Alves couldn't bring himself to accepting what had just happened. No matter how hard he thought about it, it didn't make any sense to him. There were a lot of things that left him speechless. 

Just yesterday, she had promised to follow him to a gala event, even though Madam was so much against it. Before the sudden and unfortunate incident of Grandpa's death which pulled all plans apart. 

He didn't remember having a fight with her. If it was something else he might have been able to stand it and probably ignore it. 

But that wasn't even the main concern. What struck him to the depth of his conscious was what followed the whole shocking event. 

She slammed the door in his face!!!

He wanted himself to believe so badly that he was held up in some sort of trance or probably a dream. That was what if felt like. Like he was dreaming!

LUARA... IS CHEATING ON ME... SLAMMED THE DOOR IN MY FACE. 

He didn't know which of the two thoughts was the most devastating. All he did was stare, he couldn't move a limb. It shook him to the core. He didn't think he could get over it so easily. 

Suddenly, he heard some voices coming from outside the quarter. He could hear that the voices were getting louder. Which could only mean one thing; whoever was or were approaching, were closing the pace. 

He knew whose voices those were. He should go hide himself. He shouldn't be caught in a place like this. He couldn't even imagine what Madam would do if he was found in the vicinity. 

Yet he didn't find the will to move away from the spot where he was. The door of the house was pushed open and then came the call,

"Mistress... Mistress... Madam wants to see you. Mistress."

Alves should get a grip of himself but he didn't. He couldn't say for sure why he was still standing at the door of the room, staring blankly at the cold wooden door which gave no fuck about his emotions. 

"Who's that. Who's there?"

One of the two guards had seen him. He should leave but he didn't. 

"Did you see someone?"

Another voice came and then approaching footsteps. Alves needed to do something at that moment. It was a critical moment. And whatever he did would determine what fate would catch up with him. In the apartment. 

Suddenly, he felt a hand grab him from nowhere and dragged him away. He could tell in all certainty that none of the guards got to him. It would had taken about a minute or two for the guard to get to him. But the hand which snatched him away happened in the blink of an eye. 

He didn't struggle with the person dragging him away. He should fight. The emotional investment which he had made in Laura left him so bankrupt that he couldn't loan his brain some bills of vibrance. 

The cologne of the man pulling him through the strange exit was familiar. It was someone whom he knew, but he wasn't interested yet. Perhaps soonest, he would get a grip on himself. 

"Do you have a death wish? What are you doing here?"

The man scolded him. When he was able to turn to who it was, he finally bruised his doubt. It was Gareth. The youngest of the sons of Madam. 

He wanted to ask him questions. Several questions, but he couldn't find his words. 

Getting caught by one of the sons of Madam was a nightmare worst than getting caught by one of the guards. He knew he was in for it. 

But he had his mind already prepared for whatever would come. Nothing else could surpass the devastating emotions he was plying through. 

"Come with me..."

Gareth led him through the exit, the hidden entrance through which he had accessed the compound. 

When Gareth was sure that they were away from immediate danger, he let go of Alves. 

Alves was stunned. He was beginning to get a grip of himself. He thought Alves would take him to the Madam, why was he helping escape? 

"Are you nuts? What were you thinking coming back to your former quarters? What if my mom caught you? What do you think would happen? Don't you know that she wishes you dead... do you know what she's saying even after you got kicked out?"

"What do you care?"

Alves snapped. He needed to empty his rage. 

"Are you any better? How about you take me to her? To your fucking mother?"

Alves yelled on top of his voice. 

"This bastard..."

Gareth made to hit him, but Alves grabbed his wrist and turned it. Alves, though not well fed, was of a good proportion. He had an advantage against Gareth. Unlike the other two brothers. 

"Let go of me."

Gareth tried to fight himself free. Alves didn't want to in the first place, but when Gareth's cry of pain increased, he had no choice. 

"You fucking ingrate. Why did I even help you. I should have taken you to my mom! She should made a steak out of your worthless stack of a body."

Alves wanted to punch Gareth in the face but he restrained himself. He knew he should be grateful, and made up with that. 

"Go fuck yourself! All of you!!!"

Alves screamed. Gareth stared at him with a look of pity. Alves hated that so much. He had had enough of that kind of expression. That was what he lived all his life to see. Everyone always had a look of pity to spare. He hated it. 

He watched Gareth dip his fingers into the top pocket of his suits and brought out few hundred dollar bills. 

"Find a place to crash in tonight. From tomorrow you'll be responsible for yourself."

Alves snatched the bills from him and rumpled them up. He shoved it into Gareth's mouth, forcing him to swallow. 

"I'll crash in your mouth... open it... open wide... I'm paying my bills..."

Gareth after little struggle was able to run away from him and stand aloof. 

"Crazy bastard!!!"

He yelled at Alves whose eyes were red. 

"You wait. Just you wait... I'll be back! Go tell your fucking family!!! Your mom will end up washing my feet!!!"

Alves yelled those words with saliva spurting from his mouth. In the heat of the moment. His eyes becoming watery and tears trailing off. 

He watched as Gareth ran away. He began to sob... dropping on his knees. 

"When will all this end...?"

He asked weakly. 

"When will I be rich?"