Chapter 21

ANGELO SMILED at everyone inside the mansion. He just got discharged this afternoon, he wasn’t even quite sure of the reason why he was hospitalized in the first place. He was just told that drunk men beat him up so he ended up getting hospitalized.

“Welcome home, Hermano. How are you feeling?” his younger sister, Autumn, asked him before giving him a kiss on his cheek.

“Estoy muy bien, mi hermanita,” Angelo cheerfully answered. “How about you?”

Autumn sat down on the sofa across from him and smiled. “I’m fine as well, Hermano.”

Angelo smiled and looked around the mansion. “¿Dónde está Emerald, por cierto?” Where is Emerald, by the way?

“Ahh… Hermana’s still busy with her work.” Autumn gave him a soft smile. “Will you be okay if you stay here for a while? Dad said you don't have to work in the meantime for a faster recovery.”

He nodded. “Dad told me about it this morning. He has been keeping an eye on me since I was in the hospital.”

Angelo felt happiness towards his family. He was also in the hospital for a long time so he missed his family, especially his mom.

He heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Angelo's face immediately glowed. “Mama!”

Summer was slightly taken aback before smiling at Angelo. “Hello, baby. Welcome home.” She walked faster and gave him a hug. “Lo siento, I wasn't able to visit you—”

“It’s fine, mama.” Angelo cutely clung to his mother's arm. “But I'm hungry, mama. Could you cook me something?”

Summer smiled softly and caressed his head. “Of course, my baby. What do you want for snacks?”

Angelo grinned. “Anything, mom.”

“Bien. I’ll go to the kitchen now.” She bid goodbye to him.

Autumn just stared at them, and when he felt it that he looked at her. “Where’s Emerald, again?”

CHARLES WAS silently staring at nowhere. He went back to Thailand the day after Angelo got hypnotized. He couldn't bear the pain inside him so he distanced himself.

“Make him forget me. Everything about me, Wyn,” Charles begged her.

“Dom—”

He let out a small smile. “I’ll be fine. It's for the betterment of his being.”

Wynter stared at him before asking, “Are you sure?”

He nodded. I can do this. For him.

Charles just felt his cheek get wet so he immediately wiped it. I'll get stronger so that when everything is finally in order and he has doesn't like anyone, I'll pursue him.

Just the thought of Angelo liking someone else brings a lot of pain on him even more.

It's been a week now, and with each passing day, Charles's mood has gotten worse. He might soon kill all the criminals they catch if his rage continues. It was a good thing that Wynter came back to LUST DAWN this morning, and at least someone will control him on his missions.

“Hey, Dom.” Wynter snapped, stealing Charles’ attention.

“Wyn… Need anything?” he asked in a low voice.

His best friend stared at him for a second. “You look like sh*t.”

Charles couldn't help but chuckle. Of course, he knows that. He didn't bother fixing his hair, and each time he finishes their mission he would just drown himself in alcohol. He didn't even shave his growing beard. He doesn't give a hell about his appearance.

“By the way, decide well,” Wynter suddenly said, sending him back to reality.

Charles frowned. “Regarding what?”

“If you want to come down to the club or not.”

He stared at his friend. He was confused by what she said.

Wynter walked towards the door of his bedroom, before pausing to speak, “He’s here,” she said before finally leaving his room.

Charles was immediately taken aback. He didn't want to hope, but his friend probably would never want him to hope for nothing because she knew the effect on him.

So, if she's not messing with me, then Gab must really be here? But why?

To his knowledge, Wynter's father imprisoned Angelo to keep him safe. So why let him travel back to the country where he got in danger?

Charles was busy thinking about a lot of stuff when suddenly his bedroom door opened forcefully. He immediately looked at the woman standing right outside his door.

A sad Narae was staring at him. “H-Hey, Dom. Are you coming down?”

Charles and Wynter had to explain the situation to Narae and Anurak but not everything They still haven't said anything about their mafia, all their friends know is that Angelo was involved in an accident and forgot a few things, including about him and his real mother.

Narae approached him and gave him a hug. “It’s okay, Dom. He will remember you soon. They say, what the mind forgets, the heart remembers. I know you two have feelings for each other, so just trust him. He will remember you. ”

Charles let out a sigh. But that's the problem, I wanted him to forget me. So he can't remember me. At least not now. Not yet. He patted his friend’s back. “I’ll be fine, Nar. Thank you for that.”

They let each other go and stood up at the same time. Narae held his hand as they left his room. It was funny for Charles, he wanted to protect Angelo from afar but here he goes again. He couldn't stop himself from at least looking at him.

Charles took a deep breath before letting go of Narae's hand. The lady gave him an encouraging smile before she went downstairs.

When he was breathing properly, he first looked in the mirror near his seat and then panicked. He definitely looks like sh*t.

He hurriedly brushed his teeth, gargled his mouthwash, and changed into his outer clothing. He doesn't smell like alcohol so he felt relieved.

When he was sure that he looked pleasant, he went downstairs. Anurak greeted him with a smile. “He’s back at mixing drinks. He asked us a favor so yeah.”

He just nodded then looked at the bar below. From the second floor of the club, he’s back at looking at Angelo from afar.

That's why his vision immediately darkened when he saw a man approaching the bar and Angelo was staring at him.

Without thinking, Charles rushed down to Angelo’s place. He was right to catch it flirting with the customer.

"One J&C coming right up," Angelo said as he mixed drinks and finished the customer’s order. "Here you go, Hermoso." Angelo even winked at that guy.

"I'm sorry but, what does 'hermoso' mean?" Charles heard the question of the man Angelo was picking up.

Instead of Angelo, Charles heard Anurak's voice. "It means handsome."

Charles is very grateful that Anurak is there and the customer will not be affected by his bad mood. "An, take that guy away from here. I'll talk to this flirt."

"C'mon, you wouldn't like Dom being jealous," teasingly Anurak said before he left with the customer.

Angelo looked at him with a smile. He was about to lash out his jealousy at the bartender when the latter spoke, “Do I know you?”

Charles felt a numbing pain inside him. So this is how it feels like. I feel like crying.

Angelo's smile widened. “Wait! You know Anurak so does that means that you're friends with my Emy too?”

Charles calmed himself. “Yeah.”

The man in front of him nodded. “I see. Are you a customer or one of the owners?”

“Owner.”

Angelo was embarrassed while scratching his neck. “Well then, about a while ago. Is it against the bartender’s rules to flirt with the customers?”

Charles couldn't find the right words to answer the guy's question. “Ahm… No. I just thought you were someone I know. I never liked him flirting with anyone else. My bad.” He immediately turned away in embarrassment.

Can my life get any worse than this? He just shook his head and then returned to the lair of the four of them.