot and her smooth forehead slowly crinkled as her brows met. Her steps slowed even more until they


    completely halted, the noise also disappearing on the air.


    Without the single noise, the floor feels like it was dumped in a muddy water. The lights even dimmed a


    little and it the paints of the walls looks old and faded on Althea¡¯s eyes. The feeling was like she was


    suddenly transported into another dimension that is the same but different. The atmosphere also feels


    like it was straight out from a horror movie.


    Althea pursed her lips and sped the purse she has tightly. Truth to be told, she was not a big fan of


    horror movie.


    Horror movies are horrible. She knew it is not real, but she will still jump out of fear or scream, or just


    inly shiver and tremble on her seat- not even uttering a single word. Completely frozen like a stone


    statue.


    ¡°There¡¯s no one here,¡±


    ¡°Damn, they sure move fast.¡±


    ¡®Good,¡¯ Althea sighed in relief. ¡®There are still people here.¡¯


    Even though the two of them were men, as long as she knows that she¡¯s not the only one who¡¯s here


    on this floor. Her relief onlysted for a while after her brain understood his words and the words that


    came after them.


    ¡°If we can¡¯t take anyone as a hostage, let¡¯s just steal their belongings.¡±


    Hispanionughed. ¡°Might as well before those police knows that we were faking about the bomb.¡±


    Then, there were moreughter and snickersing from the two of them. Their voices and footsteps


    were getting louder as they approach where Althea was.


    Their words were like a bomb exploding on her ears. It exploded loudly, making Althea stun and unable


    to move a single muscle.


    Bombs?


    Stealing?


    Police?


    What are these criminals doing here? How did they enter?


    Althea was thrown into the spiral of confusion and panic, unable to create the exact conclusion.


    Was it an insider who helped them get inside the building? Did they pretended to be guests or


    pretended to be one of the tenants of the rooms in this hotel that is why they got in so easily? How


    about the guard in every floors? On the door?


    A terrible conclusion entered Althea¡¯s mind that made her body shudder in fear and lost its warmth.


    She can even feel her blood rushing down her head, and she can hear her beating heart to the point


    that she fears the other two might hear them thump against her chest.


    About the guards¡­ Did they kill them?


    Their iing footsteps made Althea pull herself out from the chaos she has in her head. She bit her


    lip and looked at her left. It was a room. She tried reaching out for the knob and turn it to open the door,


    but the door was locked.


    She bit down her lower lips more, making them almost bleed out, but she cannot feel the pain. The


    adrenaline that was rushing through her veins made her move fast and swiftly, not even creating a


    sound. She went doors after doors, trying to open them, but they were locked. The sounds of their


    iing footsteps were also getting nearer, it almost threw herself into insanity.


    She reached for another knob and turned it, then, she heard a click.


    But no, it is not the click of the opening door, since, like the other doors she tried to open, was locked.


    A cold, heavy metallic object was pressed on Althea¡¯s back. It was deathly cold, the shape of circle that


    was pressing against her skin was spreading the coldness to her whole body. She shivered and the


    grip of her hand on the knob even tighten as she tried to surpass her trembling body.


    Even without looking at the object that was pointing at her, that was pressed on her back, Althea knew,


    instinctively, that it was ¡®that¡¯.


    It was a gun.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Althea can feel the hair on her nape rising after remembering a scene like this. A scene that she


    wished to forget after 6 years.


    It was a scene where she was running with tears streaming down her face with dried blood on her lips


    and nose. She was whimpering silently as she tries to endure the numbing pain on her feet as she tried


    to run barefoot.


    Like magic, she can feel the emotions she had back then, like she returned in time.


    Constantly, every single second as long as she can, she looks back, her eyes look at the dimly lighted


    corridors with the lights flickering because of its age. It was old, and so was the building they were in. It


    was an abandoned factory- or so what she can say inside. She has not stepped outside since she was


    dragged here.


    Seeing that no one was after her, her tense body still did not rx.


    ¡°What are we gonna do with them?¡± Althea halted and hid on the corner after hearing a man¡¯s voice.


    ¡°I do not know; we have to wait for the boss¡¯s order.¡± Another man said.


    A man sneakered. ¡°It¡¯s okay to have them here as for long you know. It¡¯s enough that one of them


    warms our bed.¡±


    Althea held her breath shakily and she can feel her body tremble again. The corners of her eyes were


    burning with hot tears and her teeth are in the verge of breaking from her grinding. Her heart spasm so


    hard that she wants to scream and create a mess, then- kill them.


    Kill them. Kill them, kill them, kill them, KILL THEM!


    Althea bit her tongue, it bleeds- it stung- the small pain made her hang on her sanity.


    She can¡¯t do that. She can¡¯t afford to do that.


    She inhaled and shakily let it out from her mouth, then she listened, she listened to their conversation


    until their voice slowly fades away. After confirming that it was silent and no one else was around, she


    started moving again.


    She tries opening the door and cautiously peeks inside, hoping to see what she wants to find.


    ¡®Just once phone,¡¯ she chanted in her mind. ¡®Just one phone-¡®


    She almost broke down in tears after opening a door and saw a phoneying quietly on top of a table,


    next to a mug of coffee. Althea bit her lips and went inside without thought, picked up the phone,


    unlocked it, and dialed the first number that came inside her mind.


    She pressed the phone against her ears as she listened to the rings, anxiously biting on her lips. She


    kept on chanting for someone to pick up, and for the grace of god, someone did.


    ¡°Hell-¡°


    Althea heard a click, and suddenly, a cold metallic like texture was pressed on her temple, the muzzle


    of the gun was touching her skin that was breaking on cold sweats.


    ¡°Oh, look what I found,¡± Althea was already back in reality, but coincidentally, the words but the voice of


    that guy and this guy was the same. ¡°A mouse trying to sneak around.¡±

 Chapter 58: The man in suit

    Chapter 58: The man in suit


    CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX:


    The Man In Suit


    --


    Tyler tried his best to not cause any audible noise that may get the attention of the three-armed people


    down on the floor. He took his every step on the stairs fast but carefully. It was hard walking without


    making any noise because the floor was inplete silence, as if someone muted the whole ce, or


    it was just his ears malfunctioning.


    He arrived at the floor, then he pressed his back on the wall and slowly peeked his head out to see if


    anyone was there. No one was. He released the air he was holding for too long inside his lungs and got


    back into hiding.


    He wanted to get to her, fast, since she has no idea what is happening. But there are many questions


    and things that keeps on bothering him: is she still on the floor? Did she safely used the elevator to go


    down the basement? Is she gone? Did they catch her?


    Tyler furrowed his brows in frustration. ¡°If only I followed her here¡­¡±


    Then both of them would be caught by the other three because none of them will have any idea that


    there are intruders inside the hotel. They cannot leave the hotel that fast in the first ce because they


    will maybe fight their way here, since it seems like she does not like him to the point of getting


    disgusted as soon as she sees his face. And he would be stubborn enough to ask or force a


    conversation with her- causing them to even cut their possibility of escaping safely.


    His phone vibrated inside his pocket. It brought him back from the disturbing and annoying thoughts he


    has. The vibration caused a buzzing sound, in fear of having the people he was wary of hearing the


    buzzing, he fished out his phone quickly from his pocket and answered the call.


    He lowered his voice as much as he can, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I just want to tell you that,¡± April¡¯s shaky voice paused before continuing after a heavy sigh. It was


    obvious that she was trying so hard to remain calm. ¡°That, you have to hurry.¡±


    Tyler furrowed his brows, and he had a terrible sinking feeling in his stomach. Suddenly, he felt that his


    suit was too tight, and his tie was chocking him. He pulled his tie away from his neck and tried to talk to


    her normally. ¡°Why? Did she meet one already?¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately,¡± she said, frustration wascing on her voice. ¡°And he has a gun.¡±


    This made his heart almost jump from his chest. He was hoping about her sessfully escaping


    through the elevator and stay safe and sound, but she was still here. And apparently with one of the


    thieves, to make it worst, he is armed with a gun. His mind begun spinning for things he can do to get


    to her and somehow knock him out and get her to safety.


    ¡°How about the other two??¡± He asked in hurry.


    ¡°About that,¡± sounds of clicking of the keyboard was heard from the background before it stopped, and


    April¡¯s voice is heard again. ¡°They¡¯reing towards where Althea and the armed guy is, but you¡¯re


    closer than them, I think- argh- this is troublesome, if only I did not let my stupid desire about making


    the three of you meet, this would not happen."


    ¡°You deliberately lead her there?¡±


    ¡°Whatever- Tyler- pick up anything there to try and fight the guy with a gun, okay?¡±


    It sounds ridiculously impossible, but he has no other choice but to find any possible weapon that is


    fast enough to fight with a gun aside from a gun itself since he does not have it. As his mind is in aBelongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    turmoil while figuring out a suitable situation that will not cause death or any major injury that might


    hinder their escape, his eyes- that was darting around- caught a red cylinder-shaped container that


    contains an element that tames the raging fire.


    ¡°April,¡± he called out. ¡°You¡¯re looking at our situation through the CCTV¡¯s, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course, what do you think I am- a psychic?¡± April sounded annoyed but at the same time worried.


    ¡°Then, lead me towards her.¡±


    --


    It was like her whole body was submerged under an icy cold water- it was stiff but at the same time


    shaking. It might be her only imagination, but she can feel her heart beating slowly as she keeps on


    drowning on the icy water.


    Althea tried to breath- but instead of calming down herself, she can feel her chest tightening even


    more. It hurts even just to breath. Her belly begun to ache- her head begun to spin- she was getting


    dizzy. She still has her back facing the man who was pressing the cold muzzle of his gun on her


    delicate back. Even with the fabric between the two, she can still feel the cold opening of it- the hollow


    was like threatening her about the bullets the gun has, it was mocking her about how clueless she is


    about when they areing out to just dig deep in her flesh.


    The man, who had his beard unshaved and hair unkept for who knows how long, tilted his head to


    looked closely at the woman he held captive with his gun alone. She was wearing a dress that covered


    her whole body and was only showing her hands, neck, and face. He raised a brow in wonder but did


    not dived further to it. He opened his mouth, ¡°You are pretty stupid, aren¡¯t you? Why is it that you did


    not evacuated with the others? Have you not heard? We have bomb. You¡¯re not afraid, eh, gal?¡±


    He chuckled, she remained muted. ¡°That was just a stupid lie, by the way. I can¡¯t believe that those


    police fell for it. But- I guess it does makes sense, they can¡¯t afford to make any mistakes since there


    are many bigshots here. I heard that woman named Victoria and her son is also here.¡±


    He sighed heavily before grabbing her hair. Althea whimpered; she can feel his nails digging on her


    head. His pull was hard enough to pull some strands of her hair from her scalp, but Althea could care


    less about that. Her hair does not matter in front impending death. ¡°I thought we hit the jackpot after


    coming here, but who thought that the staffs in this hotel is fast enough to hide them. Sigh,¡±


    His face was close to Althea¡¯s neck, so when he sighed, the hot air of his breath traveled to touch her


    the skin of her nape. Althea can feel her hair standing to its ends. She unconsciously flinched while her


    body is shivering with disgust and fear. She bit her lip to stop her cries froming out and gripped her


    purse, then her mind spun quickly, trying to find a way to escape.


    The man noticed her flinched, his eyesnded on her creamy white neck and it glinted maliciously.


    "I guess we also found something not bad." He used the back of his hand that was holding the gun to


    caress her neck. She flinched away. He gripped her hair more and pulled her head back, then forced


    her to face him.


    Althea can feel the burning sensation on her scalp, his grip was getting harder and harder. Althea


    released the grip of her purse, and it fell on the ground with a thud. She let her hands to clutch on his


    hand that was holding her head in ce, then red at him.


    She knew those eyes.


    Her re aroused the other, he smiled at her, showing his full set of yellow teeth. Since they were


    facing each other, Althea can smell the filthy odoring out from him.


    Althea''s face scrunched in disgust, despite the fear for the gun, she spat out. "When was thest time


    that you brushed your teeth? Disgusting!"


    Her words lit a fire on his eyes. His smile disappeared and it was reced by anger. His face was


    flushing and his jaw was clenching. Althea held back the cry that almost escaped from her lips when he


    gripped on her head harder then yanked her head down.


    "You-!!!" Althea raised her eyebrows. This fan his anger more. "You bitch!"


    He raised his hand that was holding the gun and swung it down to hit her face. Althea flinched and


    closed her eyes then waited for the pain of her head and the gun colliding, but instead, she heard a


    loud boing before feeling the grip of her hear loosing.


    There was a thud on the floor, and the hair that was holding her hair waspletely gone. She opened


    her eyes in shock and was even more shocked after seeing the armed man lying down on the floor,


    knocked out.


    Before her brain can even get the gist of what was happening, someone held her arm and yanked her


    towards them.


    Althea almost yelled when she tripped on the ''corpse'' and to stop herself from falling down, she gripped


    the other''s arm.


    But her legspletely copsed after tripping on her feet again, she cursed loudly in her head and


    waited for her knee to fall painfully on the floor, but an arm boldly snaked on her waist and hoisted her


    up.


    Althea was startled and can only lean her weight to them.


    "Ooff-" the other said after recieving her weight. "Careful."


    This deep, pleasant, and at the same time cold and low voice carries familiarity to Althea''s ears.


    Althea pushed him away, but she can''t escapeplete because of his hands. After some distance,


    she can finally see who was this man in suit is.


    "Tyler?!" She cried in surprise before furrowing her brows. "What are you doing here?"


    His green eyes stared at her, "I don''t have time to exin." He looked away and looked towards the


    hallway on her back. He gripped her waist tighter. "Let''s get out from here first."


    "Wait- let go off me! I can walk by myself!" She tried to struggle when he begun dragging her away.


    "No," he inly said. "They''reing."


    Althea immediately understood who are they, but still, there''s no way she''ll run with him clutching her


    arm. "I know- just- let go-"


    "Hey!" Both of them cursed and it was only Althe aeho looked back. The other two had arrived.


    One of them pointed at them and begun his pursue and the other one kneeled next to their


    unconsciouspanion. Althea''s eyes buldged when he picked up the other''s gun. She cursed again,


    and as if they both have a natural understanding towards one another, Tyler immediately knows why


    she was cursing and run even faster, pulling her with that speed.


    Althea looked back at where they are going and also worked fast on her feet, geting about his hand on


    her hand. And both of them fled the scene hand-in-hand.

 Chapter 59: Bang, Bang!

    Chapter 59: Bang, Bang!


    CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN:


    Bang, Bang!


    --


    The bearded man- who was lying on the floor begun to regain his consciousness not long after Tyler hit


    him with the fire extinguisher. He groaned while putting his hand on the swollen part of his.


    His palm touched something wet, he tried to get up with the hslp of his kther arm and looked at if. His


    anger red up when he saw his palm bloody.


    It actually caused his head to bleed! His angry re directed to the two escaping figures.


    "Hey!" His otherpanion shouted at him. "Are you okay?"


    "That bastard!" He shouted, failing to hear the other. He angrily pointed at the one woman and man.


    "Chase them! Bring them to me and I''ll kill them myself!"


    Their otherpanion heard it and fired the gun, but he missed them because Tyler suddenly pulled


    Althea into a corner. The other continued to follow after them.


    He gritted his teeth and when he finally can''t endure it, he stood up. "That stupid guy! He can''t even


    shoot them down with that distance!"


    He tried to follow them too despite the throbbing and stinging pain on his head. His otherpanion


    followed suit.


    "Why do we need to cath them?" He asked while maintaining the speed to match up with him. "We can


    just let them go, it will be a waste of time."


    "No!" He shouted at him. He flinced. "Those bastards got into my nerves. Also, that bitch knew about


    us faking the bomb, if they''ll escape and tell the police about it- we are screwed!"


    "What?" He bit his lip because of guilt when he remembered that he and the other one was talking


    about it out loud earlier. Did she heard them? If she did heard the two of them, then they''re fucked up.


    He nervously looked at the other- who was at the same time has the higher position among the three of


    them. "How did she know?"


    "Shut up!" He spatted in range. "That''s not important right now! We should ge and catch them


    immediately. I''ll give that son of a bitch a good p and that slut a good beating."


    The other man can''t help but ask himself; Isn''t his words a little bit... Uh... Wrong? Should he beat the


    man instead of the woman?


    But nheless, he was d that it seems like she discovered it through somewhere else.


    --


    The first gun fire made Althea flinch and it took her soul away for a second. The gun fire was so loud


    and Althea was afraid that she''ll permanently loose her hearing because of the static sounds that was


    vibrating in her ears, but she already experience hearing gun fires much closer before so she rxed


    right after.


    Although not that rxed like she can just breeze through these hallways while being chased by


    raining bullets, it was still enough to make herself escape with a rational mind.


    She nced at the man who as still pulling her with him. His board and wide back might be reassuring


    to others but not to her. Nheless, he pulled her just in time to dodged the bullet.


    She pursed her lips before saying, with her voice panting and slightly quivering because of them


    running. "I thank you for that, but, could you please let go of my hand now?"


    He didn''t even bother looking at her as he keeps on turning into corners and corners just to lose the


    man that was pursuing them with a gun. "No."


    Althea irritably raised a brow then fasten her pace to match him. He nced at her briefly when they


    were basically running side by side. She raised her eyebrows again in triumph, but quickly erased the


    expression after realizing it was too childish of her. She seriously said, "I can run."


    That was only then he released her hand, as they run, trying to escape, he said with a small smile on


    his face; "It seems like you haven''t lost your touch even after many years."


    That''s right, Althea used to run fast before. She can even catch up to him if she tries. Tyler was greatly


    proud at the same time embarased that time since his girlfriend almost beat him in a race when he was


    an athlete.


    He asked why she had the stamina, and that was when he learned that she was into nting as well


    not just the nts and flowers. She even tried pulling him and make him nt too but he always


    escapes in time.


    She''s disappointed but she never really forced him to do stuffs he doesn''t like. One of the things he


    likes to her.


    Tyler wants to sigh because it feels like that memory was from a very, very distant past. Or it was from


    a different lifetime.


    Althea red at him sideways, "I must be the one saying that," she panted. "You are already a


    company''s CEO so I thought that you''ll be like the others- fat and bloated because of sitting all day-"


    "Stop right there or I''ll shoot again!"


    They ignored him and took a sharp turn to another corner. Althea continued, "But it seems like you


    haven''t."


    Tyler managed to chuckle. "We need stamina too, you know."


    She hump, "Such a shame, I thought I''ll see a fat, doubled chin version of you. But, really, I never hope


    to see you again."


    "... Do you really hate me that much?" He recieved no reply. Something akin to sadness crossed his


    eyes but hearing the shouting of the guy that was after them made that expression looks like a fleeting


    illusion. He pulled Althea again into another turn towards their left because she attempted to turn right.


    "This way."


    Althea had no other choice but to be pulled. But after that, she pulled her arm away and furrowed her


    brows. "Why do you keep on pulling me? Have you memorized this ce or something?"


    "No," he replied. "But I have someone guiding us towards safety."


    "What? A guardian angel?" How ridiculous! Althea can''t help but shoot him a difficult and concerned


    gaze but facepalmed when she saw the blinking earpiece he was earing on her ears.


    Someone''s guiding them, so whoever behind that call heard what they were talking about. Not that she


    has to care about such trivial matter though.


    "Wait- who are you calling?" She suddenly asked. If it was a police, then she can tell them about them


    faking the bomb threat.


    "... April."Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    "That suffice-" Althea said. "Tell her that they are only-"


    Another shoot has fired. Tyler was ahead of Althea, guiding her towards the direction that April was


    telling them to go. He heard Althea groan from his back, he wanted to ignore it and think that it was


    nothing but he heard April''s gasp and curse loudly.


    ["Stupid shit!"] She shouted next to his ears. ["Althea''s been shoot!"]

 Chapter 60: Bang, Bang 2

    Chapter 60: Bang, Bang 2


    CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT:


    Bang, Bang! (2)


    --


    Althea was relieved after knowing that there was someone who was listening to them and guiding them


    towards safety, also, she was d that she have someone to tell about the fake bomb threats of these


    people.


    She doesn''t have her phone and she was running, as well as Tyler, she did not considered asking him


    about his phone earlier since they have no time to dial someone''s number while running. But to think


    he was already on call, it makes things convenient for them.


    "That suffice-" she said between her breathes. "Tell her that they are only-"


    She caught the man on the corner of her eyes running towards them with the gun on his left hand. The


    gun''s muzzle was lowered on the floor and it swung with his hand as he runs towards them.


    He opened his mouth and Althea thought he will just shout for them to stop running again like what he


    did earlier, but he did not.


    Althea''s eyes widen when he pulled into a full stop and pointed the gun towards her direction. Her eyes


    we''re like binocrs zooming in towards the man''s fingers as he put them on the trigger then, pulled


    them to fire.


    [Bang!]


    Everything happened for a split second but it feels like eternity for Althea as her body tried to dodge the


    ining bullet but she physically can''t and can never will, like how the majority of humanity can''t.


    The lone bullet sliced through the air before colliding with her body, then digging through her flesh. It


    was funny how she can almost hear her flesh tearing apart.


    She halted her steps in a stagger and immediately sp that part of her body; on the side of her


    stomach. She used her left hand to cover it andid the other hand on top of it to press it more down.


    Her palm was touching a hot, sticky liquid.


    She immediately knew what it was.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Althea groaned as she feels her blood rapidly draining from her face. It was as if all of her blood were


    draining out from her body via the hole that was dug into her body. Large beads of sweats started to


    form on her forehead and slid down on her face. Her body was breaking into cold sweats.


    She looked down and watched the horrifying sight of her palm and dress being soaked with red liquid.


    Her aquamarine eyes lost its focus on the sigjt of blood and her eyshes trembled.


    For another split second, she can see herself inside an abandon factory, sitting on the floor while


    trembling unceasingly.


    She was sitting on a once dirty floor, but now, instead of just dirt, it was a mixture of dried blood, and a


    pool of fresh and new red blood.


    Althea''s breath hitched and she muffled a cry. But no matter how she tried concealing it, it still came


    out, although it sounds like a strangled cry.


    Her eyesight were blurry as her tears keeps oning and falling down. She was soaked with both


    sweat and tears.


    She tried leaning her hand on the floor, only for it to lightly slip because of the wet floor. Althea did not


    shout, nor did she cried in surprise. She just quickly pulled back her bnce and sat up straight again.


    She wanted to look at her blood soaked hands, but her eyes keeps on going back to the body that was


    lying next to her.


    The body was also soaking soaking with blood. Althea can see the wound on the body''s waist and


    chest as it was facing her. The pool of blood wasing out from it.


    The body''s hands wereying t on the floor, unmoving. The up and down movement that indicates of


    breathing was not there anymore. But strangely, it''s eyes were wide open.


    And they were staring at her.


    Her tears wells up even more, and with a trembling voice, she cried out. "... Mother!"


    --


    Althea bit her lip as her mind begun to spin in both pain and iing forgotten memories.


    Tears begun to well up from her eyes and she wanted to cry about how shitty is this night. She came


    across with the people she never wants to meet again, got into something that reminded her of the past


    she never want to visit again, got rescued by the guy she, again, doesn''t want to see, and then got shot


    and now, another memory was trying to surface.


    Shit, shit. She regreted epting this request of Charlotte again and again. If only she could turn back


    the clock, she would never answer that call at all.


    She raised her head and it was as if fated, their gaze met.


    The bullet wound near her stomach was throbbing in pain, it robbed her energy. Her vision blurred and


    darken, and her feet gave out.


    --


    Everything happened so fast, after April shouted that Althea was shot, it was as if everything inside


    Tyler crumbled into nothingness.


    His heart throbbed as he forcedly stop running and turned back, then he met her gaze. Her eyes were


    full of pain. Tyler thought that maybe it was because of the bullet wound but he cannot really tell. It was


    like there was something more inside those emotion.


    Tyler''s face paled when his eyes went down to see what she was clutching tightly.


    There was blood. Lots of it.


    His other thoughts were immediately expelled and he begun running towards her, shouting her name in


    panic.


    "Althea!" Maybe because of pain, the light in her eyes disappeared and her feet gave out.


    Tyler was fast on his feet and he immediately caught her falling figure. Her body went limp and her


    body was arched painfully. She totally lost her consciousness.


    Tyler shook her body after supporting her back, "Althea, hey, wake up!"


    But there was no response, he tried calling her again, but it was still the same.


    Something snapped loudly inside him that he cannot name, and did not bothered naming.


    His eyes immediately caught on the running man, seeing the gun, he immediately embraced Althea''s


    body thrown it on his shoulder like a sack of rice and ran away.


    "Stop! I told you to stop!" He heard him shout but Tyler continued running.


    Althea''s blood wasing out in rming rate. He doesn''t even know if the bullet hit a vital spot. His


    grip on her body tighten and he called out to April again with pained voice.


    "April," he said. "I need a room, now!"

 Chapter 61: Snap, snap

    Chapter 61: Snap, snap


    CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE:


    Snap, snap


    --


    Inside a medium size room, the people that were evacuated on their floor was softly murmuring to each


    other. Some were seated but most are not since the seats were not enough to amodate them all.


    Although it might not be time for it, some are resenting the people seating on the couches secretly but


    cannot say anything since they have higher statuses than them. No matter how dangerous the situation


    is, it seems like the priority of the masses are those people with more power and higher statuses.


    In the inner most part of the room, there was another separate couch with a table. There seated the


    other four: April, Sheryl, Dave, and Aron. April was seating in front of aptop, she was sweating even


    though the room has air conditioner. Of course, the sweat that was breaking on her forehead and was


    sliding on her face were cold sweats. Her right hand was on a mouse, and her forefinger was clicking


    on it as she keeps on alternating from cameras to cameras. One might not see it clearly, but her hand


    was shaking.


    ¡°What should we do now?¡± Dave asked nervously. ¡°Does he even know how to do first aid?¡±


    Aron pursed his lips before saying, ¡°He does, but it won¡¯t matter if she loses more blood.¡±


    April bit her lips and groaned internally, the three might not say it out loud, they know that they were


    feeling guilty about it. They might not be the cause of these men randomly entering the hotel, killing the


    guards, threatening them with their bombs, and finally making everyone their hostages. But April knew


    that she was the one who more or less lead Althea¡¯s situation to this. She was the one who cooked


    something bad for both of the parties, she dragged her up to their floor. She is the guiltiest of the three.


    If only she did not crave the satisfaction of seeing Sheryl¡¯s face twisting in anger, Althea could have


    evacuated safely with the others on that floor.


