"Sir, I wanted to know where you found Dean's phone," Ethan asked while standing in front of Justin.The officer glanced at Ethan and continued scrolling his phone. "Of course with the burnt body."Ethan clenched his jaws tightly and closed his eyes to calm himself. "May I know the update on Dean's case?"Justin sighed, keeping his phone aside. "Our special force is looking for clues. When we get hold of the criminals, we'll let you know."Ethan nodded his head. "Thank you, officer."Ethan walked out of the police station with a sarcastic smile."Like I said, these officers are bribed. They're saying they found Dean's phone with the body, and the last location shown is the school." Ethan spoke with a scoff. "The kidnapper took Dean's phone, clicked on power off, and kept it back in Dean's pocket."Ethan looks back at Roman. "Sir, I'll go and get my brother. Thank you-"Ethan paused his words when Roman called someone."Hello, Cal. I need your help, bro."[Anything for my best friend.]Watching the confused gaze of Ethan. Roman said, "Since you got promoted recently to deputy chief, I want..."[What? You want a party?]"Cal, it's serious. I want a police force to help me find Dean."[Dean? What happened to him?]"Didn't you watch the news?"[I'm busy with cases here. Anyway, tell me the closest station. I'll contact the officer.]"It's probably YXE station."[Cool. I'll ask them to prepare, and I'll be there too.]"Thanks, but you don't-"Cal has already ended the call.Roman looks at the station and goes back to Ethan."Let's go and get our Dean."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Dean made a conscious effort to force a smile and nod, despite feeling anything but happy. He knew that he needed to maintain this facade to reclaim his life, so he was willing to pretend for as long as necessary. With a determined glint in his eyes, he left the room and reunited with his family. As he locked eyes with Alfie, who returned his gaze with a gentle nod, Dean felt a sense of resolve wash over him."Nathan, don't worry. You go alone; I'll be here." Alfie gave an assured nod to Nathan, who smiled, thinking that everything was going to get better in his life now."Don't forget to take your medicine before going," Alfie said while taking a pill from the strip and giving it to Nathan, who chugged it down along with water.Nathan leans forward to kiss Dean's forehead. However, Dean moved back while looking away. Nathan gave a small smile. "I will wait until you are comfortable."Dean pressed his lips between his teeth and pretended not to hear. Even though Nathan knows, he hears him.Nathan's car passed through the main gate. Alfie quickly marched towards the surveillance room and disabled the cameras with hasty movements. He looks at his tab, where a notification pops up informing him about the camera being switched off.All the information related to the company or house is present only on Alfie's tablet. If Nathan wants anything, Alfie has all the information.He closed his eyes in relief while stepping out of the room. None of the guards could get suspicious of or question him. They know about Alfie's status and his power.For the first time, Alfie is misusing the trust and power he has. But if it's for the betterment of the past mistake, then he is ready to pay the price. He has lived more than enough by living through the guilt of knowing everything yet doing nothing about it.The small mistake has been sown in his heart with the constant nurture of guilt, which has now turned into a giant tree of pain with roots deep crawling his feelings with shame.His eyes brim with tears, knowing his father's treatment will come to a halt now. But this time, Father Raynott will not be able to use his power to tuck people's wills and crush their hopes in his branded shoes."Whatever the hell happens, I'll face it. I won't tolerate wrongdoing now."Alfie's phone rings as he looks at it while wiping his tears.[Do you know where Dean is? Where has Nathan kept Dean?]Alfie hummed, unable to whisper a word.[I don't understand how to make that idiot understand. I told him not to make a hasty decision. Did he hurt Dean?]Alfie sniffs and wipes his tears.[Are you crying, baby? Fuck! Did he do something to you? I told you not to stay with him.]"No, I am fine." He carefully walked upstairs. "I will help Dean."[Do you want me to come there? Will you face any difficulty doing so?]Alfie shook his head. "I will be fine. I have you, right?"