Nicholas stepped out of his room, the weight of everything he had been facing and would be facing heavy on his shoulders. As he made his way towards the stairs, ready to start the new day with a new challenge which was of course, very inevitable, his phone suddenly started ringing. He paused, reaching into his pocket to retrieve the device. Glancing down at the screen, his brow furrowed as he recognized India's name displayed. He blinked his eyes to confirm if it was truly India. Without hesitation, he answered the call, his voice tinged with trepidation as he wondered what could be the reason for her unexpected contact this time around. It seemed this lady was hell-bent on this divorce thingy. "India," he said, his tone cautious. He was trying to stay as composed as possible. "G... good morning. Why... why are you calling so early this morning? Is there a problem?" Nicholas braced himself, expecting the familiar sound of India's frustration, perhaps even anger, as they continued t

Malakai stood frozen, the static crackle of the phone line filling the deafening silence that hung thick in the air around him. Nicholas's voice, once so familiar, now carried a chilling weight that sent a shiver down Malakai's spine. He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing with the effort, as a thousand thoughts raced through his mind. Malakai took a deep, steadying breath, steeling himself before finally breaking the oppressive quiet. "Mr... Loughty, it's nice to hear from you again. Why did you call this time?" He asked, the words came out strained, betraying the turmoil raging within him. He still wanted to sound the old cocky Malakai who wasn't broken by the unexpected disappearance of his son, but he failed. His arrogance flopped. Nicholas's deep chuckle rumbled through the receiver, further unsettling Malakai. "How are you doing, Malakai? It's been a while we talked, so I thought of checking up... That's what friends do, right?" Niçholas kept the casual tone, this time t

Nicholas gently sauntered down the staircase, his face illuminated with a gentle smirk as he approached the front room. The wooden steps creaked softly under his weight, the sound echoing through the dimly lit corridor. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, his gaze immediately fell upon Michos, who sat hunched on a tattered sofa, his battered form shuddering in pain. The young man's bloodied and torn skin had been tended to by the guards - that was Nicholas's order but the physical wounds were merely the surface of his suffering. This wasn't what Niçholas wanted to do, but he really had no choice. Malakai had inflicted pain on so many people and doing so to his foster son wouldn't be considered absurd but something just didn't feel right. He didn't want to feel guilty but he did, despite knowing that Michos wasn't completely guilty on this. He was behind everything happening in that organization. Nicholas approached Michos with measured steps, his eyes narrow

Nicholas's gazed at his reflection, scrutinizing every detail. The crisp charcoal suit fit impeccably, the tailoring accentuating his broad shoulders and slim waist. His shoes shone with a mirror-like polish, not a scuff in sight. Even his glasses, the frames a sleek onyx, complemented the ensemble perfectly. "India would love this," he said, smiling to himself. He couldn't help but let out a soft giggle as he spritzed on the last few drops of his favorite cologne. Everything had come together seamlessly, and he couldn't wait to see India's reaction. Straightening his tie one final time, Nicholas exited his private chambers, a serene smile gracing his features. As he made his way down the grand staircase, Gnits and Mr. Philips at the same time made their way into the front room. They both exchanged curious glances, ignorant of what was going on. It was rare to see Nicholas this unusually cheerful, his typical stoic demeanor replaced by an almost giddy excitement.

Nicholas looked up from his phone, his eyes meeting India's as she sat across from him at the table. A heavy tension hung in the air, palpable and unspoken. India's brows furrowed in concern as she observed the sudden shift in Nicholas' demeanor. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice laced with worry. Nicholas hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject. He didn't want to needlessly worry India, but the situation demanded his immediate attention. Gently, he placed his phone on the table, the screen dark and ominous. "I... I need to go," he said, his words measured and careful. India's frown deepened, her frustration evident. "Wait, Go? What do you mean, go? What's going on, Nicholas?" Rising from his chair, Nicholas reached out and placed a comforting hand on India's shoulder. "I'm sorry, but there's something I need to attend to right away. It's very important." "But we were supposed to finish our dinner date," India pressed, her anger slowly bubbl