❁A father's tears and fears are unseen, his love is unexpressed, but his care and protection remains as pillar of strength throughout our lives.❁

Sitting on the grass, Noriana and I watch as the sun slowly drowns into the clouds and paints the sky pink and orange. I love the way the sunrays reflects on her bare face, colouring it golden.

It's probably the afterglow of crying that her face seems so flawless, yet her eyes feel empty.

" I never thought that, that one decision of mine would impact in such a destructive way. I'm very sorry about Richard and Ruby. And also, for everything Mr. Williamson did to you and your family. "

Why is she apologizing? Any woman would have done the same. Speaking of apologizing, I should be the one asking for her forgiveness. " I'm sorry too. "

" For Mr. Williamson? I don't deserve your sympathy. " she sighs, no emotion on her face at all. She has cried so much that even her eyes have no tears left.

" No. I still hate him very much. " I assert and a little snigger appears on her face. " I'm sorry for everything you had to go through, alone. The brain tumor. The abortion. I should've been there with you. "

" Who said I was alone? " she snaps.

" What? "

" I had myself. " she tells. A glint of pride sparkles in her eye. " I was enough for myself to survive. "

And at this moment, I know that I love her. And this time it's not just a habit or infatuation or attraction. This time it is love. Real and pure. I'm willing to give up all that I have and will ever have to see that smile of hers.

Of course, she had herself. I sometimes envy of how brave this woman is. We both were going through the worst phases of our lives. But I was in my country, I had my friends, Rebecca, who supported me.

While she, she was alone in a stranger country, among stranger people.

" And then I found Josie. She was a first year resident that time. She really helped me with everything. The abortion, finding a shelter for myself. The affinity I had searched among my people, I found it in a stranger. "

I feel so disgusted and disappointed from myself. When I turned my back on Noriana, Josie Taylor helped her, like an angel in disguise. And I used that same angel as a bait in order to make her life miserable. " I am also sorry for blackmailing you. Now I understand why you called me with that name. "

" Male bitch? "

" Yeah, but you don't have to repeat that. " I look away in embarassment. But when I hear a giggle from her hear direction, my lips involuntarily move upwards.

" You must hate me a lot, don't you? Ah I don't blame you, I haven't been the kindest person to you. " my guilt speaks. I can't even evaluate how guilty I feel. Probably, I don't even deserve to sit beside her.

" I did, actually. Specially after that night, when Rebecca drugged you and everything that you said. I can still hear each word of yours quite clearly, as we speak. ‌I hated you with all my guts, so much that i thought of you in each second of my life for making it miserable. And in every damn second I realised how much I loved you."

Oh lord, I wish I could squeeze her into a hug.

" Fair enough. What about now? "

" I don't know. " she takes a pause as though she's about to say something she has been thinking from a long time, " Hans, let's just be honest here. I understand you never intentionally lied to me. My own father was the one who proposed that deal. But I can never get over the fact that- that the relationship we had, you were forced into it- "

" -what I felt for you, it was not reciprocated. And I don't blame you, not anymore. But I just can't- can't pretend to be fine, looking at you everyday, the same guy I loved at a point of my life who didn't love me back."

But I do love you now.

" So, I don't know how I feel. But whatever I feel, I don't wanna feel this way ever again. I think it'll be better for both of us if we end it whatever is left. " and once again she succeeds in shattering my heart. " No grudges, no bad blood. Just living our own seperate lives peacefully "

Of course, first be so irresistible to fall in love with. Then, just say let's live apart. Now, that I know you're my destination, no one can stop me from reaching you.

Hans Nicholas Anderson has a history of getting what he wants. And it's just not anything. It's Noriana.

I'm ready to earn you, my love.

" I understand." I reply innocently, as though I completely agree with her.

She said it herself that we should no longer be together, but we both know that even her heart can't afford to be distant from mine. Not once again. She gets up. Hiding her teary eyes, she makes her way towards the SUV.

Why does she always have to be so strong? It's okay to blurt out your emotions before they overwhelm you.

Standing up from my place, I walk towards her. She stands with her back leaning against the vehicle front door. I go and stand facing her. I don't say a word, just look at her.

" What? " she asks.

" I hope David is watching you from above. So he'd know how strong his little Nori is. " I smile. And the tears she kept in a vault, finally sets free. She drapes her arms around my chest, hugging me tight.

" He hated me, Hans. He hated me. " she weeps.

" No, silly. You were his daughter. He could never hate you. He went so aggressive and literally destroyed my family. Beared heavy crises. Because he thought I had hurt you. He made us suffer because he thought we had made you suffer. That's much how he loved you. "

I speak and she listens to each word of mine carefully until she couldn't help asking, " Then why did he sell me to you. "

She has been thinking David s-sold her to me? I can't believe how wrong the woman could be.

" Sell? No, no. In that deal, he did not sell you, he owned me. He wanted to make sure you were safe with a person who is owned by him, your father. He knew his puppet would never hurt his daughter. " I take a sigh before I continue.

" Silly, your father was England's richest and most famous person. Do you not know how were you even able to live a normal life? Like a normal girl? He had his men around you all the time, protecting you 24/7. Even if you didn't know. If you still that think people did not talk to you because they did not like you. No, it was because David's men threatened everyone who tried coming close to you. He thought you were too innocent for this world. " I explain.

Apparently, he was right.

Her eyes widen as if she really did not know it at all.

" I had sworn to myself that no matter what I won't tell you this but I think you misunderstood your father beyond I could imagine. When everyone thought you were dead for good. He was the only one who believed the otherwise. The day before he died, we had shared a conversation- "

" --Perhaps he knew his feet could no longer carry his weight. He believed that his daughter is breathing somewhere, on her own terms, where she's happy. He had asked me to convey a message if I ever meet you again. " I take a pause.

" W-What message? " she stutters, pulling away.

" That your mother was the only woman he had ever loved. And he was so proud that you are exactly like her, strong, beautiful and stubborn." a tear fall from my eye, as I whisper it in her ear.

Not being able to know to how react, she decides to cry with all the strength in her. I wipe her tears but don't tell her to stop. She needs to grieve. These tears needs to be flowed.

" I know, you are enough for yourself to survive. But sometimes you need a little more love to live, love." and I again hold her in my embrace.

***

The private jet has just landed on the land of Chicago. Noriana is still a little sleepy. We both had a long day. Especially her. But hopefully, I think things will get better soon.

As we walk towards the exit of the airport, she softly taps on my arm with her index finger. I look at her to find her making the cutest puppy face ever," Hans, can I get a hot chocolate?"

Okay, so The CEO of The Anderson Enterprises, 'tis I, is now needed to go on a coffee shop hunt. I sometimes don't believe her. But it's not everyday that she asks for something.

Fortunately, there's a coffee shop quite a few meters away. As I put my steps to come back to her after fetching hot chocolate, I see her holding her head and wobble.

" Noriana?" my instinct screams and I run to her.

Every inch of her body groans in pain as though her nerves are crashing with one another. " Ahhh... "she screams while holding her head. My hand shivers as I reach for my phone to call for an ambulance.

What is happening to her?

❤️❤️❤️

Hola, peeps ٩( ᐛ )و

❁ Finally, Nora and Hans sorted all the misunderstandings out!

❁ I loved this chapter, although it was quite emo.

❁ Also, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO NORA?

Destiny is all crap, it's you and your faith on yourself that counts.