Looking at him, she continued,
"He has sacrificed his own life just to fulfil your wish. Just to follow the family's chronology, just to be a president, just to nurture his father's dream, he has forfeited his visions, his desires and other things."
"Wh What are you saying?"
"YOU SHUT UP." She glared at Ian who dared to interpret her.
"You wanted answers, right? Then here I go on his behalf."
"He has a responsibility, yes he does. A responsibility to save his father's reputation in front of his mere friend. If not Margaret's being close to you, he would have never befriended Isla. He would have never batted an eye towards her."
"If not your so-called friendship, he wouldn't have tolerated everything she did behind his back, whether proclaiming him as a childhood friend, to best friend to right now as her boyfriend. You forced him, forced him to be good to her and boosted her courage to empower this relationship all these years."
"Yes, he would have warned her. But can't your mind calculate this? If he said to stop publishing those things all these years, she would have definitely taken it in a wrong. With that Little brain, she would surely consider him having feelings for her and that's the sole reason he was asking to stop it."
"He just ignored and never gave her much attention but it was you, who forced him to join the 'Throne of Hearts' show, just not to disappoint your friend. Even though I should thank you, it was a wrong move. You have indirectly strengthened her belief of him having feelings for her."
"A guy readily agrees to come to a lovers show and what would you expect the girl to think? To consider it as a mere friendship?"
"You guys have always been tricked under the name of friendship, tricked to indirectly become their relatives but too bad none of your realised it and even though he did, he stayed silent just because he cannot go against your words, against your so-called friendship."
"And now, you blame him?"
"I agree with Mia." Noah stood behind Mia.
"You guys always forced him, us to treat Isla and her sister like friends. You guys gave her opportunity to raise and now you can't blame my brother."
"Even though Mia is wrong in some parts, I agree with her." Kiara stood on the other side of Mia.
"I have been with him for just 2 months. And we even share that long gap of five years but I could understand him, his feelings and pressures. But I never expected you guys to blame him."
"My words may hurt you, but you nourished him with your own hands and yet you cannot understand him."
"Just think of my words. And if you still blame him, then continue too as I have no regrets but to me, he would be the same."
"And No scandals can break us."
Her words eased his burning pain. He never imagined her to confess like this.
'No Scandals can break us.' Her words rang like a continuous bell and a smile slowly crawled his lips.
Even Felix was surprised by her words just like everyone else in the room.
He was afraid of Mia's reaction, of facing her wrath resulting in a breakup. But she had a completely opposite view.
"Come." She held his hand. Intertwining his fingers, she affirmed him for a lifelong support.
"Kiara, can you please bring the First Aid to his room?" Kiara nodded and rushed out while Noah walked behind the power couple.
"The five-year gap as brought them close, extremely close that none can break their bond." Charlotte mumbled with a smile.
Felix sighed deeply. Mia had completely opened his eyes. Yes, he was the one who pushed him towards Isla and her family. But from now on, No friendship would wriggle him.
"Don't think much. Let the kids handle their own matters." Charlotte supported his shoulders and he nodded.
"She was right. We were the ones who are responsible for this. We should have, "
"Sshhh. Let's not think about it. They will handle it."
He nodded with a smile. And charlotte helped him back to his room.
...
Ian's Room.
Tears trickled down her eyes as she continued to treat his red marks.
"I never knew you understood me so well.". He mumbled wiping out her tears.
"Even I didn't." She mumbled and shrugged his hand.
"Idiot, we talked so much in that one damn month and you expect me to not understand your useless brain."
He smiled and looked at her face.
"Have you ever thought about me in these five years?"
"Every single day. You always messed up my thoughts." She mumbled with a huff.
"Should I consider it as a confession?" He asked pulling her on his lap.
Puzzled by the sudden pull, she blinked at him.
'Damn it. Did I actually confess?'
"You did." He said ruffling her bangs on the forehead.
"Huh!" She widened her eyes and started hitting his chest.
"Why? Why is that you always manage to read my mind?"
"Ouch." Chuckling out loud, he held her hand and kissed it.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For defending Me."
"Huh, if not me who else will defend you."