    ¡°April.¡± Someone called her. She looked at her left, it was Aron. ¡°Stop thinking about anything else.¡±


    ¡°I was not.¡± She denied. April grunted inside her mind. As usual, he is sharp. She looked back at the


    screen and watched Tyler carry Althea towards the room she already unlocked using their system. The


    three of them anxiously watched him run while carrying her limp body in a bridal carry, and also the guy


    that was chasing them.


    April anxiously bit her lip when she saw the other two moves on the corner of the screen. She hopes


    that he will arrive at the room fast before they catch up. April can¡¯t begin to imagine how hard it was to


    run while carrying a full-grown adult woman and also while trying to be conscious of their back incase a


    flying bullet came flying again.


    -


    Tyler felt like he was in a marathon.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    He used to run kilometers when he was still in high school, although that stopped when he stepped into


    college, he was still continuously working out to stay fit. He has a confidence about outrunning anyone


    as long as they are not professional athletes, but currently, the erratic beating of his heart and him


    being constantly in edge and very conscious about his back was making him loose that confidence.


    Tyler panicked when he felt that the body that he was carrying was slowly slipping out from his grasp.


    He did not look down, instead he gripped her body tighter and almost buried her on his chest from the


    way he is pressing her back to him. When he adjusts the positioning of her body, he touched that


    sticky, hot liquid again.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± he cursed against the wind, face hardening and brows meeting at the middle.


    He doubled his speed, thankfully the room was only a few meters away from them.


    The man that was chasing them also cursed after seeing that they were far from him. He can¡¯t believe


    that they are actually escaping from his grasp when he injured the other. He thought that the man will


    escape by himself and live the other, but it what happened was the opposite of what he wants.


    Who is foolish enough to risk their life with you? Is he her brother? Or lover? If he is, he must be madly


    in love with her.


    ¡®Ah, maybe he will get tired of running sooner, with that in tow, I don¡¯t think he willst any longer,¡¯ with


    that in mind, he slowed down, thinking about conserving his stamina. Like he said, it was unlikely that


    the two of them canpletely escape.


    Aside from a gun running after them, they cannot enter any room here unless forced since all of them


    were locked.


    Hisid-backposure broke when Tyler pushed a door open, and it opened. His eyes widen in


    shock, and he stopped running. Since he can¡¯t shoot precisely while running, he stopped and pointed


    his gun towards the two, but when he fired, he missed by a hair¡¯s breadth, but nheless, still missed


    the shot.


    Seeing the doorpletely shut, he can only do nothing but stare at it then mutter a silent curse, ¡°Shit.¡±


    -


    While Dave, Aron and her was silently watching, someone among the four was restless.


    Sheryl, who was still mad about what happened earlier, was ring at them intently. Seeing them


    looking calm while she was still raging inside pressed the wrong button inside her. That was when she


    identally looked at the screen and saw the two of them entered a room with Tyler carrying Althea in


    his arms.


    Shepletely snapped. She shouted at April, ¡°This is all your fault you ungrateful bitch.¡±


    ¡°¡­??¡± April looked at her, confusion written on her face.


    What bull is this girl talking about?


    Even Dave has the same reaction, and like how he is, Aron was the only one who looks unbothered


    even thought others were already looking towards them. Then other three did not noticed this of


    course.


    Seeing the clueless face of April, it ignited her anger even more. ¡°Because of you, he has to do a


    completely unnecessary thing! Look at what you dragged him into!¡±


    It was only then when realization hit her, Sheryl¡¯s words hit her guilt spot, but April refused to show it.


    Because how dare she call her a bitch. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? It¡¯s not entirely my fault that he went


    and left you, you know. Also, it wasn¡¯t I who forced him to go down and went to her. He did it himself!¡±


    Sheryl was bing red as she tries to bottle up the amount of rage she was feeling inside. Her re


    towards April was bing tense, ¡°No! Because of what you did- he has no other choice but to get her


    in your stead! Why not you go and get her because it was you who dragged her here in the first ce!


    How they¡¯re all alone in one room! There¡¯s no CCTV camera in there either!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± April finally realized the reason of her unreasonable outburst. This made her face twitch and she


    can feel the revolt in her stomach. She was disgusted. ¡°So that¡¯s what you wanted to say: you just don¡¯t


    want the two of them alone.¡± April raised a brow. ¡°Are you afraid?¡±


    ¡°Afraid of what?¡± She shouted, her both eyebrows were raised in an unimaginable height.


    ¡°Are you afraid that Althea might steal Tyler from you like how you did to her?¡± April snorted. ¡°Bitch,


    remember that he was never yours in the first ce. Know your ce.¡±


    --


    The other two caught up to the other soon enough. The guy who was knocked out buy Tyler was still


    cupping his head with hateful re on his eyes. Seeing that the one who he ordered to catch the


    woman was standing still like a stupid statue in the center of the road-pletely unnecessary,


    distracting, and hard to look at- he huffed angrily.


    ¡°Fucker!¡± He called out. ¡°What kind of stupidity did you do and you¡¯re just standing there?!¡±


    The other guy looked at him and said with hesitation. ¡°It seems like he let them go.¡±


    This made the higher one snap and pped his head, ¡°Stupid! How dare you! What if they¡¯ll tell the


    police that the bombs were fake? We won¡¯t have any other choice but to escape after that! Remember:


    we won¡¯t get the other half of the payment unless that person says we can already withdraw from


    here!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± the guy with the gun said. ¡°I did not expect for them to have help with whoever owns this


    hotel. They managed to open a door.¡±


    ¡°Argh!¡± He had no other choice but to shout in fury. He was already losing it. The money that ¡®that¡¯


    person promised them to give was huge! Even the down payment was huge! The condition was just


    invade this hotel and not to withdraw until they said so! It was an easy task! But look what kind of shitty


    thing happened!


    Then his phone buzz in his pocket. He picked it up and opened it. When his eyes read the message


    that a familiar number sent him, he can¡¯t help butughed like a stupid idiot. The other two looked at


    him weirdly. He scoffed, ¡°Tell the guys were going. The- whoever is it- is already satisfied with the


    things we did here, which is: none.¡±


    ¡°We can go now? But we literally did nothing!¡±


    He red at him, ¡°Shut up. The money is already in. Let¡¯s just escape from here and enjoy the money.¡±


    With that, the other two followed him without a word.


    --


    Sender: #########


    Good job! Now abort mission!


    --


    Sender ######### sent you a $100,000,000.


    --

 Chapter 62: No answer

    Chapter 62: No answer


    CHAPTER SIXTY:


    No answer


    ---


    Tyler mmed the door shut in front of the man who was chasing after them. It feels like his butt was


    on fire because his moves were very fast. He did not even care when he almost tripped on his way to a


    couch inside the room.


    In his hurry, Tyler almost threw Althea''s body on the couch as soon as he got there and sprinted all the


    way to the wardrobe and the bed to get enough clothes to press down on the wound and try stopping


    the bleeding.


    When he came back to the couch where he randomly tossed her, he saw her grunting and moving


    while clutching her bleeding abdomen. Tyler''s eyes shone and trembled at the same time. He wasted


    no time and almost ran to get to her. Then, he kneeled next to the couch and stopped her from sitting.


    "Don''t," he said softly. He was trying his best to not anger and agitate her. "Don''t waste your energy


    sitting, I just need you to stay awake. Stay awake for me, okay?"


    Gently, he guided her body toy back down and immediately begun stacking the fabrics on top of her


    body. He must stop the blood from flowing out, if she experiences shock because of losing too much


    blood, she''ll pass out again and Tyler will have no idea what to do.


    Althea gasp in pain as she felt the pressure pressing on her. Her energy was still draining, and she felt


    like this was nothing but a waste of effort, but she did not try prying his hand away, because maybe this


    can still save her.


    Althea sincerely hopes that it did not hit any vital organ. She gritted her teeth to surpass the moans of


    pain that were threatening toe out again. Cold beads of sweats were sliding down from her


    forehead to hers ears and chin.


    With difficulty, she muttered out, ¡°Who¡¯ll stay awake just for you- stupid.¡±


    The other did not take it in the heart and just lightly chuckled. ¡°Then do it for Kai,¡± he stopped, pressing


    the clothes harder on her since the blood was being absorbed in rapid pace and the clothe is slowly


    bing red. He took another piece of cloth and stack it on top. ¡°Stay awake for your son.¡±


    She snorted but did not say anything else. As what Tyler said, she focused on being awake by fighting


    the invisible arms of sleep that is oddly rted to death itself.


    She can feel the time drag slowly and it was oddly fascinating how her senses were heightened to the


    point that she can hear the gasp and their swallows of airs every time they take a breath, she can even


    hear the erratic beat of her heart as it keeps on pumping for blood to keep her body alive, but ironically,


    makes it easier to fall into the death¡¯s arms.


    Althea can feel how the blood from the wound flowed out freely, she can¡¯t help but wonder; humans


    have an average 5 liters of blood in their body, how many liters of blood do you think she lost? She


    laughed internally. It is better not to think about it.


    Tyler silently looked at her face that contort every now and then because of pain, his lips were tightly


    closed, his eyes were staring at her intently. He looked away before she can even catch him staring


    and looked at her feet. He stood up, still while applying pressure on the wound using his left hand, then


    sat next to her. He used his right hand to lift her feet and put it on the arm rest of the couch.


    But since her dress was disheveled, he identally touched the bare skin of her thigh. Upon the


    contact of both warm skins, both flinched. Tyler awkwardly withdraws his hand, and Althea also moved


    her thighs away then used her feet to try and pull down the dress.


    Tyler watched her fail again and again, until he had enough. ¡°Let me do it.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± She yelled behind him. Tyler was facing his back on her so he can¡¯t see her


    expression, but he can absolutely feel the re she was giving him. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Sigh,¡± he sighed helplessly before turning to her and said, ¡°I know you hate being touched by me- and


    I know how my mere existence is something you can¡¯t stand- but, please,¡± he pleaded, his eyes were


    looking desperate. ¡°I don¡¯t know the reason- no, maybe I do- but can you forget about it for a second? I


    have to elevate your feet.¡±


    Althea looked at those desperate eyes. She searched for the reason why the hell he was doing


    something like this to her. Was it guilt? Was it sympathy? Or was it a feeling that was buried a long time


    ago but was forcefully dug out or voluntarily resurfaced just because they met again after a very long


    time? It was a question she has no idea how to solve, or maybe it has no answer in the first ce.


    Althea felt suffocating in his stares. Biting the inside of her mouth, she looked away.


    Tyler can finally breath in relief. He looked back at her legs and gently tried to put his hand on them.


    She flinched on the contact, but she did not try and take her thigh away. Tyler lifted it up and let it rest


    on the arm¡¯s rest, then he did it to the other leg.


    The contact onlysted for a mere second, but the burning sensation of his touch remained on her


    thighs. She pursed her lips and fought something inside her that was threatening to wake up. It was


    irrational, disgusting, and it was very inappropriate knowing what situation she is in.


    They remained silent after that, Tyler gave her multipleyers of sheets to keep her warm, it was warm,


    yes, but Althea can feel her strength gushing out from the wound. Earlier, she still has the energy to


    fight against him albeit small and weak, now, she doubts that she can even lift a single finger. Her body


    was slowly bing cold as ice since the blood keeps on flowing out, it was even a miracle that she


    was still keeping her consciousness.


    She was staring at nowhere when her mother and father appeared in front of her. She can see them


    smile at her and beckon her to go with them. Their smiles were warm andforting, Althea can¡¯t help


    but want to sumb in her sleepiness ande with them, she can¡¯t help but want to take their hands


    that were extended towards her, but still, her rationally remained.


    It must be an illusion. No, it was an illusion.


    She wanted tough, if she had the energy, she wanted tough outud and say, it was really true


    that you¡¯ll see the dead when your time ising. Too bad though, she promised herself to not die, she


    promised herself to not attempt and willingly give herself to death again, she has someone waiting for


    her at home, she has her son.


    ¡°Kai¡­¡± She muttered against the wind.


    Tyler, who was anxious as he stares at the clothes that were getting redder and redder heard her


    mutter her son¡¯s name. He looked up and he can feel his anxiety barging again when he saw Althea¡¯s


    super pale face. He used one of his hand to p her face gently and say, ¡°Althea, hey, stay awake.


    Don¡¯t sleep on me.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Althea said weakly. ¡°I¡¯m awake.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± He sighed. ¡°Then stay awake until help arrives, okay?¡±


    To be honest, he doesn¡¯t know when they are going toe. He knows nothing about the situation


    outside, Sophia is not saying anything yet. Are those armed thieves still there? What if they still are


    staffing in front of the door and waiting for them toe out. They probably know that they can¡¯t afford


    staying her or else¡­


    Tyler pursed his lips, and his re was sharp enough to prate anything.


    Althea strangely knew what was going inside his head, and that was when she remembered about it.


    She groaned because of her stupidity. ¡°Tyler,¡± she called out, but he didn¡¯t budge. She gritted her teeth


    and increased her volume until she almost shouted. ¡°Tyler, Tyler!¡±


    Tyler snapped out of it and looked at her, startled. ¡°Yes?¡±


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Can you call Sophia again?¡±?


    Although confused, he answered truthfully. ¡°Yes, yes of course.¡±


    ¡°Then call her, now.¡± She said weakly, she finally used up all her strength. ¡°Tell her that they were


    faking the bomb threats. They have no bombs.¡±


    Her words made his heart skip a beat, and without any dy, he called her. He did not question her


    words because there¡¯s no way she¡¯ll lie about it. It did not even ring for the second time when Sophia


    answered it. Before he can even speak, she shouted.


    ¡°Tyler!¡± Sophia shouted; her voice was filled of joy. It was as if she was smiling at that time. ¡°I was


    about to call you too!¡±


    Tyler furrowed his brow, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I have good news! They withdraw- for some reason those men withdraw and now driving away from


    the hotel! The other police are chasing after them- so hang in there! The help ising! Is she still


    alive?¡±


    It was like an oasis after walking on the hot dessert without water.


    Tyler¡¯s heart was filled with joy, and he nced at Althea- who was looking at him weakly- before


    answering, ¡°Yes. She¡¯s breathing. Tell them to hurry up.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay.¡± She paused. ¡°So, what was it? The thing you want to say?¡±


    He paused. ¡°About that, I was about to tell you that the bomb threat was fake.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Sophia shouted. Tyler can¡¯t help but pull the phone away from his ears for a second. ¡°Those


    motherfu- any ways, that¡¯s good- but where did you hear that?¡±


    ¡°From Althea. I don¡¯t know how she knew about it, but maybe those bastards bbered about it in front


    of her.¡±


    ¡°Then their stupid.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Any way, tend to her until the paramedics arrives, okay? They¡¯re


    taking the elevator.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± with that, they hung up the call.


    Tyler looked at her. ¡°Althea, help ising, hang in there.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± she sighed. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take a short nap-¡°


    ¡°No,¡± he strongly refused.


    ¡°Stingy,¡± sheughed but still closed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll just close my eyes, okay?¡±


    ¡°No-¡°


    ¡°Tyler-¡° Althea said. ¡°I¡¯m just closing my eyes. I¡¯m tired.¡± Silence. ¡°Just, just call out for me okay?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll answer?¡± He asked reluctantly.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± she hummed. ¡°Maybe?¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t. Open your eyes, Althea.¡± There was anger in his voice and his hand be heavier as it


    pressed down one her.


    Sheughed, ¡°Okay, okay- I¡¯ll answer.¡±


    Then silence. Tyler watched her chest moving up and down, indicating that she was still breathing. He


    counted one to five before opening his mouth, ¡°Althea?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡±


    He counted again, and every time he calls out her name, she answers with a hum. This set his heart at


    ease even just a little bit. After a while, he changed his words and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    The other one did not answer for a sec, ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°¡­ For everything.¡±


    ¡°¡­ You¡¯vemitted too many sins, Tyler. Do you want forgiveness to each of them?¡±


    ¡°¡­ No.¡± He paused. ¡°Its okay if you¡¯ll left some of them unforgiven, it¡¯s okay even if you won¡¯t forgive


    any of them¡­ Just¡­¡±


    ¡°Just?¡±


    He took a deep breath and removed his stares on her face and looked at the bloody cloth he was using


    to try and stop her bleed. It took him too much courage to say these words, ¡°Althea, I always regretted


    about letting you go that day, when I sumb to lust and temptation. I was stupid when I thought that I


    severed my ties with you after I denied you back then, I was stupid to think that maybe I can forget


    about you when you didn¡¯te back for a long time¡­¡±


    ¡°I buried everything- I tried to forget them. I delude myself into thinking that you¡¯ll nevere back and


    we¡¯ll both have our own lives to live- without each other. But my stupid pride can¡¯t ept the fact that


    maybe some day you¡¯ll be happy inside someone else¡¯s embrace- so I embraced someone else rather


    than trying to find you and ask for forgiveness. I thought that with that, you¡¯lle back to me


    voluntarily, but you didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°I will not ask you why- I am in no position to do so, just-¡° he looked at her but before he finish his


    sentence, he choked them back.


    With trembling hand, he shook her, ¡°Althea? Althea?¡±


    No answer.


    His heart turned cold, he shook her harder and called her name multiple times, but still, no response


    was given. His heart begun to beat wildly inside his chest, his eyes can¡¯t focus between her pale as ash


    face or the up and down movement of her chest. He felt her pulse, and it was beating slower.


    ¡°Althea!¡±


    The door burst open, before he can even process things, he was shoved aside and the men in white


    lifted Althea in sync and put her on a stretcher. Tyler can¡¯t help but follow them with gaze with a burning


    question in his heart;


    Will he lose her again? But now- forever?

 Chapter 63: Afterwards

    Chapter 63: Afterwards


    CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE:


    Afterwards


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    --


    Sophia=April(sorry¡¯for¡¯the¡¯confusion)


    --


    ¡°Sir,¡± one of the paramedics stopped his advances. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to get near to the patient, we¡¯ll


    take it from here.¡±


    Tyler knows that, he knows, but for some reason, his words set rage in his heart. He red at the guy


    and almost pushed him aside. ¡°I¡¯ll apany you to the hospital. Let me in in the ambnce.¡±


    The other looked at him strangely before looking behind him over his shoulder. Out of almost 200


    people in the hotel, 3 died- which are the security guards manning the doors and doing patrols- and


    one injured. The injureddy is currently being escorted by paramedics on a stretcher. Her condition is


    not looking good since she lost too much blood, they have to perform blood transfusion as soon as


    possible. He looked back at the man who was insisting on getting on the ambnce and asked, ¡°What


    is your rtion to the patient, sir?¡±


    This made Tyler paused and his kind almost lost its function. That¡¯s right, who is he to Althea? How are


    they rted? Lovers? Ex-lovers? Friends? Colleagues?


    No matter how he looks at it, the closest one is the colleagues since they were business partners, still,


    it¡¯s not enough to gain the permission. The paramedic looked at him and sighed, ¡°If it¡¯s already clear to


    you, please obey. You can still visit her in the hospital after the operation. We can''t dy any more


    longer, the more time we consume from idling, the more dangerous it is for the patient. Thank you very


    much for understanding.¡±


    With that, he turned around and left.


    Tyler was left alone, and he can only stare at them hoisting the stretcher with Althea on it and put it in


    the ambnce. Thest thing he saw before the door closes were the paramedics set everything in a


    hurry and precise manner, and the sleeping pale face of Althea. Then, as the ambnce serin rang


    and it drove away from the hotel, he can only do nothing but stare and stood there like a statue.


    He was already at the ground floor, outside of the hotel. As soon as the paramedics arrived at the


    scene, he exited with them and followed them outside. He was nning on following them to the


    hospital, but he was not allowed to do so. He stood alone on a cold night; he can hear the bustling


    noises of the other guests near by trying to get away from the scene as possible. Some looked terrified


    while the others look fine. People like Tyler has a decent amount of death threats and near to death


    experiences, either kidnapping for money, or nned murder from their rivals.


    He can see the red and blue lights of the police¡¯s light and the polices carrying the dead bodies on the


    stretchers. There are many people nearby but it feels like he was all alone in this world.


    ¡°Tyler!¡± Upon hearing his name being called, he looked over his shoulder and saw April, Dave, Aaron,


    and Sheryl running towards him.


    Sheryl was the one in front and thest one was Aaron. When Sheryl arrived in front of him, she


    directly held his hand and asked in a frantic manner. ¡°How are you, hun? Are you hurt somewhere?


    Should we go to the hospital?¡±


    Tyler tiredly removes her hand on him and replied coldly, he was not in the mood, ¡°No, I¡¯m not hurt.¡±


    Sheryl ignored his cold words and held his hand again. ¡°Are you sure? Did that bitch did anything to


    you?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± He held her hand tightly instead of removing it again. His grip was so hard that Sheryl¡¯s face


    contorted in pain."Watch what goes out from your mouth woman." He threatened.


    ¡°Tyler- that hurts!¡±


    He remained deaf to her cries and gripped her hand even tighter. Sheryl squirmed in pain, even the


    other three was rmed. Even though April wants to see her in pain, she doesn¡¯t want her to suffer


    physically. She tried to pry his hand away from Sheryl, ¡°Hey Tyler, stop. No matter what- Sheryl¡¯s a


    woman- and she¡¯s your fianc¨¦e.¡±


    Tyler¡¯s facial expression rxed a little and his grip loosen. Sheryl immediately took back her hand and


    caressed it, she can see the red marks of his finger on her pale, delicate skin. Sheryl almost cried, not


    because of the marks, but because it was the first time where he used strength to her. She was scared.


    April peek a look at Tyler before looking away, both Dave and Aaron was silent.


    Silence fell to the group until a woman approached them.


    ¡°Goodness,¡± the elegant woman said. ¡°I did not know that something like this will transpire, treating a


    high-ss hotel as their escape route and holding all of us high-ss people as their hostages is


    unheard off!¡±


    Tyler only knows one person with that kind of confidence, he looked at the woman who was carrying


    the same green eyes as his. He greeted her. ¡°Mother.¡±


    ¡°How are you son, are you hurt?¡± Victoria asked.


    He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± she nodded her head. She looked at the other three and nodded at them before talking to April.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯ll take action on this.¡±


    April nodded her head. ¡°Yes madam, everything that happen tonight is suspicious. There¡¯s a chance


    that it was nned, considering how prepared they were and how they suddenly retreated. It is low, but


    as long as there is, we will investigate.¡±


    Yes, them escaping from the police and entering the hotel where many people with high statuses were


    gathering is far from coincidence.


    Victoria nodded her head once more, very satisfied with her response. ¡°Good.¡±


    They were silent again, Victoria was a little bit fidgety, and she was looking here and there, they noticed


    it. Tyler was the only one who dared to ask her about it. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I am looking for Althea. We were at the same party but when she said she¡¯ll just go to the


    bathroom, she never came back. I thought that she already went home but I received no message from


    her.¡±


    The other three almost froze when they hear that, they all asked the same question in their mind; the


    two already know each other? Among the three of them, Sheryl received the greatest shock. April, on


    the other hand, already knew this. But it hits different when she hears it from the other party.


    Tyler was the one who answered. ¡°She was taken to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Oh my!¡± Victoria¡¯s eyes widen in shock. ¡°She was injured? Why?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± He sighed. ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    "Is that so?" Victoria sighed. "It is very unfortunate, I told her that about going to the hospital earlier but


    she didn''t listened and still went to the bathroom, now look what happened."


    Tyler furrowed his brows. "Hospital? Did something happened?"


    Victoria looked at him and repeated his words, "It''s a long story."

 Chapter 64: Break Off

    Chapter 64: Break Off


    CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO:


    Break off


    --


    Both Victoria and Tyler are known in the circle of business world. Both are sessful- even though


    Tyler has yet to surpass his parents, his talent with managing his business is remarkable- not to


    mention Tyler¡¯s father and Victoria¡¯s ex-husband. They have this intimidating air circling around them,


    many businessmen and women respect them a lot. With the amount of attention and praises they


    receive; many perceive them as serious and stern people. And of course, they maintain this front every


    business gathering that they attend to.


    But it seems like they forgot how to maintain this image of them right now.


    April tried her best to not show difort on her face, as well as Dave. Aaron had no issue since he


    has this stoic face since college. Sheryl on the other hand showed it for a second before masking it


    back. The four only has one question in their mind:


    ¡®Did she just crack a joke?¡¯


    Tyler, who had his words backfired to him, did not bother pondering about if she was or wasn¡¯t cracking


    a joke. He frowned for a while before rxing the expression on his face. He sighed.¡± If that¡¯s the case,


    I have the time to listen.¡±


    He looked around and noticed that things are wrapping up then turned to the other three. April caught


    the sign that they were about to leave, so she smiled at the three and said, ¡°I was d to meet you all


    again after many years. We had been busy after college and this was the only night, we all managed to


    meet up, but, unfortunately, the night did not end up well because of what happened.¡± She pped her


    hands. ¡°You can all rest assured that we will investigate what happened, and I am very sorry for the


    inconvenience.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t your fault though,¡± Dave said. ¡°But what happened earlier was really frightening.¡±


    April smiled at him, ¡°Yes, it was. This night was really long.¡±


    Tyler felt like it was getting long, so with his impatient self, he butted in the conversation with a stern


    voice, not even masking his eagerness to leave. ¡°We¡¯ll get going first. April, I want to be the first one to


    know when you caught them, especially that man.¡±


    April nodded then snickered inside her mind. ¡®That guy? I¡¯m pretty sure he means the one who shot


    Althea.¡¯


    ¡°I will tell you.¡±


    He nodded at her and the other two before turning his back and leave wordlessly. Victoria and Sheryl


    followed suit. Tyler looked at Sheryl and thought about making her go home by herself since he was


    nning on following to the hospital. Like a telepath who read his mind, Sheryl shook her head and


    said angrily.


    ¡°No! Why would I go back by myself? You have to drop me home like what you promised to my


    parents!¡±


    Victoria looked at Sheryl in the corner of her eyes and can¡¯t help but raise a brow and show a


    momentary disgust on her face. She asked herself, ¡®What is she, a kid?¡¯


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Tyler also just looked at her in the corner of his eyes and said, ¡°Call your driver. As for your parents, I


    can deal with them. You don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Sheryl felt like she finally reached her boiling point. ¡°If I do that- you will have your way to Althea!¡±


    Her words made him stop walking. They were nearing the basement where their cars are parked, just a


    little bit more and they can ride his car and go home. Sheryl was hopeful that he will listen to her and


    drive her home, then she will convince him to go inside and work with her parents to make him stay so


    that he won¡¯t have the chance to go out and go to Althea.


