Offensive

Kyle and Faridah arrived at Canada and they immediately went back to their work. Kyle went back on his part time job and school while Faridah was busy with the work she left after going to Alaska and Paris. 

Kyle sigh as they had a fight with her mother after she heard that if they get married he will take the Hamilton's name rather than the Greysons.

"You can't be serious, Kyle," Gabriela said, her voice cool but sharp enough to cut through the silence. She placed her teacup down with deliberate precision.

"The name Greyson carries centuries of prestige, reputation, and power. And now you're telling me you'd cast it aside? For the Hamiltons?"

Kyle exhaled deeply, leaning forward, his hands clasped together on the table. "It's not about casting anything aside, Mother. Faridah and I have talked about this at length. Her surname means something to her family, it's tied to their legacy. Taking it is a way for me to honor her and the life we'll build together."

Gabriela's eyes narrowed, her voice lowering. "And what of your own legacy? The Greysons surname is the only thing that keeping your father's dignity even if he's dead now. Your name is your heritage, Kyle. It carries weight, influence. It's your responsibility to uphold it."

"I'm not losing my identity by taking her name, I know that father would understand." Kyle replied, his tone calm but resolute. "If anything, I'm strengthening it by standing for what matters most to me which is her. You've always taught me that power is about making bold choices. This is mine."

Gabriela's lips pressed into a thin line, her frustration barely contained. "You think this is bold? It's foolish. The world will talk, Kyle. They'll question your judgment, your loyalty to your own bloodline. You will end up like a laughing stuff if you go deeper with the Hamilton's."

Kyle straightened in his chair, meeting her gaze without hesitation. "Let them talk. I don't live for their approval. And I'm not turning my back on my bloodline, Mother. I'm honoring the person I want to spend my life with. Isn't that what you wanted for me? To choose someone who strengthens me, challenges me?"

Gabriela's sharp response faltered after all she was the one who forced this marriage in to Kyle, and for a moment she's starting to regret her decisions, something softer flickered in her eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. She rose from her chair, the fabric of her silk dress rustling as she smoothed it down.

"You've made your decision, clearly," she said coldly, turning her back to him. "I only hope you understand the weight of what you're giving up. And what you might lose."

Kyle watched her leave the room, his chest tight but his resolve unshaken. He glanced at the ring in his left hand, a reminder of the life he was choosing to build with Faridah a life that wasn't dictated by the expectations of others.

For the first time in his life, he felt free yet scared. Scared that this isn't the right thing to do but he believed on Faridah's love and power. 

He looked into his phone and saw no message from Faridah after all Faridah don't usually send a message to him and it was Kyle who is all over him. 

At the late afternoon sun casts a golden glow over the outdoor seating of the Garden Café. Faridah sits at a corner table with Shoji, her attorney and longtime friend, discussing some legal paperwork.

They're laughing about something Shoji just said, their ease and comfort with each other clear to anyone watching. Across the street, Kyle steps out of a bookstore, clutching a bag of newly bought items. His eyes wander idly, then freeze when they land on the pair.

"Who's that?" Kyle asked to himself. He watches as Faridah laughs, lightly touching Shoji's arm as she leans forward. Shoji smiles back warmly, his expression relaxed.

They look like a perfect match at least to Kyle's eyes. His heart sinks, his grip on the bookstore bag tightening.

"Of course everyone wants her, She's Faridah Hamilton after all." Kyle smiled sadly thinking about how far their status is. 

From a distance, Keteki leans against his car, sipping coffee and observing the scene. His sharp eyes catch Kyle's frozen stance, the way his jaw tightens and his shoulders slump. Keteki sighs, shaking his head.

'Not again, Kyle. You're jumping to conclusions faster than a rookie on his first case.' Keteki said to himself as he watch Kyle's actions.

Kyle takes a step back, clearly trying to leave without being noticed. His mind races with assumptions.

"I shouldn't be surprised. She deserves someone who can keep up with her... someone like him." Kyle said to himself as he knew that there is nothing more that he can offer her other than himself.

