❁ The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and feels even better to come back. ❁

Rubbing my eyes, I wake up on the backseat of an SUV. The last thing I remember is sitting on a private jet, and then I don't remember when I fell asleep.

As I adjust my eyes with the light, I feel different. This smell, it's different but I recognize it.

" You've gotta be kidding me. " I flinch as I gaze at the outside world through the window. The view literally hits me like a shotgun. This is Manchester. The city I grew up in. But why am I here? Why has Hans brought me here?

" Oh you're up? Good Morning, love. " he greets while holding the steering in the front.

" Hans, turn the car right here. I don't want to be in this city a minute further. " I shout.

" Not everything that happens is what you want. Sometimes, it's what you need. " he accelerates the car.

" You can leave the philosophy part for me. I know what I need. And this is not-- " before letting me complete, he cuts me off, " Love, you don't know a lot of things that you need to know. "

Rolling my eyes, I decide not to argue any further.

I don't understand this man. If he wants to tell me something, then why not just say it?

Instead, I decide to continue gazing out of the window. Being here again somehow gives my soul a strange satisfaction. With every turn, my brain recalls a different memory. This city used to my home once. Now, it's all nostalgia.

I don't even realise when Hans pulled over, until he himself opens the door for me. I step out to find myself in front of a giant building complex. " Where am I? I don't even know this place. "

He says nothing, just grabs my wrist dragging me inside of the big building. The security guard, the receptionist, and few other people, that suppose work here, greet Hans with a 'Good Morning'.

Is this another branch of Anderson Enterprises?

No, the name on the building front said, Opulent Jewels. I don't think Hans owns a jewels company.

" Don't tell Rebecca I'm here. " he orders to the man sitting at the reception.

No. No. This...this can't be that Rebecca.

" Hans, leave my hand. " I use my other hand to loose his grip on my wrist, but he makes it even firm. Walking through the elegantly interior designed Hall, he storms inside someone's cabin.

" M.D. Rebecca White. " the name plate on the cabin's door reads.

Of course, Rebecca freaking White.

I was an idiot to agree with Hans and let him take the advantage to help me get a heart attack. Three years ago, I had already seen so much. I might not be able to handle it again.

As we walk in, more precisely, Hans walks in and I'm being dragged, I see Rebecca White and one stranger man. As soon as her eye lands on me, I'd be understating if I say, she's gobsmacked.

Even, I wasn't this much shocked when I learnt that Hans brought me here. As though she saw someone rose up from the dead. She probably believed that I was dead. Apparently, I'm not. At least, not yet.

" Hans, where have you been, mate? It's been like ages. We missed you. " the other man, walks over to us and hugs Hans. His hand still holding mine. Rebecca stilling glaring at me. Perhaps, wondering if I'm real or her hallucination.

" Kevin, I missed you too, mate. " Hans finally opens his mouth.

" Is she the lucky one? " that man whispers in Hans' ear with a naughty wink but it's clearly audible to mine as well. " That I think our dear Rebecca can explain the best. Right, Rebe? " Hans tells.

Now everyone's eyes on Rebecca, and her extra pale face says she doesn't know how to react. " Kev, darling, can you please give us a moment? " she finally speaks.

" No, Kevin, it's alright. You should know whom you're marrying into. I mean, you should know your fiancée is a rebel. Oh aren't you, Rebe? " Hans says in his overconfident accent.

Something is wrong.

" What is happening here? " Kevin, still clueless, asks.

" Rebe, should I start or you'll do the honours? I need to know what happened that night, three years ago, when you came to my office. " Hans sounds furious now.

What does he mean by that? Doesn't he know what happened?

I was right there, when I saw Rebecca hugging and kissing him. And he didn't stop her. He revealed it himself that his father forced him to marry me. And everything that he said to me that night.

He remembers every single detail of me. My likes and dislikes like it was yesterday when we dated. How can he not remember that very night?

I'll kill him if he lies saying he has partial Amnesia.

" W-What are you talking about, Hans? I n-never came to your office. " the way she's stammering, a fool could tell she's lying.

" Rebecca, NO MORE LIES. " she flinches as he blurts out every word hard, out loud and crystal clear. By now, Kevin knew something is wrong. Something serious.

" Fine, I'll tell you. "

***

"...I was young and naive. I had no idea what I was doing. I just wanted to have back what she stole from me. Had I known it would get so much worse, I would never had done that. " leaving me, Hans and Kevin mouth wide open, Rebecca discloses what exactly happened that night.

What? Whatever Hans said, he didn't mean it?

But, wait.

Even though, Hans never intended to do what happened that night. But that is also no lie that he had always lied to me. And he did marry me for Mr. Williamson's money, in all senses while he was conscious. Even if, it was Rebecca's trap, he played me too.

I won't forgive him.

My love is not a toy, he can play with.

" I can't believe this, Rebe. " Hans blabs in disgust and disappointment.

Not being able to keep quiet anymore, I speak for the first time since we've crossed the frontier on this cabin, " Then, why did you stop? Hans was all yours. You could have him back. "

" Guilt, probably. His family had to suffer a lot that just even seeing him in so much pain killed me more than once. I did everything I could to get him out of the mess I created-- "

" --but never had the courage to admit it. He saw me as his friend, but I could only see myself as his menace. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry, Hans. " she explains. No matter how much I want to hate her, curse her. I just can't.

