ACCEPTANCE

7 AM. The sun penetrated the pale blue sky and radiated its luminescence on the Brethren skyscrapers. Its beams reflected the pristine glassed office buildings. Hordes of cars varied in size zoomed past the roads with echoing, metallic grind and several onlookers, eyes darted on the vehicles driving their way to the KCA building. Media and showbiz reporters filled the lobby of the building. The reporters prepared and set their cameras around and other media equipment while waiting for the arrival of the actress who brings breaking news to everyone. They received a source about the big confession of Victoria Scarlet, one of the most famous actresses in the entertainment industry after Sumire.

That very day, everyone from around the globe found out that Sumire Massoullève's name was involved, the name that attracts the world's attention. Elites, businessmen, and ordinary people were eager to know the truth. From massive skyscrapers, street billboards, local and international television, and the world of the internet are filled with the maiden's news.

Media anchors reported the current happenings in the KCA building on the big screen. Chatters and whispers broke all over the place, viewers everywhere were waiting.

Except for her uncle Chadwick, Sumire who was in her villa with the whole family, Lunaire and Chaise, her grandfather Don Achaeus Severus, aunt Aireinna and uncle Cornelius, her cousins, Blanche and Clair waited for Victoria's revelation about the recent Sumire's scandal.

Eyes devoid of any hint of emotion, the maiden looked coldly at the screen when Victoria came out and faced the crowd of media. The flash of cameras started to flicker around.

'She will only spout another lie again,' Sumire utter in her mind, despising the actress who did nothing but caused her trouble. She was now looking at Victoria being bombarded with questions by reporters.

EARLIER BEFORE THE PRESS...

In the KCA building, in Victoria's room, the actress felt nervous and restless inside. She was also biting her nails while walking back and forth. Many people from different countries are already waiting for her outside and she also fears for her life. Victoria kept glancing in Leroy's direction who was sitting comfortably on the sofa like he owns the place. He was playing with the knife in his hand.

'After this confession, he will definitely kill me. That's why he keeps his eyes on me watching my move and making sure I wouldn't do stupid things.' Those were the thoughts that lingered in Victoria's mind without knowing Leroy protected her against his will. If the young man had a choice, he would rather go find Narco than be an escort to this woman.

'Damn, I want to get my ass outta here. This boredom is killing me.' Leroy said in his mind as he leaned back on the sofa and amused himself with the knife dancing on his fingers.

After Victoria got herself ready for the press conference, Leroy escorted her down to the lobby of the building. Her face looked pale and she rode with an alien stiffness. Her knees were already shaking as they walked the way where the media crowd was waiting for her. Victoria felt a sniping rifle pointed at her from a distance.

As they approached the place, the actress almost went sightless of the blinding flash of the expensive cameras non-stop taking pictures of her. But seconds later, the crowd went wild when Leroy appeared behind her. Bedazzled by his looks, their cameras turn to Leroy and began stole hundreds of photos of him from different angles. Leroy's good looks caught everyone's attention in the place, especially the female reporters who were now shrilling.

"Tss, women..." Leroy whispered as he flashed a short smile at the cameras that flashed at him. He stand on the corner and completely ignored the reporters.

Everyone's attention quickly shifted back to Victoria. The actress was immediately flooded with many questions while the security guards around blocked the reporters from getting near her. Victoria faked a cough that silenced the crowd.

Her muscles trembled and gathering all her strength, Victoria took a deep breath and courageously faced the massive crowd.

"I want to set things right and I hope you accept my sincere apology. To answer your questions, I am responsible for spreading the lies about Sumire Massoullève behind the TV host, Lukas' death. It was all lie. She had nothing to do about it as Lukas commit suicide after getting fired. My envy and desperation to get much adoration as she did from the world pushed me to do it. I used Lukas's death to my advantage to ruin her image and I deeply regretted it...I'm ready to face the consequence of my action." Victoria confesses and apologetically looks at the cameras.

The audible gasps and mouths left hung open, everyone was stunned after Victoria's revelation. All this time they had been fed false accusations and wronged the maiden which the world adored so much. From the news, they can see protests on the public highways believing Sumire is innocent in the case but some were unconvinced and questioning her innocence. Now, the truth is set free, the crowd of reporters came rushing and became aggressive when Sumire's name was mentioned.

"Ms. Scarlet. Why did you frame up Ms. Massoullève, your co-actress?"

"Is this your dirty way to get to the top? Did you do the same thing with A-list actors who get your way too?"

"Please, answer the question."

.............

Lunaire holding Blanche and Clair's hand, eyes darted on the screen were shocked by Victoria's full confession. They didn't see any reluctance but sincerity in her eyes even though they only saw her on the TV screen. Victoria publicly apologizes. Chaise and Don Achaeus Severus stood up after hearing the news and went to the side and talked intensively.

Tears slowly streaming down her cheek, the family heard Sumire's small sobs in the corner. Finally, her name was cleared to the public. Little by little, the heavy feeling gradually subsided which slowly killing her inside every day.

