Ashton didn't take the package from her unit. He checked his email and he indeed purchased it for her. He didn't understand why he would purchase a collection of sex toys for Natalia. What did he miss?

He's currently driving to Pamela's house. The gate came to the view and he showed his ID to the guard. Then, it was open to him. He drove to the long driveway to the main door when his phone started ringing. It's James Mondragon. He answered it immediately as he watched Pamela smiling as she came down from the staircase.

​​

"Good morning, sir."

"Ton, did you visit Natalia today?"

"Yes, I just left her unit like an hour ago."

"Hmm."

"Is there a problem, sir?"

"She isn't answering her phone or her telephone. I know that it's our off but, would you check on her again? I'm on a business trip to Cagayan. I can't be there for a few hours."

"I will," Ashton said quickly.

Something is indeed wrong. Pamela knocked on the window. He scrolled it. "I'm sorry, I got an emergency. I'll call you later." He said as he turned his car. He drove it fast to Natalia's condo and he almost broke the traffic rules. She looked devastated, depressed, and broken. Lots of things come into his mind. Suicide? No, fuck! She's smarter than that.

He parked his car and he was almost running when he reached her unit. He tapped her code and he entered. Everything seemed normal and the box is still there. He went to her room and knocked. However, she's not answering so he kicked the door open.

Natalia is there on the bed, lying in the same position. She was staring at nowhere. He approached her and checked her.

"Are you okay?"

"I told you to leave." She mumbled in a dry voice.

"Fuck!" He screamed. He exhaled. He panicked whenever her father called to check on her. Now, all she has to say is "I told you to leave" which doesn't make sense at all.

"Venting your anger towards me won't do anything. Just leave Ash, I don't want to speak to anyone at this moment. I don't want to ruin your life."

"Cut talking shits." He said quickly. "What do you mean by such words?"

She inhaled and just stared at the time.

"I'm waiting to get old." She mumbled.

He sat on the bed beside her with his back from her. His date is ruined because of his duty. It felt like forever since he got laid. But he can't get laid until a few more days. Until Cyra checked upon him so he removed the nanomites from his body.

"You already ruined my day by not answering your phone."

Natalia smiled bitterly.

"I'm sorry."

Ashton pulled out his phone and called James. James answered after a few rings.

"Yes, sir. Natalia is fine. Still have a hangover from last night."

"Okay, good."

"I'll keep her phone close to her."

"Yes, please do that. Thank you, Ashton. You are now dismissed."

"Thank you, sir."

Ashton searched for her phone and charged it on the side table. So, she could reach it. Then, he fixed the door that he broke. He took out the tools and fixed it in no time. Natalia's eyes are closed like she didn't care anymore. Something is indeed bothering her.

He kept the door opened. He'll hear about whatever crazy thing she will do. He called Pamela.

"Hi, Pam. Sorry about a while ago. Duty calls."

"It's fine. Totally."

"How about later at four in the Empire Café? I'll just set things up and I'll cook something for you."

"Great. Sure, let's do that."

"I'm really, sorry. But we still need to meet up at the laboratory later. Someone will pick you up, right?"

"Okay, I'll see you in the laboratory."

He hung up and exhaled. He checked his phone once again and the email. He purchased it a few days ago. It's the date before the suicide mission. The footages that have for that day are Aria and Asher and he needs to speak for those to know what happened before everything.

He checked on her first and he left a glass bottle of distilled water on the side table. He pulled the blanket over her shoulder.

"Hey, eat your lunch, okay?"

She didn't say anything and so, he left.

It takes four hours in the laboratory until Pamela receives her detox and she's clean from nanomites. He was waiting for her all the time. It's four in the afternoon and he promised to cook something for her. So, he drives to the Empire Café, the one that wasn't broken because of the bombing.

He cooked something for her and Jaxon is helping around too. It takes an hour before he set up every food that he wanted her to taste. She's amazed by it and they eat happily. It was five-fifteen when Aria entered the Empire café and walked directly to Jaxon.

"Cook some food. I need it quickly." She demanded. Jaxon exhaled.

"I am willing to cook anything you want, your highness. Only if you don't treat me like that." Jaxon said. She raised her brows.

"Natalia hasn't eaten anything. I need it right now." She said quickly.

"What? Not even lunch or breakfast?" Jaxon asked.

"She hasn't eaten in the right meal for a few days while you are killing your ass somewhere in the continent."

That caught Ashton's attention. He didn't want to ruin the date with Pamela but he has to know. She sat on the corner and asked for a bubble tea. She sat down and leaned on her seat.

Ashton excused himself from Pamela and he approached her.

"Aria, hey," Ashton smiled. She glared at him.

"What?" She asked coldly. He raised his hands as a surrender. "Ashton, move away. I don't want to talk to you."

He pulled the chair and sat in front of her.

"I just want to know what happened before the mission." He mumbled. "Do you have any footage? I want to see it?"

Aria leaned closer to him.

"No." She answered coldly.

"Why not?"

"It doesn't matter anymore, Ashton. You already have your life and she's trying to move on."

Ashton creased his brows and Noah approached them.

"Aria, I ready a few foods." He interrupted.

"Thank you, Noah." Aria smiled at Noah sweetly but not to Ashton. He scratched his head. Something is missing indeed. Maybe, Jaxon and Noah would answer him.

He went back to his seat and Aria left with the food and a bodyguard was escorting her. He excused himself from Pamela again and he approached Noah and Jaxon and dragged them to the storage room.

"Hey, this is kidnapping!" Jaxon complained.

"Okay," Ashton exhaled. "The two of you should tell me what happened before the mission."

Jaxon looked at Noah. Noah nodded at him.

"Well, there's something," Jaxon said. "But just as Lady Aria said." He highlights Lady Aria as he speaks. "There's no point in telling it when you jumped to another girl."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you and Natalia kissed, passionately in the laboratory room. Almost making out in there and murmuring some sweet things. I don't know! But there's something between you and Natalia. She was worried about the mission. They all stay up all day and all night. Natalia is professional so we thought that it's nothing to her when you hooked up with our subject."

"I don't remember—"

"Precisely! You don't remember. That's why Natalia chose to stay away from you and let you live your life."

Ashton sighed.

"Don't worry about Natalia, honestly," Jaxon said again but in a very sarcastic tune.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes." The two answered seemed to be annoyed.

"Is it my fault that I forgot the memories of a few months of my life?" Ashton asked like he's hurt by the two. The boys looked down and sighed. They patted him.

"Whatever your decision is, just go with it. As long as you are happy and safe." Noah said. "Christian is not with us. Our big brother, so even if you are dating the most beautiful girl in the world, you need to keep safe."

Ashton nodded. This is the first time that he likes a woman this much. Pamela is a great woman. They have a lot in common and she's funny, sexy, smart and beautiful. Maybe she's the one for him. So, he went back to Pamela, sat down, and ate with her.

"I'm sorry that it takes so long."

"I observe that you've been confused," Pamela said. "But you aren't committed to anyone, right?'

"No," Ashton said. Then, he thought of Natalia. She's a great friend. She's a great person and he likes playing chess with her. But, somehow, it won't be easy to get back their friendship since she's distant from him and she hates him for the unknown thing that he couldn't remember.

"By the way, when will you be able to you-know…"

"In two days, I might be able to be with you," Ashton said and reached her hand and kissed it.

Pamela flushed from what he did. He stared at her hand and somehow, something just kicked into his mind.