    Sheryl gritted her teeth by the mere thought of him running after her when she¡¯s injured when in their


    almost seven years of being together, he never showed this kind of concern towards her. She thought it


    was okay, she thought she can change him like how she changed his feelings towards Althea. Like how


    she made him fall out of love with her, she thought she can teach him to fall in love with her. But¡­


    Because of their height difference, Tyler looked down on her like she was nothing but an insignificant


    human being in his eyes. A bug or a mosquito buzzing around annoyingly. His eyes that symbolize


    spring- the beginning of warmth after the harsh winter- looks like a zing blizzard that freezes


    everything it touches. A cruel snowstorm. As his eyes stares at her like it was scrutinizing her very soul


    and at the same time freezing it- Sheryl can feel that something unfavorable wille out from his


    mouth.


    Words that she never wants to hear from him.


    ¡°What is it to you if I do that, huh, Sheryl? What is it to you if I abandon you just to go to Althea?¡±


    Every word came out like he was chewing very hard on them. Sheryl can feel the extreme self-control


    he has to not spat the words out angrily. Sheryl can feel her tears well up. ¡°B-but I am your fianc¨¦e, you


    have to prioritize me!¡±


    Right, she was his fianc¨¦e, he must have something for her. She must be his second love now- but-


    ¡°¡­ Is that so?¡± His eyes turned cold, then his next words set the fire in her heart out.


    But, like they all say, first love never dies.


    ¡°If that¡¯s your reason, then I just have to get that out of the way, isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    Sheryl¡¯s eyes widen while Victoria almostughed out loud. Having her sanity remain, she can only


    smile at Sheryl. Sheryl almost chock in her sobs after seeing that smile. It looks mocking. It feels like


    she was mocking her and saying.


    ¡®Finally, the time hase.¡¯ Sheryl can hear her scoffing. ¡®I know this will eventually happen. Serves


    you right.¡¯


    ¡°Sheryl,¡± Tyler said.


    Knowing fully well what he wants to say, she panicked. ¡°No- no! Shut up!¡±


    She doesn¡¯t want to hear it! She doesn¡¯t want to!


    But no matter how she plead, Tyler was unstoppable. With a voice void with emotions, he decided to


    end it all. ¡°Let¡¯s break the engagement off. Sheryl, let¡¯s break up.¡±


    He did not wait for her response, he turned his back and walked away, his mother following him with a


    smile in her face. Sheryl can¡¯t afford toe after them since she was rotted in that ce, unmoving.


    What he said were only nine words full, but it made a huge impact in her mind. It took her a while


    before she can move and when she finally did, she turned to run after the two but all she saw was the


    back of the car, driving away from her.


    In the middle of the cold night, she was left alone there. And when the things that happened there


    finally sunk in her, she broke into sobs. Only the cold floor and the distant cars were the witness of her


    cries.

 Chapter 65: Mother and Son

    Chapter 65: Mother and Son


    CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE:


    Mother and Son


    --


    Tyler¡¯s steps are fast as he walks towards his car. His car is not parked far from the entrance of the


    basement, but his walk was ironically long. It was like the distance between them were stretched. The


    light in the basement was dim, the fluorescent lights were ce with even distances. Every time he


    crossed on a well-lighted area, the hardened expression on his face is showed. Victoria noticed the


    silence of her son. It isn¡¯t unusual since she had gotten used to this version of his. Also, her ex-


    husband is like this, it is like her ex-husband younger version, so she very well knows how to handle


    them.


    With a coy smile stered on her beautiful face, she walked faster to walk next to him. He was walking


    fast earlier so she was a step behind. Her high heels were cking against the hardened floor, her legs


    were long, so she was walking next to him in a matter of seconds. Matching up her son¡¯s pace, she


    shot him a lopsided smirk which only received a half-assed attention from Tyler since he only looked at


    it on the corner of his eyes. This did not stop her though. Rather, she did not even paid attention about


    whether he¡¯s paying attention to the smirk or not.


    ¡°Is my son feeling guilty, hmm?¡± Receiving no reply, she scoffed then crossed her arms across her


    chest. ¡°I know this is bound to happen, but you should have done this sooner, you know. Look how


    attached she is to you! Its vexing!¡±


    Tyler shot his mother a sharp nce before looking back up ahead. They were approaching his car.


    ¡°Shut up.¡±


    ¡°How rude!¡± His mother eximed, painting a fake emotion of pain on her face, she dramatically looked


    at him then ced her right hand above her chest. Her eyes widen in fake shock. Her shoulders shook


    while sheughed on her own dramatic act. ¡°Sigh, Tyler. I know you, you are my son, after all.¡±


    Tyler clenched and unclenched his jaw before sighing. Her mother was right. He was indeed feeling


    guilty. Sheryl is still after all a woman. Him breaking an engagement like this is betrayal to her and to


    her family. He was feeling guilt even though he knew that both of them knew that he is not even


    emotionally attached to her, so him breaking out from it any time is not something to be shocked about.


    But Tyler is not dense, he knows about her feelings. He did like her too years ago that is why he broke


    up with Althea- which he regretted, so the feelings died down. Both parties knew that the engagement


    is purely business. But it was only them who knew about this truth, so if this will break out, this will hurt


    Sheryl¡¯s image and her family¡¯s pride. They prided themselves as the only family that will marry off to a


    young man that is sessful. Her family is sessful too, so if this marriage work, who knows what


    kind of grand transformation will happen to them. Many hated and envied their family- so if those haters


    know about this- they will surely drag them down.


    For some reason, Sheryl is particrly sensitive when ites to him. This will surely kill her inside.


    But if he did not do it, then-


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry son,¡± Victoria cracked a grin. ¡°If anything happens, I¡¯ll be by your side.¡±


    His mother¡¯s words put a stop on his train of thoughts. He looked at her on the corner of his eyes and


    met her also green eyes. The shameless mirth and yfulness in her eyes are theplete mirror of


    his when he was younger. He can really see how people keep on telling how he took after his mother


    when he was a child.


    Tyler can¡¯t help but let out a small chuckle and looked back in front while picking up his pace and trying


    to outrun Victoria. Victoria knew what is in his head immediately, so she followed with a yell. ¡°Hey- hey-


    wait for me you son of a beautiful and graceful woman-!¡±


    ¡°Why are you following me?¡± He asked. ¡°You have your car.¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Victoria grinned again while making her eyebrows dance up and down. They already reached


    his car, but knowing that he will not open the door for her, she graciously opens it by herself and slid in.


    Tyler just watched her enter his car without permission. ¡°I know you¡¯re going to the hospital where they


    sent althea, so I¡¯m going too. I¡¯m really d you already cut the only tie you have with Sheryl so now


    you can finally pursue her without a hindrance you know. Son, I¡¯ll be rooting for you. I like her.¡±


    Tyler paused and stared at his mother who was sitting on the shotgun. His brain took a while before it


    processed the information she just gave him. He then buried his face on one hand and groaned while


    laughing lightly. Victoriaughed with him too.


    ¡°Now, hop in! We¡¯ll go to my future daughter inw.¡±


    Tyler entered his car and started the engine. As he was driving on the road, he asked his mother. ¡°Do


    you think she¡¯ll ept me again?¡±


    ¡°¡­?¡± Victoria, who was in the middle of reapplying her makeup stopped and looked at her son with


    disbelief. ¡°So, I was right- you both have a history together!¡±


    ¡°¡­ You can say it like that.¡±


    ¡°Goodness Tyler!¡± Victoria eximed and tried her best to not throw her purse to him. ¡°How would I


    know if she¡¯ll ept you back or not! I don¡¯t even know when you both had a rtionship or what kind


    of shit you did so you¡¯re reluctant of maybe or not she¡¯ll ept you again- like- spill the beans!¡±


    Tyler wants to rewind the time. He refused to answer until he got really annoyed by her naggings. He


    sighed loudly and said the words he hates the most. ¡°I cheated on her!¡±


    The silence was really loud. Tyler can feel Victoria poking holes on him with her intense stares. He can


    feel the burning sensation especially on his head. Victoria might be asking herself what is going on


    inside his head. Knowing that maybe she was only thinking that it was an illusion, he repeated the


    words again. Now that he did, he gained the biggest reaction of her.


    ¡°What?! Why?! With whom?!¡± She eximed, she even reached out to him and shook him on his seat.


    Their car wobbled.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Tyler eximed and shoved her hands off of him using his right hand. His left hand was on the


    steering wheel. ¡°You will get the two of un in an ident!¡±


    ¡°Tyler!¡± She pped his arm. ¡°That¡¯s thest thing you have to do when you¡¯re in a rtionship! That is


    why she doesn¡¯t like you at all! Why did you do that to my dear Althea?¡±


    Dear Althea? ¡°I don¡¯t know-¡° He sighed. ¡°It just- it just happened.¡±


    Victoria looked at her silent son helplessly. ¡°You know what Tyler- I thought you were more like your


    father- he did not cheated when we were together-¡°


    ¡°-but now you¡¯re not-¡°


    ¡°-that¡¯s not the point! Sigh, any ways, who was it?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Who?¡±


    ¡°The one you cheated with.¡±


    Tyler want to dodged the question but her res were stopping him ¡°It was Sheryl.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It was Sheryl.¡±


    Victoria groaned and leaned back on her seat. She can¡¯t understand her son anymore. ¡°You know what


    Tyler- your stupid.¡±


    ¡°.. I know.¡± That hurts his pride but okay.


    ¡°Anyways, son, about your question-¡° she pretended to think. ¡°Considering what you did, If it was me, I


    might consider it- but Althea? Good luck son.¡±


    ¡°You are supposed to encourage me, your son. You like her, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°What do you want me to do? Pursue her for you?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Sigh,¡± she looked outside the window. ¡°Hmm? Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°¡­ To the hospital?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Why do you sound uncertain?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Do you perhaps no nothing where the hospital she¡¯s at?¡±


    ¡°¡­ I thought you know.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Sometimes I question myself if ever I am really the one who is one of the smartest businesswomen,


    once married an also sessful and smart businessman, then the one who gave birth to a young


    smart businessman.¡±


    ¡°Shall we call her shop? Maybe the hospital contacted them.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Sure.¡± Victoria took her phone from her purse then dialed a number. After some ringing, a familiar


    voice rang.


    [¡°Hello?¡±]


    It was the only man on the shop, Jack. Victoria tried to give her best in smiling even though he can¡¯t


    see her. ¡°Do you know which hospital Althea was taken?¡±


    [¡°¡­ What?¡± Jack had a long paused then yelled. ¡°What?! What happened to the boss?!¡±]


    Victoria was equally confused. She can her Jack calling the other people in the shop. ¡°Had the hospital


    not call the shop?¡±


    [¡°Hello,¡± It was a clear and calm voice of a woman. It was Mnie. ¡°Hello, is this madam Victoria?¡±]


    ¡°It is.¡± Victoria is a little bit stifled by the address, but she paid it no mind, for now.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    [¡°I¡¯m sorry, but correct me if I¡¯m wrong- are you asking us which hospital Althea is? Was she injured?¡±]


    ¡°Yes, she was. She was shot, did the hospital not called you? You lot don¡¯t know anything?¡±


    [¡°No, we haven¡¯t received any call.¡± There was nervousness in her voice. ¡°Shot you say- all we know is


    that the hotel she¡¯s attending the party is under hostage taking- wait- it¡¯s in the T.V- goodness, that


    many died? And one injured- is that her?¡±]


    ¡°¡­¡± Victoria sighed, and she can feel her head throbbing. ¡°Is that so? Then never mind.¡±


    [¡°Thank you for informing us, madam. Please tell us if ever you know where she is.¡±]


    ¡°I will.¡± Then she ended the call with her fingers trying to sooth her temples. She told Tyler what was in


    their conversation and Tyler fell into a deep thought before groaning.


    ¡°I forgot- she dropped her purse. Her phone and identification card must be in there.¡±


    Victoria also groaned. ¡°Why did you even forget that? Call April instead.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± He took out his phone then called her. After some questions, he finally got the answer. He told


    his mother and drove back on the road again. They drove in silence until she spoke.


    ¡°We are pretty stupid, aren¡¯t we?¡±

 Chapter 66: Hospital

    Chapter 66: Hospital


    CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR;


    Hospital


    --


    The telephone nked after Mnie ced it back. After that, the noise faded into the background,


    she, and the other two were standing still next to her. The three adults in the room were still processing


    the information they recieved as fast as they can so they will not scare the little boy that was with them.


    Kai was sitting on the chain near from them. His arms wereying on the table and he was dangling his


    feet. He''s structure is small after all. He still needs support when sitting down or getting off of the chair


    sometimes. The little boy was silently staring at the back of the adults, his eyes that he got from her


    mother were still, it was as if he was fallen into a deep thought.


    He heard everything they said on the phone, his youbg brain still can''t fully understand the


    conversation at all. But the look on their faces and the emotionced with worry, hesitation, and


    disbelief on their voices made him think:


    ''Something bad happened to mother.''


    It was his little heart whispered to his brain. Kai clenched his small fist on top of the table and finally


    talked to break the silence in the room. "How... How''s mother?"


    His small voice echoed out, it was small, low, and it contained meekness that is not usually heard on


    his voice. This shocked Mnie and the other two. The three managed to conceal their shock and


    secretly nced at one another.


    Jack and Ba was looking at Mnie and their eyed were saying that she should handle it. Mnie


    sighed internally but she can''t deny the fact that none of them except her can handle it without scaring


    Althea''s kid. Jack is careless and often does things without a single sensible thought. Ba does


    things silently and she has no way with words.


    Composing sentences that contains soft words begun to weave in her mind as she approaches the


    table where Kai was sitting. The little boy with his cute round eyes followed her movements. Mnie


    sat in frot of the kid.


    "Kai," she said slowly. Try not to scare the kid. "Do you know that your mother went to a party right?"


    Kai nodded his small head. "Yes."


    "And you know that the hotel where that party was held were under hostage taking right?" She paused,


    trying to find words that can make a kid understand. "You know what hostage taking means right?


    Uhm-"


    "There are bunch of bad guys inside there that is holding a scary weapon to scare the people inside the


    hotel!" Jack saved her. He walked towards them and stood on her side then tried exining with


    animated movements. Even the emotions on his face were strangely exaggerated. He eas trying so


    hard to make it sound less serious. Mnie can''t help but smile silently. "Unfortunately, your mother


    was there too! You know that right?"


    Kai stared at him for a good whole minutes. Jack''s smile was faltering but he was serious about making


    a face that says nothing serious is going on. Kai tried to y along. "Hmm. So what happened to my


    mother?"


    "Uhm, about that," Jack sounds so hesitant. He looked over Mnie and she understood it right away.


    "Let Mnie exin it, so you can understand."


    ''And I won''t get ountable when you cry after heading it.''


    Mnie suddenly had the urge to punch him.


    She looked at Kai and said, "Your mother is currently in the hospital. Your mother was shot by the, uh,


    bad guys." Mnie closed her eyes and had an internal screaming before opening it again and


    continued her words. "Your mother was hurt by the bad guys."


    "She was hurt? So where''s the hospital? Can we go now?" The eagerness was evident in his voice. He


    looked at the three of them with great expectation that they will grant his wish in his eyes.


    Mnie awkwardly loooed at Jack before looking back at Kai. "Kai, for now, we have to wait for


    Victoria''s call, or message. We don''t know which hospital she''s in at the moment."


    "Yes, we have to wai-" the telephone rang. The pairs of eyes looked at the counter wher the telephone


    is ced. It was lit up and Ba, who was standing next to it, picked it up and ced the reciever on


    her right ear.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Ma''am Victoria." Those were the two words that came of from her mouth. She listened on the other


    line and was constantly nodding her head. Her eyed were on Mnie and Jack. The other two patiently


    waited for it to end.


    The callsted for a just a minute. Ba puts down the telephone and told them the address of the


    hospital. Mnie heaved a sigh of relief and stood up. "Then we''ll get going."


    "Okay!" Jack said then went to grab his jacket on the chair. It was cood that night.


    Mnie looked at Kai who slid down from his chair carefully before giving off a soft smile. It seems like


    he''s going with them. She was actually considering about leaving him here with Ba since it''s past


    his bedtime but she can''t stop this kid from going to see his mother.


    It''s fine. He can just sleep on the truck, the vehicle they uses when Jack does deliveries, since going


    on the hospital will take at least 20 to 30 minutes.


    Mnie looked at Ba. "Go grab yours and Kai''s jackets upstairs. We''ll get going."


    She nodded and went to the stairs. After some preparation, they finally hit the road. Jack was the one


    who''s driving while Mnie apanied Kai on the front. Ba was the only one at the back,


    although she seems not to care about it.


    The boy was silent all along, he was just listening to the honks of the horns of the other cars and the


    constantins of Jack. Mnie wants to ster his mouth so he can shut up, but decided to go


    against it. She sighed again- as of now, she has no kdea how much she sighed- she leaned on the


    chair before remembering something.


    "Kai, what about that friend of your mother?" She pondered a bit, trying to remember her name.


    "Charlier? What was her name again?"


    "Oh." Kai was looking at the outside through the windows. "Charlotte. I have to tell her about this?"


    "Well," yes, because she was the one who made your mother attend the party for her and her husband.


    "Yes, she''s your mother''s friend right?"


    "Friend..." Kai echoed the word.


    Mnie ignored it and handed him the phone, hoping that he knows her number. Kai looked at the


    phone and reached for it. Mnie thought he doesn''t know hoe to use it, but when she was about to


    take it back and type the number for him, he turned the phone on and slid to the side and begun to type


    the number she''s not familiar with then pressed call.


    Mnie was surprised. "You know how to make a call?"


    He nodded. "Charlotte taught me."


    "You even memorized her phone number!" She was amazed while watching the phone ringing. Sleep


    watched the small face of the boy tgat was lighten up by the phone''s light and asked herself: how old is


    he again? Five?


    "She made me do it in case..." He paused because Charlotte already answer the phone.


    Jack was curious, so he asked. "In case what?"


    "In case I get kidnapped by bad guys. She said i must contact her first."


    "Oh." The two adults said.


    Althea''s friend is over protective to her son. What a good friend she has.


    That was their thoughts.


    ["Hello?" A groggy voice answered. "Who''s this?"]


    "Charlotte, it''s me."


    ["Ohhh!" Her voice suddenly sound lighter and full of life. "Alex!"]


    Alex? Mnie raised her eyebrows. It seems like she''s really bad at remembering names.


    ["How are you? Why are you still awake? It''s already 9 am- oh, we have 12 hours difference- it''s


    already 9 in the evening there! Did your mother abandoned her duties to you again? That stupid Lea!"]


    12 hours difference? So it''s 9 in the morning at where she at but she sounds like she just woke up.


    Kai shook his head. "No. She''s shot."


    ["Shot?"]


    "Yes. By a gun."


    ["Oh! A gun." There was silence before they can hear a hard rustling sounds on the background.


    "WHAT? SHE WAS SHOT BY A GUN?! What are you talking about?!"]


    Mnie reached for the phone, telling Kai that she''ll take it from there. She can''t bear to look at her


    ruining Kai''s ear drums. She ced the phone on her ears, "Hello Charlotte?"


    ["Who''s this? Are you kidnapping my dear son?"]


    "... No. I am Althea''s co worker. In her shop. I just called you to in form you about what happened in the


    party."


    ["Right, right." She calmed down. "Tell me."]


    Mnie patiently exined it. The constant stopping her for questions was enough to drive one mad,


    but it was fortunate that Mnie is a patient one. In the middle of it, Charlotte''s voice turned cold and


    serious. It even made Mnie think that she might be calling the wrong number but the flow of their


    conversation says the otherwise.


    When the call is about to end, they finally reached the hospital. She get off of the car first before Kai


    and the other two. With the phone on her ears, all of them walked inside.


    ["Alright." She said. "Thank you for informing me."]


    "Wee." She answered briefly. "By the way, we reached the hospital already."


    ["Did she got a room? If not, tell them to transfer her in a private room. I''ll pay."]


    "Thank you but it won''t be necessary."


    ["Why?"]


    "Mr. Tyler- I mean, one of her clients said that they''ll pay for the room, and the hospital fee. They''ll


    cover everything, they said."


    ["Tyler?" There was surprised in her voice. "She''s with him?"]


    Mnie answered yes although she was puzzled that even Charlotte knows about him.


    ["Then we have nothing to worry about!" Sheughed. "I''m sorry, but could you look after Kai while


    Althea''s in the hospital and I''m away? I promise that I''ll be back in the country with my husband as


    soon as possible."]


    "You don''t have to worry about that."


    With small more words, they finally ended the call. They went to the reception area and asked where


    Althea''s room is. When they went to the room, they saw Victoria and Tyler. Victoria was sitting on a


    sofa and Tyler was leaning on the wall, looking at the unconscious Althea.


    The two of them looked at them when they entered the room. Tyler''s eyes immediatelynded on the


    sleepy yet not face of Kai who was on Jack''s arms. Victoria told them to put Kai on the sofa.


    "How is she?" Mnie asked why looking at her face.


    "She''s out of harm already. But we still don''t know when she''s gaining consciousness."

 Chapter 67: Kais new babysitter

    Chapter 67: Kai''s new babysitter


    CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE:


    Kai''s new babysitter


    --


    "She''ll be unconscious for a while for her body to recover, the blood loss was severe good thing the


    loss did not passed 40 percent. Oh, and also, the bullet is already removed from her body." Victoria


    exined in the stead of the doctors. She was sitting on the sofa next to the dozing off Kai. The


    younger boy is really sleepy since it was past his bedtime. His body is not use to staying upte like


    this.


    Victoria is rubbing his head affectionately. The boy reminds her of Tyler when he was a kid.


    Mnie nodded at her, "Thank you for making the arrangements for us, we can take this from here."


    "You''re wee!" Victoria said enthusiastically. She stood up after giving Kai ast pat on his back.


    "Since the two of us-" she gave the silent Tyler a short nce. "Three- since the three of us are close,


    there''s no harm on helping a friend, right?"


    She showed off her best convincing smile. Jack, Mnie and Ba squinted their eyes to protect it


    from harmful radiation of light that wasing off of her bright, big smile. Mnie tried to give her best


    and also smilef widely, although it came out crooked and unsightly. "Yes, yes of course. Thank you


    agai-"


    Mnie was caught of by a loud ringing of her phone. It is vibrating in her pockets. The other people


    inside the room looked at her, urging her to answer the phone. She fished it out from her pocket and


    when she read the ID of who was calling, her eyebrows raised. It was her mother.


    She smiled and excused herself. "I''m sorry, I have to take this."


    It was rare for her mother to call her. If she does, it''s either she has an important message or just


    wanting to see how she is after a long time of not checking. Their family consists of 4 members; her


    father, mother, her older brother and her. They don''t hate or resent each other, they are just less


    affectionate than other family. That''s why after she finished highschool, she moved out from her house


    and went to find a job.


    This also exins her cold demeanor. Since she''s moving from job to job, and she''s also alone, she


    learned how to handle everything by herself and be an independent woman. She''s very satisfied


    with her job right now. She even has a free room in the shop.


    After saying that, she went out of the room.


    "She must be busy, huh?" Victoria said, looking at the closed door.


    "Well, not exactly." Jack answered. "That must be a personal call. She never uses her phone for


    business or any other things."


    Earlier was an exemption though, they had to call the boss''s friend.


    Tyler silently watched the people in the room, his mother and Jack were having a nice chat about


    something, while Ba was only listening on the sidelines. Tyler can''t understand what was their topic


    so his eyes wondered on the sole bed in the room.


    After seeing the face of the woman who was deathly pale earlier, his eyes wavered. Her face has


    returned to it''s original color after the operation and blood transfusion, but she still remained


    unconscious. The surgery took a toll on her body so she has to rest. Tyler wants to talk to her though.


    He wants to see her awake. Not like this.


    Asied from worry, the guilt of failing to protect her from harm- that is what his original intention why he


    went to her in the first ce- is eating him. The feeling might not be strong as the former, but he can''t


    ignore it.


    Tyler silently cursed himself and made himself repent. He can''t believe he was that ipetent and


    stupid. If he could earlier, he would catch the bullet for her. But there''s no point on crying over the


    spilled milk. He already made up his mind that he''ll make it up to herter.


    His eyes wondered back to the sofa next to him. Kai was the only one who was there since Victoria


    was already standing, she was ready to leave. The kid is now half-awake, half-asleep, his sleep was


    cut off short when his mother stood up.


    Tyler can''t bear looking at his small head bobbing just to stay awake. His posture looks painful. Without


    thinking, he called out to him with a small voice that even the other three in the room didn''t hear. It was


    a conversation solely for the two of them. Him and Althea''s kid.


    "Hey...!"


    "Hmm?" Hearing someone called him, he looked up with blinking and hazy eyes. "What is it?"


    "..." Tyler pursed his lips, he forgot about what he has to say. Seeing that the little boy was looking at


    him with drowsiness in his eyes, he removed himself from leaning on the wall and sat next to him. He


    patted hisp. "Sleep."


    "...?" Kai was confused. Usually, he will pick up what he meant immediately, but since his


    consciousness is torn between the reality and his Dreand, he can''t process it like how he used to.


    Tyler sighed. It can''t be help. Gently, he raised his hand and held his head. With a small pull, he let his


    head rest on hisp. Unsurprisingly, the kid did notin nor he did refused his help. He gentlyid


    his head on his thigh, it was a little bit ufortable since it''s soft but hard at the same time. His thigh


    is iparable to his mother''s. Since there''s no other pillow in the room and the arm rest is high to he


    his pillow- not that he can even use an armrest to be a pillow- this hard but soft pillow can do it for the


    meantime. It''s not really bad.


    Tyler shifted Kai''s posture. He took off his shoe slowly and put on the floor. The room was cold, so he


    get his coat off and made it his nket. After confirming that the boy isfortable and sound asleep,


    Tyler can''t stop his smile of contentment to surface on his lips.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    That was the time when Victoria looked. Naturally, she saw him smile. Her eyebrows raised until she


    saw what caused her son to smile like that. It made her brows raise even higher. Then, a teasing smile


    begun to stretch on her red lips. "My son, you look like a father who had his stress melted away after


    seeing his son. You reminded me of your father when you were young."


    Tyler erased his smile, and red at her mother. He then said coldly, "He''s not my son."


    Victoria frowned. "Did I say he is?!" She scoffed. "Are you stupid or something? Dear, I thought you''re


    my son!"


    "I don''t want to acknowledge you as my mother either." He retorted.


    "Ha!" Victoria ced her hand on her chest while acting she was hurt then went to gently p Tyler''s


    shoulder. "You ungrateful brat! Do you want me to shove you back in my womb?! I''ll be sure to abort


    you!"


    "Can you hear yourself?" Tyler asked her while gently stroking Kai''s hair. "How can you shove a full


    grown man inside your womb again?"


    Victoria red at him and didn''t try to spat out fire again. Gosh! She doesn''t want to argue with


    someone who has no sense of humor! It''s stressing her out! She''s not ready to have white lock of hair


    yet!