[Yes, I will be there for you. Whatever you are doing, I hope you will save Dean. Send me the location, and I'll get there as soon as possible. If Nathan bothers us or tries to stop us, I'll handle him.]Alfie nodded again and ended the call.I just hope everything goes well.Alfie opened the door where Dean was present. He looks at the man, watching the sky."Dean, after 10 minutes, leave this room. You can use the backdoor to leave the mansion. But, mind you, guards may search for you everywhere. Please stay cautious and don't get caught."Dean looks back at Alfie. "And, why are you helping me?"Alfie nibbled on his lips and heaved a sigh. "I want to uplift my guilty shoulders. Whatever you have gone through, I presume to be the source of it. Even after knowing the truth, I couldn't say it. This time, I'm not afraid. Back then, I was a naïve kid with no idea about how to handle situations."He took a step toward Dean. "This is different, Alfie. The Alfie who will stop tolerating things that are wrong and never support them, even if a knife is placed on my throat."Dean locks his gaze on Alfie. "You are not the reason for anything. It was my choice to walk down the path."Alfie shook his head. "I saw you. I saw you, Dean, mingling with the wrong people. I saw how they forced you to chug down alcohol to drown out your pain. I saw you losing yourself. I saw how you were broken. I saw everything! I saw your lost eyes. But I couldn't do anything as my hands were tied." Tears slipped past his eyes as his lips wobbled.Alfie placed his right hand over his chest. "My heart hurt when I saw it in pain. I wanted to hug you and apologize. But," He shook his head, wiping his tears. "I didn't dare to show you my face. I felt so guilty knowing that I took away your smile and the purest heart from you."He falls to his knees. "Please forgive me. Please say that you forgive me. Give me your forgiveness. The burden of pain is turning unbearable now." He choked words with sobs.Dean holds his shoulder as the bracelet shines and looks deep into his eyes. "I forgive you. I know you had your reasons that day and even today. I know nobody is evil."Helping Alfie stand up, he continues, "Honestly, nobody is evil. It's just confused people who don't know what is right and wrong."Alfie looks at Dean with teary eyes. "No wonder he calls you an angel."⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"You sure, this is the right path?" Roman asked Calder as the car stopped at a red light.Calder looked through his phone and nodded. "According to Raynott's secretary's number." He looks at Roman, who is sitting next to him."His number is active in this location." Calder points at his phone as his badge shines on his uniform.Roman nodded and turned his head to the left. "We'll reach Dean soon."Ethan looks at Roman with respect. If not for this man, he would never be able to find Dean."Thank you so much, sir." He bowed his head a little. "I owe my life to you. I'll forever be in debt to you."Roman narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "Don't say such things. I owe your brother too." He smiles. "He makes me happy. He is so kind, or, as I would say, one of a kind. When you gave me that bad news, believe me, I couldn't breathe. I felt as though something precious was snatched from me, and I want it back in my life."Roman's words added fuel to Calder's thoughts. Calder quickly smiled when Roman looked back at him.On the opposite road adjacent to their car, another car stopped, and Nathan was sitting out of the window. Coincidentally, both the car's windows are tinted black.Nathan saw the police car and smirked.Their cars moved in the opposite direction."Roman," Calder calls remembering something.He looks at Roman with wide eyes. "The doctor told you everything, right?"Roman nodded with a hum as his feet tapped on the car, waiting to reach it as soon as possible."What if the doctor tells the secretary everything?" Calder looks at the map on his phone. "What if this is a trap?"Ethan gasped, looking at the officer with worried eyes. "My Dean will be safe, right?"Roman looks at Calder and back at Ethan."Uhm, actually, I have locked the doctor inside his car."Even the driver gasped along with everyone. They look at Roman curiously."Man, I never thought you could do something like this. What if something happens to him?" Calder said while shaking his head."What else could I have done? If I tell the doctor to please follow me to the police station, do you think he'll obey me like a puppy?" Roman snapped when he saw their disbelief. "Nothing will happen. I just tied his hand with a kerchief and his feet with shoelaces.""What if he shouts?" Calder asked, messaging his forehead."I stuffed tissues in his mouth. I slapped his neck and made him unconscious." Roman looks at his watch. "After tying him up, he woke up, so I took his phone too." He placed the phone on Calder's palm.Everyone looks at Roman with wide eyes."I will never fight with you," Calder whispered to himself. He called a number."I'll send you a location. Go to the parking lot and get a man who is locked inside a car with a number." He looks at Roman, who shakes his head."We don't know the number. But the car is a red Hyundai." Calder said as Roman mouthed the color of the car. "Yeah, yeah. He's