5. I wish you were dead too.

Alden sat on the couch in the dark room with only a small light on in his office, looking at the only picture hung on his office wall.

His eyes never left the photo frame on the wall. The photograph that he loved to keep staring at. He could never get bored looking at Ida's picture. Ida in the photograph was smiling brightly and her smile only reminded him of his betrayal.

As if he could ever forget.

A sudden sound cut off his thoughts and he instantly knew who it was. The only one who dared to walk right in. He didn't like anyone coming into his office without prior notice but only one person has the right to and that was none other than Kelen.

"Alden." His voice made Alden take a deep breath as he stared at Ida's picture on the wall.

"Alden, it's been 1 week since you have been here without meeting with your family. What are you thinking about doing?" Kelen asked but Alden didn't answer.

"Alden, I'm talking to you!" Kelen raised his voice.

"Leave me alone." Alden's face was emotionless.

"No. I won't. I gave you 1 week to cope with everything. So you can forget everything and move on but...no. You are hell bent on not moving on at all. Did you even realise that you failed this mission and what others will be thinking of you? For how long more will you be like this? You need to come out and show yourself to them. If not, they will only call you a coward." Kelen scolded and Alden took a deep breath.

He still didn't reply and just kept staring at Ida's picture on the wall.

"Damn it." Kelen's eyes followed Alden's line of sight. Is it because of her that you are behaving like this? Come on, Alden. You have better things to think about than thinking about the girl who you left without killing out of pity!" Kelen begged.

"If only you know how I feel right now...You wouldn't tell me to move on. I knew that one day I would see her despaired and I had prepared myself but going through this is harder still. It hurts me a lot just thinking about what she is going through there." Alden replied, making Kelen sigh.

"Look, Alden. You need to forget about Ida. You have a better future ahead. What happened has already happened. You can't go back in time and neither can you have that girl in your life again. She will never accept you. And remember, all that was an act. You didn't cheat her at all. So, forget her." Kelen said as he moved closer to him.

"I know this is hard for you but just think about your responsibilities. You just can't sit here and think about her. She will have a good life. So, stop thinking about her." Kelen said as he looked straight into Alden's eyes.

"Boss and others are all waiting for us.

They all want to talk with you!" Kelen said, making Alden close his eyes.

"I will take that picture away from here." Kelen said and Alden snapped back to him angrily.

"I should." Kelen was hardly sympathetic now. "For your good. It might be the only way you can forget about her." Kelen said and Alden got up from his chair.

"Please, think about our empire." Kelen said and Alden sighed, nodding his head.

He walked towards the door and was about to open the door when he stopped.

Turning around, he looked at the picture one last time before opening the door and walked out of the office.

Kelen turned around and walked towards Ida's photograph as he stared at her angrily.

If looks could kill, the picture would have crumbled to ashes.

"I will never let you ruin his life. Ever. You don't deserve him. I will make sure that he never thinks of you again. Just be grateful he lets you live or else, you have been as well dead, Ida Celeste." Kelen said angrily before walking out of the office.

"Alden, Are you okay?" Kelen heard a voice which made him stop in mid way and look up at the only woman that he adored throughout his entire life. She was Kiarah Orion. The only elder sister of Alden who cared for him like a mother.

She was just 2 years older than him but after their mother passed away, It's Kiarah that looked after Alden and gave him all the love just like a mother. It's not only that but they also banter a lot just like annoying siblings but for the last 2 weeks, Kiarah was so worried about Alden. Because, he didn't even leave his room since he returned back to his home and didn't even want to see his sister even when they were staying together.

He just buried himself in his room with all the pain that he was going through. He didn't eat much but when Kelen forced him, he did. If not, he would have starved himself to his death. No matter how much Kiarah requested, he didn't want to see her. Kelen felt so bad that Alden didn't even want to see her just because of Ida.

'It's just because of her... Ida. I wish you were dead too! You are the reason why he is like this today!' Kelen cursed her.

"I was so worried about you." Kiarah said when she saw Alden, as she caressed his face and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Alden hugged her back tightly, tears swimming behind his eyelids.

"Is everything alright, Alden? Why didn't you want to see me all these days?" Kiarah asked with a worried face.

"It's okay... Don't worry. I am alright." Alden answered.

"Are you sure?" Kiarah asked and Alden nodded his head.

Kelen walked towards them making Kiarah look up at him.

"Boss is waiting for him." Kelen said and Kiarah frowned.

"Boss?" Kiarah asked and Kelen nodded.

"Matthew." Kiarah said and Alden nodded, making her sigh.

"We need to have a chat together." Kiarah said.

"No. I think dad explained everything to you. So, please... Let's not talk about it anymore." Alden said as he walked out of there.

"Alden... Wait..." Kiarah called but Alden didn't and walked down the stairs.

"Kelen, this is not fair... He worked hard throughout his life... Matthew can't be his boss." Kiarah said but Kelen kept calm.

"That's how the decisions were made. He failed the mission and Matthew is his boss now. I have no right to meddle with them... I will take my leave now." Kelen said as he walked away from her leaving her with a frown.

•••

"Alden... Alden... Alden... My sweet brother." Matthew called as he got up from the couch with a bright smile and a puppy in his hands.

"Dad... Look at my cousin brother. He is finally home and settled down." Matthew said with a smile as he left the puppy down on the floor, who ran away from there immediately playing around.

"Yes, Son. Did you congratulate your brother on his successful mission?" Robin, Matthew's dad, asked. He was the spitting image of Alden's own father.

"Yes... But I'm sad that he was not successful with his mission on time."

Matthew answered and Robin chuckled while Kelen swallowed, his eyes on Alden's blank expression.

"Matthew, You should be greatful that he was not successful with his mission on time... What if he was? You know, what would have happened... Don't you?" A sudden voice made everyone look up at the sound of the person and saw Kiarah.

As they looked at her, She walked down the stairs looking at them with a stern face and Matthew chuckled.

"Sis... You know, I would be happy even if he was successful with his mission on time too. But, I'm glad he was not." Matthew replied as he smirked.

"Matthew..." Alden grabbed Kiarah's wrist suddenly before she was going to say anything and shook his head at her, making her sigh while Robin and Matthew smirked at each other.

"Glad you killed the whole family as well, Alden. If you would have delayed for a day or two more, Matthew would have gone and finished them off for you." Robin said as he patted on Alden's shoulder. Alden gritted his teeth, images of Ida's hypothetical funeral flashing before his eyes.

"Well, we should be happy since we've finally gotten rid of our rival and Matthew has risen to the highest position in the Family." Robin said and laughed while Matthew nodded his head at him, still smirking at Alden. He leaned forward, humour gone from his face.

"You have yet to see the worst of the world yet."