    As if saving her from her predicament, the door of the room opened and Mnie entered. Four pair of


    eyes looked at her, and Jack was the first one to notice the hesitation and worry in her eyes.


    "Is something wrong?" Jack asked. After he voiced it out, the others begun to notice it too.


    "..." She hesitated, her eyes wondered to the sleeping mother and son. Then went back to her


    coworkers. "I have to go back to our town for a while."


    "What?" Jack asked while Ba just furrowed her brows. "Why? Did something happen?"


    Mnie pursed her lips. "My father and mother were caught in a car ident, thankfully, their injuries


    are not fatal, but they have to stay in the hospital for a week. My brother is out from the country and we


    don''t have any rtives."


    "Oh my!" Victoria gasp. "Thank goodness nothing serious happened! Go and attend your parents for a


    while. I''m pretty sure Althea will understand."


    "Yes, I''m sure she will, but..." Her smile falter. "About the shop and-"


    "Don''t worey about the shop!" Ba voiced out. "Me and Jack will handle it!"


    It''s a rare asion when she talks, so it took time before Jack and Mnie recovered from shock.


    Seeing her determined face, Jackughed softly before patting her head.


    "Of course." He then frowned. "Although I have ss tomorrow."


    "Oh." Althea is unconscious and they have no idea when she will wake up, Mnie, the second


    capable in yheir shop will be gone, then Jack is not avable tommorow. That''s not an ideal situation to


    open the shop. Mnie looked at Ba. There''s no way she can let her manage the shop alone.


    "Then, if that''s the case, lets close the shop for tomorrow. You can open it if it''s okay to."


    "That''s okay too." Jack agreeed.


    "So..." This is her biggest worry. "Who will take care of Kai?"


    Her question brought silence to the room. She knew it. She wants to bring him with her but she''s afraid


    she can''t take care of her parents and her boss''s kid at the same time. Jack and Ba is out of the


    options since both doesn''t know how to take care of the kid. She''s afraid they''ll feed him something that


    will cause food poisoning. Or maybe forgot about him and he''ll get kidnapped.


    Although Kai is matured for his age, he''s still a kid. He still needs the attention of an adult. But who?


    "If none of you can," Victoria opened her mouth. Mnie, who was having an headache, looked at her.


    The former is smiling widely. "Then Tyler can take care of him!"


    The three, and even Tyler can''t help but mutter up a single shocked word.


    "Huh?!"


    --


    If you want, follow me on IG!


    @Myositisin


    ---

 Chapter 68: RUN

    Chapter 68: RUN


    CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX:


    RUN


    --


    Inside a ck van was a chaotic 5 men. The rock musicing from the speakers were loud, it was


    irritating in the ear, but for some reason, the men inside were also shouting along the music. Their drive


    is not steady at all since their drive look drunk and all. They were so noisy that their noise even


    escaped the van, but no passerby nor other vehicles are annoyed by it. Because there were none in


    the first ce. The ck van was driving alone on an abandoned road. The road was rocky and


    grassy. It looks like it has not been maintained for a long time. Their surrounding was quiet, the only


    source of sounds were their noise and the rustling of the leaves when birds fly away from the trees or


    landing to take a rest on the branches.


    Other than that, the ce is oddly dark and silent. They can see nothing but the bumpy straight road


    and the tall trees. They were in the middle of a forest.


    ¡°Hey, hey, hey!¡± The man in the front seat called out for his noisypanion on the back that were


    ying cards. He as a bandage on his head, the white bandage has a hint of blood oozing out from the


    back of his head. ¡°What do you want to do with the money we have?¡±


    ¡°Boss!¡± A man shouted against the loud music. ¡°What else? Woman! Liquor! And Gambles! The money


    is big as fuck- we have to enjoy to the fullest!¡±


    The man next to himughed out loud then smacked him on his shoulder. ¡°Fuck yeah! We have to


    thoroughly enjoy it. That kind of amount is hard toe by- we have to use it as soon as possible!¡±


    The three on the back startedughing in agreement then went back to ying their cards. The man


    with the bandage looked at them like he is looking at a trash that magically had a mouth, arms, and


    legs.


    These three stupid idiots, that amount of money is hard toe by so they must spend it wisely! Yet


    these men with muscr bodies have nothing but stupid things in their mind. It was irking him.


    Whatever, they will split the money, and about what kind of stupidity they will do to theirs, he has no say


    about it. He has no rights to intervene, nor do they have to his. Everything¡¯s fine as long as they won¡¯t


    crawl towards him with empty pockets.


    The driver looked at their boss¡¯s and immediately knew what is going inside his head. Heughed it off


    and said, ¡°Don¡¯te knocking on our door is you lost everything you have to gambling, okay?! If you


    do, I¡¯ll make sure to bury a bullet inside your head!¡±


    The three, not taking it seriously, saluted at him. ¡°Yes sir!¡±


    Then they went back to ying cards again. The driver focused on the road even though he is a little


    bit tipsy. ¡°But you know what, the amount is really ridiculously big. We did not even do anything.¡±


    The boss looked at him and shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s the best part of it; we did nothing that bid but we still got


    a huge amount of dors.¡± His lips stretched out into a big sinister grin. ¡°I don¡¯t mind if she contact us


    again. I¡¯ll be more than happy to take any request she¡¯ll have.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± The driver was silent. ¡°Still, it¡¯s suspicious.¡±


    ¡°Huff! What¡¯s not suspicious when you deal with people from the ¡®underground¡¯? As long as the deal is


    fulfilled- it¡¯s okay!¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re not wrong¡­¡± Their boss¡¯s phone vibrated. There was message.


    Five pair of eyes looked at the phone that was lying on the dashboard. After seeing whose number it


    was, the excitement in their blood boiled. One of the men on the back threw his card away and nudged


    their boss. ¡°Boss- boss! Read it! It¡¯s our employer for today!¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± he shouted at the man before lowing down the volume of the music. ¡°I¡¯ll read it, stop rushing


    me.¡±


    Truthfully, he was also exited. He wanted to contact the other first to ask if they have another mission


    for them, but the rules on the ¡®underground¡¯ is to not contact the employer first. So, seeing them


    sending a message is basically an answered prayer. He giddily picked the phone and unlocked it, after


    reading the message, his excitement went down.


    ---


    Sender: #########


    Good evening, I hope I am not disturbing your night. I was looking through everything you did in the


    hotel and thought that you did well, but, unfortunately, I am dissatisfied with something. I was thinking


    of getting back the money I wasted on you, but I also thought it¡¯s not enough to quench my


    dissatisfaction.


    ---


    ¡°What are they talking about?¡± The driver said. Hepletely stopped the van. ¡°Dissatisfied to what? I


    thought it was enough-¡°


    The phone rang- it was their employer calling. The five exchanged nces before the boss¡¯s epted


    the call. He pressed the phone on his ears, and said, ¡°Hello?¡±


    But no one talked, he checked again but the line was still there. Every second that ticks by felt like


    eternity. And every time the clock¡¯s hand moves, it feels like something ising on their way. It was


    getting near and near. The boss called out again but like the other wasted seconds, no one answered.


    He begun sweating heavily, oddly, the atmosphere outside turned darker. The trees danced violently


    upon the harsh passing wind. Like avoiding their predators, countless birds flocked away from them.


    Their wing pping against the wind sound so eerie. The other three started shivering, the driver was


    also turning pale.


    The boss tried to remain calm. What kind of bullshit makes them scared? They killed countless of


    people as of today, why would they get scared now?


    But no matter how hard he denies, the loud thumping of his chest can¡¯t deny that fact-


    He¡¯s scared.


    As silence surrounded them, someone suddenly chuckled.


    Five of them jumped in fear, they can even feel their souls leaving their body. The loud beating of their


    hearts and the ¡®beep, beep¡¯ tone of the phone that indicates the end off the call was loud and clear. The


    phone vibrated again, and the boss opened the message and fear and hurry.


    ---


    Sender: #########


    So, I did something that I can enjoy! Now¡­


    ---


    The message ended there, or so they thought. But when it vibrated again, another message showed


    up.


    --


    Sender: #########


    Run!


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    --


    Thest message sent shivers to their spines.


    ¡°Shit-¡° Their driver said. ¡°Shit- shit! I knew it! There¡¯s something wrong with them!¡±


    ¡°Fuck¡­¡± The boss muttered. The other three on the back started panicking. He yelled at them to shut


    up. He was panicking too, but he tried to hide it. If all of them panicked now, none of them will survive.


    ¡°Shut up! Stop panicking! Don¡¯t worry- they- whoever that is- can¡¯t hurt us!¡±


    ¡°Y-yes!¡± One of them agreed. ¡°They can¡¯t! We are under that group of hitman- it¡¯s against the rule to kill


    us!¡±


    ¡°Yes, as long were in that group- no one can hurt us-¡°


    His phone lit up again. The boss hurriedly took it and read the message. Every word he reads, the


    paler he got. The driver was rmed- he begun shaking him. ¡°What- what is it?!¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± he said, his energy starting to fade away. ¡°The group- they announced that were not part of


    them- we were betrayed!¡± His eyes begun to re in anger. ¡°They betrayed us! They abandoned us!


    Those motherfu--!!!¡±


    He froze, his eyes were glued on the side mirror. His heart thumped again, the way how fast it¡¯s


    thumping is, you can easily mistake it as a running horse. ¡°Fuck!¡±


    ¡°What is it this time!¡±


    The boss begun to p him panicky while his eyes still glued on that mirror, fear is evident in his eyes.


    With chains of swearing, he shouted. ¡°Drive! Turn on the engine! Go, go! NOW!¡±


    ¡°Wha-¡° his eyes identally looked at the mirror, and what he saw made him almost pissed his pants.


    The other three saw it too- and even they are built big, they begun cursing and cursing.


    At the back- they were countless of them. Men in ck, with heavy riffles on their hands. The man on


    the front has a cigarette on his mouth, feeling their gaze on him, he picked the cigarette from his mouth


    and gave them a big, cold smile. Then, using his hand that was holding the riffle, he waved at them.


    Not even a second passed, the van begun frantically driving away.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Their driver cursed loudly. ¡°Who- who can even do this?¡±


    First, they removed them from the group, then, sent a whole battalion to capture them- or even kill


    them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! They must be higher up! Shit- they might even one the biggest name on the


    underground!¡±


    ¡°But none of that makes sense!¡± One of the three shouted. ¡°Which of them will order something childish


    such as this?!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! I don¡¯t know!¡±


    As they begun fighting, the man that was leading the other men in ck stopped.


    ¡°Men,¡± he took another smoke on the cigarette, after that, he blew the gray smoke from his mouth. With


    his eyes focused on the fleeing van, he said, ¡°Aim your babies to that shit.¡±


    Hearing the satisfying sounds of the guns, he smirked then dropped his cigarette on the ground, with a


    hard stomp to kill the fire. Aiming his own gun, the word that killed many people slipped from his red,


    plumped lips. ¡°Fire.¡±


    --


    After the series of gun shots, the man watched the van crashing on the nearby tree. One of them


    jumped off, but he¡¯s pretty sure he¡¯s dead. Seeing the body lying near the steaming van that is full of


    bullet holes, he signaled one of his men.


    ¡°You, drag that guy far from the van. Make sure that he won¡¯t get caught to the explosion.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡±


    He watched him call others and together, they went to carry the body far from the van. The man fished


    out another cigarette stick and lit it. After smoking it for a good second, he signaled everyone to retreat.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. The police wille here any minute from now.¡±


    He let his men retreat first, with his cigarette on his mouth, he watched the van. He raised a brow.


    ¡°That kid, to go as far as using the family¡¯s power.¡± He smirked, turning his body to retreat with his men.


    ¡°That kid can really be scary sometimes.¡±


    As he walked towards their own van, the headlights lighted his eyes.


    It was an eye with a color that is the same of the moon.

 Chapter 69: He Has a Son?!

    Chapter 69: He Has a Son?!


    CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN:


    He Has a Son?


    --


    The corridor of the hospital is cold and silent. The floor is cleaned like they were polishing a diamond, it


    even reflects the shine of the lighting out from the blubs embedded in the ceiling. There are sofas


    and chairs along the way, the doors of the rooms were closed tightly. Specks of lights are pouring out


    from the gaps of the door and the floor, and the ssed window. The hospital looks deserted if not for


    the group of five people- which consists of for adults and a 5-year-old kid- walking and passing the


    rooms.


    "Uhm," Mnie tried her best to get their attention while whispering. The whole ce is so quite that


    she felt bad about making noise. What if she wakes up the other patients in the hospital? And since


    there are nothing but silence surrounding them, the other three caught it. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about this¡­¡±


    Mnie¡¯s eyes looked at Tyler who is carrying the little Kai in his arms. The boy isfortably leaning


    on his shoulder with little snoresing out from him. He was fast asleep. They already exined


    things to him earlier before they head out, leaving Ba to look after Althea. Jack has sses


    tomorrow so he can¡¯t apany her, but he¡¯lle back in the hospital after his sses. It would be


    fortunate for all of them if her friend wille early and if Althea will regain her consciousness.


    Kai did not even ask any more question after confirming that he will only be at their care for a short


    while until his mother wakes up. He is a smart kid, he understood very well. And it seems like it wasn¡¯t


    the first time that he¡¯s not under his mother¡¯s care.


    After their discussion, the forcedly woken up kid begun to get sleepy again, and that was when they


    decided to head out. Mnie will stop by her room tomorrow before setting out. She has to bring their


    clothes. She was worried about Ba freezing to death, but fortunately, they managed to request a


    pair of nket and pillow. Now she only has to pray for that nothing else will happen.


    Tyler adjusted the little boy¡¯s position on his arms. He was slipping for a bit. Kai stirred, so to avoid


    making him wake up, he begun patting his back. He has no idea what he is doing. He never had taken


    care of any children ever. He just knows that rocking and patting them lightly will help them fall asleep.


    He doesn¡¯t know if it works to a five-year-old kid though. Luckily, Kai went back to sleep, snuggling on


    the crook of his neck.


    Feeling that the child¡¯s body rx against his, like he was familiar to him andfortable, Tyler can¡¯t


    help but draw a smile on his face. He was d that he wasn¡¯t rejecting him. He thought that he will be


    like his mother, a polite one but despise him. He was even shocked when he epted that he has to


    stay with him for a while. Tyler thought that he will reject the idea, but Kai did not even throw a fit.


    Although it¡¯s unexpected and he did not even n it, he was d that they will entrust Althea¡¯s son to


    him. He also dislikes the idea of just entrusting him to anyone. It¡¯s better to look after him himself.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Victoria was the one who answered Mnie¡¯s worry. She gracefully flicked her hand on the


    air to let her know that she¡¯s not even bothered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m pretty sure¡­¡± She briefly


    nced at her own son and smirk at him before looking back at Mnie with a sweet and innocent


    expression. ¡°My son will ¡®thoroughly¡¯ take care of him. You see, he really, really, likes children.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Tyler had nothing to say about her exaggeration. He sighed deeply before reassuring her again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡±


    Mnie tried to find a hint of difort or any sign of being forced but there was none. Heaving a sigh


    of relieve, she finally smiled. ¡°If you say so. I¡¯ll thank you on behalf of Althea, you have done so much


    for her.¡±


    Victoria chuckled, thinking of something not and at the same time, vicious. She waved her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t


    think deeply about it. We are justying the foundation.¡±


    Tyler red at his mother while Victoria throwed a wink to Mnie. Mnie on the other hand can¡¯t


    understand what she meant about that. To not offend the older one, she just gave a small polite smile.


    They went back to their silent walking. They were on the third floor, so they have to take the elevator,


    and when they entered it, Jack, who was silent the whole time and was waiting for an opportunity to


    speak, finally asked the thing he kept wondering about.


    ¡°Hey- uh, Tyler,¡± He called out, he was the one who enteredst. The elevator¡¯s door closed after


    Mnie pressed the ground floor and the cart begun moving down. Three pairs of eyes looked at Jack.


    ¡°Yes?¡± He answered.


    Jack rubbed the back of his neck. He was a little bit unsure if he has to ask this question. But under the


    gaze of three people, he gave in. Sigh, he was not that kind of man who easily falter under gazes. Jack


    wonders what¡¯s wrong. Maybe because he¡¯s in front of two big people?


    ¡°You have apany right- I mean, you run apany, right? Like your mother¡­?¡± He nced at


    Victoria, Victoria returned his nce with a smile and nod.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then, taking care of Kai will be hindrance to your work, right? You have to focus more on your work


    since it¡¯s big. Are you sure it¡¯s alright?¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± Tyler paused, realizing it just now. Even Victoria raised a brow.


    Goodness! Mnie begun to worry again. She looked at the mother and son pair then to Kai who is


    peacefully sleeping on Tyler¡¯s shoulder. Tyler immediately know what kind of thoughts is circling inside


    her head. He sighed.


    There¡¯s nothing to really worry about. Tyler shook his head. ¡°I have maids in the house, they can take


    care of him¡­¡±


    Truthfully, he has an important meeting tomorrow. He is supposed to go home right away after the


    party, but things happened. It¡¯s nearing ten and he has yet to rest and put himself to a rxed mood


    and ready for tomorrow, then he has another one to worry: Althea¡¯s son. But it¡¯s not really a big burden,


    his staffs in his house are enough to take care of him. He¡¯ll make sure to make the kid feel like it¡¯s his


    own home. He¡¯ll order them to make his stay enjoyable.


    Mnie sighed again. ¡°It seems like I am worrying for nothing.¡±


    Jack agreed, the elevator opened and after arriving in the parking lot, before parting ways, Tyler asked


    the two about what are the things he needs to watch out for his foods.


    ¡°Aside from peanuts, his not allergic to anything.¡± That was Jack¡¯s answer.


    Both Victoria and Tyler watched the truck drive away from them. Tyler already put Kai in the backseat,


    luckily, he has spare clothes in his car and made them his makeshift pillow. It¡¯s cold outside. When the


    truck is out of sight, Tyler silently looked at the hospital. Victoria was about to enter his car when she


    saw him look back. She raised her eyebrows.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry son, I¡¯ll make sure they¡¯ll give her the best treatment there, my friend owns this hospital.¡±


    ¡°¡­ I know.¡± That¡¯s why they are allowed to stay longer than the others even though it¡¯s past visiting


    time. Tyler turned to enter his car. Victoria humped when his son did not even bother opening the car¡¯s


    door for her. Such unfilial son.


    When they already fasten their seatbelts, Tyler begun his slow drive. Since he has a kid on the back,


    sleeping, he has to be extra careful. Victoria scoffed. ¡°Now you act like he¡¯s your son, huh?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Althea said he¡¯s not.¡± Tyler whispered.


    Victoria chocked on her saliva. ¡°What makes you think he¡¯s yours? Wait- why did you even asked her in


    the first ce?! Are you serious?¡±


    Tyler went silent. He has no idea how and what to exin. Will he tell her that she once imed that


    she was pregnant with his child? But he was scumbag and a stupid jerk who did not even tried


    confirming whether it¡¯s true or not, then denied it? How can he exin how he used her of having


    sex with someone aside from him? He can¡¯t.


    Tyler gripped the wheels tighter.


    He¡¯s so ashamed of himself. How and where did he even get that courage to pursue her again?


    Victoria was left gaping. She has many questions is her mind but she¡¯s sure he wont answer it by the


    gloominess in his face. She sighed and leaned her back on the seat. ¡°Tyler, you have to do this right,


    got it?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Get that kid¡¯s heart!¡± She pointed at Kai. ¡°As far as I know, Althea¡¯s not married yet. Win the kid¡¯s heart


    first, act like a father¡¯s figure, then get him by your side. By that, you¡¯ll increase your chances.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± His stupid mother. Now he knows why she suddenly made him volunteer about it. She has this


    kind of n all along. Nheless, this made himugh. ¡°You have a point but there¡¯s no way I will be


    using him for that.¡±


    ¡°oohhh¡­¡± Victoria wiggled her brows. ¡°Confident, are we?¡±


    ¡°I just have no n using innocent people. And if he knew about that n, he¡¯ll hate me.¡±


    ¡°Okay, whatever.¡± Her phone rang. Tyler nced at his mother fishing out her phone from her clutch


    briefly. Victoria read the new message and she smiled widely. ¡°Hey, drop me off to your father¡¯s house.¡±


    It was Tyler¡¯s turn to raise an eyebrow, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He drops off his mother to his


    father¡¯s house like what she said, and he just looked at her getting out like she¡¯s going to a date or


    something. Tyler sighed, looking at the rear mirror to check at Kai, he hit the road and drove home. His


    guards opened the enormous gates of his house, and when he arrived in front of the stairs leading to


    the footsteps of his house, he jumps off from the car and opened the back seat.


    ¡°Good evening sir.¡± His driver greeted him with two maids following behind his back.


    ¡°Good evening.¡± He replied. He made half of his body enter the backseat and carefully heave the


    sleeping boy to his arms. Like a delicate ss, he held him close and puts one of his hands on top of


    his head.


    The three was shocked when they saw a boy. The two maids especially, has their eyes bulging.


    Who is that kid? Why is it that they never saw him before? Why is their boss holding him like that? Is he


    boss¡¯s son? With whom? Pretty sure it¡¯s not Sheryl!


    Another maid appeared, but her uniform is different from the other two. She¡¯s the head maid. She was


    the one who took care of Tyler when he was still a kid. She¡¯s known for not expressing her emotions,


    she¡¯s stern and strict.


    When she saw what was happening, she herself can¡¯t help but raise a brow. Among the four of them,


    she was the only one who asked boldly, ¡°Sir, may I ask who that is? Your kid?¡±


    Tyler paused then looked down at him. Kai was still soundlessly sleeping on his shoulder.


    Who is this child? Tyler smiled, which shook the four again. ¡°He is not mine. Not yet.¡±


    The stern maid almost choke, the driver and the other three can¡¯t help but release a sound of shock.


    The head maid red at them after she fixed herself. She can understand their shock since she¡¯s


    shocked too. But they can¡¯t be rude in front of Tyler.


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Tyler ignored their shock, instead, he gave them a series of orders. ¡°Prepare a room for him. Make sure


    the room isfortable and warm. Check his sizes and order clothes for him.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡±


    ¡°Good, at the meantime, he will be with me. Just knocked on my door when it¡¯s ready.¡±

 Chapter 70: Tyler and Kai

    Chapter 70: Tyler and Kai


    CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT:


    Tyler and Kai


    --


    Morning came earlier than Tyler expected. Like his daily routine, he''s woken up by his maid, take a


    bath after a short run on his garden, then wear his outfit of the day; a tie and his ck suit then paired it


    up with a ck leather shoes.


    Tyler stood in front of his human-sized mirror while fixing his tie. His hair is a little bit damp since he


    didn''t dried it up properly. He''s a little bitzy to thoroughly dry them using towel dry. He even just run


    his hand on them, not even bothering about styling it.


    Knock, knock.


    Tyler paused when he heard the knocks. Looking at the door through the mirror, he called. "Yes?"


    "Sir Tyler," a muffled voice called. Although it was a little bit inaudible, he immediately recognized it as


    the head maid. His former nanny. "Your breakfast is ready."


    "Wait," Giving his appearance a quick fix and check, he turned away from the mirror and opened the


    door. The head maid was already standing in a safe distance so he can pass. Tyler smiled at her. "Let''s


    go."


    She nodded then took the initiative to walk before him, acting like she was guiding him towards the


    dining room when it''s not even necessary. Tyler quietly followed after her.


    Seeing her small and frail back, he remembered about the little being he brought homest night.


    "Where is he?" Tyler asked.


    After they went homest night, nothing really happened. Tyler was a little bit nervous since he never


    dealt with children before. And he has to be especially careful since he''s Althea''s son. That woman can


    spit poison. Even if he took care of him, as long as something happened to Kia, he''ll recieve her wrath.


    He knows how she loves him. He also know how intense mother''s love is.


    He can even still remember how her mother almost knocked a 7 year old kid when he was an


    elementary student. He was rather shy and meek that time, so he got bullied a lot. It continued until he


    went home with bruises. Victoria literally dragged him back to school and searched who was the


    bastard who hurt her only son.


    Tyler remembered how scared he was that time. When his mother angrily demanded him to spit out


    which kid bullied him, he was trembling when he pointed one of the kids out. He and that kid cowered


    before his mother. When she got into it, no one can seem to stop her from spitting mes. Tyler''s sure


    that even his father was reluctant about stopping her in fear of her getting angry at him instead.


    His father is a traitor.


    ''Ah.'' Tyler thought, when they passed through a window, he briefly took a nce outside. ''Right,


    mother was with father yesterday...''


    Why did they even divorced in the first ce? He can''t even remember fight that they. When they


    announced their divorce to him, both looked happy and even happily discussed about who will take


    care of him in specific dates.


    His family is really weird.


    "The little boy is already awake sir," yhe head maid replied. "The clothes arrived this morning, we


    already bathed him. He''s currently waiting at the table."


    "He''s awake?" Tyler said in shock. "But it''s not even past eight!"


    "The maids were shock themselves." The woman smiled. "He did not even required waking up. He was


    already awake before the maids knocked on his doors."


    "An early bird then," a smile surfaced on his face when a certain memory of the distant past entered his


    mind.


    It was when Althea always strokes his hair every morning, and when he wokes up, she''ll greet her with


    her big and warm smile.


    "He''s just like his mom."


    The woman jolted after the mention of the kid''s mother. Sneaking a peek to Tyler, her curiosity grew


    even more after seeing his smile.


    Who is that woman?!


    They arrived at the dining room not long after. The maids, seeing how their employer is smiling, almost


    tripped on their feet.


    The smile is small and obscure, if only they''re not used to his stoic and in cold face, they could have


    not noticed it! What made or who made their boss smile like this early in the morning?!


    As what the head maid said, Kai was already at the dining table. Because of his small stature, his feet


    are dangling. His small hands were on the table next to the utensils. Since he''s small, the table, tes,


    sses, and even the spoon and fork are massive in Tyler''s eyes.


    Althea''s kid looks like a dwarf in front of his tableware.


    "Good morning." Kai greeted him.


    Tyler''s smile turned into frown after thinking about the possibility of Kai being hurt, but seeing the kid


    not bothered by it even by a bit, he wiped the frown and greeted him smile. "Good morning. How was


    your sleep?"


    "Fine." Kai briefly answered while watching Tyler take a seat across him.


    The maids begun assisting Kai after Tyler gestured them to. He noticed that he wasn''t eating until he


    came. Putting on his egg and ham on his te, Tyler spoke to Kai with the tone that none of them


    heard before.


    It seems like the sir cares about the child.


    "I have a meeting this morning and then a lunch meeting." He shoved a bacon into his mouth. "I can''t


    apany you this morning."


