"You won't believe what I have to tell you"
"And what is that?" Hermia asked, a little curious.
"Wait, I need water first, what?, I ran here" Helena stated and Hermia rolled her eyes and ordered a maid to get a glass of water.
"Is it going to take a whole day" Helena complained impatiently.
"Sorry, ma" the maid said as she came out of the kitchen with a glass of water in her hand.
Helena snatched it and down it into her patched throat.
"Much better" Helena breathed out in relief
"So, what is it you had to say?" Hermia asked in annoyance.
"Can you believe I saw Xander at Je te veux" Helena said eagerly but she didn't get the same eagerness she expected from her sister.
"What is Je... Whatever it is?" Hermia said, raising an eyebrow.
"Je te veux, the five star French restaurant I frequent" Helena eagerly explained and Hermia's eyes widened when she understood the restaurant her sister was talking about.
"What the hell was he doing in such place" Hermia asked, feeling both irritational and annoyed as it remind of went off that morning.
"I'm thinking he went on a date because he was with a gold digger I have seen him with before" Helena explained
"You saw him with another woman and you didn't bother to tell me" Hermia asked more annoyed than before, ignoring Mike who was standing beside her.
"Why do I have to tell you that, you are also with another man" Helena defended
"That's just different, he isnt suppose to have anybody beside me" Hermia stated with authority
"Why?" Helena asked as her eyebrow furrowed in annoyance.
"Because he is poor and worthless" Hermia stated
"Wait, are you talking about your ex husband?" Mike asked, not sure why his fiancé is getting agitated.
"Yes?" Hermia answered
"So, Do still care about him?" Mike asked carefully
"Why would I care about something so worthless!" Hermia shouted and realize what she just did. She was destroying her nice facade she created to please her new husband. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout at you, I just don't like when you put me and my ex husband name in one sentence"
"Don't worry, I'm sorry for making you angry" Mike apologized and hug his fiancé.
"That's all, a few shouting and you are done?" Helena asked unbelievably
"Is there suppose to be more?" Mike asked this time.
"He entered a restaurant I frequent like we are on the same level because he won a lottery, I thought we would teach him his place" Helena complained and from the embrace of her fiance she felt like her sister but can't agree with openly.
"Why does it disturb you alot? Do you like him" Hermia asked and Helena tensed up. One secret her family must not know, she was secret in love with her brother in law but has never made an open approach because of his naviety.
"I thought you would be more disturbed than me" Helena said and signaled a maid for water.
"Pfft, disturbed about a poor man you claim won a lottery, I don't think so" Hermia scoff and twirled her index on a strand of her long brown hair.
"Poor man, you say" Helena said, hiding her annoyed tone as she sized Mike up and shook her head. "Don't be surprised when you go back to him to ask for forgiveness" Helena said and walked in the direction of Emily's room with a glass of water at hand.
'I won't ever go beg a peasant rather he should beg for my love like always' Hermia thought to herself and smiled nicely to her husband.
~~~
Xander woke up in the middle of the night from a dream, more like a nightmare of his daughter screaming and crying for him. He woke up drench in sweat, his cheeks wet with tears and his throat patched.
He left his room to get water to wet his patched throat but when he walked pass the sitting room, there was light coming out from it.
He entered the sitting room as saw a body cacooned with blankets sitting in front of a muted TV. He looked closer and noticed it was Trente. He wanted to approach him but first he must pass some water through his throat if he wanted to talk well.
After his water break, he sat down beside Trente and that startled him. He confirmed that Trente hasn't noticed any of his movement that night.
"Why are you up?" Xander asked after his brother weakly glared at him.
"Couldn't sleep" Trente replied as brief as possible
"Why?" Xander asked, staring at the television, which was showing sponge Bob Square pants, while he waited for a reply that never came.
"It's alright if you don't want to tell me now. Just remember I'm always here when you want to talk" Xander said after awhile and Trente sniffled, making Xander notice he was crying.
"Alright, come here let big brother take care of you" Xander said with his arm opened wide.
Trente slowly turned to him and debated on what to do. He could behave like a strong man or so they say, men don't cry but he was already crying. He stared at his brother whose arms were still in the arm smiling at him.
"My arms are aching" Xander complained still smiling but feigning to be annoyed.
"Fuck it" Trente said and fell into his brother arms. Xander did not fail to wrap his arm around him protectively. He heard him his brother sob into his chest weakly and wondered what would have made his brother who was almost bigger than him break down.
"It is my fault" Trente sobbed
"Nothing is your fault"
"You don't know that. He died because of me" Trente said and cried bitterly. Xander was surprised that his brother is crying out of guilt. He wanted to know the whole story but couldn't pester him, seeing how it broke him.
~~~
Hermia waited in the new chairman office as she was told to but not after running her fingers through everything. She waited patiently because the man was a hard man to find. She touched the necklace on her neck, it was the one he gifted to her.
The door opened and she immediately stood up to respectful greet the new chairman. Just then Xander walked onto his office and saw Hermia as she smiled nicely and looked down respectfully.
"Long time no see Hermia Dally"
Hermia's head shot up and she couldn't believe who was standing in front of her.
"What are you doing here?"