She mumbled freeing herself from his embrace.
"Where are you going?" Pulling her back, he questioned.
And they fell with a hump on the soft bed.
Look at him, she widened her eyes at the uneasy posture.
"Of course, to my room."
"Isn't this yours?" He asked tucking a few bangs behind her ear.
"It is but this is not a hospital room nor your private house for us to sleep together."
"Afraid of Mom and Dad's thoughts?"
"Of course. Won't they misunderstand? Even though my father had already excepted you as his son-in-law but it's different here."
"Hmm. That means you except me as your husband?"
"Huh? Hahaha, you aren't husband material. Not at all my type." She joked around.
Flipping her around, he caressed her cheek.
"Are you sure?"
"100%. You can never be my husband."
"How about now?" He moved his face a little closer and she clutched the bedsheet.
"NO!" Controlling her chuckle as well as her excitement, she answered.
"And now?" He creased his face over her cheek and whispered.
"NO." Her eyes shut at the close proximity. Her face had a tinge of red but her heart was still hesitating to take a big step.
"Now?" He mumbled slightly creasing her lips with his sending tremors down her stomach.
She had heard of butterflies coming in free with love but for the first was experiencing it.
Her body started reacting in a different way. She could feel her stomach crumbling at the touch, her body burning like a bread under his hotness, sweat drops rising on her forehead, her back reaping in a collective shiver.
'Is it how one feels while kissing?'
Her mind started running wild in imagination while her heart still wavered to open up.
Sensing the reticence through her creased brows, Ian gulped and got up.
"I am gonna take a shower." And with that, he walked towards the bathroom.
And as soon as he left, she opened her eyes and sighed deeply.
Placing a hand on her palpitating heart, she took a few long breaths.
Minutes passed and she facepalmed herself.
'Damn Mia, he has waited five long years for you and here you go. Moreover, you have slept with him almost 10 times now and you are still hesitant.' A Little angel version of her sat on her right shoulder
'What's wrong with you? It was just a kiss.'
"Was It?" She mumbled wiping the sweat on her forehead.
She cupped her hot cheeks and sighed.
'You don't understand. Yes he as feelings for her but she just can't jump into it. They have five long years gape and she has been with him for just 2 or so weeks. So, she is right. Mia, give it a thought.' A little devil version of her sat on her left shoulder and continued,
'He also won the show with Isla. Don't forget that.'
'What if he won?'
'He would have quit the show but he didn't meaning he may have feelings for Isla and is just denying it.'
'You are overthinking.'
"Arghhh." Mia groaned in annoyance. The two sides would always mess up her mind and give it a big headache.
Shaking her head, Mia sighed as both the angel and devil version vanished.
...
City B.
Han Mansion.
Looking at the dead pigeon and the letter, Arthur clenched his fist.
'Death is inevitable and her life too. Just 5 more months, you will know your place! She will pay for all the sins and you will see her sorrows. The President or the Han Leader, none can protect her. None can. One is out and three more to go.'
He looked at the letter and sighed.
"What does the last line mean?" Xavier asked scanning the paper.
"Nicholas Brown is out and three more to go. Steven Brown, Arnold Ranger, Audrina Arthur Hanson!"
"What did they do to her?"
"Even I don't know nor your Mom."
Closing his eyes, Arthur sighed.
"Helen is way stronger than we think. Just one flick and she can destroy our whole clan."
"Haha, stop bragging about her. Han Clan is untouchable, even you know this."
"It is but the main point is Mia. If she is destroyed then our clan is just useless."
Xavier sighed. He was still trying to digest this odd secret and he knew this will havoc her life.
"Let's not worry. Just work on your skills and other things. Let Mia live a happy life for the next half a year. I can control her for a year but after that, "
"I will prove my best. Don't worry."
With a smile, Arthur nodded and patted his shoulder.
"Prepared to propose to her?"
Shaking his head, Xavier answered, "Only After Xaun's special day."
"Hmm. She is already in love with him. It's just that she is not expecting it. Try your luck but make sure your friendship abides you both forever."
He nodded and left the place.
Arthur smiled reminiscing about those two budding lovers as they brought back his golden days with his wife.