    "It''s fine." Kai answered while carefully slicing the egg in half. "I''ll just stay here. Or you can just drop


    me to the hospital. Mnie will take care of me."


    "Hmm..." Tyler chew on his food while thinking. "How about I''ll bring you with me in the office?"


    "Huh?" Kai paused. Bring him in the office? Won''t he be a nuisance in him? Even his own father won''t


    bring him to his office. Kai looked at him hesitantly. "I, I''m fine here."


    "No." Tyler shook his head. He can''t believe he just thought of this now. "I''ll bring you to the office, then


    we''ll both go to the hospital after my meetings."


    Kai stayed silent, he stared at him while thinking what to respond. Will he really bring him? He never


    went into an office before.


    He saw no hesitation in Tyler''s eyes, so Kai was convinced he''s serious. Kai nodded. "Okay. I''ll make


    sure to not get in your way."


    Tyler chuckled despite the question circling in his head.


    Who told him he was a hindrance? Kai is calmer and well behaved than his peers.


    "Okay." Tyler masked his questions. "Now let''s eat. Eat plenty, it''s gonna be a long day."


    --


    Their breakfast didn''tst long. After that, they drove to hispany. The drive wasn''t long either.


    When they arrived at the parking lot, someone stopped Tyler.


    "Tyler," it was April. "We need to talk..."


    She stopped when she saw him holding a small hand. With wide eyes, she trailed it and saw a young


    boy with an eye which is oddly familiar with her.


    "Oh," she wiped her serious face away and smiled at the kid. "Who''s this?"


    "My name is Kai." The little kid took the initiative to introduce himself.


    "What a smart kid!" April was amused. "Well hello Kai, I''m April. How old are you?"


    "I''m five."


    "Ahh," she nodded.


    "April," Tyler called out. "What is it that you want to talk about?"


    April''s face turned serious. "It''s about them."


    Tyler also turned serious. He was silent before kneeling fown in front of Kai. He handed him his ID.


    "Here, enter thepany and give this to thedy in the front desk. Tell her to bring you in my office."


    "Okay." He nodded then took the ID. He waved goodbye and walked towards the entrance.


    Tyler watched his small figure it until it disappeared from his sight. He turned to talk to April.


    "What is it?"


    "We found them already, but they''re dead."


    "What?" Tyler furrowed his brows.


    "We recieved an anonymous tip yesterday, it gave us a location in a certain forest. The tip also said to


    bring a firetruck, just in case. The police were reluctant at first, but when they got there, the forest were


    on fire." April exined. "It was fortunate enough that they moved fast and the fire was put out."


    "... How sure are you that it''s them?"


    "About that, the one who shot Althea was outside the forest... He''s also dead. With gunshot."


    "Gunshot?"


    "Yes."


    "Someone killed them?" He was confused. "Why?"


    "That, we don''t know too, unfortunately." April sounds guilty. "Although we are looking deep in it."


    "Okay." Tyler nodded. "Thank you for the information."


    "Hmm..."


    Then they stood there in silence. Tyler raised a brow and asked, "What? Is something wrong?"


    He thought she''ll go after telling him what she knows. But she was hesitating to go away and kept on


    looking on his back.


    "Uh," she started. "Who is he?"


    Oh. "He''s Althea''s son."


    "What?!" April shouted in shock. "You met her again 5 years ago and impregnate her?!"


    Tyler frowned. "What? No."


    "So he''s not yours..." Sheughed hesitantly. "So... So she''s married...?"


    "No."


    "Then... Who''s the father?"


    "Who knows."


    "..." April faced palm before sighing. "Whatever. Then I''ll go now. I''ll visit Althea at the hospital."


    "Okay." Then both of them waved goodbye to each other.


    Tyler walked inside thepany but stopped at the entrance when he saw a smallmotion. He


    frowned and tapped a woman in front of him.


    "S-sir!"


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Sir! There''s a kid there holding your ID! He''s saying you know him!"


    "What?" They didn''t let him up?


    Sliding through the sea of crowd, he ended up in front. He can see Kai looking up at thedy in front


    with her face contorted.


    "Look, kid. I don''t know where the hell you got that ID, but there''s no way I''m letting you in." She spat.


    "Who knows what kind of virus you carries. You''ll infect our boss!"


    "...?" Kai was confused. "I''m not carrying anything harmful. Mr. Tyler told me to make you assist me up.


    He said you''ll bring me in his office if I show you this."


    "Yeah, right." Thedy nonchntly said. "Lies, lies. Why would he give it to you when he can just


    apany you?"


    "He''s talking with someone-"


    "Stop lying, gosh!" Thedy went impatient. "I hate kids like you the most!"


    "Excuse me."


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    A voice that familiar to everyone made them silent. Many eyes fell to Tyler''s figure. Their boss was


    walking towards rhe boy that is topic of their murmurs.


    "Sir!" Thedy was startled. Then she begun bbering away. "Someone is iming that you gave


    them-"


    "Kai," Tyler called the kid. "Why are you up yet?"


    "Mr. Tyler." Kai replied meekly. "I''m sorry. I even promised you that I won''t get in your way..."


    Seeing his small figure, Tyler red at thedy. Thedy flinched and looked away while slowly getting


    pale.


    Tyler sighed and crouched to pick Kai up. He held the boy in his arm and talked to thedy. "You,


    prepare a snack for the kid. Bring it to the office."


    In silence, everyone there watched their boss enter the elevator with an unknown kid in his


    arms.

 Chapter 71: Tyler is Kind-hearted

    Chapter 71: Tyler is Kind-hearted


    CHAPTER SIXTY- NINE:


    Tyler is Kind Hearted


    --


    First floor of thepany.


    There is a bustling crowd near the entrance, they were in circles and has a lively discussion about a


    single topic. Every employee who arrived a little bitte to see the event has a big question mark on


    their heads. Hearing snips and crumbs of what had transpired, they be curious and also flocked to


    the biggest circle, near the reception area.


    ¡°What happened?¡± One of the newly arrivals asked. The others who also know nothing about it perked


    up their ears, ready to absorb teas.


    ¡°It seems like Sir Tyler has a son-¡° onedy said but thedy next to her lightly elbowed her side. She


    was cut off and most of them red at her for the interruption. She red back.


    ¡°Shut up, stop making false news.¡± She huffed. ¡°I was near to them, so I heard that the kid did not even


    call him ¡®dad¡¯, ¡®daddy¡¯, or whatsoever! He addressed him as Mr. Tyler!¡±


    This followed by grunts of confirmation. A man popped his head through the crowd and asked. ¡°You


    might be right, but have you seen how soft he was to the kid? I even thought he wasn¡¯t the boss in that


    moment. I never saw him smile like that!¡±


    ¡°What? So, is he really his kid? Maybe he made him stay hidden until today!¡±


    ¡°That stupid! I never saw miss Sheryl pregnant!¡±Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    ¡°Then maybe it¡¯s with another woman-¡°


    Thedy next to the guy who just talked smacked his head. And between her gritted teeth, she pulled


    his ears and said, ¡°Do you think sir is like you? No! I never saw him with anyone but with miss Sheryl.¡±


    Everyone looked at the guyining about how it hurts then shook their head. Right, there¡¯s no way


    the boss is like him. A cheater. They have witnessed many times how many women pped and


    smacked his face after discovering his affairs. The single men can¡¯t help but bathe to his pain after


    getting jealous of how much attention he gets from women.


    ¡°But cheating is not entirely impossible, right?¡± A voice of a woman said. Countless pairs of eyes turned


    to look at her. After being put into the spotlight, she almost cowered.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    She made an ufortable smile. ¡°You see, did Sir even love miss Sheryl?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    No one was able to answer her question. After little bit of thoughts, the crowd begun to separate and


    went to their own working stations. They might be single individual with different thoughts and actions,


    currently, they have the same train of thoughts.


    That¡¯s right. Did their boss even love her?


    Never in their working days have they ever saw such emotion in his eyes when he looks at Sheryl. It


    was thetter who is forceful and clingy to the former. Even though the emotion is small and hidden,


    they can see the annoyance in Tyler¡¯s eyes every time she gets too clingy to him.


    So, does he love her?


    ¡°Anyway,¡± another woman said to herpanion when they are passing through the reception table. ¡°I


    saw how sir cares for the small one. He even scooped him up even though he dislikes physical touch.¡±


    She can say that with great confidence after seeing his face crunching in dissatisfaction whenever


    Sheryl tries to cling on his arm, although he never tried to pry her arms away. Maybe out of


    consideration and respect.


    ¡°I cannot agree more,¡± she sighed before clinging on the other¡¯s arm. ¡°Good luck to whoever offended


    the kid earlier. I hope she won¡¯t lose her job.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Sir is considerate, but I don¡¯t know what will happen.¡±


    They passed through thedy who unfortunately offended the kid. After hearing their conversation, she


    clenched her fist into a ball. She can feel tear threatening to fall from her eyes.


    She was stupid. If only she tried to be nicer and managed her temper well¡­


    She doesn¡¯t want to lose her job.


    --


    A light ding rang, indicating that they already reached the floor of Tyler¡¯s office. The elevator¡¯s doors


    slid open, and he carefully slip out, he was still carrying Kai in his hands. Sharon, who was seating on


    her desk, stood up and greeted him with files in his hand.


    ¡°Good morning sir¡­¡± Her eyes darted to Kai. As the professional she is, she immediately dispels the


    shock and went back to talking. ¡°The board members are already inside the conference room.¡±


    Tyler nodded his head. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    He walked pass through her and entered his office. Sharon followed behind him. His office is bid but


    there¡¯s nothing much in it aside from cabs for files, bookshelves, a table with mountains of paper


    there is also a que which Tyler¡¯s name is written on it, a small indoor nt, a sofa opposite the table


    and a coffee table, and at the back of that table is a floor to ceiling ss window. There is also a door


    which leads to the bathroom.


    Tyler puts Kai down on the sofa. ¡°Kai, can you wait for me here?¡±


    The boy obediently nodded his head. ¡°I will. I will not bother you again like earlier.¡±


    Tyler paused from his words. Seeing how the calm andposed Kai bowing his head and looking


    guilty over something so trivial, he can¡¯t help sigh. Tyler kneeled in front of him and held his small


    hands. He tried getting his attention. ¡°Listen Kai, you did not do anything wrong. You did not bother me.


    It¡¯s okay, there¡¯s nothing to be sad about.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Kai muttered. ¡°I did not?¡±


    ¡°Of course, you didn¡¯t. How can something like that a bother?¡±


    Kai stared at him in silence and thought, ¡®But my father told me that even a slight mistake is bothering,


    that¡¯s why he rarely brings me in his office and just homeschooled me.¡¯


    Tyler noticed his stared, he smiled at him. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    The boy shook his head. ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing wrong.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± He nodded his head in satisfaction. He then stood up and signaled Sharon that they have to


    get going. The secretary understood it, she nodded her head and went out first. ¡°Wait for me okay,¡±


    Kai nodded his head and watched him walk away and close the door behind him. When Kai was the


    only one that is left in the room, he looked around and noticed the inness of his office. The only thing


    that keeps vibrant in the room is the lone indoor nt. Kai did not think of anything is odd because his


    father¡¯s office is the same.


    Later on, the door opened. Ady who is carrying a tter of sweets came inside. Kai noticed that she


    was familiar. Right, she was thatdy earlier. She brought the sweets and puts it down on the coffee


    table. She then stood up straight.


    ¡°Sir,¡± she said politely. ¡°This is the snack Sir Tyler ordered me to bring.¡±


    Kai looked at the delicious treats and gave thedy a smile. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    The other smiled back awkwardly. When Kai begun to pick up the sweets, she looked around and saw


    that Tyler isn¡¯t there. She sighed in relief before kneeling to the kid.


    ¡°Sir-¡° she begged. ¡°Can- can you convive him- your da- sir Tyler to not fire me? I- I have kids you see; I


    am the only one who feeds them. I can¡¯t afford to lose this job!¡±


    She knows that she looks pathetic begging like this. She knows she¡¯s shameless and stupid for treating


    the kid like that when she herself has one. Even so, she has to do this, she has mouths to feed. She


    doesn¡¯t even know if this kid understands her or not.


    Much to her surprise, Kai stopped his munching and smiled at her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said. ¡°Sir Tyler is


    good, he is kind hearted. He will not do that.¡±


    ¡°R-really?¡± her eyes sparkled. ¡°You will help me, right?¡±


    Kai has no idea what she¡¯s talking at this point, he just nodded his head. With that, thedy went out


    with a big smile on her face, her aura says that she just went through a death penalty sessfully. Kai


    on the other hand ate his foods while wondering when will he can go and visit his mother.


    --


    In a hallway leading to the conference room.


    Sharon was following behind Tyler while summarizing the contents of the meeting. It was amazing how


    she can talk while walking fast to catch up with him. Tyler on the other hand was not listening and kept


    on readjusting his watch on his left arm. After that, he interrupted Sharon.


    ¡°Sharon. Do you know who that woman on the reception area?¡±


    Sharon calmly closed her tablet and said, ¡°Ana, sir? Yes, what about her.¡±


    ¡°Can you look at her performance for me.¡± He ordered.


    ¡°¡­ Yes sir.¡± Despite the order that came out from nowhere, Sharon still browsed in her tablet. After


    gathering data and summarizing them in her head, she told Tyler. ¡°She¡¯s been working for us for almost


    a year, her performance is good for the past six months.¡±


    He furrowed his brows. ¡°How about the remaining months?¡±


    ¡°Apparently, one every three days, she arriveste. She even skips works once every week. There are


    alsoints about how she handles other employees here.¡±


    ¡°Howe I never knew about this?¡±


    I don¡¯t know, I¡¯m shocked myself. ¡°The head of the department probably did not include this to his


    reports until now. The files are fresh.¡±


    ¡°I see, they don¡¯t want to get swept with her, huh. They are trying to keep their hand clean.¡± He


    laughed. ¡°So that Ana and her department head¡­¡±


    ¡°What about them, sir?¡±


    ¡°Fire them.¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Do I need to repeat myself?¡± Tyler pulled to a stop after reaching the conference room. He reached for


    the handle of the door.


    ¡°Fire them.¡±

 Chapter 72: Testing Him

    Chapter 72: Testing Him


    CHAPTER SEVENTY:


    Testing Him


    --


    The meeting wrapped up earlier than they originally nned. It went smoothly and the problems were


    smoothened down almost immediately.


    The people inside the conference room started bustling, they are discussing things that are either


    relevant with the meeting that just ended or just random conversation that involves their hobbies and


    past times.


    Although the meeting is already adjourned, you can notice that none of them left their seats. Behind the


    loud and noisy discussions of the others, you can hear small and inaudible murmurs. These group of


    people that gossips were looking at a certain direction.


    It was Tyler who was sitting at the opposite of the table. He was with Sharon, and they were discussing


    about their meeting after this.


    If you listen closely to the murmurs directed to him, the context of these is about what happened earlier.


    About the child he brought with him.


    They have bunch of questions in their mind, but they were afraid to voice them out. Their questions


    remained stuck in their throat, and they just watched Tyler and Sharon exit the room without a word.


    .


    The door opened and Tyler and his secretary entered inside.


    They can see a small head on the back of the sofa, the head turned around to look. When he saw


    them, it hopped off the sofa and greeted.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    Tyler looked at the coffee table and a satisfied smile surfaced on his lips when he saw that the te on


    the table is left with nothing but crumbs of his foods. Even the ss of juice is emptied. It seems like


    his guest liked the dessert that they have in the office.


    ¡°Hello Kai, sorry for making you wait.¡±


    The boy shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I didn¡¯t wait for too long.¡±


    Sharon, who was behind Tyler, raise a brow and gave the boy a long stare. Kai caught her staring and


    he stared back; Sharon only smiled at him before reminding Tyler about the lunch meeting.


    Tyler nodded his head and held out a hand to Kai, ¡°Let¡¯s go?¡±


    Kai furrowed his brows and asked in confusion. ¡°Where?¡± Nheless, he epted his hand.


    ¡°You¡¯reing with me.¡±


    Kai paused and looked up at him. ¡°It¡¯s a meeting, right? Wont it bother you and your meeting partner


    when someone like me is there?¡±


    ¡°Someone like you?¡± Tyler mirrored his confusion. ¡°What kind of someone are you?¡±


    He pursed his lips into thin line. ¡°A kid.¡±


    This made the other two chuckle silently. Tyler shook his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can just seat


    next to our table. It¡¯s not bothering at all.¡±


    Kai oh¡¯ed and nodded his head, understanding what he said. Satisfied with his response, Tyler


    tightened the grip on his hand and gently pulled him towards the door.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go?¡±


    .


    In their ride inside the elevator, Tyler asked Kai what they will bring when they visit the hospital. Kai


    said it¡¯s not necessary, but the other one insisted. The boy gave up and with a deep thought, he said


    that it would be nice if they bring fruits.


    Tyler was amused. He was silent for a while, and he thought he was just having a hard time choosing.


    But when he opened his mouth, he suggested the mostmon option there. It seems like the little


    one knows how to be a considerate fellow.


    He did not refute his suggestion and simply said okay and went along with it.


    Then they arrived at the first floor.


    Tyler¡¯s smile faded when he noticed themotion. The three exited the elevator and was weed


    by a ruckus. Near the elevator, two employees were gossiping. Tyler tapped one of them.


    ¡°What?!¡± The one who was tapped spatted, when he saw who he shouted at, his soul almost lost his


    body. ¡°S-sir Tyler!¡±


    Shit, why do his hot head act up today of all day? What if he gets fired like the other two?


    Hispanion was also startled, and he greeted Tyler with fear. The others in the vicinity also noticed


    him and greeted. The earlier noisy floor is deadly quite. Tyler quickly sweeps a nce over before


    staring at the one who got angry at him out of nowhere.


    ¡°Speak.¡±


    It was only a single word, but the word carried a heavy feeling. Without the help of other words, he


    immediately understood the meaning behind that word. In fear, he stuttered.


    ¡°I- uh,¡± his eyes traveled down and saw the boss he was afraid of is holding a kid¡¯s child carefully. The


    kid was also staring up at him. His eyelid twitched and he had a conflicted feeling. Before getting his


    ass fired, he get back to the topic immediately. ¡°The thing is-¡°


    ¡°Sir!¡± Before he can even finish his words, a woman, Ana, suddenly rushed towards them.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    Her face was haggard and there were tears streaming down her face. Her makeup was also ruined,


    and it made her face unsightly. The mascara made a ck waterfall on her eye to her cheeks and her


    fakeshed are almosting off.


    Seeing her, Tyler understood what had transpired.


    He bored his gaze to her.


    Ana shouted. ¡°Sir- sir! How can you do this to me? I have mouths to feed! You can¡¯t fire me just like


    that!¡±


    Seeing her advance like a raging bull, her coworkers were kind enough to stop her. Tyler instinctively


    shielded Kai behind him. Sharon gently pulled the kid beside her.


    ¡°Ana, how dare you create a ruckus inside mypany?¡± He looked behind her. ¡°And why is it that you


    haven¡¯t packed your things yet? If I remember correctly, you¡¯re not part of thispany anymore.¡±


    This made her more hysterical, ¡°But sir!¡± Her gazended on Kai. ¡°How can you fire me from something


    like that? I-I just did not let the boy enter because- I was protecting the image of thepany!¡±


    Tyler frowned in annoyance. ¡°Destroying the image of thepany? How letting a child inside a


    company destroys its image?¡±


    ¡°W-well¡­¡± Ana hesitated.


    Tyler sighed, ¡°Stop, you¡¯re wasting my time.¡± He turned and offered his hand to Kai. ¡°Come,¡±


    The child did not hesitate and went to him. He held his hand like he did it numerous times. Tyler smiled


    and satisfaction then looked up at Sharon. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir.¡±


    The three turned their backs on them and walked away. As they were about to exit the ce, Ana


    shouted again, gaining some courage out of nowhere.


    ¡°Wait!¡± She shouted and managed to free herself from the hands that is stopping her. Her colleagues


    were not able to stop her anymore, but she stopped just a few meters behind them. ¡°How about miss


    Sheryl?¡±


    Tyler stopped walking but he did not turn back. Ana thought he caught him off guard, it made her smile


    with satisfaction and continued. ¡°How about miss Sheryl? If she knows, how will she react about you


    having a mistress- and worst- you two have a child together!¡±


    These made the others murmur amongst themselves. It gave her more confidence. ¡°Ha! And if the


    media knows, do you think thepany won¡¯t tarnish its name? Who thought that the outstanding


    young CEO is an unfaithful man? If your engagement broke, the masses will sympathize with Sheryl


    and curse you and that bitch mistress of yo-¡°


    ¡°Miss Ana,¡± he turned and stared at her with cold green ice. His stares were hard, and it felt like he was


    staring at her very own soul. It wasn¡¯t just her who felt it, almost all of them shuddered under his gaze.


    Ana gave a short and small whimper. ¡°Do you want me to make sure that you¡¯ll never ever be able to


    feed your children again?¡±


    It was a threat that made her heart turn cold. Ana unconsciously stepped back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare test me,¡± he addressed her, both all of them thought that it was directed to them. ¡°I


    pretty have a long patience and understanding, but they¡¯re not infinite.¡±


    ¡°So don¡¯t test me, or I¡¯ll make sure to use every means to make your life miserable as the beggars you


    usually ignore or sneered at.¡±

 Chapter 73: Tylers friend

    Chapter 73: Tyler''s friend


    Chapter seventy-one:


    Tyler''s friend


    --


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    "What''s wrong?" Tyler asked Kai.


    Kai looke up at him and answered after a moment of silence. "Nothing."


    "Hm..." Tyler hummed, unconvinced.


    Kai noticed that Tyler did not believe his words but he did not bother telling the truth. He instead, looked


    away and tightened his grip of the other''s hand. The boy was silent since they went out of the


    company''s building. Tyler know that the boy is silent and a man of few words, but his silence this time


    is not like the silence he is used to.


    It was clear that something is bothering him.


    Tyler thought about what it is for a bit, and after pondering, he reached into a conclusion. He stopped


    on his tracks. Since the boy was walking slightly ahead of him, he was pulled back. The boy looked up


    at him, his aquamarine eyes is filled with confusion. It remided him of Althea''a confused eyes wheneve


    he tells her a joke that is hard for her toprehend.


    This made him chuckle. Hearing his chuckle, Sharon who was steps behind the two looked a her


    boss''s back in confusion.


    But before she can voice out her confusion, the other kneeled and held both of the child''s arms.


    Sharon was shock once again. It was the very fist time she saw him showing affection. Tyler is not


    even like this to his own mother.


    Tyler looked at Kai with fresh and warm eyes that is simr to the early spring where nts and flowers


    that were frozen and shed their leaves begun to get their lives back as the sun peeks above the clouds.


    It was different from the eyes he showed earlier to thedy.


    Kai rxed and his tightly pursed lips slightly trembled.


    "Are you feelin guilty?" Tyler asked. Kai answered him with silence. Heughed. He held his hands and


    both of his thumbs caressed his small fingers. His hands were warm. "Why are you guilty? There''s


    nothing to be guilty about."


    ".... But..." The little by bowed his head.


    She lost her job. She said she has children. She works for her children. For their foods, shelter and


    clothing, just like his mother. But even though his mother will not work hard enough, his father is there.


    But he knows nothing about the situation on Ana''s end. What if she is the only one her children has?


    What if she has no partner to shoulder the responsibility with her?


    She lost the job that gives them money, and the vause of it is more likely him. Since she personally told


    him earlier at the office...


    Even not knowing Kai that long, Tyler was able to understand what he was thinking. he patted his head.


    "Sigh, stop thinking like that. It''s ot your fault. I did not fired her because of you."


    "Really?" Kai asked reluctantly.


    Tyler smiled.


    Well, it was one of the reasons.


    "Really." Kneeling is making his knee hurt, so he stood up and hauled him. Kai was startled but quickly


    held on his neck. "Thatdy did many, many bad things and those things can damage the reputation of


    thepany, so I have no other choice but to fire her."


    Kai was still reluctant. "Really?"


    Well, I fired her earlier because of what she did to you.


    Tyler gave him a big, warm smile. A smile of a kind hearted Tyler. "Really!"


    The child was convinced. He smiled and his furrowed brows loosen. "Okay!"


    Tyler was smiling but he was shock inside. Kai''s smile was genuine and bright, it was not like his


    reserved and rehearsed smile, like how his mother smile.


    He was shocked by the sight but his smile soothed him. He did not even notice that he''s tired. Maybe


    because he stayed uptest night and woke up early.


    Since he already cleared his doubt, he asked him. "Let''s go?''


    .


    They arrived at a fancy restaurant.


    Together with Kai and Sharon, they entered it and he made Kai dit next to his table. He made Sharon


    sit with him. It didn''t took long before his meeting partner to arrive.


    He stood up, but before he can greet him, he saw someone behind him. Tyler furrowed his brows at


    first, but when he met that dark eyes and familiar stoic face.


    He raised a brow.


    "Mr. Barns!" A rather fat old man called out. "Look who I found!"


    "A rather difficult catch, indeed." Tyler said. He addressed the taller man. "I thought you''re out of the


    country with your wife?"


    Before he can answer, his eyes wondered to the next table. His eyes met a familiar blue eyes and a


    familiar face. After seeing the kid, his expression did not even changed and he looked away like he saw


    nothing. Kai continued to stare.


    "Something came up," his usual cold and t voice vibrated. "We have to go home earlier than


    expected."


    Tyler oh''ed and nodded his head. He didn''t asked further.


    After that, he offered them a seat and they started their meeting.


    .


    "You''re still efficient as ever, Mr. Barns." The older man said in satisfaction, file picking up the files that


    are scattered on the table and putting them back in his suitcase."I am very satisfied with the oue."


    Tyler nodded, his usual indifferent face was up. "It''s nothing."


    "Well then," he stood up, straightening his coat. "I have to go first. I have a meeting for the next hour.


    Have a nice day, Mr. Barns."


    Tyler wished the other to have a nice day too. After bidding goodbye, only two of them were left.


    "Why aren''t you leaving yet?" He asked.


    The other was drinking tea. "You haven''t either."


    Tyler gave a lowugh, then they spent the next few second in silence. The other gentleman was


    drinking his tea when his eyesnded on the other table again.


    This time, the woman and the child was already eating their lunch. Both were emerse with their food.


    He opened his mouth. "Is that your kid?"


    Tyler paused. He looked at the other and followed his line of sight. Heughed and shook his head.


    "No, no." He paused again. "But... How I wish."


    The man who was sitting across him raised a brow. "Oh. So who''s child is that?"


    He answered after a momentary silence. "... Althea''s."


    The man is now raising both of his eyebrows and puts down his cup. "Althea. That Althea?"


