(@Sel_murf and @Raela_The_Echo, thank you for all the golden tickets. This one is for you ladies.)

"Leia," Xiran took one step towards her but she took two back. Rage and hopelessness mingled and marred her beautiful features. Tears streaked her cheeks. For once she had been defeated by the very man she had given her heart to. He had taken her freedom of choice and threatened her with repercussions.

The door opened and Yurian stepped inside. He saw she was barely hanging on with constant tears running down her cheeks. Aselia was an emotional wreck right now.

"I wish to leave Yurian, I want to go home," she addressed her partner instead of the silver-haired man who stopped in his tracks. She had come with high hopes but was leaving with her heart in pieces.

"Wait, listen," Xiran interjected with a heavy heart. He didn’t want her to go in such a state. His hand stretched out which she chose to ignore.

"I think you have said enough and I have listened plenty," she took her things from the table and faced him before wiping her face.

"Don’t leave with things unsettled between us," Xiran tried to take her hand in his but she moved further away from his grasp.

"Let’s go, Yuri, we are done here," she turned her back to Xiran and walked out with her head high. She didn’t want to give him the impression that he had broken her. The words that had always comforted her were hurled like splinters today and wounded her heart, his words.

Xiran watched the woman he desired with every breath as she walked further and further away from him. This was agonizing, no it was excruciatingly painful and every bone, every muscle, every fiber of his body screamed to not let her go like that and yet he stood there, watching her leave.

"I told you not to hurt her, I trusted you with her," Yurian’s voice seemed to come from far away as Xiran was still focused on the love of his life. He finally came out of his dazed state and turned to face Yurian.

"I did that to keep her away from my father. You don’t know him as I do. He will shred her in million pieces right in front of my eyes just to torture me, to bring me pain. I would rather have her angry and be safe than have her die like that. Take care of her for me, please."

Xiran spoke with troubled words, they were choking him.

Yurian knew Xiran was right to some extent as he said:

"Your intention is right but your approach was wrong. You should have spoken to her first. What bothered her most was that you went behind her back instead of talking to her. She listens to you and maybe she would have understood if you had simply spoken directly to her."

"She would never give up that revenge plan of hers, I know her Yurian and I have seen the intensity of the hatred she carries, this was the only way."

"You could have changed her though, but you have pushed her back," he shook his before continuing: "I have to go, she will be waiting."

Yurian followed the footsteps of his partner and found her standing with their team. They were ready to head back to the headquarters. Their weapons had been returned to them. He went and stood beside her, she seemed so lost so quiet as if all the energy had been drained from her.

Xiran approached them soon after and everyone shook hands with him and Amonidus. They wished each other best of luck for their future endeavours together and made their way to the tunnel, crossing it they arrived in the parking lot.

Carios was waiting there with Rony and Aselia finally smiled a bit seeing her dog. Carios handed it over to her and said:

"I have placed all his things with your luggage in the car."

"Thank you, Carios. And best of luck with the upcoming wedding," Aselia’s words made him shyly smile at her and he mumbled a thank you before moving back. Xiran watched her from the distance. He wanted to go with her to the airport but he knew she detested him right now and needed her distance.

"Look at that adorable puppy, aren’t you the cutest thing," Yurian patted him with a chuckle and Rony gave him a small ’woof’ of appreciation. Agent 93 joined them as well to pet the puppy and soon he became the center of everyone’s attention. Even Aldridge wanted to have a look and smiled.

Aselia then placed him in his dog carrier and settled him in the car before getting into as well, she didn’t glance in Xiran’s direction who was constantly watching her. Yurian and Aldridge were the other passengers in her car. Agent 93 and Silver Wolf sat down in the other car. Two more cars were to accompany them along with Warise and Carios.

He watched her car until it disappeared from his sight, dread filled him. He couldn’t budge from his spot for a long time and then he took out his phone and called Rivan.

Aselia was resting her head on the glass of her car door. Her eyes stared outside but her mind didn’t register whatever she was seeing, just blurry images as it was preoccupied with his thoughts and words. Yurian sat opposite her and occasionally glanced at her with concerned-filled eyes.

"White Falcon, there are a few things I would like to discuss with you," Aldridge cleared his throat to snap her attention.

"Don’t worry Sir, I won’t bug you anymore to send me out on missions related to his father nor would I seek him out, so rest assured," she spoke in a dejected voice without looking at him.

"Right, also I am reinstating you as our platinum hunter and teaming you up with Yurian again. You are an asset to us," Aldridge spoke in his calm but authoritative voice. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"I don’t care about any of that anymore but yes thank you for returning Yurian to me," her eyes still held that dazed expression and she spoke like a robot.

Aldridge leaned forward to peek at her and said: "You realize you are like a daughter to me, and I do care about you deeply. That decision is in your best interest as well as our organisation."

She sighed, she had no energy to fight all these men in her life, she felt alone today.