Chapter 24

"Xavier?"

A faint frown formed on Dimitri's forehead, his brows knit together. The man then turned off the engine, then immediately got out of the car with a surprised look mixed with confusion to find Xavier suddenly in front of him at this time.

"X, what are you doing here?" asked Dimitri after closing the car door and rushing over to Xavier.

Xavier who was lighting a cigarette with a lighter then raised one hand, signaling Dimitri not to approach him. Dimitri immediately stopped walking.

"Me? Here?" Xavier exhaled the cigarette he had just smoked while chuckling softly. "Why don't you just ask the woman you brought home?"

Dimitri's brow furrowed. He looked back, only just realizing that Rachel had been where she was, sitting in the car looking reluctant to get out.

Xavier tilted his head, staring at Rachel inside with his eyebrows raised perfectly.

Just stared at Rachel's guts shrunk for a moment. Xavier's gaze was full of domination and intimidation, as sharp as an eagle marking its prey from the sky.

Rachel bit her lower lip, then slowly opened the door with her eyes fixed on the ground. For God's sake! Rachel didn't dare look into Xavier's dark eyes, which now looked as if they wanted to pounce on her at this moment.

Rachel closed the door after getting out of the car. But the woman didn't take a single step, just stood by the side of the car without any intention of approaching, too scared by Xavier's intimidating aura that seemed to suffocate her even more.

Xavier stretched out an arm, asking Rachel to step over to his side.

But Rachel was still standing still. Seeing this, Xavier said, "Rachel, you know, right? I don't have enough patience to ask you to come to my side twice."

Dimitri looked at the two of them alternately with a confused expression, even more confused when he found Rachel walking towards Xavier, obeying his ask even though her face looked reluctant.

"Rachel, wait." Dimitri grabbed Rachel's arm before she reached Xavier's side. "You have to explain to me—"

"Get your damn hands off my women, bastard!"

Xavier tossed his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it, then took a wide stride toward the two. He violently brush off the grip Dimitri's hand away.

Now the stock of Xavier's patience has run out. He would never let anyone touch his own even if that person was his cousin.

"Huh? Your girlfriend?" Dimitri laughed softly at Xavier in disbelief. "Did I hear you right, X? So, that woman you mean—" Dimitri shook his head in disbelief. "Crazy, this is crazy!"

"Rachel, why Xavier?" Dimitri laughed out loud. "Among the millions of men on earth, why him?!" said Dimitri angrily, pointing to his cousin.

"Why X, Rachel? Xavier! My own cousin!"

Rachel was silent a thousand languages. She didn't know what to say because she didn't have the answer.

It's all a game of destiny. The Universe ruled her story life with Xavier, as well as her acquaintance with Dimitri.

"Damn it! So, the woman you're related to is Rachel?!" Dimitri looked at Xavier increasingly angry. "She's a good girl, damn it! You don't deserve to toying with her!"

"You!" Pointing Xavier at Dimitri, his anger almost exploded. "Don't act like you know everything," he growled.

Xavier's eyes darkened. The man took a step forward, about to attack his cousin if Rachel didn't stop him soon.

"X..." Rachel's hands went up against Xavier's chest. Her face was panicked by seeing the anger in Xavier's eyes. "Please control your emotions."

Xavier kept trying to lunge at Dimitri, with Rachel still holding him back as hard as she could. "You don't know anything, Dimitri. My relationship with Rachel isn't as simple as you think."

Dimitri turned his attention to Rachel. "Explain something to me, Rachel!" asked Dimitri demanding an answer.

The woman turned around, staring at Dimitri's narrow eyes with a complicated expression. Between shock, panic, confuse, and sadness.

"Dimitri, that Xavier … he is …."

"Rachel, don't tell me..." Dimitri was at a loss for words.

Rachel nodded weakly, then looked away. "Yeah, he's… he's my ex."

Dimitri took a few steps back, utterly shocked by what he heard. Rachel's confession was like a bolt of lightning crashing right over his head.

"Hah?" One of Dimitri's hands rested on his waist, while the other ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "What kind of coincidence is this? Damn! Damn!"

Previously Dimitri thought, Rachel was a woman close to Xavier, or could be one of the men who approached Rachel, or something like that. When Xavier already has Nathalie and is about to get married in the near future.

However, Dimitri didn't think of another possibility who was possible that Xavier is a man from Rachel's past.

Dimitri groaned softly at his fate. What kind of destiny is this, God?!

"Rachel!"

Dimitri stepped closer to Rachel, but Xavier's stout body blocked his path. Even pushing Dimitri's body back a few steps, only made Dimitri's emotions peak.

Disappointment was evident on Dimitri's handsome face. Honestly he was angry and disappointed at Rachel, why keep this big thing a secret from him.

The man really felt cheated, by a woman he had never thought would deceive him like this.

"Sorry, Dimitri." Rachel didn't even dare look Dimitri in the eye. "I never knew that Xavier was your cousin."

Rachel never dreamed of working in a subsidiary of one of America's largest companies, which turned out to be owned by the Xavier family.

Never thought that he would also meet Dimitri because they both work at the branch office, who turns out to be the cousin of the lover she has been waiting for all this time.

"Dimitri." Xavier's tone was so cold. "You'd better go back now, while I still see you as my cousin."

"Dimitri..." this time it was Rachel who called his name. The lines of guilt are also clearly visible on the beautiful face.

As Rachel was about to approach, Dimitri stepped back while shaking his head slowly, "Sorry, Rachel." all of this was completely unacceptable to his heart and common sense. "I… I need some time."

Dimitri turned and walked wide into his car. He needed time, to accept and digest all the facts he had just found from Xavier and Rachel.

Rachel watched Dimitri leave without a word. Not only Dimitri, Rachel was disappointed in herself. Disappointed at not having the courage to confess to Dimitri, the man must have felt that he had been tricked.

This was what Rachel feared the most. Afraid that if Xavier and Dimitri both found out about it, there would be a big fight between the two brothers. Especially with all the arrogant and temperament nature of Xavier.

Xavier glanced at Rachel, his brain and heart burning, of course, when he saw Rachel's sad face as she mourned Dimitri's departure.

"Tch!" Xavier squeaked disapprovingly. "Are you sad that Dimitri was mad at you?"

"Dimitri is my friend," Rachel muttered, looking straight ahead. "Of course it's sad, because I've disappointed a friend who has been very good to me."

"Now, it's time for you to explain it to me, Rachel."