PUNISHMENT

All the hardest, coldest people you meet, were once as soft as water. And that's the tragedy of living.

-Pinterest-

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"The best option that we have is for you to step down and meet Kairi Ariana. Ask her for forgiveness," the advisor said to Russel. "They are right in front of the gate now. The members of the Duvessa."

"Can't we take them down? They take this matter too far." Claire cleared her throat anxiously, she kept looking through the window and watched around three hundred Duvessa members standing right outside of the gate, with their military on the opposite side of the gate, fully armed. "Why can't we shoot them? They are trying to take down the government."

Russel closed his eyes. He didn't know how to explain this to his wife. It was not because Claire didn't understand the situation, but because she was in denial, thus no matter what kind of explanation, she would keep holding onto what she believed.

"We can't do that," he said in regret, he looked anxious only to hear that suggestion. "It will lead to something worse if we try to fight them."

"Why? This country's constitution has nothing to do with them. They live in our country, so why are they daring enough to oppose us openly? And threaten the president?" Claire was furious. "This is ridiculous!"

The advisor became more restless. "There is another law. The highest law in this country, between the government and Duvessa, and referring to those rules, the fault lies with Mr. President for allowing such a thing to happen."

"What if I step down? Will they stop?" Russel asked. If they kept surrounding this building, the media would catch the news about it and he didn't want his embarrassing act to be known to the public.

"Yes," he said with certainty. "They don't have any other reason to continue this."

"No! This…" Claire was about to protest again, but Russel held her hand to stop her.

"Leave us alone," he said in a tired voice.

The advisor didn't need to be told twice and then walked out of the office room, leaving them alone with the tension hanging in the air.

"You will not consider that," Claire asked her husband, tears brimming in her eyes. "Tell me you will not do that."

Russel took a deep breath and looked at his wife straight in her eyes. "I will," he said curtly.

"No." Claire denied. "We have the power of the military and we can fight them. We can win this. Don't you think this is the time that the government can stand on its own without the shadow of that ancient society? You can make things different!" she rumbled in frustration upon seeing the determination in Russel's eyes.

However, Russel shook his head. He knew better than even with the power of the military, they couldn't win against them.

"You saw what they could do," Russel reminded Claire.

Before he officially took the seat as the president, it was obligatory to meet the Kairi from the Duvessa. At that time, Kairi Xierra just became a new Kairi too, and even though she was very young, the power that she held was something unthinkable. People wouldn't believe it if they didn't see it with their own eyes.

"No, we can win against them…" Claire insisted, but her voice cracked, she was not confident with what she said too.

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Damon arrived at the building of the official residence and workplace of the president of this country. He didn't seem ecstatic to see the tight security and magnificent place. The headquarters of Duvessa had the same significance. Moreover, this was not the first time Damon was here…

Therefore, he knew where he had to go and how to avoid every security in this place. After all, he had been trained for such a situation and even the most extreme one, since he was still at a tender age.

It didn't take him long before he located where the president and his wife were. He met with a few ministers, but all of them turned speechless when they saw the protector of the late Kairi with his signature wind sword in his hand.

The killing intention that emanated from his eyes was enough to make them freeze, rooted in their place.

"Damon… you shouldn't do this…" the general tried to stop the young protector, as he stood between him and the door that led to the president's office, yet with only one word, he gave in regretfully.

"Move away from my sight, or else you and your family will receive the wrath from Duvessa," Damon growled dangerously. News about him being punished, of course, the government had no idea about it.

"Damon," the general tried again to calm him down, yet he had to give up.

"Scram!"

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Tarsa felt her heart beating so fast when she heard what Anthony just said. She was clueless regarding who the owner of this heart was.

She thought it was only an ordinary donor that she got from the hospital as they found the suitable one for her, but she didn't know that this heart belonged to the Kairi.

Of course, Tarsa knew about Kairi. She met her twice in the past, though they didn't have much of a conversation, since Tarsa only saw her from afar.

Kairi Xierra would go with high security and not anyone could approach her, not only that, but Tarsa was also well aware of the importance of the Duvessa and their alliance with the government.

"Tarsa, I know you are surprised, but I think the president and your mother do this because they love you," Anthony said, caressing the tears that streamed down the girl's cheeks.

"I know," Tarsa sobbed, as she wiped away her tears. "But, I have put them in trouble."

Anthony couldn't say anything about that and it took some time for Tarsa to finally calm down. She decided to meet her parents, maybe she could ask for forgiveness. After all, this was all her fault.

"I think your parents are in the office."