She's no longer the person she used to be. I could tell it from her improved personality. The politeness instead of attitude in her tone. The courage to apologize instead of never seeing her own fault.

And no wonder, love makes one go insane and cross all the boundaries.

All this time, Rebecca spoke. Hans and I questioned and she answered. But the whole time someone was dead quiet, Kevin. What else was he supposed do? Hear his fiancée reveal how she went after a married man? He gets up from his seat and steps towards the exit.

" Kev, please listen to me. " Rebecca begs.

" I've listened enough, Rebe. You've been using me to get over Hans. I don't need to hear anything else. " Kevin grunts.

I really want to slap Hans right now. If he knew something like this was coming, he should've let Kevin leave before forcing Rebecca to open her mouth.

" No, no, Kevin, I wasn't using you. I loved you and I still do very much. When I lost Hans, you were by my side. You brought me back to life. You changed me. You made me a better person. " she cries. And I really feel bad for her.

Destroying someone's life will not bring back the years we spent hating each other. Hans shouldn't have done this.

I really want to give a tight hug to Kevin. The man needs it. But I decide to stay at my place shut quiet, because even a word from my mouth, and everyone will think that I'm trying to be the good guy here.

Just then, Hans walks over to Kevin, and hugs him. " Kevin, mate. I know, I've been at your place. I know the rage and fury. But believe me, it's not worth it. You just punish yourself by leaving someone you love. And when that person is willing to love you back and change for you. I'm no one to tell you this, but she deserves a second chance. "

" Can you forgive her, Hans? " he questions.

" I already did. I know her since we were kids, Kev. She's rebellious, she has to get what she wants. But she'd never hurt someone intentionally. And I'm not a saint either. I broke her heart at the first place, that too without a closure. " he states.

Wow, when did Hans Stupid Anderson became Hans Kind Anderson?

Patting on his shoulder, he gestures me that it's time to leave. Of course, explode a bomb and just leave like that. But I think, he's right. Kevin and Rebecca needs to have a talk.

Hans walks past first, and I follow.

Meanwhile, walking towards the building exit, I try to glance at Hans. I want to say so much but I don't know what to say. And I can sense he's feeling the same way.

Since, I'm here. Should I go and meet Mr. Williamson?

I don't know. He won't even want to see me.

Reaching on the outside, I open the up the door and get into the car. Finally, I can go back to States. I can no longer breath here. " Now, take me back to Chicago. " I order.

" Um- I will. But before that, I have got something else that you should you know about. The real reason I brought you here. "

***

" Hans, why have you brought me to the graveyard? " I raise a brow as I stand on the ground of the graveyard. Goosebumps acquire my whole epidermis.

He looks me in the eye, " Noriana, It's all part of the God's plan. When he has a specific plan for us, we can't choose otherwise. " saying this he holds my hand and pulls me on the track, softly this time.

My heart is shaking like a freaking earthquake. Why is he talking like this? I'm getting a very bad feeling. My breaths are rushing, my head is seem to be whirling and my vision is flickering.

Maybe I'm having a anxiety attack.

" Hans, for God's sake just tell--" and my mouth drops. As though my voice box has no voice left. I'm definitely hallucinating. The grave in front of me, why do I see Mr. Williamson's name on it?

It's not true.

My body feels numb, I can't even feel the involuntary tears trailing down my cheeks. " Hans, it's one of your tricks to bother me, isn't it? Just so you know, it's a very chav trick and I'm not falling in your trap. Now take me back to home. "

Of course, he's pranking.

" Love, I'm sorry. " he says, wrapping her arms around me.

" No. No. No, please no! Please tell me it's a prank. I swear, I won't be mad. Just say it. It's a prank. " I whimper.

His silence speaks that it's all true. I turn my eyes back to the grave, it says 1964 ~ 2018. My knees never felt so weak. Falling down, I touch the grave with my own hands.

He died two years ago and I had no clue. He kept coming in my dreams, calling me, telling me he wants to see me. It was me who never understood. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to him.

Husband. Brother. Friend.

Written below his name

" Everybody thought you were- " Hans reasons as he watches my fingers as I feel the engraved letters on the tomb stone. He thinks I'm hurt that they didn't mention he was a father, my father.

" I wish I was. " shutting my eyes, I let my eyelashes sink in the warm tears. They were right to think I was dead. Because I've always been dead to him. I was never the daughter he wanted. I was just a disgrace, and disappointment to him.

" Once when I was very mad at him, I told him that he'll be alone in his bad time. I won't be there when he'll need me. " I sob thinking about that night, when he had brought Cara, his new wife. I never thought my own words would turn out to be a curse.

" But I never meant it. I never wanted this to happen. " I wish I had not said those words. I wish instead of fighting the whole time, I had hugged him and told him how much I needed him. I wish I could be the daughter he would have loved.

" I know, I know. I'm so sorry, love. I'm so sorry. " he rubs my arms, while pulling me into a hug.

❤️❤️❤️

Bonjour, lovely human ٩( ᐛ )و

❁ Honestly, I don't know why but I like Rebecca. She's not as evil as I thought she would be. Lol.

❁ So this is what Hans wanted to show Nora. David's grave.

Think before you speak, make sure your words are not hurting someone. And have a fantastic weekend.