"Finally, baby. You are free..." said Lunaire who quickly approach and hugged her sobbing daughter and kissed her tears away. Her cousin Clair, runs to them and hugged Sumire's back.

"Am so happy cousin. Let's call this a celebration." Clair said and sweetly smiled at her and Blanche join them.

"She should be rot in jail. The audacity of that woman to defame you." Blanche seconded. Lunaire hugged the three of them tightly as Aireinna and Cornelius were watching them.

Chaise smiled at the beautiful scene in front of him. He gave his wife a few more minutes embracing their daughter and her cousins before he decided to approach them.

"Leave us for a moment." Chaise said gently to his wife. Lunaire, Clair, and Blanche immediately released the maiden from their caging embrace. He must do something to keep her away from Mort even if his daughter would go against with decision.

Sumire was left with her father. Her reddened eyebrows, corners of her eyes, and nose appeared to him. Chaise took a deep breath and wear a serious and fatherly expression.

"I don't want you to have any more connection with Mort. If you dearly love that man then let him go. I don't want you to get hurt like what happened to Maddox. That man is dangerous, a menace." Chaise directly said. 'I must protect her at any cost,' his hands form into a fist, he is certain Mort was behind Maddox's death and ruining his daughter's marriage.

Sumire slowly lowered her head and tears started to blur her vision. She couldn't bear the pain if she will lose Mort.

"I want you to stay away from him even if that means I will send you abroad." Chaise added that Sumire's tears fell. She bit her lip to stop sobbing. How can her Dad be so cruel to her? He even takes her happiness away.

Her knees go limp, and her heart shattered to pieces after hearing her father's command. She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes before looking up at her Dad.

"If that's what you wish, Dad. Then, I will." Sumire responded with a hiccup. When Chaise could no longer bear to see his daughter in pain and struggling like that, 'she really must love that man,' he turned his back and walked out of the villa to calm himself down. Lunaire quickly followed him outside.

Blanche and Clair ​​immediately attended to the maiden who fell on the floor and cried again after their uncle Chaise left. Sumire couldn't protest anymore. She was afraid that if she insisted on her relationship with Mort, she would lose the young man she loved forever.

"I don't want this kind of feeling anymore..."

...........

From the large dining table, the Mirks family was sitting gloomily along with a woman dressed in her usual black color. The family is currently mourning the death of their son, the Mirks' heir. The place now looks somber and cheerless. The family butlers and maids wore black apparel to express their grief of losing the young man they had served for so long who had been so kind to them and treated them justly.

Heavy pressure was building in the air and neither of them tried to speak. But the Head of the family broke the reigning silence.

"What can we get from you if we give you the full support of the family?" Don Jadreus asked and cast a skeptical look on Yelena who flash a grin at his question.

"You have my word. There will be justice in the death of your grandson. If you trust me." Yelena responded that Lady Laenyra and her husband, Mattheus, are both unconvinced. The couple suspiciously locked their gaze on Yelena.

"And what made you worthy of our trust?" Lady Laenyra asked. Yelena's gaze shifted in her direction and gave her a cold smile.

"I drowned thousands of men in seas. And feed children to lions. I'm a woman of words and I never break promises." Yelena responded coldly and Laenyra felt fear from her place when the woman's head creepily tilted to the side and smiled at her. Laenyra quickly holds her husband's hand.

"All right then. You have the family's trust but I want justice for the death of my son as soon as possible. The real culprit must pay the price." Maddox's father, Mattheus said while his jaw clenched. Yelena's grin widened when she saw the hatred in the family's eyes.

A vicious smile flickered across her face. Yelena nodded to them and successfully exits the manor. She gets what she wants from the family. The desperate family gave their full support to Yelena to avenge Maddox without knowing the snake was just under their roof, the real enemy.

"Let's go," Yelena ordered the chauffeur and he obey. The car leaves the manor with Yelena's maniacal laughter echoing in the air.

..............

Sumire cried all night in her room while Blanche and Clair stayed by her side and never leave her. The cousins can't do anything to go against their uncle's decision. The next day, the maiden woke up early preparing herself to go to the KCA building to personally resign from the entertainment industry. It is also her wish to end her career after all the troubles and pains she had been through. She needs a break and heals herself. Although the real reason was not told, many of the production staff in the building were crying at her sudden resignation.

"It was a pleasure to meet and work with you all. Thank you." The maiden wholeheartedly thanked and bowed to everyone with a genuine smile.

The directors and team members also bowed to her who couldn't hold back their tears. The maiden faced her manager who kept wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Thank you for everything, Eiryss. You have been so kind to me for all these years, I'm so glad you became my manager. I will never forget you." Sumire heartily thanked Eiryss who runs to her and hug the maiden. Sumire caressed her back, her eyes have completely dried from crying last night. She told the real reason to the manager and Eiryss understood that.

"I will miss you, dear. Be careful when you get there." Hiccuped, Eiryss tearfully said and hugged the maiden tightly that she considered her younger sister.

