"She's gone" Xandre said to Xanthis, his eyes holding no emotion. Xanthis knew it was just a mask.
"She deserved it, Dre. You don't have to feel bad about it" he said. Dre sighed, the facade vanishing.
"I don't know. I just think that she would have been a better person. Just like I hope that Val will change too" Dre said.
"Change is inevitable, brother. Who knows? He might change, but will you ever forgive him for what he did to you?" Xanthis asked. Dre stood up and walked towards the huge window in his office. Xanthis had a point there. Could he ever forgive him? He horse whipped him. The hideous scars still made him mad. He couldn't even stand to look at them. Valentino had tried to kill him. He hated him. Dre didn't want to forgive him, but he was his brother. He couldn't have grudges against him, he was still family. He was just lost. Ellise and Alicia had convinced Dre to let go of his anger towards Valentino. Besides, what had happened had happened and there was no way to redo things. Dre hoped that Valentino would throw away his pride and come back to his family.
"What about you, Xan? Your lung cancer.."
"Dre?"
Alexandre turned to look at his brother who was now standing beside him.
"I'm not dying" he said. Dre stared at him, his brows creased.
"What?"
"I am trying to find out what's actually wrong with me. The doctor confirmed it yesterday. I don't have lung cancer. It's something different"
"I don't understand. Then, why did your medical report say you have lung cancer?" Dre asked.
"Well, Jacobi manipulated it"
"How do you know that? Why would he do that?"
"My new girlfriend, Tasha is an undercover detective"
Dre smirked.
"You have a girlfriend? Why didn't you tell me?" He asked. Xanthis chuckled.
"Well, I guess I forgot. Someday, We'll go on a double date" Xanthis said and Dre snorted.
"Anytime, you want to, Xan"
....
Noelle had just finished her night shift at the restaurant where she worked. She was driving home in the heavy rain when she noticed a familiar figure sitting on a bench in the park. She stopped the car, confused as to why someone would sit out in the rain like that. She grabbed her umbrella and jammed the door shut before walking into the park.
Her heart sank when she realized who it was. She could hear the heart breaking sound of his teeth chattering as he shivered in the rain. She sighed, exasperated. 'This guy really has a death wish. Does he actually want to die as a result of hypothermia? Nope, not happening under my watch' she thought.
"Valentino" she said as she got to him. He raised his head and looked at her. His eyes were swollen and bloodshot even in the rain. She suddenly felt more sympathy towards him. His slumped posture told her that he was defeated.
"Hey, look at me" she said, forcing him to make eye contact with her.
"What're you doing in the rain?" She said.
"None of your business" he replied, his voice hoarse.
"Are you crazy?! You're going to freeze to death!"
He closed his eyes, ignoring her. She gritted her teeth and tried to bring him to his feet. He opened his eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"Saving your stubborn ass!" She snapped. When he finally got to his feet, he winced. She frowned. He looked like he was actually in pain. Her gaze swept over him, but she didn't find anything that would make her feel alarmed. They walked to the car slowly. Val refused to go into the car.
"What's wrong with you?" She said, exasperated.
"I'm soaking wet! I'm going to ruin your car seat" he said.
"I don't care. Just get in" she ordered. His gaze softened and he got in before she drove off. As she drove, she watched him from the corner of her eyes. He was wincing every now and then. He was still very cold, his skin very pale. His lips were no longer the normal cherry pink, they were turning blue already.
By the time she got home, he'd fallen asleep in the car. She parked the car and woke him up. He stumbled out of the car and followed her into her house. She switched on the lights and turned to look at him.
"Take off your shirt" she ordered. "No" he croaked.
"Fine" she said and unbuttoned his shirt. "You're crazy, you know that, right?" He said and she chuckled.
"Of course, I know. I don't care"
"Do you just help everyone?"
"No, I just felt like helping you"
Val let out an exasperated sigh. Noelle made to go to his back. "Careful, there. You might not like what you'll see" he croaked. Noelle raised a brow and went behind him. She gapsed when she saw the whip marks and lacerations. "Oh my God" she breathed. "What happened to you?" She said, her voice sounding pained.
"I...deserved it anyway" he said.
"No, no one deserves pain" she said, tears welling up her eyes.
He sighed.
"Please, don't cry"
She shook her head.
"You must be in so much pain. Why didn't you say anything?"
"I'm so tired" he said, his voice weak. She led him to the bathroom where she dressed his injuries. Since he was still cold, she made him a cup of tea and covered him with a heap of blankets. "I'll stay on the couch" he said. "Not happening. You'll sleep on the bed" she insisted.
He let out another sigh and hesitantly laid down on the bed. She sat by his side, dabbing his burning forehead with a wet towel.
He stared at her, drawn. She looked so damn beautiful. Her eyes looked so irresistible...How?
How did he get so lucky to meet her? She was so stubborn and sweet. Gentle and caring. Was fate messing with him again?
He closed his eyes as she brushed his hair away from his forehead. "Get some sleep" she said, dabbing his forehead gently. He gave her a weak smile. For truth to be told, he didn't want to sleep and wake up. He wanted to end his miserable life.
"You know, bad people deserve pain. I'm not a good person either" he said as his eyes fluttered close.
Noelle stared at him, a tenderness for him growing in her heart. He might be a bad person but bad people don't have remorse. They don't feel guilty. If he was so broken she could help him. She just hoped that his depression had not gone so deep. She would be his medicine if need be.