Chapter 36

ANGELO DEEPLY sighed a couple of times as he looked out of the window of the plane. He saw the news about the bombing of his sister's wedding, he called for days, but nobody picked up the phone except Narae and Anurak who were thankfully not present at the scene.

Angelo already has an idea who blew up his sister's wedding. For a year, he learned all the lessons he could learn about the life of his father and sister. He also learned how to use a gun and how to fight physically.

His father honed his mental and physical skills for him to safely enter that world. His lessons are still not done and were supposed to continue for another year in the USA, but the bodyguards did not stop him when he said he was going home because he was worried about his family's condition.

The news showed that his stepmother and Autumn were at the wedding, so he was even more worried. But the person who occupies the most space in his mind was his sister's groom.

“Please secure your seatbelts for when we are about to land. Thank you.”

It was as if his brain was celebrating because of what he heard. Finally, after a year, he'll be back but he never expected that this will be the reason. He sighed again and fixed his seatbelt.

When he finally got off the plane, he quickly finished the process so that he could get in his car and go to the hospital where his family is.

While he was on his way, he could not forget the incident. But one thing’s for sure, the wedding might be postponed but it would still happen… sooner or later. Besides, a Vazquez-Williams bond is a must.

CHARLES WAS silent in his hospital room. Being in the hospital isn’t really required, their families just need a show for the media to feast on. So they are all here in the same hospital, and they need two floors for them to occupy.

To this day Charles never forgets what his father explained to him. The wedding was just a setup, a plan, a bait, and the master of the plan was none other than his best friend.

“At least they finally took the bait and we were able to end their evil reign in this world,” his father reasoned when he asked why he had not been told about the plan.

“If you told me ahead, I wouldn't have hated my best friend,” he pointed out.

“That’s the whole plan, son. For you to look like you hated her and for you two to be in emotional chaos. It was Wynter's idea since she pointed out that your trust in one another was the biggest threat to the enemies. Letting them know that you don't trust her, and she's in a complete mess because of it, feeds the interest of the idiotic nemesis that your bond is getting weaker, resulting in the empire’s easy downfall.”

He stared at his father. Wynter's idea? He just looked up and then let out a deep sigh. "I feel bad." He shook his head. “I said a lot of words I never meant to say. I'm so stupid. I did not trust her enough. I'm such a jerk!” He kept on mumbling and only stopped when his father patted his shoulder.

“She understands. She is a great woman and a friend, son. A friendly piece of advice, don't you dare lose her. I am now letting go of my idea of your marriage with her. You can now be happy with the one you truly love,” he said while smiling before finally leaving the room where he was staying temporarily.

Charles stared at the door in disbelief. Did-did he just set me free? No more marriage with Wyn? I-I’m finally free!

Charles left his bubbles of thoughts when he heard the door open. He immediately looked at his three friends who were carrying food. Narae and Anurak grinned at him while Wynter just… well… her normal expression.

"How is our oldest friend?" Narae teased him. “Are you going to die? Not so fast, okay? Oppa and I haven't written our eulogy yet—”

“—Plus your coffin. On second thought, we'll just throw your body into the sea so you can just float. The coffin is expensive,” Anurak added.

He just shook his head at what the two were saying. He looked at his best friend who was just eating and had a world of her own as she sat on the sofa. He wanted to apologize for his previous attitude towards her. He's regretting every word and action he told and did to her.

Maybe the woman noticed his stare so she looked at him. He did not let go of the stare but he sighed and let her read his real emotions.

"I'm sorry, Wyn," he said simply to the lady.

He would have said something more next but she just spoke immediately. “It’s in the past, Dom. Besides, it was still all worth it. I kept my promise.”

He took a deep breath then smiled at Wynter. "So we're still best friends, right?"

Finally, she let out a small smile. “Nothing changed.”

"Aww, they're so sweet." He heard Anurak's annoyance.

“How about us, huh? You'll pay us, okay? Both of you stressed us out,” their youngest complained.

The two of them just shook their heads while smiling. He still didn't feel that easy even though his friend forgave and understood him, so he decided to pay her back the next time he had the chance.

He was in the middle of talking to his friends when he remembered.

The wedding between Wynter and I will no longer continue, as per dad’s words. He told me that I can finally be happy with the person who owns my heart. Gab...

A MONTH has passed and Angelo wasn't able to visit Charles in the hospital. The two families and the other guests of the “wedding” were in good health, and their lives were safe from enemies.

At least that's what Angelo knows. That's what his father told him. He had noticed before that he wanted to add something but he just couldn't say it. Angelo was curious alright, but he didn't push his father anymore. Maybe it wasn't that important.

Currently, he's inside the LUST DAWN, serving the customers as a normal day. After as soon as the patients were discharged about two weeks after the accident, they just went on as if nothing had happened.

"Earth to Oppa." Angelo blinked a few times before finally looking at the woman laughing while looking at him. "Welcome back to Earth, señor Angelo," Narae teased and he just smiled.

"Hey, need a drink?" He even lifted the bottle of wine he was holding.

Narae shook her head. "I'm actually here for a different reason."

"And that is?"

"I'm curious about your current relationship status." The girl stared at him seriously. "Were you dating anyone while you were gone?"

Angelo tried to hide his teasing smile. “Yeah. I dated two women and hmm… three or four men?”

Narae's eyes grew wider as she listened to his answer. She also quickly removed the shock on her face and then spoke again, "...so, how… about right now?"

Angelo just gave her a meaningful smile before he mixed her a drink and later on, gave it to her. “Here you go, young lady. Stop prying on my love life, worry about yours.”

The lady rolled her eyes. “I’m back to having fun and playing with men. Nothing is interesting about that.”

“I heard you had a boyfriend, young lady.” And now it's his turn to pry on someone else's life.

Narae scoffed. “A what? A boyfriend? It’s like you don’t know me, Oppa. I don't do boyfriends. ”

“But the guy who used to work here. The umm… the former bouncer.”

She raised her eyebrow. “You mean Dian.”

He nodded. “Yeah, him. Wasn't he your boyfriend?”

"No, he wasn't." Narae averted her gaze from him. After a couple of seconds, she glared at him. "We're supposed to talk about your love life, not mine, Oppa." Angelo just shrugged before he softly chuckled. “Whatever. I'm out of here. ”

"Have fun!" he said, teasing her. The lady just waved at him before she joined the crowd on the dancefloor.

“HE DID not answer my question,” the newcomer Narae said before sitting on her sofa in Lair.

“So… he might be in a relationship… right?” Anurak assumed as he glanced at him.

Charles drank quietly and then sighed. His curiosity and cowardness are eating him up. He wanted to have the courage to ask the young man directly but what did he do? He instructed Narae to ask him. He let out another sigh.

"So what's your plan?" Narae asked him.

He just stayed silent and closed his eyes before he relaxed his back against the couch. Coward as he may seem, but Charles didn't know how to approach the man again. How he would talk about to him again. How he would show again he loves him.

Yep, I am such a coward.