"You too, take care of yourself. I'll see you soon." The maiden smilingly responded and hugged again. Eiryss can see the sadness in her eyes.

Breaking news hit the world for the second time, shocking everyone with Sumire's resignation from the entertainment industry. Although many were disappointed and deeply saddened by her sudden decision they still loved the maiden and her acting talent. The internet world was filled with positive comments, different opinions, and tributes for their adored celebrity. It is a great loss for the fans, it creates a big hole and tears their soul apart.

"I wish she will come back..."

"Whatever her decision is, I'll respect it."

"She will always be my number one idol."

In a short hour, the KCA building was thronged by mass media reporters and paparazzi to ask for the maiden's resignation from the entertainment industry but Sumire had already left the place.

Sam drives the maiden to the police station where Victoria is currently confined. The police assisted her to the actress's prison cell.

Behind the prison bars, Sumire saw the actress she hated before staring into the nothingness in the corner, hugging her legs and crying non-stop. When the prison cell opened, the metallic sound caught Victoria's attention and from there Sumire was spat out wearing a stoic face and coldly look at her.

"Sumire!" Teary-eyed, Victoria abruptly crawled on the pavement towards Sumire and kissed the maiden's foot while mumbling incoherent things between her sobs.

"I know you will never forgive me after what I did. I understand you must have felt really upset, angry, and confused but I am hoping the time will come you'll forgive me. I will wait for that no matter how long it takes. I'm sorry for everything I did to you and your family, Sumire. I really do. I have deeply regretted everything." Victoria begged while tears streamed down her reddened cheeks. Sumire's blank and cold gaze dawned on her. Victoria may never involved in Maddox's death but she was responsible for ruining her image and reputation of her family.

"I forgive you the moment you confess, but you must suffer the crime you are involved in behind this prison bar. Not because I forgive you will I forget what you did to me. I'm the type of person who forgives but never forgets who wronged me." Sumire said without emotion and left the prison cell without looking back, leaving Victoria wailing behind the cold bars.

After Sumire left the police station, Creux Morosov, the CION brother owner and Victoria's former Boss, arrived. The handsome young man went to Victoria's cell and found her crying like she was out of her mind and constantly mumbling sorry.

Behind the prison cell, Creux just stared coldly at the actress without saying a word. When Victoria felt that someone was staring at her, she slowly looked up, and there she met the handsome face of the brothel owner she was previously working for.

Out of her composure, Victoria confesses and asked for forgiveness even though the young man did not say anything to her.

"I'm sorry, Boss. Ever since I left the brothel without saying goodbye, my life hasn't been going well. I fulfilled my dream of becoming an actor but it wasn't easy for me..." Victoria sincerely said and Creux sit on the chair the guard get for him and listened to her, uninteresting at all.

"Especially when Yelena suddenly entered my life..." she sobbingly added. Victoria continues to talk about her life while Creux waits for the paper that the policemen are working on. The young man bailed the actress out and brought her back to the CION brothel but no longer as a courtesan.

...........

The sun finally sets and the night reigns the sky. After packing her things, Blanche and Clair drove the maiden to the private airport owned by the Massoullèves. The place is as serene as it ever is. Few people are constantly moving to and fro. Small chatters and footsteps hitting the pavement. The air hostess and two pilots greeted Sumire with a smile and take her luggage. The gentle cold air caresses her long midnight hair and the maiden slowly turns to her cousins.

"Whenever you're lonely, give us a call and we'll come to you," Clair said and quickly hugged the maiden tightly. Tears slowly form in the corner of Sumire's eyes.

"Here, take this. It'll wash your sadness away." Blanche gives her one of the toys in his shop. Clair's eyes widened when she recognized the indecent pleasure toy. She gently slap his hand which caused Sumire laughs.

"Kidding, here..." Blanche gave a plushie octopus and planted a gentle kiss on Sumire's forehead. "But you can still bring this to play yourself. Don't worry, it's clean and sanitized." Chuckled, he jokingly added and Clair pinch him on the side. The three of them broke into laughter.

"Please, watch over him for me," Sumire said with tears misting her eyes. Blanche and Clair raised their hands and solemnly swear together to their cousin.

"We will, future Mrs. Aslanov." The cousins joked which made Sumire smile. Somehow she was relieved with her cousins' help. She then hugs them.

10 PM strikes, and the maiden was looking blankly outside from where she was sitting on the private plane waiting for her departure after Blanche and Clair left. She was reminiscing about the first and warm encounter with Mort and the days she spent with him on the island.

"I wish to see you one last time..." Her gaze landed on the ring that Mort had put on her and kissed it. If leaving is the only solution she doesn't lose the man she loved, she will do it. She wanted to see the hunk with one last glance before she left the Brethren city.

Her gaze shifted back to the outside and seems her wish was heard. Gaping, an orb of tears slowly rolled down her face as her eyes locked on the approaching familiar car and stopped in front of the airplane. From there, emerges the man of her dreams who keep haunting her every single day and night.

"Mort!"