Shun is now preparing to go back to the island, and so he began to settle his appointments and signed all the doc.u.ments that needed his attention the most.

These pa.s.sing a couple of days, he had been in a countless meeting that ended him up of going home late during night and Ca.s.sandra were already sleeping.

Shun take a quick shower before he joins her on the bed. He watched her sleeping so peacefully. Said, her medicines did help her stable her memories and she wouldn't be bothered by it as long as she took it regularly. Ca.s.sandra has been honest to him. However, he was still lying on her about everything, yet, he has no courage to tell her about his own medication and that gives him a lot of worries each day. He doesn't want to lie at her, but he can't push himself to tell her the truth as well.

How if, he won't be able to wake up? How if, he is going to be trap inside of his dreams the next time? What he should do if that happens? He was truly afraid now that it will happen again that he is not going to wake up after his medication.

Ca.s.sandra will graduate next month. Maybe he should try to be honest with her soon... he has to find a perfect time to tell her about it.

The cleanup has almost done and the restoration of the Island quickly improved up to seventy percent. The cla.s.ses will resume next week even though the Senior High building still cannot be used... as graduates, they can't take a break that long as the Seniors has to prepare for college.

Right now, the Promenade was canceled because of the storm that hits the island and left a huge messed entirely. While he will going to help the restoration of the island, he'll begin to build his hotel as well.

Originally, he chooses to build a hotel on that island to get closer to Ca.s.sandra as he can't introduce himself as her lost long brother she knew before. He wanted her to get to know him as a neighbor and able to get close to her, earn her trust, then he could closely protect her from Julius Kang without her having suspicious on him.

How many times did he practice how to introduce himself to her when they have a chance of encounter? He even prepared what to say to her during that meeting.

Shun let out a low laugh. He is careful not waking her up.

Then, Heaven lay better chances for him to get closer to her. Buying all her properties has to lead him to a great opportunity to make her helpless. When she's nowhere to go, he could become someone she would rely on. When she feels lost, he could offer her a hand to help and guide her then become like a HERO.

Everything then goes according to his plans, almost by the way... because there is someone name Levi Montfort who entered the scene. He sighed.

Moreover, when everything goes smoothly, now he was bothered by his dreams. What really happened in the past? He only saw random scenes that's made him confused even more. He did saw that Ca.s.sandra and the person who was HIM in that life are secretly seeing each other.

What was that? If they meet in secret then their love is forbidden? He has a fiancee and she gets married to someone else. Either way, she was his mistress, or he was her lover back then, a question he wants an answer.

Feels like; it was like his parent's tragic love story, it was like his grandparent's sad love story and the rest of the Williams. How depressing on his part.

If he is not mistaken, the families are close together. He saw how often they have a gathering; a family dinner with his family, his fiancee's family and Ca.s.sandra's fiancè. Even during a wedding or Christmas parties, she was there with her future husband.

Then, are they truly have a forbidden love before? Ah... his head is like hammering now. He doesn't care anymore what was in the past. He just wanted to marry her in this life, the sooner, the better.

Shun closes his eyes. "Mama, papa... please allow me to marry her and be my wife on this life. Please..." his heart prayer.

* * *

New York Art and Antique Collection Preservatory

New York, USA

Robert slammed his car door after he parks his old car, it will be going to retire soon. d.a.m.n, he was still on his vacation when his boss called him to come back. He was told to fly tonight to Mainland City. His boss said everything has been taking care of; about his flight and the Mainland National Museum was already contacted to accommodate him and help him to get his job done.

Still wearing his beach slipper, swimming shorts, and a summer polo s.h.i.+rt, Robert entered the building.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" His colleague asked him.

"Asked the boss, not me," he answered irritably. He took the elevator and harshly presses the b.u.t.ton to his boss office.

"Hey, boss..." he watched how the boss dropped his mouth.

"Are you planning to take a long flight only wearing that?" Director Collins nerves on his forehead are about to burst.

Robert just shrugged his right shoulder. "You said, come ASAP, so here I am," he said sarcastically.

His director wanted to have a heart attacked. "Robert, at least make formal wear before you come to my office," Director Al Collins trying to keep his calm.

"So, what's up?" Robert asked his angry director.

"Here's the key to the number 019570 vault," Director Collins place an envelope where the key to the box inside the vault sealed and the pa.s.sword itself.

When the last owner died, the Preservatory has the rights to make the decision of the possession. If found no more family member to inherits it, either show it in public or put on an auction.

"This box! What the h.e.l.l?" Robert rose from his chair.

"Yeah..."

"Did a Williams requested for it?" he knew. Because of his family who are the caretaker before it was preserved on this building.

"No. Quinn Williams has no knowledge about it yet. Even he is the secondary beneficiary, we receive reports that the last Chen grandaughter is alive and was at aged now. I think President Shun Williams Crow might interested."

"What is the relevance?"