    Hearing his sound of confirmation, his originally dull eyes showed a hint of amusement. "So you two


    met again? And you even has her child?"


    Tyler once againughed. He wasughing more often after seeing this man, Sharon noticed. "I know,


    crazy right?"


    "... So, are you two together again?" He was replied by silence. The man understood, so he asked a


    different question. "Who''s the father?"


    Tyler red at him and his face contorted. "Shut up. Don''t mention him."


    "You hate him?"


    Tyler pursed his lips. "I don''t know. I haven''t meet him yet. But I don''t want to meet him."


    "Really?" For some reason, his voice carries amusement.


    Tyler frowned. "What are youughing at?"


    "Nothing."


    Tyler sighed, then looked at the other table. He beckoned Kai. "Kai,e here."


    The kid was taken a back. He looked at Tyler''s hand before looking at his guest. The man was looking


    at him. Kai gulped and his expressionless face was back. He jumped down from his chair and went to


    him.


    He stood next to Tyler''s chair.


    "This is Kai, Althea''s son." He gestured to Kai then the other. "This is Augustine, he is my-"


    "Friend." Augustine cut in. "I am Tyler''s friend."


    Tyler. "?"


    Augustine stood up, circled the table and stop in front of Kai. Kai looked up at him. Augustine stretched


    out his hand. "Hello Kai, I''m Augustine. Your future father''s friend."

 Chapter 74: A Look of Disdain

    Chapter 74: A Look of Disdain


    Chapter Seventy-two:


    A Look of Disdain


    --


    The restaurant is not crowded and very few people are dining in. They all looks elegant and refined, the


    have this ssy air in them, making the ordinary people that is peeking out from the ss wall to look


    at them with envy and admiration.


    There are still people that are having their lunch, as they talked with themselves in whispers, their eyes


    will asionally wander to wards a certain spot.


    It was where Tyler and the others were sitting at. Well, in actuality, it was only Tyler who was sitting.


    Augustine, Kai were standing in front of each other. Kai was looking up at the other with an


    indiscernible emotion in his eyes.


    Sharon was also standing up, originally, she thought of sitting on her boss''s table, but when she saw


    the unmoving boy, she looked at the two withplicated emotions.


    She noticed that something is amiss, but she did not voice it out.


    Tyler was oblivious since he can see things one sided. Since Kai''s back is facing him, he can''t see his


    face. All he know is he''s frozen in ce while Augustine was still smiling down at him. A very rare


    emotion of him. It was the first time Tyler saw it.


    He raised a brow and said, "Augustine, stop smiling. See, the kid is frozen, you scared him."


    Augustine also noticed it, so the expression waspletely wiped out from his face. Sending Tyler a


    piercing re, he looked at Kai with no emotion in his eyes again. It was a look of looking at a stranger.


    "Ah," Kai uttered under his breath, he noticed that he was frozen and forgot to take the other''s hand.


    He grew nervous.


    Pursing his lips into a thin, fine line, he nced up at Augustine anxiously before taking his hand. He


    almost flinched at the contact. The older man''s hand was cold, it was big and cold.


    "Hello," Kai ignored his temperature. "My name is Alexander Kai. Uhm, you can call me Kai."


    Augustine said hi and shook their hand. After that,he sat back on his seat. The table was for four, so


    Sharon and Kai also took a seat. They sat across each other, Tyler was on Kai''s left, while Augustine


    was on his right.


    Tyler ordered the staffs to transfer the food from the other table to theirs. After that, Tyler and Augustine


    talked about business. Sharon listened and took notes of the important details while Kai remained


    silent the whole time.


    Their talk ended together with their lunch. Augustine announced that he''s going and asked if Tyler''s


    going back to his office.


    Tyler shook his head."No, I''m visiting Althea at the hospital."


    "Oh." He didn''t asked anymore.


    As Tyler was settling the bill, Augustine head out.


    Augustine is a tall, fine man. He stood so straight and his figure was lean. He was only carrying a


    suitcase and was wearing a thee-pieced suit, but he was very intimidating.


    Most of the people he encounters going in the parking lot avoided his eyes.


    It didn''t took long before he reach his car. He opened the door and throw the suitcase in. He was about


    to enter the car, but a small voice stopped him


    "Father."


    He paused. One of his hand was leaning on the door while the other was trying to loosen up his tie.


    Heaing someone call him like that, his eyebrow twitched.


    Pursing his lips, he turned around and looked down at the boy who called him father.


    It was Kai.


    He was staring straigt at him with his aquamarine eyes, it was the same eyes as his mother.


    Something in Augustine twitched.


    He looked behind Kai and saw that no one is following him. It seems like the boy slipped away. He


    frowned and deeply cursed Tyler inside his head.


    He stared back down to the boy and said nothing.


    As he thought that they will only stare at each other in silence, the boy opened his mouth.


    "Father, I-"


    Augustine sighed loudly. Kai quickly shut his mouth and watched as the other impatiently took his tie off


    his neck.


    After removing his tie, he looked at the other with disdain.


    The look made the boy whimper silently. He looked down and looked his two shoes.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    "Kai." He sighed again. "Did I not told you? Outside,"


    "Don''t think of me as your father."


    With that words as parting words, he entered the car without looking back, shut the door, then drove


    away.


    Kai was left alone, looking at the car that is getting smaller and smaller as the distance between them


    growrger.

 Chapter 75: Marks

    Chapter 75: Marks


    Chapter seventy-three;


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Marks


    --


    Morning, the hospital has many people than yesterday, althoug the ce is not crowded, it was enough


    to make the ce feel like not a ce for dead people to wander around.


    Among the patients in their hospital gowns, the nurses in their uniform, the visitors in their casual


    clothes, three people that were walking down the corridor especially stood out.


    It was two men and a woman. The woman who was walking ahead of the other two, wore a white


    blouse and a grey pencil skirt. Drape over the long sleeve white blouse is a grey zer. Her ck


    leather heeled sandals were clicking on the titled floor as she walks.


    The other two on the other hand, were wearing a three pieced suit, back and navy blue.


    As the three passes through other people on the corridor, they can''t help but take a second look and


    turn to stop. The three were well known businessmen and woman, so they can''t help but wonder:


    Who are they here for?


    The question was not lef unanswered, the woman in front stopped in front of a door and was about to


    knock when it opened on its own.


    The woman left her hand hanging on the air, she raised her brow towards the one who opened the


    door.


    Thedy who opened the door looked at her expressionlessly. She asked, "Is there something you


    need?"


    The woman withdraw her hand and smiled at her, "Is Althea here?"


    The other next to the door eyed he three warily. She smiled,pletely knowing why she was on


    guard. Althea was shot yesterday aftr all.


    "Oh, we are here to update her about what happened yesterday. Also, she knows us. We were


    ssmates in college."


    Ba raised an eyebrow. "Friends?"


    Friends...?


    April showed a difficult expression, "Well... no."


    Ba nodded. "Okay. Juste inside, she''s already awake."


    April was shock about how easy it was. She smiled at Ba merrily. "Thank you."


    She shrugged, "You are wee, if you admitted that you were friends, i would have not let you enter."


    The three were amused, Dave asked, "Why?"


    Ba looked at him, "Because she never mentioned to us that she has college friends."


    "..." Oh.


    Ba then bid them goodbye, saying she has to go back to the shop because she has matters to take


    cae of. Despite not knowing what shop she meant, April wished her good luck and watched her leave.


    After seeing her enter the elevator, the three entered the room under the watch of the other people.


    After they closed the door behind them, the people were left behind with wondering mind.


    .


    The first thing they saw inside was a lone white bed in the center, a bedside table, and a sofa. On the


    bed, Althea was already sitting while looking out from the window.


    They can only see the back of her head, strands of her hair were swaying gently on the winding


    from the open window.


    She was quite, the room was quite, and with the clicking sound of the door, she turned to look who


    came inside.


    "Hello Althea," April smiled at her. "Good morning. How are you?"


    "... I''m fine." Althea replied.


    April observed her, Althea''s face is not as pale as before. Although she looks frail that she can be


    blown by the wind in any second, she has vitality in her face at least.


    "That''s good..." April said.


    Althea did not reply her, so the four stared at each other in silence.


    Aaron is simply quiet, so it was April and Dave who were ufortable with the silence.


    The two wanted to speam and say anything but nothinges in their mind.


    It was Althea who sighed first and broke the silence. "Speak. Why are the three of you here early in the


    morning?"


    April hesitated before saying seriously. "I''m here to update you about the man who shot you yesterday.


    And, uh, before that, I would like to apologize..."


    Her voice grew smaller and smaller, seeing that the other merely stared at her, her lips twitched, and


    she was Force to finish her sentence. Althea''s gaze was intense. "... Because we dragged you up, one


    thing lead to another and this happened..."


    Althea still has no response. April thought it was odd, Althea was not angry and she did not even


    chased them out of the room, and she thought that maybe Althea was traumatized with what happened


    and can''t utter a word.


    With that thought, she was sunken into guilt again. She casted her gaze down in attempt to avoid her


    gaze, but what her eyes caught made her flinched a little.


    Althea was also wearing a hospital gown, this gown is naturally short sleeves.


    April''s brows furrowed after seeing what was on Althea''s arms. The more she stares at it, the more she


    thinks it''s familiar.


    Then the scene in the bathroom entered her mind.


    Right, that time, she saw these marks too! Althea was wearing a long sleeved gown that evening, but


    since she was washing her arms, that part of her waspletely exposed.


    April thought she was just hallucinating that part, but seeing them up close, who thought that there


    were several marks on her arms?


    After confirming that those marks were cuts from attempted suicide, she looked up at Althea with


    complicated eyes.

 Chapter 76: How about Althea?

    Chapter 76: How about Althea?


    Chapter Seventy-Four:


    How About Althea?


    --


    Althea noticed her gaze, although she said nothing, her gaze was enough to let April know not to say


    anthing about what she saw. April pursed her lips into thin line and forced herself to forgot about the


    cuts on her arms.


    She once again observed Althea, this time, she noticed some oddity in her. The air she has yesterday


    is somewhat different from now. She does not know how different, but now, Althea has this distant


    feeling, and the feeling of trying to talk to a tall, thick and sturdy wall.


    For some reason, Althea has her guard up, and within the time that the three of them entered, she


    noticed that her eyes did not even strayed to the other two on her back.


    She''s a little bit fidgety too. April noticed how many times Althea caresses her ring finger on her right


    hand. But everytime her finger can''t feel the thing she''s looking for, she''ll resorted to pinching her arm.


    April had a bad feeling.


    It seems like Althea was really traumatized, or it was a past trauma waking up.


    Feeling the guilt, April cannot stay idle anymore.


    She gave the other two a brief nce before looking back at Althea.


    To be honest, she doesn''t even know why these two came with her. Seeing that neither of them wants


    to talk, she has no other choice but to talk by herself and made a mental note to not bring garbages in


    the future.


    She cleared her throat, "Anyway, about them, we recieved a report earlier pertraining to the five but


    unfortunately, the police came to the scene toote and we discovered them dead. It seems like


    murder."


    She paused, looking at Althea and waiting for her response. Thetter did ot talk, so she continued.


    "The police said they don''t know who or why they were killed, but they have something in mind: an


    infighting. It seems like they are part of an undergroound organization-"


    "Why," Althea finally talked for the first time. April was lowkey delighted that she''s finally giving her


    some face.


    "Why what?"


    Althea looked at her, April unconsiously closed her mouth.


    Althea''s eyes contained nothing. It was empty and still. Like a frozen pond in winter, unbudging even in


    front of the strongest winter wind. After seeing the looks in her eyes, April begun to thinnk that what she


    saw earlier was an illusion. Althea was calm, atleast her eyes were calm.


    "Why are you telling me this?"


    "I- uh," April was dumbstruck. Althea doesn''t want to know this? But why? "I thought that maybe you


    should at least know what happened..."


    Althea gave her a bone piercing stare. April found hersef in an ufortable situation again. She


    found herself avoiding her gaze. It was awkward being stared like that. It feels like she''s looking at her


    very own soul.


    "There''s no need."


    "What?"


    "There is no need to bother yourself with this. You don''t have to inform me about that." Althea said


    slowly. "I know that you are only doing it to clear your conscience, but it''s okay-"


    "-no! What are you talking about-"


    "It''s really okay, I forgive you." Althea cut her off. Then, she turned her head away and looked out from


    the window. "As long as I wont see any of you in the future again, everything is alright."


    .


    "Haa..." April let out a long sigh.


    Dave nced at her at the corner of his eyes and asked after some hesitation, "Are you okay?"


    "No, stupid." She red at him before letting out a sigh again. "It was the very first timeI was shutted of


    like this. It''s heartbreaking."


    Daveughed and pressed the basement floor. "We cannot me her though... She has the right to be


    angry."


    This was followed by silence. The three watched their reflection on the steel doors of the elevator and


    were lost in their own worlds.


    They were not thick skinned enough to stay inside that room after shesaid that, so to save their faces,


    April announched that they have to leave first.


    Althea did not respond and she did not even saw them off.


    It was offending for them, especially that they were know figures. But they really cannot me her


    though, they were stupid enough to do things that might stain their names.


    April sighed loudly again. This time, it was Aaron who opened his mouth first and said with irritation.


    "Woman, can you refrain from sighing out loud? You will make the whole day bad."


    She gave him a deathly re but it wasn''t effective against thick-skinned people. She can only grunt in


    defeat.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    "Now that I think about it, that guy is really his son."


    "Son? Who''s?" Dave asked in confusion.


    April pursed her lips and debated about whether or not she''ll tell them but still said it. "Althea''s."


    Dave was shock, even Aaron showed a small amount of shock and interest on his face. "She already


    have a son?"


    She nodded and told them everything she saw earlier like a broken dam. It seems like er frustration


    builded up to the point that she bbers about things. "Yes, he is cold and aloof too. But what shocked


    me more is that he is with Tyler."


    The news were like thunders on the ears of the two. April also told them that the two were holding each


    other''s hand like they were close. It almost gave April a heart attack because she thought that Tyler


    already have a son without anyone knowing.


    After some silence, Dave said in furrowed brows. "Does that mean... Tyler and Althea already met


    before the party?"


    "It seems so..." April said.


    "... If the two is already close... Does that mean that there is a chance that they will get back together?"


    "That... I don''t know either. If that happens... Tyler and Sheryl'' engagement will break."


    "Considering Sheryl''s behaviour..." Aaron furrowed his brows. "She''ll make sure to make this a big


    deal."


    April grunted in disgust. She cursed. "She''ll surely make this a big deal. It will be a big scandal for


    Tyler."


    "I don''t think so." Dave interjected. "There''s no way his parents will allow that, right?"


    "Then how about Althea?" Aaron asked.


    His question made them sunk into silence.

 Chapter 77: Unfounded...?

    Chapter 77: Unfounded...?


    CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE:


    Unfounded...?


    --


    Tyler panicked when he realized that Kai was not with them, he scolded Sharon for being neglectful, he


    almost called the cops and his mother''s private soldiers when the kid appeared next to them.


    He was d and mad at the same time, seeing the kid was okay and unscathed, he angrily rubbed his


    small head and abandoned the idea of calling higher authorities.


    He asked Kai where he has been, but the kid told them nothing and just smiled at them. Seeing that he


    wasn''t willing to tell them the truth, he did not press any further, although he was very curious.


    After scolding him for a few times, he finally calmed his raging heart. And then, they stopped a little bit


    in a supermarket to buy fruits for Althea and headed directly to the hospital.


    .


    The first thing Tyler saw when he opened the room''s door- with the basket of fruits in one hand and the


    other is holding Kai''s hand- was Althea sitting on her bed.


    His heart jumped and his eyes can''t help but widen a bit. He immediately did a quick survey on her


    body but found nothing abnormal except that she looks sickly. That was then he can finally sigh in


    relief.


    Before he can even enter the room, the small hand that was tightly clinging on his hand loosen and he


    saw a small figure dashing quickly in the room. He can''t even stop the kid before he lunged directly at


    the patient.


    Althea heard the door opened and she turned to see who visited her, the first thing she saw was an


    overly familiar figure with basket of fruits in his right hand. Their eyes met briefly before she focused


    her attention to her son.


    The kid hugged her waist tightly that she can feel her bones cracking under his strength. Her face


    twisted in difort but did not pushed her son away. Instead, she bend down slowly and carefully


    snaked her arms around his small body.


    Sharon and Tyler watched the two hugged and carefully entered the room without disturbing them,


    Sharon gently closed the door behind her, and the noise from the outside was cut off.


    The room was silent, and because of this, they can hear the stifled sobs from the only kid in the room.


    "Shh," Althea tried to coax her son. "Why are you crying? Boy''s should not cry!"


    Kai sniffed and hugged his mother tighter. "Liar! Charlotte said I should cry more since I can''t cry when


    I''m older anymore!"


    Tyler, who was just putting down the basket on the side table looked at the two with furrowed brows.


    Charlotte?


    Tyler wanted to ask about who owns that name but seeing the two was in their own world, he shuts his


    mouth up and thought that he was maybe overthinking.


    There''s no way it was ''that'' Charlotte, right?


    Althea let out a small chuckle after hearing his words between his sobs. She gently pushed him away


    and caress his head. Seeing those big tears streaming down fro his eyes made her heart ache. She


    dipped down to give her son a peck on his forehead.


    No mother can bear to her child crying.


    With her two thumbs, she tried to catch the escaping tears and rubbed his eyes gently. "Hush, hush. It''s


    okay now. Mum''s okay. You don''t have to cry anymore. Do you want to see mother hurting?"


    Her voice was very gentle, it coaxed the crying childpletely. The sobs came more silently and his


    eyes were red as he tries to stop his tears. He held his mother''s hand in ce on his face with his


    small ones. He then shook his head firmly, indicating that he has no intention to hurt his mother.


    Althea sighed and carefully put him back on her embrace. The part of her body that was stitched during


    the surgery ached a little but it did not stopped her from bending down and ced her head on Kai''s


    small shoulders.


    The action made her visibly rxed.


    Ever since she woke up from her seemingly endless darkness dream, her heart can''t calm down.


    Everytime she attempts to close her eyes, she can remember how those ck, shadowy hands tries to


    drag her body into an endless abyss. Even without entering that abyss, she can feel that it was nothing


    but a ce of unending despair.


    She tried to calm her heart but the ring Charlotte gave her to helpfort herself in tough times was


    gone and she can''t see anyone she can share her pain with. So she bottled it up and was harsher than


    usual.


    So after hugging Kai, a part of her anxiety calmed down, but her heart is still stirring, especially after


    seeing the person that might be the root of all her traumas and the death of her parents.


    After coaxing her son and at the same time herself, the two had a simple conversation between mother


    and child.


    When things calmed down, that was the only time the two paid attention to the other people in the


    room.


    "Tyler," Althea managed to squeeze out the word without contempt. "I heard from Ba that Kai


    stayed in your house yesterday. For that, thank you."


    Tyler was silent the whole time he entered the room and he was treated like an air, so no word can


    describe how happy he was when she finally decided to stare at him.


    He tried to calm down under the familiar aquamarine eyes and smiled. "It''s okay, he can stay at my


    house for the meantime while you-"


    "No." Althea did not let him finish his sentence.


    Tyler''s smile froze. "What?"


    This time, it was Althea who showed a smile that is not a smile. "I say: no. There''s no need to bother


    you with that."


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    Tyler frowned.


    Sharon was just spectating from the sidelines, and when she thought that everything is bing


    serious, she stared at Kai hesitantly before ushering him toe out with her. Without knowing what


    will happen inside the room, she carefully closed the door behind her.


    .


    Silence dawn in the room when the other two left. Althea saw them leaving and did not bother stopping


    them.


    Her eyes that usually stares at other people unwavering, shook after staring at him for so long.


    Countless of thoughts entered her mind and she turned away, avoiding his gaze.


    She can still feel his stare on her, he was staring so hard that she felt like it was tearing a hole in her


    body.


    She frowned, but did not bother telling him to stop. Just opening her mouth is energy consuming for


    her. He can stare all he want.


    "Althea." The suffocating silence finally broke when a maic voice called out. Althea flinched since


    his voice sounds so near her ears. His voice were like feathers touching the tip of her ears. She doesn''t


    like it, but it didn''t stop her ear to feel itchy. She casually rubbed her ear with a frown. "You hate me this


    much?"


    Althea replied with silence. His frown deepened. "If it''s because of what happened years ago, I-"


    "Shut up." She sneered. "Shut up."


    Althea was the only person who turned him down again and again. He thought that he wouldst long


    since he was used to it, it turned out he can''t.


    Especially since he thinks that her hatred towards him is unfounded and irrational.

 Chapter 78: More questions

    Chapter 78: More questions


    CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX:


    More questions


    --


    "You know what, Althea." Tyler said in his gritted teeth. He was trying to surpass the anger that is


    bubbling inside him. "I used to think that you''re reasonable."


    Althea red at him with disbelief. "What...?"


    "I thought by using logic is enough to understand you- but I was wrong." He sighed loudly. "Who could


    have thought that you will hate me with something that happened years ago?"


    "What...?" Althea almost spat out blood that time. If she can stand, she already pped him crisply on


    his cheek. But all she can do at the moment is stare at him with anger bubbling in her throat. "What..?!"


    "Your anger," he sighed. "Your anger is unfounded. It''s unreasonable. I know you hate me, you have


    the right. But- seven years had passed, seven years already Althea. Had that anger never eased eve a


    bit? How can you hold such anger on me?"


    "Tyler?!" She almost shouted in anger. Her face was heating up as she tries to surpass the madness


    inside her, making her face and neck crimson. God knows how much restraints did thisdy have in


    order to notsh out on him. "You think my anger is unreasonable? Do you think my anger is just


    because of what happened 7 years ago? Do you think I''m that stupid?!"


    "Then what?" Tyler also almost shouted at her. If only they''re not in the hospital and Kai is not outside,


    maybe they were already shouting on top of their lungs. He knows, Tyler knows he too was being


    unreasonable. But his questions that were not answered ever since they met again came rushing out


    like a tide. They kept pouring out like the water from a broken dam.


    He wants to ask:


    Why do you hate me?


    How much do you hate me?


    Which part of me do you hate?


    Which me?


    Seven years ago? When we were in college?


    All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    Or years earlier than that? When we were on highschool?


    Or do you hate me entirely that no matter how much time will pass, that anger will never subside?


    But, again, why?


    What have I done that it made you hate me that much?


    Every question he has is like boulders in his heart, constantly weighing him down. He thougt he was


    already okay, he thought fine and can charge without bringing up the past. But- here he was: bringing


    up the past himself.


    He was stupid, he know.


    But there''s no turning back since he let them ot already.


    Words can never be taken back.


    "Then what?" He asked again, he was directly staring at her eyes that seems like an endless deep,


    blue ocean. A dangerous body of water where many unkown creatures lurks. The ocean that can be a


    captivating for its beauty but deadly when angered, "Tell me. If its not from 7 years ago- then what?"


    "You-" Althea was angry. Very angry. She wanted to grab a handful of his hair and pull them out from


    his scalp- then make him go bald as a bowling ball that shines everytime the light hits it''s smooth


    surface. She wanted to prick his eyes that resembles the spring leaves, then make it bleed out.


    How dare he. How dare he call her anger unfounded. How dare he call it unreasonable. How dare he


    thinks that its something that can pass and disappear as the time passes! How dare he!


    She wanted to tell him, that it was because of him. But she can just do nothing but open her mouth


    without sound... She closed it again and gritted her teeth.


    Tyler sighed and gestured, "See! See, this is what I am talking about!" He looked at the ring Althea,


    pain shing out from his eyes after seeing the unfamiliar emotion in her eyes that is direted to him. He


    chocked out the words. "You won''t even tell me...!"


    "You won''t understand...!"


    "How... How am I suppose to understand? I know nothing!"


    Althea took a deep breath, and said shakily, "Tyler-"


    "Althea..." Tyler cut in, his voice simrly tired as hers. He wanted to reach out and hold her trembling


    hands. Her right hand was clenching the sheets tightly that it wrinkles. "Why can''t you say anything?


    Anything so I can understand your anger?"


    There was a momentary silence. Althea was looking up at him, her eyshes trembling. Her breathing


    was heavy, she continues to bit her lips that it might even bleed out. He was staring down at her. His


    eyes were tired, with a mixture of anger. That emotion feels disgusting for Althea. She felt revolted.


    He''s angry...? Ha!


    Slowly, she responded between her gritted teeth. "And then what?"


    "What...?"


    "If you''ll understand it- then what? What will you do? Console me?"


    Her breathing was getting ragged, Tyler furrowed his brows and attempted to reach out and calm her


    down but she pped his hand away, the p sounds so crisp inside the room.


    "Althea-"


    "Tyler!" She cut him of. "Even if you manage to understand- you can do nothing!"


    You can''t bring back the dead!


    She almost shouted that sentence, her voice and throat is shaking under her control. She grabbed the


    sheets again and spat at him slowly.


    "Then let me tell you one thing, Tyler. I don''t just hate you- I fear you-"


    "- what-"


    "Your name...!" Her voice is getting higher and higher, almost panicking. Tyler''s back felt cold. Seeing


    her tremble even more like she was recalling something teribble- even paling as seconds passes by-


    Tyler knew he did something that made her recall things she doesn''t want to.


    But his name...?


    Althea continued, forgeting to surpass her voice. "It''s because of you-!!!"


    "Althea-"


    "Get out... Get out!" Althea''s voice cracked. "Please... Please, leave me alone...!"


    She huffed, and tried to collect her breathing.


    Tyler remained standing in front of her, unmoving. Althea was angry again, how dare he not leave after


    she told him to. Is he taking her as a joke?


    "... About Kai."


    Althea took arge breath and looked away. She watched her hazy reflection on the closed window.


    She was gradually calming down, her emotions that suddenly bubbled up and steamed out from her


    was dispersing.


    She thought for a while and responded, her voice t.


    "... Keep him." Charlotte is still not here, Ba is not reliable enough, Jack has sses, Mnie is


    away, and she is currenlty unstable. Her condition was just like five years go, when she can even


    barely take care of herself, let alone Kai.


    She inhaled again. "Keep him for now..."


    Tyler responded after his silence. He asked with hesitation. "Tell me... Is he really not mine?"


    "What-!!?" She red at him. Is he stupid?! "No! He''s not-"


    "Then who''s child?"


    Althea opened her mouth before closing them again. "... That''s none of your business."


    "Tell me."


    Althea''s re at him sharpened even more. She wanted to ask if he was seeking fight with her just


    after she calmed herself down. But his expression was serious.


    Althea''s eyelids twitched and she sharply turned away. "I can''t..."


    She pursed her lips.


    You know him. I don''t want you knowing my past now. That guy know too much.


    "I can''t."


    Tyler stared at her in silence before turning away. "Okay then."


