~Chapter 37~

TW:- Reader discretion advised. Please proceed with caution. If you are uncomfortable, you may skip the italics portion. 

The TV speakers blasted loud enough to make someone go deaf with the news channel anchor repeating the news that had already been shown in the evening. The repeating news showed some particular pictures of a family and how the family is searching for their lost son, questions were also raised that why didn't the family look for their lost son all those years ago when he got lost?

Scratch, scratch.

Because they didn't care.

Scratch, scratch.

That's right, they didn't care! They didn't give two fucks about their son who lost his dignity to his own nanny! Then why the fuck are they searching for him now?

The scratching becomes even more frequent of the side of the face where stitches are visible after the makeup is taken off of the woman in red smeared lipstick. She felt liquid upon incessant scratching and rushed to the bathroom upon seeing blood on her fingers. There it is, the stitches on either side of her face has come undone and are bleeding. Blood trickling down from those undone stitches as they threatened to make the face come off that she had put so much effort to sew on without any anesthesia. The red blood also seem to be mocking her as they travelled further down her neck eventually disappearing inside her clothes reminding her of a certain someone who keeps on disappearing no matter how much she wants to capture him, lock him up and eat him up all day.

Just like how she ate him up all day all those years ago. She took off her clothes so that she could see where the blood is travelling to. The trickling blood was joined by another trickle as they travelled together towards her breasts.

The sensation of those little hands holding them as her own larger hand guided those inexperienced ones to her own erogenous zones as she moved up and down, hitting the spot that brought shivers to her entire body, rolling her eyes at the back of her head until...…..UNTIL the damned fire destroyed it ALL.

The fire destroyed their paradise that she created, their bond without which everyday felt like death, his scent, his breath that kept her going and half of her face that got burned when she waited upon him to rescue her only to see him running away…..far away from her without looking back!

Oh the agony!

After that not only was she put into jail but she deported out of the country to an unknown deserted island prison with no way of escaping. Still she held her breath, remained patient and finally her good behavior bore fruit when she was released early from that claustrophobic hellhole. She had wasted no time and flew all the way to the country. After much digging she finally found the location where her beloved have been residing all these years.

She dabbed cotton on the trickling blood, applied antiseptic and sewed the portion of her face again. Her eyes glinting with determination.

The fire might've torn them apart but she'll not let any other fire tear them apart! Any. Kind. Of. Fire.

Even if it's a blonde.

The ride was a long one. Maybe it's because of the haunting silence that prevailed in the car. The secretary of the old man, who is driving the car cleared his throat and looked sharply at his plane mirror at his boss. They had discussed this previously before they travelled to Roschend town as to how to break the news to Mr. Lancaster's son. But his boss is so not going according to the plan!

The comfy seats were successfully doing their job in physically relaxing Rio but internally he's still nervous and cautious. The monster that he thought he had left burning in the fire has somehow managed to crawl back right into his peaceful life knocking at his door with ominous claws.

He saw the car passing the only bus stand of the town so he spoke up; "Please stop the car. I'll get down here."

"You'll get down here? What will you do here? Surely you're not planning to walk back?" the stout old man asked to which the younger boy's silence answered his query.

The stout old man had been measuring the teenager all this time through the corner of his eye. Rio Sanders shared the same features as his father but he inherited his mother's eyes albeit brighter and purer shade than her. He wore rimless spectacles with his hair slicked back and a half sleeved t-shirt with pants along with a brown and black backpack. He exuded an aura of humbleness, purity and a tinge of boldness. This version of Rio Sanders is much better than the pictures of the same kid with a gloomy aura that he has in his folder safely tucked away in his office. The old man was worried that he might have to deal with a nervous, shaky kid but it seems like probably all his worries were in vain.

"Are you allergic to anything?" the old man asked.

"No." answered the young lad.

The secretary on wheel felt like crying at this point. He didn't know his boss would be this much socially awkward with a kid of same age as his own granddaughter.

Boss, how about you introduce yourself first?

Meanwhile Rio was already in the middle of forming plans inside his head that in case things start going south, how he's going to save himself. As they alighted from the car, he took notice of the guns that are tucked carefully at the waist of the bodyguards who were in all black suit and back sunglasses. Typical attire of any bodyguard on duty.

The car has stopped in front of a shop that's outskirts of the town and is seemingly somewhat shady as it is built in such a way that it won't be visible to any other people other than the only guests who know about this particular multi-cuisine providing restaurant. Rio continued to keep a track on where they're going and where exactly are the exits located.

It was after the ordering of the food did the old man decide to introduce himself to Rio; "Introductions are late, my name is Skylar Rudben and I am the major investor of L group and is associated with the board of directors of that group. Your father, the CEO of L group is a dear friend of mine."

The secretary in attendance of this conversation felt like melting down in relief.

Finally Boss, we are making some improvement!

Unfortunately, Rio had no reaction as he stared blankly at the old man. He didn't know what reaction he should give. This man had mentioned about being related to his father but he himself cannot remember any of his parents very clearly.

He was only five when he was evicted from that house.

'Parents' are alien to him; 'father' is like a foreign entity towards him. The only one he knows is his grandmother who took care of him till the day she took her last breath.

Mr. Rudben half expected for Rio to have any kind of reaction. The latter didn't have any.

Just as he suspected, this is going to be a long talk.