Once the bedroom door closed tightly, Max finally let go of his wife’s hand. After a glance, he had trouble catching his breath. The tightness in the chest had become a thorn in his heart.
“Max, are you okay?” Gabriella asked doubtfully. Her hand was back and forth to touch his husband’s arm.
After wetting his parched throat and looking up to hold back the tears, the man took a quick breath. “It hurts so bad, Gaby,” he said while beating his chest, hoping that his lungs would return to normal.
Unfortunately, the air around him grew heavier, forcing the sadness to spill from the eyelids. “We’ve been away from them, but why are they asking us to come back with such an unreasonable reason? Why don’t they let us live in peace?”
“Max,” Gabriella sighed with tears in her eyes. The woman could feel her husband’s pain. The man had struggled to mend a broken heart. But, the cracks were starting to widen.
Not wanting her husband to be down again, Gabriella hugged and patted him. After taking a very heavy breath, she ventured to ask. “Why don’t you just express all your worries? You said sadness doesn’t always have to be hidden.”
“I guess it’s useless, Gaby. Nothing will change because it’s Julian, not you. He will never understand my feelings. There’s no way to mend our broken relationship,” Max said in an unstable voice.
“Then why didn’t you say that you already know his mistake? About the lies and charades in the past. Why are you even hiding it? You still act like he’s your father’s son.”
In the silence, the man was contemplating the question that also puzzled him.
“I don’t know, Gaby. I’ve already lost a happy childhood and a father’s love. It wouldn’t make any difference if he knew or confessed. It’s all gone from my grasp.”
Knowing Max’s disappointment, the corners of Gabriella’s lips were pulled by gravity. With the same furrowed brow, she asked softly, “Do you remember the stages of grief I told you?”
After pausing for a moment, the woman looked up, catching the look in the man’s sorrowful eyes. “I think you’ve entered the next phase, Max, bargaining and depression. You are going through these two stages really well.”
“I don’t know, Gabby. I feel no change in me. Every time I see hope, the bright spot dims again before I can reach it.”
“That’s bargaining and depression, the phases that shed the most tears. Do you know what the next phase will be if you make it through?” Gabriella asked as she wiped her husband’s cheek. “Acceptance.”
Doubts immediately weighed on Max’s mind. After a moment of silence, he grabbed Gabriella’s wrist and kissed it. “Sorry, Gaby. I guess I haven’t reached that stage yet.”
The woman nodded slowly. “It’s okay. You have the right to take as much time as you need. I will always accompany you through it.”
“Thank you, Gaby,” Max whispered. His chin was twitching even though the corners of his lips were forced high.
“Anytime,” the woman replied before hugging her husband again.
Gabriella knew, it was never easy for someone to be able to accept the grief gracefully. Just like the Little Prince’s leaving which still left a gaping wound. Accepting it did not mean that the wound had closed. She was just used to the pain.
“Now, how about we rest? We’re both tired,” Gabriella said as she grabbed her husband’s hand.
After wiping away the tears, Max nodded. Without a word, he followed his wife to the bathroom. The couple paid no heed to the other people who were still sitting in the living room. They just want to clean themselves and rest their hearts.
***
“Didn’t I tell you? It won’t work. Max won’t listen to us,” Julian grumbled, ruffling his own hair.
Seeing her pessimistic boss, Mia suddenly sighed. “That’s because you didn’t go according to plan, Sir. Why didn’t you reveal the truth? If he finds out that Mr. Herbert is his father, it might be easier for us to bring him back.”
“It’s not easy, Mia. Admitting such a fatal mistake is not easy at all, especially in front of the person who suffer the consequences.”
“I’m not saying admitting mistakes is easy. But, that’s the fastest way to fulfill this mission. We don’t have much time, Sir. You can’t leave Quebracha too long and neither can Mr. Herbert. We don’t know how long he can wait.”
Suddenly, Julian got up from his chair and pointed a finger in front of the secretary’s face. “Stop pushing me! You have no idea what it’s like to be in my position,” he said in a deep low voice.
Instead of feeling scared, Mia snorted. “Of course I don’t know because I can’t possibly fall for my own brother. I don’t even have one.”
Not wanting to linger in front of the boss, the girl brushed her hand away from him. “We should rest. Tomorrow, we still have to persuade Mr. Max to forgive his coward brother and dying father.”
“What did you say? You call me a coward?” Julian inquired as he felt the agitation in his heart heating up.
“Am I wrong? I’m just telling the truth,” the girl said with a shrug.
A second later, Mia started looking for another room that could be used. As soon as she found one, she immediately dragged her suitcase into it.
“Good evening, Mr. Julian. Please keep on contemplating the endless fear,” the girl said with a cynical tone and a frozen look. She was very tired of dealing with the new CEO, who was difficult to rely on.
Seeing the secretary close the door, Julian’s jaw automatically tightened. The man realized that Mia was very sick with his attitude. He himself hated it too.
Looking down, Julian began to deepen the conversation with the side of himself, that he had wanted to disarm since a long time ago.
“What should I do now? Max must kill me if he find out that I am the cause of the suffering in his life. But, if I don’t expose this lie, there’s no way he’ll want to see his father.”
After a moment of silence, the man ruffled his hair again. “How long do I have to endure all this?” he groaned before exhaling despair.
Feeling tired, Julian finally got his long legs up onto the sofa. With brows still furrowed, the man closed his eyes and fell asleep. He could only hope that the courage would emerge when he woke up in the next morning.
***
As soon as he left the room, Max’s gaze was fixed on the figure who was asleep without a pillow or blanket. In just an instant, his hands were clenched again, welcoming the memories that looked gray.
“Good morning, Mr. Max. What are you doing there? Are you making plans to squirt foam on Julian’s face? Or tie his hair with a blue ribbon?”
The man who was greeted immediately flinched and looked towards the kitchen. The secretary was doing something with a spatula in her hand.
“Why are you awake? Aren’t you bothered by the time difference?” Max asked as he approached.
“I am not used to sleeping on a mattress that is too soft, Sir. After all, someone have to prepare breakfast. Your dear aunt told me to make a nice meal while I am here.”
Without any words, the man looked at the pan. The omelet was yellowing in it.
“So, what are you planning, Sir? Would you like me to tie Master Julian’s hair with a ribbon like I used to?” the girl asked with her gaze fixed on her cooking.
Hearing the teasing, Max’s chest suddenly heated up. “Can you stop talking about it? Bringing up the past won’t change my thought.”
With no regret, Mia’s eyebrows shot up high. “What’s wrong with it? I’m just telling the truth. You always gave me orders to do something to Mr. Julian, to get his attention.”
“That was a dozen years ago, Mia. Now everything has changed. I’m no longer the nosy child of the Evans family, and Julian is no longer my brother. From now on, you should also stop treating me as your boss. Because I have nothing left in this world but Gabriella.”
After expressing annoyance, Max turned towards the room. He suddenly wanted to hug the woman who was still sleeping on the bed. It’s only Gabriella who could make his heart calm.
Unbeknownst to Max, Julian’s eyes flickered slowly, digesting his words. There was no hint of anger or fear on the man’s face. Julian had been fixated on the fact that far in the past, he had never gone unnoticed by his little brother.