    He reached for the doorknob and opened it, but before he stepped outside, he stopped and said; "I''m


    sorry."


    He closed the door behind him and left the room, their arguements remained inside of him.


    He furrowed his brows.


    Now there are more things that begun weighing his mind:


    Why does she fears him? No, who made her fear him? How and why did his name got dragged in it?


    Also, who really is Kai''s father? If it was a stranger, why would she bother hiding it? By how Althea


    reacted, it seems like he is someone she doesn''t want him to know.


    Who?


    For some reason, it feels like the answer is just near him.

 Chapter 79: Silver hair and Silver Eyes

    Chapter 79: Silver hair and Silver Eyes


    CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN:


    Silver hair and Silver Eyes


    --


    Afternoon that day.


    A door opened violently that it banged against the wall. The loud noise took the attention of the medical


    staffs on the floor and the near by patients. They all took a curious peek to see what¡¯s going on. They


    didn¡¯t dare to go near, and just watched as a woman, wearing a sophisticated dress, barged inside a


    familiar room. Even though they only saw her back, they can guess that she was pretty and gorgeous.


    Her features were that from rich peoples, but what differentiate her from other rich people was her hair.


    It was silvery. Like the moon¡¯s hue and color. It shone like metal against the fluorescent light on the


    ceiling.


    The woman entered the room, and no one knows what happened after that.


    But all the witnesses left wondering; who was that patient inside that room? She was visited by people


    with high statuses in a matter of day.


    They were curious, but none tried to ask because they might offend whoever is inside that room. Who


    knows what will happen next?


    --


    Ba was in the middle of peeling the apple for Althea when someone suddenly barged in in their


    room. The two inside ceremoniously stopped what they are doing and turned to the door. When Althea


    saw the familiar silver hair and silver eyes, the small smile on her face vanished and her tired but


    cheerful aura was suddenly reced by cold air.


    Ba and Althea were just talking about small things, it was solemn and peaceful. The air was light


    and easy, so when it went down, Ba noticed it.


    She¡¯s not as dense as everyone thinks she is, so when she saw her boss¡¯s reaction; cold and fierce


    towards the other- she puts the fruit knife down and the apple on the te she prepared it and slowly


    crept to go outside.


    She didn¡¯t even crossed half of the room yet when Althea opened her mouth and addressed thedy.


    And as Ba thought, the boss really knows her.


    ¡±Charlotte¡­¡±


    Charlotte, a familiar name. Ba tried to search her memories and remembered that it was the name


    of Althea¡¯s friend. Ba again took a brief nce to Charlotte and saw her restless demeanor.


    Although she is like that; she was able to hold her grace and beauty.


    Charlotte bit her lower lip and searched Althea¡¯s eyes with her silver ones. ¡°Althea¡­¡±


    For the first time, she didn¡¯t miss her name. She actuallynded it right and called out her name. Althea


    opened her mouth- but before she can even talk, buds of transparent waters flowed out from her eyes.


    She choked back her words and let out a strangled sob. Charlotte dropped her etiquette and hastily ran


    towards her and thrown herself on Althea, then hugging her tightly.


    That was thesting Ba saw before she closed the door and walked away, wondering where she


    can sit and wait so she can enter again when everything¡¯s okay.


    --


    ¡± I¡¯m sorry.¡± Charlotte said while caressing her back. The body in her embrace was shaking. She was


    hugging her tightly and Althea just leaned her whole weight on her.


    ¡°I hate you¡­¡± Althea managed to squeeze out that word between her sobs. ¡°I hate you¡­!¡±


    ¡°I know¡­¡± Charlotte said, even though she didn¡¯t know. Hearing her cry and say she hates her makes


    Charlotte want to cry along with her. She stopped herself and gave her back a mental pat for being


    strong. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    It took many ¡®I hate you¡¯ and ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡¯ more before Althea calmed down. After they calmed down, both


    of their eyes were red and swollen. They searched for the tissues and can¡¯t find them on the table. It


    made Altheaughed.


    ¡°What is this, we don¡¯t even have a tissue! If I know, I should not have cry! My snot- I need to wipe it


    off!¡±


    ¡°Use the sheets then.¡± Charlotte suggested. She dodged when Althea throwed a pillow on her. ¡°What


    are you doing?!¡±


    ¡°Are you stupid or something,¡± Althea red at her. ¡°That¡¯s disgusting. You¡¯re the wife of Augustine


    Byrne- one of the youngest CEOs, act like one!¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s eyebrows twitched. ¡°Why would I care about my image just because of my husband¡¯s


    image? His image can be destroyed however the world wants; I don¡¯t care.¡±


    Althea gaped at her, thinking how the loving and sweet Charlotte to her husband turned like this. She


    shuts her mouth when she thought about maybe they had a lover¡¯s quarrel. Meh, children!


    Althea sighed and shook her head, whatever. ¡°You- go get me a tissue somewhere! I need to wipe my


    face off!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t like your face anymore?¡±


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    ¡°¡­¡± She threw another pillow at her, this time, it hit her. Charlotte groaned. ¡°Bitch do you want me to


    punch your face so that even your husband can¡¯t recognize you anymore?¡±


    Charlotte stood up, ¡°How dare you turn the wife of Augustine Byrne as your ve, Maria.¡±


    ¡°Althea.¡± She corrected her, tired with how she forgets about her name. ¡°Do haste, Mrs. Byrne. I need


    the tissue now.¡±


    Althea watched Charlotte disappear and appear from the bathroom¡¯s door, she was carrying a roll of


    tissue. Toilet tissues.


    ¡°Charlotte-¡°


    ¡°Shut it- they¡¯re tissues, they¡¯re the same.¡±


    Althea obediently shuts her mouth and used the toilet tissue despite the different texture. Charlotte


    looked around and sat on the sofa. She watched on silence as Althea wipes her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry again¡­¡± Charlotte slowly said, breaking the silence. ¡°I¡­ If I knew this would happen, I would


    not have forced you toe in my stead- It¡¯s really my fault-¡°


    ¡°Hush, Charlotte,¡± Althea threw the used tissues in the bin next to her bed. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it


    anymore. Besides, they are dead. Karma really is a bitch-¡°


    She paused and pursed her lips, ¡°¡­ She immediately responded and killed those bastards¡­¡±


    She turned silent. Charlotte talked before her mood went downhill again. ¡°By the way, where¡¯s Lai?¡±


    ¡°Kai.¡± She paused, then said hesitantly. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ With someone¡­ Currently.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Charlotte raised a brow. ¡°Oh, I reckon that you trust this person very well to leave him in their


    care. May I know who he is?¡±


    Althea red at her again. She hasn¡¯t seen her for awhile and she¡¯s already talking differently. This girl


    is getting weirder and weirder each time they meet. ¡°No one! Just- someone!¡±


    ¡°Dear Althea,¡± she cooed. ¡°Tell me please- I¡¯m your ¡®only¡¯ friend! Why are you hiding it from me?¡±


    ¡°You-¡° she can¡¯t refute. She sighed loudly and rolled her eyes heavenwards. She¡¯s stressing her out,


    the stress level is iparable from she got from the other visitors earlier. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to hide


    anything from you.¡±


    ¡°Liar!¡± She picked up the pillows on the floor and threw them to her. ¡°I¡¯ll hate you too if you won¡¯t tell!


    You already hate me, so I have nothing to lose!¡±


    ¡°Who said-¡° she remembered saying that she hates her. Althea paused once again and groaned inside.


    She wants to fall unconscious again than dealing with her. She¡¯s already throwing a tantrum! ¡°Fine!


    He¡¯s with Tyler.¡±


    Charlotte¡¯s eyes widen and she leaned forward. ¡°Ooohh-¡°


    Seeing her goofy smile, Althea¡¯s contorted.


    I knew-


    ¡°Who¡¯s Tyler?¡±


    -it¡­?

 Chapter 80: CHARLOTTE

    Chapter 80: CHARLOTTE


    CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT:


    CHARLOTTE


    --


    Althea hit her until Charlotte begged and apologize, saying she was just kidding, and she knows Tyler.


    Althea huffed and squinted her eyes on her; of course, how could she forget about him? Charlotte


    rubbed her arms that were reddening from her pinches, honestly, Althea felt bad, but she didn¡¯t show it.


    Serves her right.


    Charlotteined that it stings, she sneered at her. ¡°You want more?¡±


    ¡°No thanks,¡± she mumbled while flinching away. She continues to rub her arms and look at her. ¡°Is he


    really with him? Of all people?¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Althea just hummed in agreement and recounted the events of what happened as how Ba


    did to her. Charlotte nodded in understanding before turning silent, it was brief, but Althea saw guilt


    shing in her eyes.


    She pursed her lips and smack her with the pillow. She didn¡¯t dodge and let the soft thing smack her


    face before saying; ¡°I really need apologize to Kyle, I almost made him motherless.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± She hit her again, not bothering to correct her.


    She frowns, ¡°I don¡¯t want him to be motherless after being grandparent-less-¡°


    ¡°Charlotte- just shut up- never mind that-e here, let me pull your hair out.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t, my husband will not like me even more. But- kidding aside,¡± Charlotte stole the pillow and


    hugged it. ¡°Why did you let him go with him? Can I safely assume that your over-¡°


    ¡°No.¡± She answers immediately, not even letting Charlotte to finish her sentence.


    The temperature in the room dropped by several degrees again, it was okay after they broke the ice


    earlier, but the atmosphere changed for the second time. Unlike a couple of minutes ago, it was


    Charlotte who¡¯s refusing to have an eye contact with Althea, but now, Althea was looking anywhere but


    her eyes.


    She looked at her in silence. Her heart aches every time she sees her like this, like she was trapped in


    an endless maze. Charlotte thought she was already okay after therapies, but it seems like she was


    blind enough or pretended to be blind to not notice.


    The silence was madly suffocating, Althea begun biting her lips again and holding the ring finger- but


    the ring that keeps her nerves in check was gone. It made her sunk into a dangerous pit. She started to


    overthink things in her head, and it got darker and darker. In silence, she began fretting over things.


    Months ago, she should have stopped it early and not fall into something she wont like, but the past


    events unearthed memories that elerated her fall even more.


    Lost in the sea of her past memories;


    She lost her reasoning.


    -


    Charlotte pursed her lips into thin lines before breaking the silence.


    ¡°Althea-¡°


    ¡°- Charlotte, I only gave him back to Tyler temporarily, okay? Take him- take kai from himter- hear


    that?¡± Althea begun to mumble almost incoherently. ¡°I- he- he should not know that we got-¡°


    ¡°Althea?¡± Charlotte stood up, rmed. Althea was having an anxiety attack. She called her out again.


    ¡°Althea?¡±


    ¡°He must not know- he mustn¡¯t!¡± She almost shouted, but she was catching her breath as it bes


    ragged and uncontrobly short. Her chest aches and she can feel her head spinning in spiral. Althea


    wants to vomit.


    She was staring at the wall, and it was swirling spirals and shapes until a silhouette of a man was


    standing by the wall. It had no facial features, it was just a hazy, ck, smoky silhouette, but Althea


    knows it was looking at her. He was looking at her with his usual cold with amusement smile.


    It was him.


    The smile sent thousands of shivers in her spines. Like a broken switch, she saw different ces, a


    hospital, and an old, abandoned factory. The ces she saw switches every second, distorting with her


    vision. The only thing that remained standing there, unmoving; was that one particr ck silhouette.


    Then she heard a familiar chalky voice.


    ¡°I told you,¡±


    It¡¯s him.


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    Althea widens her eyes, and she can feel her throat tightening; she was choking. Her mouth was dry,


    and she was sweating heavily. She can feel big beads of sweats dripping down on her forehead.


    He smiled even more, stretching his lips in an impossible length.


    ¡°I woulde for you.¡±


    He¡¯s really here!


    ¡°Althea- good god!¡± She can hear Charlotte¡¯s voice faintly, she felt- or maybe it was just an illusion- her


    holding her trembling hands and squeeze it weakly before calling for the nurses up.


    Whether it happened or not, Althea doesn¡¯t know.


    Her head was throbbing in pain, and she was fighting from being unconscious and not. Althea wants to


    calm down, but the shadow of that man was walking slowly towards her. She tried calming herself by


    breathing in and out deeply but her breathing stuck in her throat. It was swirling, it was only a distortion,


    she knew it was an illusion, because he can¡¯t be here, it was impossible, but her mind still panicked,


    and she can¡¯t take her eyes away from it.


    Someone shook her and called her name many times.


    She remained fixated over the iing image. As it advances, she moves backward on the bed. Her


    eyes were reddening from not blinking too long and tears were peeking out. She was struggling to give


    more distance between the two of them, she was trying to escape. But like a rubber band, the man¡¯s


    hand stretched out towards her and goes longer and longer, it was nearing her.


    ¡°No,¡± she said, shaking her head. She watched in horror as his hands inched closer to her throat. It was


    about to choke her. ¡°No-!!!¡±


    p!


    -


    ¡°Goodness Althea!¡± A crisp pping sound prated the cold atmosphere as Charlotte¡¯s delicate


    handnded on her face. She was now facing on other side, her neck looking broken. Charlotte


    panicked, thinking she identally killed her with her p. She ced her hands on either side of her


    cheeks and forcefully turn them to make her face forward where her body faces.


    Seeing no reaction, she grasped her shoulders and shook her furiously, her one knee is even on the


    bed¡¯s mattress now, embedding. ¡°Althea- Althea snap out of it!¡±


    -


    Like being fished out from the water before drowning to death, air madly attacked Althea¡¯s lungs that it


    hurts. She gasped for air, and she realized that she was breathing again. With her heavy breathing, she


    looked around and saw that the distorted ce returns normal. That man was not there anymore, like


    he never existed in the first ce.


    Her breathing was short and fast. Her whole body is cold. She was still shaking.


    The only thing that made her slowly calm down was the gentle caresses of Charlotte¡¯s thumb on her


    shoulder. ¡°Althea- are you okay?¡±


    Althea raised her head and she saw her looking at her with concern. ¡°I¡­¡±


    Charlotte pursed her lips after hearing the crack of her voice, after some hesitation, she finally asked


    what she was meaning to. ¡°So I was right, you¡¯re still hung up in the past.¡±


    Althea did not speak. Charlotte tightened her hands on her shoulders. She gently shook her. ¡°I let you


    stop your therapy just because you said you¡¯re already okay, but- what¡¯s this?¡±


    Althea¡¯s jaws tightened and she gripped her arms and tried to pry them away. The other is usually


    weak but she had a little bit more strength today, she won¡¯t budge. Her grip tightened even more.


    ¡°Althea, it¡¯s been years-¡°


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s easy to forget it, Charlotte?¡± Althea spat at her after being silent. The surpassed


    anger in her made her voice cracked and shaking. ¡°Do you think it is? If it was- I would have forgotten it


    already!¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Charlotte sighed loudly and looked at her. She was still shaking, and her hands were cold. She


    doesn¡¯t know what she saw or imagined but basing on the fear in her eyes and voice earlier, it was


    rted to ¡®him¡¯. ¡°Your mother will not be happy to see you like this¡­!¡±


    ring, Althea responded. ¡°She¡¯s dead.¡±


    ¡°And so is ¡®he¡¯!¡± Charlotte shook her. ¡°He¡¯s dead! No one¡¯sing for you just because you get closed


    to him again!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Sighing, she sped her cheeks and stared dead on her eyes. She spoke softly, as if trying to coax a


    child. ¡°I know why you are hesitant. Because of what he said to you, but Althea, he¡¯s dead! You told me


    yourself-¡± Her voice lowered. ¡°-you killed him¡­!¡±


    ¡°His body wasn¡¯t found Charlotte. It was never found.¡±


    ¡°But still-¡°


    The door opened. The two stopped and looked at it. Ba was standing next to the door,


    awkwardness on her face.


    ¡°Uh,¡± she pointed outside with her thumb. ¡°Uh, sorry- I¡¯ll juste back-¡°


    ¡°No.¡± Althea said, brushing Charlotte¡¯s hands away from her face. Thetter looked at her helplessly


    and sat on the bed, defeated. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°Althea-¡°


    ¡°Charlotte, I don¡¯t want to talk about it now.¡±


    Sighing, she stood up. ¡°Okay fine.¡± She hugged her tightly and Althea responded weakly. ¡°I¡¯ll get going


    now, then.¡±


    Althea nodded and said nothing more. Charlotte broke the hug and looked at her in worry. Seeing that


    she has no ns talking to her, she went for the door, an expression slowly formed in her face.


    Before going out, she looked back at Althea. ¡°By the way. I¡¯ll be busy for the whole month. I can¡¯t take


    care of Kyle. Let him stay with him for a while- shut it, don¡¯t think for yourself only- ask the kid whether


    or not he wants to be with him. If not, okay, take him away, but if he took liking, why not?¡±


    Then, she left.


    -


    Ba, who was standing by the door did double take before wondering about whether her brain and


    eyes were ying tricks on her or not. Althea noticed her standing frozen, with creased brows, she


    called for her.


    ¡°Close the door, what are you spacing out there for?¡±


    Ba snapped out of it and looked at Althea, asking herself;


    What was that? Did thatdy just smile? Why does that look mocking and amusement?


    ¡°Oh, nothing.¡± She mentally shook her head. Stupid, she might just be imagining things. ¡°Nothing at


    all.¡±

 Chapter 81: Burned Down to Ashes

    Chapter 81: Burned Down to Ashes


    CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE:


    Burned Down to Ashes


    --


    The next day, Kai went to visit her again. Tyler only dropped him together with a maid, Kai said he has


    an important meeting to attend to. Althea could careless, she only let his words past her ears. The


    whole day, she remained idle. Jack visited at noon, after his sses. Ba went out with him after


    that, saying she has something to do in the shop. Maybe to attend the flowers, Althea thought.


    It was only her and Kai left in the room when her phone rang. It was Mnie.


    [¡°How are you?¡± She said, Althea can hear the tiredness in her voice. Ba already told her what


    happened to her parents, so she already knows her situation and has no n to make here back


    immediately.]


    Althea was leaning on her bed; Kai was sleeping next to her. She looked down at him and gently runs


    her hand on his hair. ¡°I¡¯m okay now, you don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    [She hears a sigh, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Silence. There was the familiar silence Mnie always has when


    talking to somebody. ¡°Uhm, I- is it okay to not-¡°]


    ¡°Yes,¡± Althea said, sighing. She throwed her head back at the ceiling. ¡°Yes, yes of course. It¡¯s your


    parents. You should take care of them while you still can.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Mnie was taken aback, wondering why she can hear bitterness on her voice. Then she


    remembered what Victoria said in her birthday. Right; her parents are dead.


    [Mnie nodded even though she knows that the other can¡¯t see her. ¡°Thank you. I hope you recover


    soon. I¡¯ll be back after they discharged.¡±]


    Althea also nodded. ¡°No problem. I hope your parents will recover soon too, and you can take your


    time, just be sure to be back.¡±


    Hearing her crack a joke, albeitcking her usual energy, Mnie broke into a smile that made her


    father- that was sitting on a bed across her- tilt his head in confusion and asked-


    [¡°Hey- is that your girl-¡°


    ¡°Thank you, Althea.¡± Then she hangs up. After putting her phone down, she gave her father a stare.]


    Althea was not able to hear that, so she only put her phone away and drifted to sleep. Later, she was


    woken up by the doctor and nurses, after having a general check-up, both her and Kai were left alone


    again. Kai was already awake, eating the foods Tyler bought for them. Althea was silently watching him


    eat, while leaning on the headboard and piles of pillows.


    She can hear him munching on the apples before her thoughts drifted away. Her mind returned to her


    conversation with Charlotte. Kai noticed her stares, he looked up and sent her a questioning gaze.


    Althea smiled and reached out to give him a pat on his head. ¡°How are you fairing there, Kai? Is there


    someone giving you a hard time?¡±


    Kai paused his munching and gave her question a thought. ¡°It¡¯s okay- it¡¯s fun there.¡±


    Althea paused. ¡°So, you like it there?¡±


    ¡°¡­ I do. But if you tell me to go home with you, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    Althea pursed her lips before stretching her hands sidewards, she beckoned the little boy to her arms.


    ¡°Come here, son. Give your mom a big hug.¡±


    -


    Later that evening, just before dinner time at 7:30, Emily called her, bawling, and cursing at her


    because she didn¡¯t tell her about what happened and only heard it after Mnie called her. Althea kept


    on sighing as she repeats her apologies. If Marjorie wasn¡¯t there, it will take hours before they calm this


    woman down. Althea was in a verge of hanging up the phone, but with Kai staring at her with his cute,


    little innocent blue eyes, her conscience can¡¯t. Groaning internally, she decided to bear with it.


    [¡°I¡¯m sorry Althea,¡± Marjorie said. She took the phone away from the other. ¡°She¡¯s just upset. She wants


    to help you with anything as long as she can, but she can¡¯t believe that she was already toote.¡±]


    Altheaughed and reassured them. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I just don¡¯t want her to worry about it. I don¡¯t want to


    bother her too, since she has a lot on her te.¡±


    [¡°Shut up,¡± Emily managed to take the phone from Marjorie. ¡°When did you became a bother? You


    have to tell me things- whether small or big, I don¡¯t care- in the future, okay? Or else I¡¯ll go there and


    smack you myself if I hear things from other people again.¡±]


    ¡°Okay, okay- I got it already, geez.¡± Altheaughed. ¡°Any ways, Kai is here, do you want to talk with


    him?¡±


    [¡°Really?! Sure!¡±]


    Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    -


    After dinner, Tyler went to the hospital. When he opened the door, Kai turned to look at him with


    shinning eyes. Tyler was confused at first, but it was cleared up after Althea exined.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Tyler nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take care of Kai until then.¡±


    ¡°5 days,¡± Althea also nodded her head. ¡°After 5 days I¡¯ll be discharged from here. Since it seems like


    Kai isfortable with you, I¡¯ll take it as you are taking him very well. After I get discharge, I¡¯ll take him


    back.¡±


    Althea expected him to be happy and thank her with his small,posed smile. Who could have


    thought that he will thank her with a smile he always gives her when they were still together?


    ¡°Thank you, Althea.¡± He smiled widely, his eyes turning into slits, but in the gap of those slits peeks his


    green eyes, like peeking spring after winter.


    Althea heart throbbed in fear and another familiar emotion that she hasn¡¯t felt for a very long time. It


    was small, like a fire spark, as it was overwhelmed by fear. Especially as she can see his shadow right


    at the corner, silently staring like a predator marking its prey.


    ¡®He is dead Althea¡¯ Charlotte¡¯s words loosened the gripping hand on her throat. She could breathe


    again. ¡®He is gone.¡¯


    Althea looked at that corner again and he was gone.


    ¡°Althea?¡±


    She looked back at Tyler only to see him looking at her worriedly. Althea gave him a small smile.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to thank me, Tyler. This benefits the both of us-¡±


    Not that she knows what kind of benefit this set-up gives Tyler though. From what she sees, having Kai


    in his house is nothing but a troublesome thing.


    Tylerughed, then thanked her again.


    Althea then watched them bid goodbye to her and left the room hand in hand.


    --


    Five days passed rather quickly.


    In that span of short days, Jack and Ba just asionallyes to check on her. Althea made


    Ba to go home since she can manage herself. Mnie called her two times in a span of five days,


    while Emily called her three times.


    Althea was d when she managed to stop the two to go to her when she identally said that she


    was alone. Sometimes having many people that worries about you is bothersome. It¡¯s overwhelming


    and suffocating. She¡¯s d though, but it was just too much.


    Anyway, also in those days, she can see how Tyler and Kai was getting close to each other. She has


    no idea how the two spends their times together but seeing how Kai sleepsfortably on his shoulder


    (when he was careful not to depend on adults), and how they act like father- and, uh, son, Althea was


    pretty sure that some short of connection was formed between them.


    Then, the day of discharge.


    Ba was the only one that assisted her. Tyler wants toe but he was pushed back by his work.


    Althea told him not to and she will only go to his house and fetch Kai herself. The idea was for her to go


    back to the shop and rest early and just make Tyler send him to the shop after his work, but for some


    reason, she changed her mind after sitting on her car.


    And then, after fetching Kai in his house- or mansion- she doesn¡¯t know, they were just passing by an


    ice-cream parlor when Jack called Ba.


    After hearing the news, Althea has no idea whether tough or cry.


    Her shop, just her shop, was intentionally set on fire in the middle of a day. The suspect was caught


    after, but he only said that he was paid by someone to burn that ce. He was only given half of the


    pay and a paper that contains the time and ce that he has to burn.


    Althea was mad, of course she¡¯s mad.


    The shop she built with the help of Charlotte was burned down to ashes.

 Chapter 82: An Old Enemy (1)

    Chapter 82: An Old Enemy (1)


    CHAPTER-EIGHTY:


    An Old Enemy


    --


    The door of Tyler¡¯s house busted open; a startled gasp escaped from his maids. Multiple pair of eyes


    darted towards the doorway and saw ady in her office clothes with an expensive handbag on her left


    arms. She reached for her big sunsses with her right hand, and the jade bracelets she has on that


    arm clinked against each other.


    Stopping right before the red carpet of the receiving room, she ced her left hand on her hips and


    gracefully removed the sunsses that was blocking the view of her green eyes. When her eyes


    settled on the person it was looking for, a wonderful, cunning, bewitching smile stretched across her


    red lips, showing her perfect set of teeth.


    The person that was under her gaze smiled awkwardly, and told; ¡®I have a bad feeling about this-¡®


    ¡°Althea!¡± Her name rolled on her lipsfortably. There was a hint of amusement in her voice. ¡°I heard


    your shop was set on fire!¡±


    Althea¡¯s smile failed to maintain on her lips, and she looked at the other like she was a headless fly


    flying around for food. Her eyes were asking, ¡®Is that even something to be happy about? Why is she


    so amused?¡¯


    With awkwardness, she greeted the other. ¡°Uh- hey¡­! Victoria hey! Yeah, uh, our shop was set on


    fire¡­!¡±


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Victoria covered her mouth, just realizing how bad she sounded like. Quickly, she put her


    handbag on the carpet carelessly that made her secretary- who was tailing her with the heaps of files in


    hand- give her a look of annoyance, but quickly hid it away since she¡¯s more or less used to this.


    But still, it can¡¯t stop her from wanting to smack the bag to Victoria¡¯s face since it feels like she was


    doing nothing but throw bundles of money on the floor.


    Ha! She can¡¯t understand rich people!


    Victoria took a seat next to Althea. Tyler, who was in the sofa opposite from them was rmed when


    she held bot of her hands.


    ¡°Mom-¡°


    ¡°Hush there, young man!¡± She red at Tyler before looking back at Althea with eyes of sympathy.


