"I promised her that she will not get hurt anymore. What kind of brother will I be if I can’t keep my promises?" Xiran was feeling ill at ease. He made similar promises to Aselia and then he couldn’t keep them, he ended up hurting her. That’s not what he wanted with Irlana.

"Xiran, I appreciate you looking out for her but she likes your friend. And this is similar to taking her freedom away. She had that man making her life decisions, let her make her own now. Even if it will hurt her, at least she would have freedom of choice. I request you not to take it from her." Elrine’s words stuck a chord inside Xiran. He had not thought from this angle. She was right, he had not consulted with Irlana about what she wanted.

"Hmm, I agree with your point. I will talk to her, thanks," he offered a polite smile which Elrine returned and dropping the empty bottle in the dustbin he headed upstairs to Irlana’s room.

He slightly knocked and waited for her to open the door. The door was opened and she stood there with puffy eyes and a red nose. His heart sank into a deep ocean of guilt.

"Irlana! Can we talk?" his voice was ever so soft as if he was talking to a kid.

"Yes! Please come in," she stepped aside with a sniffle so Xiran could enter her room. He proceeded to the armchairs in the corner and squatted on it while Irlana joined him.

"I don’t know where to begin but this is difficult for me Irlana. I don’t have any experience being a brother, so I mostly react on instincts and all they tell me to do is to keep you safe, away from harm’s away. I apologise if my actions of today brought you distress," he spoke with concern and apology written all over his face.

"Brother!" Irlana reached out and patted his hand and answered meekly:

"You are everything I dreamt of in a brother, even more than that and I know you are looking out for me. You understand Rivan better than anyone else and I trust your judgement. Please, don’t apologise."

"The decision to move you here was purely done because I don’t want to see you getting your heart broken, now that his ex is in the picture. I know her, she will stop at nothing to win Rivan back," he took a sharp breath, just to keep himself calm.

"Yes! Rivan called me and apologised, and he told me about her. And I agree with you, I don’t want to be a third wheel. I informed him of my decision that I will live here with you until he figures out what he wants to do about her," Xiran gently squeezed her hand in approval as she continued:

"I need time to heal before I decide to jump into any serious relationship. It would be lying if I say that being with Rivan didn’t calm me down but I don’t know where we stand. It would be wise if we would live separately and think this through."

Xiran was utterly surprised at her words and how mature she was, his father had ensured that she reached that level with everything he had put her through.

"Irlana! I am extremely proud of you and won’t constrict your freedom. I just don’t want you to end up with a broken heart at the hands of my best friend because I cherish you both, so this is a dilemma for me," he reached out with his other hand and cupped her cheek and she leaned into his touch with a sweet smile.

"I won’t, we have plenty of time. I want to see how this will play out because I have faith in Rivan. So please, brother don’t fight him on my behalf, because I want to continue working with Rivan at his office," she pleaded.

"Just be careful of Layna. Besides, I want to see how Rivan handles this."

"Brother, I might look sweet and innocent but don’t worry I know how to handle bitches. If one thing Father had taught me was not to handle people. So, don’t worry, I will handle her if she will try anything," Irlana’s words astonished Xiran and his eyes widened in shock as he stared at her in disbelief and she couldn’t help but chortle at his reaction.

"Shocking? Right? No one can believe sweet Irlana can have one or two mean bones in her body," her smile widened and soon Xiran joined in.

"My little sister is full of surprises," he leaned forward and affectionately kissed her forehead. They then heard Elrine knocking on the door and her calming voice sounded:

"Come! Have dinner whenever you people are done talking."

Both of them got up and followed Elrine downstairs, a heavy load had been lifted from Xiran’s heart, knowing Irlana would be able to handle herself, and he decided to place his complete faith in his sister.

They sat down on the table and the aroma of freshly cooked food swirled all around them making their mouths water. Xiran couldn’t help but feel nostalgic, thinking about how his mother used to cook food for him.

She served him and Irlana and the mood lightened as they sat talking, eating and laughing. All the worries were forgotten from earlier.

"I yearned to cook for my daughter and to sit around a table to eat with my loved ones and thanks to you I am finally getting that chance," Elrine focused her attention on Xiran and he could sense the serenity on her face.

At least not all was lost. He was able to rescue these amazing ladies who were now brightening up his house.

"I built this house in memory of my mother. She couldn’t live here, so I brought the girl I loved and we spent a few days here. But even that Chapter has closed for now. And now I am glad that I can share it with the two of you," while Elrine offered him a reassuring smile that reached her soft eyes. Irlana got up and hugged her brother as tightly as she could, he patted her back.

"I will stay with you until you get tired of me," she said jokingly.

"That day will never come," he replied with ease winking at her.