"Have you not watching the news?"

"What news?" Robert is a bit confused, as well, he doesn't like riddles.

"They are getting married," Director Collins said, ignoring the man in front of him.

"Who?"

"Like I am telling you, watch the news, it was in the headline gossip in these pa.s.sing weeks. President Shun Williams Crow or his real name Quinn Williams is now engaged to Ca.s.sandra Young, daughter of Hannah Chen."

"Looks like, it is time for you to turn over what belongs to them originally. Your family has been taking care of it for hundreds of years."

"Are you saying, that they are finally together now?"

* * *

A GLIMPSE in the PAST, the year 1700s

Winter…

This is no fun for an officer like him who was on duty tonight. He just got promoted and so he diligently reported on his post.

"Captain Carl, a cup of coffee?" shouted of his Private at the same time, his errand boy. He was on top of this gates guard house watching the wooden Arch on the middle of this city.

"The greatest idea I heard tonight, Isagawa!" he yells back.

Later on, 20 years old Private Gen Isagawa carrying a thermos and two cups then pour the hot black liquid to indulge them a bit warm tonight.

He sighed when his cold mouth tasted the hot coffee from his mug.

"Have you planning to go home for Christmas, Captain?" Gen Isagawa asked him.

"Hmm… am thinking about it."

"Why?" Gen asked curiously.

"Hah. There is no fun… when you show up being single, you will be the center joke, a dishes every annoying uncle and aunts' main course of supper."

"Then, why you don't have a girlfriend, Captain?"

He chuckles. "Don't ask ever again," he warns his Private in the serious tone then laughs while tapping Gen's shoulder.

Gen scratches his head. He is just curious because his captain is a good looking guy and girls on the Blossom street are all crazily desired to sleep with him.

They called that Blossom street, by the way, a place you can pay happiness for a night. Other's calls it a Cabaret or a Hostess Tavern.

Anyhow, he only went there once when their Colonel requested for his company. And his Captain never goes to that kind of places as he is a member of the French Aristocrat family. He only dines into dazzling restaurants for the wealthy people.

Captain Carl just finished his rounds on the closest alley from his post. Seeing only a few people strolling on these cold nights, Carl decided to take a short walk in the Plaza.

He saw the Fountain in the middle of this city froze throughout the season. How pity, he thought.

"Hey! Wait, young lady!" Carl saw like a 20-year-old girl running on this slippery street.

The girl halted and turned around waiting for him to come closer but the ice is thicker already, it took him longer to land on the cleaned street where sweeper regularly makes sure it was pa.s.sable to walk on this snowy nights. The girl shouted at him but he doesn't understand.

"What did she say?" he asked himself.

"She said, 'I am sorry. I am in a hurry.'--" Gen did translate for him, he was now standing beside him.

"Do you know that language?" he was amazed by the way. Gen is not only known English and French but he also knew another language aside from his own native language.

• • •

Christmas and New Year had pa.s.sed, however, Carlisle never goes home. He received words from his mother but he just ignores it. The snow now went away and the sun begins to smile upon the city.

Carlisle does his usual walk this morning and the vendors greeted him filled with enthusiasm.

"Captain, have some freshly baked tatties!"

"Thank you, Mr. Berks!" politely he said and pick up five of them.

Carl continued strolling around the market when he saw a familiar face.

"Well, h.e.l.lo... milady?" he stared at the young lady and her face is giving him a confusing look.

"Ah... you're the Captain from last time," she somehow remembers him.

"At your service, milady."

The girl giggles when he bows like a knight.

"You're embarra.s.sing me, Captain."

The girl now began walking and he follows. He noticed the basket she is carrying and he offers a hand, she was surprised but allows him afterward. Then he follows her around buying all she needed.

"Thank you, Captain, for your company," she said after.

"Don't mention it, milady. It is my honor to serve the maiden," he bows once more. Ah, she smiles beautifully, he thought.

"I can have my basket now, Captain?"

"Carl..."

"Ah... Captain Carl, thank you once again," she said then turned around.

"Wait... I haven't know your name yet."

The girl halts and glance at him, "You never ask," she smirked.

"Oh, didn't I?" he laughs. "Then, can I have the name of this lady?"

She stays silent for a moment before she gives him an answer. "Mari..."

"Marie?"

She laughs... "My name is Marivella," she said then resumes walking. She began crossing a bridge.

"I haven't get your full name, Marivella!" he shouted.

"Do you really need to shout?" Marivella complains. Her eyes grew wider. "How about you, Captain?"

"Carlisle... Carlisle Williams!" he answered in loud voice.

"I see... have a good day, Captain Carlisle Williams."

Marivella turns around and prepared to leave.

"Wait..." Carlisle stops her one more time.

Marivella sighed then smiled before she turns around to face him again. He somewhat is persistent, she thought.

"Marivella Chen... is my full name."

* * *

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