Yelena entered a coffee shop where Ella was waiting for her. When she saw her friend, she halted for a few seconds, staring at her from a distance. Then she made her way to her.

Ella came straight from the base, so she was still wearing her uniform. When Yelena took a seat on the chair opposite to her, she promptly glanced at her.

​​

"Did you wait long?" Yelena asked. Though she finds it quite hard, she forced a little smile.

"No. I just reach too." Ella said, narrowing her eyes at the table. She was secretly clenching her fingers nervously. "About yesterday... " Her voice trailed off. She wasn't even sure if she would be able to talk this out!

"Ella, I'm sorry for yesterday. I know that you're in a shock but... I was cold to you. I thought that it will be better that way. I should be more considerate of your feelings. After all, you're not the one at fault." Yelena calmly said when she noticed that Ella felt discouraged. It was very unlike her and she can't hold back herself.

Ella fell silent when she realized the video again. After a while, she asked, "When you show me the video yesterday, aren't you scared? He is my father and I might tell him. Didn't it cross your mind?" She still remembered how reluctant Lt. Morris was when he was told to show her the video.

"I made that decision in a clear mind, Ella. Besides, you're my friend. If you indeed decide to tell your father, then I will just have to bear the consequences. But I won't blame you. No matter what, he is your father." Yelena slightly narrowed her eyes. It wasn't easy for her to stay calm but she still needs to say what she had in mind.

"I never want to make things difficult for you. I don't want you to be hurt and that's why I try my best to hide it from you." She paused and shifted her gaze back to Ella. "What I'm afraid the most is that you will have regrets. I don't want you to live your life that way. I have been there and I don't want you to suffer the same. That's why I want to say this to you. You can tell your father and also take his side if you wish. I won't blame you."

"Yelena, why are you saying that? My father committed a crime and he should be held responsible. I admit that but - "

"You can't believe that he killed my brother. I know that, Ella." Yelena interrupted her and finished it for her.

Ella was tight-lipped. It's true that she couldn't believe that her father was a murderer. To be more precise, she wasn't even sure of what to believe and what to not believe. Everything was too sudden and her mind went blank.

"I understand you," Yelena spoke up after a while. "If I were in your shoes, I would feel the same."

"Yelena, are you sure of what you're talking? There must be some misunderstanding - "

"Ella," Yelena muttered in a low voice but it was enough to shut her friend. "Sometimes, you cannot believe something even if you see evidence right before you and... sometimes, you are sure of something even when you have no proof."

Ella remained quiet again as she understood what Yelena was trying to say. The latter had no proof but she was confident in what she assumed.

"You're his daughter, Ella. It's not wrong of you to defend him but... I'm the younger sister of Marvin Arista. Giving him justice is my last duty as a sister." Yelena said. Her face was still calm despite the topic they talked about.

"You already made up your mind, don't you?" Ella muttered.

"Ever since I started walking down this path 6 years ago, there is no turning back for me." Yelena made a deliberate pause and looked at Ella's eyes. It was just like yesterday. Pain.

"I know that this will hurt you but one day, I will expose your father to the world and let him pay for all he did. When the time comes, you can hate me, curse me or even loathe me. I won't blame you. Instead, I will spend my whole life asking for your forgiveness. I will live that way as a punishment for hurting my best friend not only once, but twice. But... never forgive me."

Ella was hurt by her words yet she didn't utter anything. She didn't argue but she sat still with her eyes glued to the table. She was still clenching her fist to keep herself in control.

"My brother died, Eric Flavian committed suicide and Nolan Iselin lost his mind. These are already too much yet... Colonel Maverick passed away too." At her last sentence, Ella darted her eyes to her. "If Colonel Maverick was still alive, I will be able to show you some evidence. I have no proof this time as well but... he was killed the night we were supposed to meet. I don't believe in such a coincidence."

"What do you mean?" Ella promptly asked, breaking her silence. "Are you trying to say that Colonel Maverick was killed by my father?"

Yelena raised a brow. Didn't Arias told her everything?! She saw Ella's confused yet doubtful face and understand. Arias didn't tell her about Colonel Maverick.

She kept her silence for a while and said, "He is the one who knows everything about your father. He promised to tell me who the culprit was but... he died before that." She observed Ella who was now turning her head away. She felt betrayed and she didn't fail to notice that. But... was she the one who made her feels that way or... her father's true nature?

"Do you know that Colonel Maverick and Colonel Arias used to be best friends? Please don't blame the Deputy Commander too much. He lost a friend and now, he feels torn." Yelena paused when she noticed Ella's troubled expression. Then she said, "I really hope that you can forgive him, Ella. If you want to blame someone, then blame me. Everything was started by me."

* * *

Lexus and Gina were just entering the Larson family house. Though it had been weeks since they returned to Edeladon, it's the first time they came to the mansion.

Before noon, news about the witness in Prince Alonzo's case was reported. When the media claimed that the witness in question was none other than the daughter of the Duke of Aswald, the country was in shock once again.

Upon hearing the news, Gina's father told Gina to meet him. Lexus was against it but Gina insisted to go. She was mentally prepared as she decided that this will be the last time she ever meets her father.

"Why didn't you tell me anything before you create this mess? Now, our family is currently the talks of the whole country!" The Duke of Aswald growled the moment he saw his daughter.

Who would have thought that this was the first time he met his daughter after that suicide attempt?! Though his daughter was in a wheelchair, he showed no sympathy for her. If it was not for Lexus presence, he will surely be rougher than this!

Lexus wanted to shut up this old man but before they come here, Gina already told him that she will take care of it. He won't get involved unless she wanted him to.

Gina was very calm. After keeping her silence for a while, she glanced up at her father. "I'm not here to argue with you but you're still the same. You only cared about your reputation like always and... I'm still just a tool to you."

"How dare you talk to me that way, Gina! Have you no shame?" The Duke of Aswald hissed.

"You never once considered me as your daughter, so... why would I give you respect which a father deserves?" Gina simply replied with a calm face.

"Gina Larson - "

"It's enough!" Gina snapped, raising her voice for the first time and even the Duke raised a brow. It's the first time his daughter ever treat him that way!

"I already endured enough." Gina started, letting out a breath. "You must read about me in the news. Apart from suffering in your hands, I'm the captive of Alonzo for 4 years! Do you even care about how much I suffered?"

"You should have told me - "

"If a child is unwilling to tell her sufferings to her parents, then it's the parent's fault. Don't you dare blame me." Gina coldly said.

"What has gotten into you? Do you lost your mind after you get hospitalized?" The Duke grunted.

Gina fell silent and took a deep breath. After narrowing her eyes for a while, she looked up at her father again, gazing at him right in the eyes. "Do you think that I don't know why you are never warm or loving to me? I know everything."