"Auriel!" Killan called out tentatively. His hands trembling as he stared at her in a daze.

    He didn''t know when he stood up, his leg carrying him to the person he had always imagined in his dream.

    After their farewell conversation many years ago. He had never heard from her again.

    Killan realized that during his relationship with Auriel, neither of them had actually understood the other.

    Their communication was so poor that everything they did could lead to a misunderstanding, and with each of them bearing their own pride, neither was willing to clear up the air.

    Killan realized the only thing he ever did was apologize. He never asked why, only enduring and putting up with Auriel and it only led to his twisted sense of love and accumulated dissatisfaction.

    But after their conversation that day, he realized how twisted and funny their relationship was.

    When he was reborn, he was filled with anger about the past and didn''t want to associate with her, so he didn''t even know how she was doing.

    The anger further blinded him that he always thought that his brother was in love with Auriel.

    Despite his brother denying it countless times, he refused to believe it and only believed it when neither of them had contacted each other for a year and counting.

    Twenty - Five years later, they still hadn''t contacted each other, even a fool would realize that their communication had been based on their connection with him.

    When Zosia had given all those gifts to him during their last conversation, he thought she would ask for them to get back together, but after her long lengthy talk and advice, he realized that it might probably be a farewell message and he wasn''t wrong.

    After that day, he no longer heard about her. It was like as if she had disappeared, even searching online for the headlines she once made, he realized that they couldn''t be found.

    It was like she vanished and even with his connections and power, he couldn''t find her. He didn''t even have a clue about where she was or her well being.

    It was on that same day— that they had that conversation— that Layla drugged him.

    Actually, he could just have Layla bear the child and take care of the child by himself, but remembering the words Auriel had spoken to him.

    He decided to marry Layla, though he straightforwardly told her that he couldn''t love her.

    Was he wrong for marrying Layla despite having someone else in his heart?

    Even after he lost DIOS, he wasn''t left with nothing.

    After all a rabbit should have 3 burrows and as a Mafia Don, DIOS only served as a front cover, so he was okay losing it.

    Besides, he felt he owed Layla which was why he hadn''t made things difficult for her, else she''d be 6 ft below the ground by now, regardless of her being from the Swiss family.

    Right now, looking at Auriel who stood before him, his emotions were in a riot. He loved her and still does, at the same time he hated how she had left him without looking back.

    "Auriel!?" He called out tentatively once again, taking her hand into his.

    Zosia offered him a smile and led him back to the chair.

    "It''s indeed me."

    She gently tried to remove her hand from his, but Killan wasn''t budging, rather his grip tightened, like as if he was afraid she would disappear.

    Gently patting his hand, she couldn''t help but remind him. "I think you should let it go, now." She said with a smile.

    He tightened his grip on her hand, as if afraid she would vanish again. His eyes searched hers, looking for answers, for reassurance.

    Zosia gently patted his hand, her smile patient but firm. "Killan," she said softly, "you need to let go now."

    He hesitated, his hand trembling. "I… I can''t believe it''s you. After all these years…"

    She nodded, her expression unreadable. "It''s been a long time. But we''re here now." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Zane, who had been silently observing from the corner, cleared his throat. "Dad, maybe we should sit down and talk. That''s why we''re here, isn''t it?"

    Killan blinked, as if just remembering his son''s presence.

    Reluctantly, he let Auriel''s hand slip from his grasp and sat back down. Zane looked between the two of them, his sharp eyes picking up on the tension.

    "I didn''t expect to find you here," Killan said finally, his voice quieter.

    "It seems you are living well."

    "Indeed I am." Zosia responded, her smile polite.

    Zosia glanced at the tea, seeing that it wouldn''t last, she called the butler who though not close was neither far as well.

    "Refill the tea." Zosia ordered softly.

    Killan''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Why didn''t you reach out? Why hide yourself all these years?"

    Zosia met his gaze directly, her voice steady. "Hide? That''s a wrong word my friend. I never hide.

    Besides, we both made our choices. You made yours and I made mine."

    "You two have a lot to talk about," Zane couldn''t help but interrupt. "But maybe we should start with why we''re really here. Business first, emotions later."

    Zosia chuckled softly, breaking the tension. "Spoken like a true businessman."

    Zane could already guess the relationship between his father and the lady.

    "Tsk, Dad really has a good eye for women." Zane thought inwardly.

    Unlike what one would expect that a 50 year old woman to look like. She looked like she was in her late twenties. The body shape, the... Cough...

    Zane interrupted his thoughts, before his dirty mind would assume something else. But he had to say that she is really beautiful.

    Now he understood why his father still couldn''t let go. If he was the one in his father shoes, he wouldn''t let go as well.

    He may even kidnap her and lock her up. She''d be his and his alone.

    Zane cleared his throat as he began discussing business with her, while his father sat by the side, supervising him.

    He knew that his father emotions were probably in turmoil and his mind may not be here, so he wasn''t suitable to discuss the business proposition.

    The discussion lasted for quite a while. By the time they were done, it was already night.

    "Please stay for dinner, if you don''t mind." Zosia said calmly.

    Zosia had said it out of courtesy, who knew that Killan and his son would really stay.

    By the time they were done with the meal and it was time for them to leave, Killan was reluctant to go.

    Just as he was about to propose staying in Auriel''s house for the night, his son whispered something in his ear.

    "Dad, currently your status is that of a married man. You can''t do anything that would give her a leverage to use it against you or Miss Auriel.

    Besides, do you even know if miss Auriel is married?"

    Hearing his son''s words, he realized that he had indeed not thought about, especially with his already muddled mind.

    Before he wasn''t interested in if Layla signed the divorce papers or not, but now it was different.

    As for the ''her'' Zane mentioned, it was referring to Layla of course. Layla had never for once treated him like her son, so it was easy for him to quickly shed the title of calling her mom.

    Just as they were leaving, they bumped into Kamal who was rushing to share the good news to his sister.

    With the help of that blue liquid, not only was his sister and mother healed, but there was no sequel and even their hidden injuries were taken care of.

    After they had gotten healed, he had settled them down which took so much of his time, else he would have returned earlier.

    Killan upon meeting the young man, was reminded of the face he had seen in the shareholder profile.

    "Could it be her son? Was she married?" He thought inwardly.

    Killan didn''t dare think further. Only just these few thoughts and he almost had a heart attack.

    "I will ask her when next we meet." Killan thought inwardly, his gait which had slowed down resumed in its normal pace.

    After a simple exchange of greeting, they each went their own way, with each having different thoughts.

    -------

    A few days later....

    Killan who hadn''t bothered Layla about the divorce, began pressuring her to sign it.

    When her current husband learnt that she still hasn''t signed the divorce document, it sparked a huge quarrel between them.

    Even her sons from different husband didn''t spare her in the quarrel.

    Layla didn''t understand why Killan who had been casual about the signing of the document was suddenly pressuring her to sign it.

    "Was he seeing another woman? Could he be cheating on me?" More thoughts sprouted in her mind but all were in the direction, that she was being cheated upon.

    Killan even threatened to take her to court, if she doesn''t sign it.

    To save face, she could only sign it against her will.

    As usual, whenever she is unhappy, she would splurge on shopping.

    Who knew that she would stumble on the same woman whom had caused the strain in her relationship with Killan.

    If eyes could kill, she would have killed the person 10 times over.

    -----------

    Thank you all for your support (???????). I really appreciate it.

    Happy New Year and Happy New Month to everyone. Thank you for your support throughout last year.

    I hope you don''t drop the book, but keep supporting me this year as well in your own little way.

    Thank you and have a nice day.