not a victim. Interrogate him. Update me on this."Calder chuckled. "I thought you were adorable only when you're in love. I don't know whether to call you stupid or smart here."The word love unknowingly thumped Roman's chest. He felt a familiar feeling yet again. But he shook his head and hoped to find Dean soon. He is understanding that he won't be at ease until he sees Dean safe and sound."I just want him safe and happy."Calder couldn't shake the feeling that something was off when he heard the way his friend spoke. As he reflected on it, he realized that true friends have an intuitive understanding of each other. They have an innate ability to discern even the subtlest shifts in mood and demeanor. It's as if they can peer into your soul and comprehend your thoughts and feelings without you having to say a word.Forcing himself to smile, Calder remembers his wife's words.I have a feeling that your friend and the teacher are in love with each other. It's just that they haven't acknowledged or realized it yet and are calling it friendship. I noticed that when they were talking, they seemed to forget that we were present too. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.Calder sighs,She is right. Now I'm feeling the same thing. Does Roman love or like this man? When did this happen? Roman wasn't gay, right?⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Alfie gathered all the guards for the fake emergency meeting, leaving two guards at the main gate to not get suspicious, and he knew Dean could tackle two men without a problem."This is an emergency meeting because, as we know, we have someone very important to Nathan, sir, in the house. I want you guys to"Alfie saw Dean slipping through the pillars and carefully stepping towards the backdoor.Dean fumbled with the key and opened it. Feeling a gust of open, fresh air brushing his face, he felt happiness running through his veins.He stepped out of the door and softly closed it behind him.He looks around the area; there is not a single house apart from this mansion. It was probably built on the outskirts of the city."How will I know whether this route is right?" Dean bites his nails while looking around, hoping nobody notices him."Tire, right!" Dean slams his fist on his palm. "Of course, he must have brought me here with a car, and just a while ago, he went in the car too." His eyes scanned through the grass. "I just need to follow it."He walked close to the compound. "How the hell will I cross it?" The walls had shreds of glass pieces over them and electric wire along the top of the barricade.The teacher looked around and saw a tree growing tall and its branch crossing the compound. "Do I have to climb a tree now?"Removing his shoes, Dean held onto a branch for his dear life.I never climbed a tree! I don't dare to look down.Taking a deep breath, Dean pulled himself up and sat on it while carefully stepping on another branch and hugging the trunk with closed eyes. Once, his foot touched the surface of the branch. He pressed his foot on it, checking whether it could break.Unknown to him, a guard saw him from the window as he was standing along with others and listening to the instructions given by Alfie."Sir, he is escaping!" The guard points at the Dean figure, who is standing on the branch with wobbling legs."Hey! Stand right there." The guard shouts out of the window as others run out of the mansion to catch him.Dean's eyes widened in fear as he made the split-second decision to jump from the tree without a second thought. As he landed, he momentarily lost his balance and, inadvertently, stepped on a piece of broken glass. He bit his lip to stifle a whimper as he looked down in panic to see the glass piercing his toe, causing blood to trickle onto the ground in a straight line."Catch him." Dean heard the sound as he looked around with panicked eyes and ran towards dense trees.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Roman didn't wait for the car to park properly as he pushed Calder out and stepped outside."Dean is inside this house, right?" Roman asked Calder, and he looked at the main gate with big eyes. "How will we go inside?"Calder looks at his uniform and goes back to his police car. "Am I a joke to you?"Roman didn't hear anything as his eyes narrowed at the running guards. He saw Alfie stepping out of the house."Where is Dean?" Roman shouts, flinching at Ethan, who looks at him with wide eyes.Alfie's wide eyes lock with Roman's angry eyes."I know Dean is with you. How dare you guys use the money to capture someone's freedom?"Another car parks in front of the mansion as everyone looks back while Alfie runs towards the main gate.Tears brim Alfie's eyes as he watches his lover step out of the car."Love, I messed up again," Alfie shouts while clutching the main gate. "I messed up again." He sobs as Nathan's brother nears.