My pace is swift as I make my way through the hotel, followed by Gerald and his crew of men in black suits, who were actually security personnel my father had hired ever since I was a child. I feel like I should get the hell out of this place soon because the stress and anxiety from the whole incident are starting to get to me. Tears are right behind my eyeballs and regret pangs in my chest

Suddenly, as we near the lounge, a voice comes from behind us.

“Please, Jace, stop!”

Kayla.

Anger and despair war in my heart as I debate ignoring her and continuing on, but she calls my name again and again. As much as I don’t want to talk to her, I don’t think I can ignore her.

After all, she is right next to me. She looks as panicked as Stone was, her eyes stormy, her cheeks flushed.

The security personnel move to keep her away from me, but I raise my hand, signaling them to stop.

“What?” I growl at her.

“Jace, please, you have to undo what you did to Stone’s father,” she pleads, and my heart sinks. Here I thought she was coming to apologize for the pain she caused me, “Please, you don’t understand, he won’t even be able to continue his studies without his father’s help. You can’t ruin his life like this.”

Sadness unlike any other cuts through the anger I feel, and I close my eyes shut. God, how I wish I’d never taken a liking to her.

“And here I thought that you were regretful for what you did to me,” I sigh, “No, Kayla. I will not be undoing what I did for Stone. This is the world I come from, you fuck with the wrong person, you reap the consequences of your actions.”

I look into her eyes, “You know, I really liked you. When you talked to me, I thought, ‘finally, here is someone who might be my friend at least.’ I thought you liked me too.”

She purses her lips and gulps.

“I liked you,” I reiterate, “And I trusted you. Had you not done this, I could’ve given you everything you could've ever wanted. I could’ve made you the happiest girl in the world, and afforded you anything you wanted. We could’ve had a future.”

I shake my head, “But no. You betrayed me. And worse of all, you betrayed me to Stone. You’re despicable. Don’t ever contact me again, physically or otherwise.”

With Kayla standing in the lounge of the hotel, we leave the premises altogether.

Near the main entrance of the hotel, there is a brand-new luxury car parked. It’s a Mercedes Benz Maybach S class model, sleek grey in color with the surface gleaming as if it had just been bought. Gerald opens the door for me, and I sink into the interior with a sigh of nostalgia. In all honesty, I’d missed cars like these in the last few years. The interior is warm, with light cream-colored padding and seats covered in original leather, unbelievably soft and comfortable, warm like a roasted marshmallow. In the middle of the rear seats, there is a cupholder containing two empty champagne glasses held in place, and an armrest that contains a tab with which you can control the interior of the car, such as lighting, heat, etc.

But as soon as I get settled in, the pleasant feeling of being in a nice car evaporates as the reality dawns within me.  

Gerald takes the seat next to me, and the lights in the interior of the car dim ambiently. The vehicles start to roll out of the hotel compound, silent as a ghost.

“Young master,” As we exit the hotel parking lot, Gerald awakens his voice. I turn to catch his tender gaze, “Can I finally take you home?”

There are a couple of SUVs driving behind us, all containing security personnel. It feels like I’m back in my childhood again.

I still don’t really want to go back, but after the incident today I think I should go home to pay a visit to my father and somehow get the live-streamed prank sorted. I think that is my duty now because nothing of that sort related to me can circulate the internet. Not if I'm planning to rejoin the family. 

But that doesn’t mean I am comfortable with the very idea of going back. There is a reason why my mom left the family when I was very younger and took me with her. I haven’t been back home in years, not even when I was struggling. I did not want my father’s help with anything, because I wanted to do it all on my own.

I was not ready to go back. But did I have a choice now?

I take a deep breath and give him a nod, “Yes, Gerald. Take me home.”

And so, we embark on the highway en route to Clandestine city.

It didn’t take us much time to reach the family estate, where the massive residence that belongs to my father, a modern villa that reflects his wealth, his business empire stands, awash with gleaming lights, looking like some Hollywood star’s dream home. The automatic gates open as we near the estate, and I feel my conflicting emotions clashing within me as I take in the sight of my childhood home.

It looks just like how I left it.

My heart races as the car parks right in front of the house. This is it. A figure stands in front of the open doors, and upon seeing the cars, he makes his way toward us. His slight, tall frame, his salt and pepper cropped hair, his piercing grey eyes and his hooked nose is familiar, but the wrinkles on his face are new. There is a weight in his eyes, and as I step out of the car, a light starts to shine within.

“Son,” My father breathes.

“Hello, dad,” I reply, the tenderness in my own voice surprising me.

“You’ve returned.”

“It looks like that.”

“After all these years…and now you look just like your mother...”

“Yes,” I reply, feeling once again like a little boy, “After all these years.”

“Does it mean you are ready to become my heir and replace me? Are you ready to inherit my company, my empire?”

And of course, there are the questions I dreaded. I look into my father’s eyes and see the desperation in there.

‘I’m sorry, mother,’ I think, ‘I came back.’

“Yes,” I reply, “I guess I am.”