    Tyler shut his mouth and looked at Kai, who was quietly looking at him while being squeezed by the


    armrest of the sofa and his mother¡¯s back, helplessly.


    They had an eye contact.


    The kid showed a rare small genuine smile at him that made Tyler¡¯s frustration melt. He smiled back.


    Althea and Victoria were unaware of the exchange between their sons.


    Victoria tightened her grip on the other¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, truly am! It was insensitive of


    me.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    Victoria let her hands go and sped her shoulders before looking at her up and down. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    She looked at Kai who was behind Althea. ¡°Is that boy hurt?¡±


    Althea shook her head. ¡°No, fortunately we haven¡¯t arrived at the shop yet before the fire. We stopped


    by an ice-cream parlor.¡±


    ¡°But if you were a little bit early, you could have gotten burned too or suffered some injuries.¡± Tyler


    butted in their conversation; his expression was grim.


    He was in an important meeting that time when he received the news about the burned shop. He


    ditched the meeting and rushed towards the shop, forgetting about calling Althea first so when he


    arrived there, he had a mixed feeling about not seeing Kai and Althea. Sharon was tired of her job; her


    boss was not even listening to her. So, when they arrived at the scene where firefighters were


    combating the licking mes, she shoved the phone to his face and said;


    ¡°Call Althea first.¡±


    Tyler called them, not forgetting to hide his embarrassment. When he confirmed that they were safe, he


    sighed in relief, and he somehow managed to convince Althea to stay in his house while he deals with


    the officers. After the talk with the police and fire department, he rushes to drive back home.


    They were about to discuss what happened when Victoria came into the scene.

 Chapter 83: An old Enemy (2)

    Chapter 83: An old Enemy (2)


    They were about to discuss what happened when Victoria came into the scene.


    His mother looked at him and nodded. She gave Althea a onest pat on her back and finally gave the


    both of them a distance. ¡°What will you do about your shop? Want us to rebuild it with you?¡±


    Shaking her head, Althea replies. ¡°No but thank you for the offer. I can manage.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°How¡­?¡± Althea raised a brow. ¡°Victoria, I own another two other shops. It¡¯s okay. Besides, I have my


    friend backing me up.¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± Victoria nodded in realization. ¡°It was foolish of me to forget about that! What a shame¡­¡±


    ¡°Pardon?¡±


    ¡°Nothing!¡± She smiled again. ¡°By the way¡­ Where are you sleeping? You and Kai?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Oh. ¡°We¡¯ll be staying in a hotel first. Then after figuring out things with the police, we can go back


    home in our town.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Victoria suddenly grabs her hand. ¡°Stay here!¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Althea almost shouted. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay, really. We¡¯re fine, we can manage on our own. It¡¯s not just


    me too, I have to amodate Ba too. Besides, it will be a bother to your son¡­¡±


    ¡°No! I insist! It won¡¯t be a bother! You can bring in as many as people as you want, right, son?¡± Victoria


    turned to re at Tyler. ¡°Right?¡±


    Tyler shook his head and gave an exhaustugh. He shook his shoulder. ¡°That is what I was about to


    offer earlier.¡±


    Smiling, she turned to Althea again. ¡°See? It¡¯s okay! Besides, if you reside in a hotel, maybe they will


    see that as an opportunity to attempt and harm you again! It¡¯s too dangerous!¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Althea furrowed her brows. ¡°Ah you mean the one who started the fire?¡±


    ¡°Yes, exactly.¡±


    ¡°Oh, haha, you don¡¯t have to worry about that. The arsonist was caught.¡±


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°But still,¡± this time, it was Tyler who spoke. Both turned to look at him. ¡°You have to be careful. What if


    that guy is nothing but a pawn? What if he has a boss who ordered him? They were really aiming at


    you.¡±


    ¡°Of course, they were. The police gave me the name of that guy, and I recognize him. I¡¯m ashamed to


    say this but I offended him in the past.¡± Althea exined. ¡°He once rented the building that I build my


    shop on. It was big, so the expenses and bills are alsorge. He has only a small business that time so


    naturally, it didn¡¯t manage to carry the load of his bills.


    ¡°His business went bankrupt, and he was unable to pay the bills. Out of pity of the owner, they let him


    stay there for a while and bear with him until I came. Well, not me really. It was my friend. She


    managed to convince the owner and bought the building, kicking the other in process.¡±


    She paused, waiting for their reaction. Victoria was the first one to react. ¡°That mysterious friend of


    yours¡­ Now I¡¯m curious. I want to meet her.¡±


    Althea just smiled mysteriously. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time he tried to harass me. The first time was years


    ago, he raised the shop. I forgave him that time, thinking that he was just mad at it will pass soon after.


    Sigh, to think he¡¯ll be back like this.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Anyway, see, I¡¯ll be fine. There¡¯s no one behind the scenes, just old grudges. You have nothing to


    worry about.¡±


    ¡°Still-¡°


    Althea stood up. ¡°Thanks for your concern, I appreciate it, I really do. But still no. Kai, let¡¯s go.¡±


    The boy was hesitant, he looked at Tyler at first before standing up and held the outstretched hand on


    his mother.

 Chapter 84: An Old Enemy (3)

    Chapter 84: An Old Enemy (3)


    Victoria and Tyler also stood, and they watched them exit the house in silence. Only when Victoria


    gave her son a piercing re did he move to follow after them,ughing lowly.


    -


    ¡°Are you done?¡± Ba asked, peeking through the gap of the barely opened window. She stayed on


    the car after they got here, saying that it¡¯s not necessary for her toe inside too.


    Althea pulled open the door of the backseat and made Kai enter then closed the door again, sighing


    loudly. ¡°It¡¯s done. Have you booked a hotel room already?¡±


    Ba nodded her head, ¡°Yes, the hotel¡¯s 20 minutes away from here.¡±


    Althea nodded back and sat on the wheels. ¡°Is that so? Then let¡¯s go.¡±


    While Althea was wearing her seatbelts, Ba leaned on her seat and stared outside, thinking. Althea


    was about to start the engine when she noticed this. Resting her hands above the wheel, she asked


    her worriedly.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡± She looked back at her before looking away. It was short but Althea saw guilt in her eyes. She


    failed to understand why for a moment. But when she sees the hesitation in her eyes, Althea thought of


    something she might say.


    Althea gave a small, tight smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay Ba. I won¡¯t me you.¡±


    The guilt finally resurfaced. ¡°Are you really okay with it?¡±


    Althea nodded. ¡°Of course, if you want to go, I won¡¯t stop you. But if you want to stay, you are very


    weed to. It¡¯s your choice.¡±


    Ba was silent for a while before sighing heavily. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    Althea reached out to give her a pat on her shoulder. ¡°No need to feel sorry, I understand that you need


    money. Who doesn¡¯t? But until you find another job, you have to stay with us. I have topensate


    you with the burned things you have in the shop.¡±


    ¡°Thank you¡­ And sorry.¡±


    ¡°No worries, I hope you get a job soon. If you still can¡¯t, feel free toe back anytime.¡±


    Ba nodded; her shoulder rxed. It was obvious that the heavy weight that was weighing on her


    mind was lifted, she has now a small smile on her face.


    Althea watched her leaning on her seat and look outside with a smile. She¡¯s sad to let Ba go after


    Emily, but still, she can¡¯t keep on holding to them forever. Meeting and parting are a natural way of life,


    there¡¯s no guaranteed that they can see each other again but at least the possibility of that is not zero.


    Besides, the world is round.


    Having a peace in herself, Althea was about to go when someone knocked on her window. She turned


    to look and saw Tyler looking down on her. Althea let out a fake smile.


    To think that he followed her here and to keep on bothering her.


    Kai also heard the knock, after not talking for a while because he sensed that his mother and the other


    woman was having a conversation, he finally opened his mouth with a smile. He beamed at Tyler


    outside the window, he waves, the other waved back. ¡°Tyler!¡±


    Althea saw the exchange, although they already showed that they were both close, Althea still can¡¯t get


    used to the sight. To think that her kid, who she spent a year to get close to after being apart for 2


    years, got close to this stranger for a couple of days.


    She rolled the window down and asked. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I just want to tell you that if something happens, contact me immediately.¡± Tyler said. ¡°Also, I¡¯ll be


    keeping my eyes on the case too. I¡¯ll help you sue him.¡±


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    Althea widens her fake smile. ¡°No thanks. I can manage, also, no danger will happen to uster on, so


    you don¡¯t have to concern yourself. But, if maybe there will, we¡¯ll be okay and there will be no reason to


    contact you.¡±


    Tyler stared down at her before sighing. ¡°Fine, suit yourself. But I¡¯ll still be keeping my eyes on the


    case, got it?¡±


    Althea stared up at him before also sighing loudly. ¡°Fine, suit yourself. Then we¡¯ll be going now, and I


    need you to stay away, got it?¡±

 Chapter 85: A Nobody

    Chapter 85: A Nobody


    CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE:


    A Nobody


    --


    Ba decided to stay with them until she finds an apartment and a new work. The haunt is awfully


    slow, so bitten with the guilt of something she didn¡¯t do, Althea was still paying for her when she


    babysits Kai whenever she has to go out to do something. Before Ba was able to find a new job,


    Jack expressed his sadness to Althea about what happened to the shop. He med himself for not


    guarding the shop that day. If he did, he might even stop the fire before spreading or stopped that man


    before he can even light a speck of fire.


    Althea just shook her head andughed it off, saying it was nobody¡¯s fault. Although it was pretty ironic


    for her to say that since she herself was feeling guilty. Later that day, he also passed his resignation


    letter to Althea. She was worried at first, thinking that he might not see a job immediately, but Jack


    assured her that he already found one, he even said that he can rmend Ba to it.


    ¡°Really?¡± Althea asked.


    Jack nodded his head and looked at Ba on the opposite chair. They were in a restaurant, eating


    their lunch. ¡°Of course, we have been close friends since day one, so we should help each other!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s really great.¡± Now she will not have to burden herself from looking jobs for them. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll


    have a good time there. If something happened, you could contact me anytime too.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your help then.¡± Jackughed. After hisughter died down, he casted his gaze on the


    ss of water that was sp between his hands. His lips were pressed into thin lines and his eyes


    were hooded. There was silence in the table.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been what¡­ 3 years since we three worked together right?¡± Jack asked.


    ¡°¡­¡± Althea stared at him in shock. She has no idea that he can be emotional. Usually, he was just that


    idiotic odd, ball of energy in the shop, delivering flowers from house to house with a smile. To think they


    would see him like this, casting his eyes to the abyss while reminiscence the past.


    Since it was a shock, she let out a smallugh- or so she thought.


    Jack turned to re at Ba. ¡°Shut up! Why are youughing?¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re funny!¡± Ba continued tough. ¡°Why do you look like we died or something?¡±


    Jack went scarlet red; he gnashed his teeth at her and said angrily. ¡°Shut up! Aren¡¯t you also sad?!¡±


    ¡°I do- but I don¡¯t cry!¡±


    They were noisy, most of the costumers inside the restaurant looked at them, displeased, but none of


    the two cared about that and continued their banters. Althea, on the other hand, looked at the two with


    yet another surprised expression. It was like she was seeing the other side of the coin of her


    employees. She was not used to this personality of them.


    Nheless, she smiled and joined them for thest time.


    -


    They parted in the afternoon, before Jack left, he told Ba that he will guide her to apply in the same


    company as his. After they agreed, Althea did not forget about giving him his payment for that month,


    also a few bonuses. Jack didn¡¯t refuse it, he epted it with two hands and smiled widely at Ba


    while fanning his face with the money.


    Before Ba can even kick his face, he dashed away and disappeared.Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go?¡± Althea offered after a while; she carefully looked a Ba who was looking at where Jack


    had gone to.


    Ba was silent, but when she was asked, she came back to her senses and smiled back at Althea.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    They begun to walk towards the parking lot when Ba remembered something. ¡°Right, what about


    that arsonist?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Althea said. ¡°As usual, he didn¡¯t say a thing about why he burned the shop. I exined what


    happened to the police about the past and they concluded that it was nothing but an old grudge.¡±


    ¡°So, the case is almost done?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Althea nodded. ¡°It is. After this, we will go back to the town and resume Kai¡¯s private sses.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± Ba responded. ¡°So, Mr. Tyler was just indeed over reacting.¡±


    Altheaughed at this; her whole body was almost shaking. ¡°Of course, he is! Who would spend their


    time and money to dig on my past then use that man to kill me? I¡¯m just no body!¡±

 Chapter 86: They, them

    Chapter 86: They, them


    CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO:


    They, Them


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    --


    Two days after, Ba moved out with Jack. Both expressed their gratitude to her and vice versa.


    Althea wished them good luck before watching them leave from afar. The sight of them driving away


    was rather lonely, it was like she was sending her children away for boarding school. The time they


    spent might be small and short, it didn¡¯t hinder the fact that they all grown closer.


    When they were already nowhere in sight, Althea turned back and went inside the hotel, trying to smile


    despite the emotions swirling inside her. It was really funny, to think she¡¯ll be like this to the people she


    didn¡¯t spend her whole time with. If her old self sees her like this, she¡¯ll mock her. She was known to be


    aloof and cold after all.


    ¡°Mom.¡± Kai called out after she entered their room. Althea looked up and saw the kid making a small


    hop to jump down the sofa and walk towards her. He looked up at her with his big, blue eyes. Althea


    saw herself on him for a sec. She smiled and stroked his cheeks. This might be how her mother felt


    whenever she seeks for asks questions with her eyes full of curiosity.


    ¡°Are Jack and Ba noting back here again?¡± The little boy asked. Althea paused, she stared at


    him for a good second before chuckling. She hoisted him up despite how he weighs and walks towards


    the sofa. She sat down and sighed.


    ¡°Of course, they will!¡± She said softly. She slightly pinches his cheeks. ¡°They will surely miss these


    chubby cheeks of yours!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Kai lets her pinch his cheeks. ¡°¡­ How about Mnie¡­?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Well,¡± Althea throwed her head back to the ceiling.


    She called and informed Mnie and Emily about the situation, both were sad, of course and tried to


    comfort her. Emily, as usual, throwed a joke to lighten up the things. Althea was worried about


    Mnie¡¯s reaction but aside from being sad about it, she has no other violent reaction.


    ¡°Unfortunately, since there¡¯s no use going back here, she won¡¯t. Maybe she will, in the future, but now,


    she said she¡¯ll try to find a work near her parent¡¯s house.¡± Althea said after the pause. ¡°She said that


    she¡¯ll take care of parents too while she¡¯s at it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, she¡¯s taking care of her parents¡­¡± He paused then stared at her eyes. ¡°Do I need to take care of


    you like that in the near future too?¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily. If you want, you can. But if you don¡¯t want to, okay, it¡¯s your choice.¡± Kai don¡¯t do the


    second choice, please. ¡°Of course, you can just visit me from time to time.¡±


    Kai nodded in understanding then casted his gaze downwards. Althea furrowed her brows in worry and


    gently raised his small head up by his chin. ¡°Hey, are you lonely without them?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Kai shook his head, paused, then slowly nodded his head. Altheaughed.


    ¡°Why are you lonely? You have mom, you have me.¡±


    Well, that¡¯s true. Kai thought then stared at his mom in silence. Thetter smiled down at him and


    casted him a questioning gaze. ¡°When can we¡­¡±


    Visit uncle Tyler?


    ¡°Kai?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Kai didn¡¯t want to continue that sentence. It feels like it was a taboo to his mother, or maybe


    she¡¯ll be shocked since he was already calling him uncle. ¡°I just want to ask when we can go back


    home.¡±


    Home, the town he grown up to. It was small and quiet. Away from the bustling, polluted cities. It was


    an isted town. With a longnd of greeneries stretching for miles. Small houses and small stores.


    There are mostly elderlies there, the youngsters had long migrated to cities to find work and money.


    The town was small and money you can get there is not as big as you can in the city. But his mother


    really preferred staying there and managing the shop. So, if she wants to go back there right now, he¡¯ll


    just shallow his desire to stay a little bit more.


    -


    Althea has no idea what her child was thinking. She said, ¡°We¡¯ll be back in four days, the case is


    wrapping up soon.¡±


    Kai just nodded his head silently.


    ¡°Oh, before we go back, let¡¯s buy gifts to the elders. How does tomorrow sounds?¡±


    ¡°I can go with you?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Althea said enthusiastically, thinking that she has to cheer her son up, so he won¡¯t be that


    sad to leave because he misses the other three. She forgot about Tyler. She forgot that her son likes


    that man very much. Forgot?


    Nah.


    She unconsciously ignored it so she can cut ties with him without being guilty.


    In the end, she did not even know she was being selfish.


    Althea pinches his cheeks again, ¡°Of course you cane with me, you can buy as much as you want


    too. We¡¯ll just make sure that it can fit in the car though. I know you are getting bored in this room. We


    can even visit the amusement park if you want to!¡±


    Kai nodded in agreement, ¡°Okay.¡±


    With that, they nned their small little date for tomorrow.


    --


    The next day, Tyler was having a bad day at work when his phone rang. His re that was directed at


    the papers earlier swept past it and went directly to his phone. Sharon, who felt the gaze on her for a


    second, shivered. She has no idea why her boss is like that. Did he eat a fly or something?


    He woke up earlier with a text form Althea¡¯s phone. It was Kai who texted him, saying that they will go


    to the amusement park that day and they will be leaving for the next few days. He wanted to go too, but


    the work loads he has is stopping him, making him irritated.


    The crease on Tyler¡¯s forehead deepened when he saw who was calling. He let his pen go from his


    deathly grip and picked up the phone with both hands. His body was leaning forward.


    The caller was the one who he assigned to investigate the arsonist of Althea¡¯s shop. He hasn¡¯t


    contacted him till now. Tyler has yet to hear his news but his heart was already thumping loudly against


    his chest. He had a bad feeling about it.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°Good morning, sir,¡± The investigator said. ¡°We had finish investigating the man.¡±


    ¡°Speak.¡±


    The investigator narrated everything he found about the man. Although the details are simr to what


    Althea said to them, he listened carefully incase there is something he will miss. But until the very end,


    his fear about Althea being target by someone did not surface.


    ¡°So no one is targeting her?¡± Is he just really overreacting?


    ¡°¡­¡± The man paused. ¡°About that, yes. That is, just ording to our investigation.¡±


    Feeling that something is off, Tyler asked forcefully. ¡°Stop stalling, speak.¡±


    ¡°Sir, since the records was very clean and simple, it was very suspicious. So, I went to the prison and


    tried to interview him again. And, to our surprise, he talked.¡±


    ¡°Talk what?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll send the recording.¡±


    His phone beeped and Tyler pressed the y button. The more he listened to it, the stiffer he became.


    //


    ¡°I would like to ask onest time¡± it was the voice of the investigator. His voice was echoing a little.


    ¡°Why did you burn her shop?¡±


    There was silence before he can hear a muffled chuckle. Tyler thinks it was the arsonist behind the


    ss wall with only small holes to let the sound travel. Theugh was strange. It was unnerving. ¡°To be


    honest, I myself has no idea.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea who that bitch offended.¡± Theugher intensifies to the point that his words are barely


    audible anymore. ¡°Whoever they are, I am sure that they will chase that bitch until they get what they


    want from her.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    The maniacalughter continued. ¡°That bitch will die for sure! She will!¡±


    ¡°Wha- have you finally gone crazy-?¡±


    The recording went silent all of the sudden. It was a dead, still silence.


    ¡°Crazy?¡± He chuckled. ¡°Maybe, but let me tell you something...


    They are crazier than me.


    They are monsters.¡±


    //


    Tyler did not let the recoding finish, instead, he fished his coat up from his chair and went outside.


    ¡°Sir?¡±


    He ignored her. He went directly to the elevator while dialing Althea¡¯s number. She wasn¡¯t picking up.


    Tyler cursed under his breath and felt that the elevator was awfully slow. He turned and decided to pick


    the stairs. While he was descending, Sharon was chasing after him, trying to make him slow down.


    But the man can¡¯t hear anything but his thumping heart. In haste, he texted Althea to pick up his phone


    then texted the driver to immediately ready the car.


    He is pretty sure that the police will contact herter, but since it was his investigator who discovered it


    first, he was the first one who got the notice. It was bad, looking at the time, the two are already out.

 Chapter 87: A man with a silver eye

    Chapter 87: A man with a silver eye


    CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE:


    A man with a silver eye


    --


    Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved.


    That day, Althea was busy watching out for Kai to be bothered by the continuous ringing and buzzing of


    her phone. There was nothing more important than her child¡¯s safety. Althea watched from afar as her


    son rode a horse in the merry-go-round ride. Kai searched for her face and when their eyes met, the


    young boy beamed at her. His eyes were going into slits in happiness and with one hand, he waved at


    her.


    Althea¡¯s heart thump in nervousness, thinking that her son might fall from the horse, but seeing that his


    figure did not wobble at all, she sighed in relief and waved back at him. Then she mouthed at him, ¡°Be


    careful!¡±


    Her son obediently nodded his head and once again held the pole of the horse with two hands. Althea


    let out a small chuckle before letting her eyes stray at the ce where they¡¯re at.


    The amusement that time was bustling with people. There are many families, boys and girls with their


    mother and father, walking around the ce. She can also find students with their teachers guiding


    them in the tour. They were probably having a field trip.


    Some came alone just to enjoy the foods in the stalls, some came with their lovers on their date.


    There were different kinds of people and different kinds of emotions, but she can see happiness above


    all the other emotions on the people¡¯s faces. As Althea was lost in thought, her eyes identally


    looked at someone from the crowd, meters away from her. He was also looking at him without emotion


    on his face.


    Althea paused her train of thoughts and stared back, thinking that he will remove his gaze after being


    caught. But contrary to her expectation, the man did not even flinch, nor he looked away. Althea looked


    away, hoping that he will also look away. But a minute passed, Althea can still feel the gaze on her.


    It was bone piercing; Althea felt the chill run on her spine. She decided to peek, and lo and behold, as


    she expected, he was still looking at her. Althea¡¯s heart thumped widely when she noticed something.


    Their distance decreased.


    Not only that, but Althea can also feel gazes from different directions aside from the man she initially


    saw. Althea¡¯s throat tightens when she spotted the others also just meters away from her. Likewise,


    they were looking at her without emotions on their eyes.


    Althea had a bad feeling. She immediately looked at the ride and saw that it was slowly stopping. Kai


    was looking at him worriedly. He must have been noticed that something was wrong when his mother


    wasn¡¯t looking at him.


    Althea looked at the men and when she saw them advancing, casually shoving peoples on their ways.


    Those people that are seemingly after her easily blended in the crowd, but since Althea already know


    their faces, she can easily spot them from afar.


    But they were getting nearer.


    Before Althea could think, she sprinted to the ride¡¯s entrance when it finally stopped. She ignored the


    operator¡¯s warning yell when she entered inside and directly removed Kai from the horse he was riding.


    She lifted him up and her son clutched on her tightly, asking what was happening.


    ¡°Shh,¡± Althea said to him, then nced from her shoulder. When she saw that they were nearing by


    now forcefully shoving people around, gaining some curses and hostile gazes, Althea sped up,


    bumping shoulders with other people along the way.


    She also revied curses, but she let it pass from her ear to the other ear. She was focusing on escaping.


    To get away from them.


    Due to the stream of people, the men that was after them were slowed down greatly, making their


    distance grow more and more. The one leading the chase stopped, making the other¡¯s also stop from


    their tracks. The man looked at the running figure of Althea before looking at his men.


    He gestured something, and they all nodded. They pulled out their guns.


    Those who were near them paled and backed away. When the others noticed that they were all


    backing away from something, they also turned to look. When they saw that one of the armed men


    pointed his gun up at the sky, the crowd begun to panic and run away.


    ¡°Bang!¡± The deafening sound of the gunfire made the others screamed.


    ¡°AHHH!!!¡± Screamed echoed.


    The crowd run from different directions, clearing the way for them. The children who know nothing


    about the situation begun crying as their father carry them on their shoulders and arms. In their panic,


    they still manage to look back to see if the men carrying firearms were aiming at their directions. When


    they saw that they weren¡¯t, they speed up to escape, not caring about who their targets are.


    The targets are in the same panic like them, but more intense as they know the were the people they


    need to point their guns at.


    Althea carefully runs while covering Kai¡¯s head. She was also ducking a little in fear that a flying bullet


    will suddenly fly on her head or Kai¡¯s.


    ¡°Bang!¡± Everyone flinched with the bang, when they heard a thud of someone falling on the ground, the


    panic grew stronger.


    They shot someone. Someone already died.


    Althea paled and without a second thought, she covered Kai¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Mom? What was that?¡± The little boy asked amidst the roaring yells of the other people.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Althea replied then casted onest nce to the man who was shot by the bullet instead of


    her. Hispanion kneeled down besides him and bawled her eyes out.


    Althea¡¯s throat clogged and suddenly her body was heavy. The guilt was weighing her entire existence.


    Althea can feel the urge to throw up as the smell of blood prated her nose. It was so strong, as if it


    was reminding her that someone died because of her.


    Her stomached turned upside-down. She doesn¡¯t want Kai to smell the thick smell of blood. She


    forcefully turned her heels to run on another direction.


    But someone knocked her on her shoulder.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Althea let out a yell when she lost her bnce.


    Instinctively, she protected Kai¡¯s head with her arms and closed her eyes to prepare for the fall. But no


    hard floor hit her, she let out another yell when someone snaked their arms on her waist and forcefully


    yanked her up.


    ¡°Come ondy,¡± an unfamiliar voice said. The voice was next to her ear, the stranger¡¯s hot breath


    fanning her ears. ¡°Don¡¯t fall down or they¡¯ll stomp you to death.¡±


    After his words, Althea can feel the tug on her arm. He took Kai away from her arms and before she


    can even panic or react, he pulled her arms and begun to walk rapidly. The stranger was leading them


    the way. She opened her eyes in shock and looked at the man¡¯s back.


    He has a wide shoulders and bulky body. The arm that was holding Kai up was building with muscles


    and veins. He skillfully avoided the streams of panicking people and the gap of her, and the armed men


    were getting wider and wider.


    Those men still firing their guns, Althea flinches every time it did. She can¡¯t imagine how many people


    were now dead.


    ¡°Hey!¡± The man tugged her arm forcefully making her train of thoughts stop. ¡°Stop stalling around or


    they¡¯ll catch up!¡±


    He looked over his shoulder and Althea finally took a closer look. The man was looking at her with


    irritation. His thick brows were furrowed, and his plump red lips were pressed into thin lines. He has the


    face that can make the other men jealous.


    But none of there caught Althea¡¯s attention.


    It was his peculiar eyes. It was an eye with a color that is the same of the moon. A man with silver


    eyes.


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