As Kyle turns to walk away, Keteki strides up to him, cutting him off before he can disappear down the street.

"Going somewhere, Kyle? Or were you planning to sulk in the corner while spiraling into another one of your famous misunderstandings?" Keteki asked as Kyle looked shocked that Ketiki saw him in that situation.

"Keteki? What are you even talking about?" Kyle was very defensive as Keteki smiled at him knowing that Kyle can't lie like a normal person do.

Keteki lean to him as he gesture subtly toward Faridah and Shoji. "That. Over there. You saw her laughing with Shoji, and now you're ready to assume she's in love with him, aren't you?"

Kyle was hesitating, avoiding Keteki's gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just heading home." Kyle said.

Keteki was scoffing, crossing his arms as he raise his eyebrow on Kyle. "Don't play dumb with me, Kyle. You wear your heart on your sleeve. And for the record? That's not her new boyfriend it's Shoji Balle, her attorney. You know, her friend."

Kyle looked back toward Faridah, confused.

"Shoji?" he asked as he remember the time that he was punched by the guard on Faridah's office. 

"Let Shoji handle things from here Keteki, Bring Kyle to my office."

He remembered that name now. 

"Yep. They've been friends for years. He's the guy who helped her sort out all that business with her family's estate. You'd know that if you stopped jumping to conclusions every five minutes." Keteki said nodding reassuring Kyle that it is not what he think. 

Kyle frowns, glancing back at Faridah, who still has no idea he's watching her. He feels a mix of embarrassment and relief, though the bitterness hasn't entirely faded.

"They looked... close." Kyle said as Shoji was a real threat for him since he is such a handsome young man with a great job. 

Keteki sighed, placing a hand on Kyle's shoulder. "Close doesn't mean romantic, buddy. Not everyone's out to steal her heart. You need to trust her or at least give her the benefit of the doubt."

Kyle doesn't respond, his gaze fixed on Faridah as she leans back in her chair, smiling warmly at Shoji. Keteki shakes his head, pulling out his phone.

"You know, I could just walk over there and tell her you've been stalking her from across the street." Keteki said grinning teasing Kyle off. 

Kyle was alarmed, grabbing Keteki's arm. "Don't you dare!" 

Keteki laughed, shaking him off. "Relax, Kyle. But seriously, you've got to talk to her. Don't let your insecurities drive a wedge where there doesn't need to be one. "

Kyle hesitates, then nods slowly, though he's not entirely convinced. As Keteki walks off, muttering something about "babysitting love-struck fools," Kyle takes one last look at Faridah before turning away, vowing to clear his head before he does anything rash.

Meanwhile, Faridah has no idea any of this has transpired. She continues her conversation with Shoji, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in Kyle's mind.

"You know that his father was one of the businessman who tried to leech out the Hamilton's for money and fame right?" Shoji asked as Faridah became serious. 

He asked Shoji to look into Kyle's father and the reason of that ambushed in his office. 

"I think you know already why he died right?" Shoji asked as Faridah knew that this isn't what she wants to hear anymore. "After all you found out about them leeching their way to Hamilton's riches and you were the one who told me to called Gab and Solis to fix this mess and kill everyone in that organization." Shoji explained as he gave Faridah a brown envelope. 

"Thirty People were killed and disposed, One person wasn't disposed properly by Solis and Gab's Assassins because there was a child involve by it."

"That child was Kyle." Faridah said as Shoji nodded as Faridah opened the envelope and saw the pictures on the office. 

"Of course the issue about it was taken down because I did some connections and the family that wants to file a case got dismissed and got their compensation to shut their mouths." Shoji said as Faridah looked at the files of the supposedly filed cases.

"Yet there is just one family that didn't accept the compensation because a child shouted that his father's life is not something that can be exchanged by money." Shoji said as Faridah hands tremble as she put the the files. 

"That child is no other than Kyle Anthony Greyson."