powerful reunion

Later, at dinner, Samuel and Andre sat

across from each other at the long

dining table. The atmosphere was a mix

of tension and familiarity. The clinking of cutlery and the crackling of the fireplace

filled the silence until Andre spoke up

"Samuel," Andre began, looking up from

his plate, "why did you choose Hana?

You could have married any rich woman,

someone from our world."

Samuel leaned back in his chair,

contemplating the question. "Hana is

different," he said finally. "She's genuine,

kind, and strong. In our world, everyone

has a price, a hidden agenda. But Hana...

she sees the real me. Not the mafia king,

but just Samuel."

Andre nodded slowly, absorbing his

words. "So, she grounds you."

Samuel smiled faintly. "Exactly. She

makes me want to be better, not just for

myself, but for her. And that's something

no amount of money or power can buy."

Andre's gaze softened. "I get it. It's rare

to find someone like that. I just hope

you can keep her safe."

"I will," Samuel replied, his voice firm.

"No matter what it takes."

Andre chuckled, a bit of his old self

showing through. "Well, if anyone can

do it, it's you. Just remember, you've got

people willing to back you up."

Samuel raised his glass. "To old friends

and new beginnings."

Andre clinked his glass against Samuel's.

"To keeping our loved ones safe."

As they finished their dinner, the bond

between them felt a bit more mended.

They knew that the road ahead was

fraught with danger, but for tonight,

they could find a moment of

camaraderie, an echo of the friendship

they once shared. As the conversation about Hana

continued, Andre leaned in, curiosity

evident in his eyes. "So, where did you

first see Hana?" he asked.

Samuel leaned back in his chair, a small

smile playing on his lips as he recalled

the memory. "It was in my office," he

began. "One day, a man came in. He

looked middle class, but he was there to

request a loan of 15 lakh. My men

initially thought he was just another

person with a sad story. But when they

asked, he said it was for his daughter's

university fees."

Andre raised an eyebrow. "And that

caught your interest?"

"Not immediately," Samuel admitted.

"My men were about to reject the

application. But something made me

look at the file myself. I wanted to know

why a man would need such a large

amount for education. So, I went through the file personally and found

out that his daughter was incredibly

talented. She scored 98%, but she

couldn't get a seat in a good university

because her marks weren't valued in a

system driven by money."

Andre nodded, understanding. "So you

decided to investigate further."

"Exactly," Samuel continued. "I visited

her college because I was furious at how

education had become a business,

where even the brightest minds couldn't

secure a spot without money. When I

arrived, I saw many students sitting

under an oak tree, and there she was,

standing and speaking passionately. She

was explaining what was right and

wrong, giving them tips to score well.

Her presence was captivating."

Samuel paused, a distant look in his eyes

as he remembered the moment. "Hana

was truly beautiful. She had this natural

grace, with long, flowing hair that

shimmered in the sunlight, and eyes that

sparkled with intelligence and kindness.

Her smile was warm, genuine, and it

could light up the darkest of days. She

wasn't just physically beautiful; her spirit,

her passion for helping others, made her

even more remarkable."

Andre listened intently, nodding. "I can

see why you were drawn to her."

Samuel's expression hardened as he

continued. "I went to the director's office

after seeing her. The director was

arrogant, dismissive. He treated

education like a business, and students

as mere customers."

"What did you say to him?" Andre asked,

intrigued.

Samuel's eyes glinted with a dangerous

light. "I walked into his office and said,

'Your education system is a disgrace.

You deny bright students their rightful

place because they can't pay? You think

you can play God with their futures?'"

The director had scoffed, his demeanor

dripping with arrogance. "This is how

the world works. Money talks. If you

can't afford it, you don't get it."

Samuel had leaned forward, his voice

low and menacing. "I don't think you

understand who you're dealing with. I'm

Samuel. And in my world, talent and

hard work are rewarded. Not greed. You

will start giving students their education

based on their merits, or I will make sure

you regret every decision you've made."

The director's face had paled, his

attitude crumbling in the face of

Samuel's threat. "O-of course, Mr.

Samuel. We will make the necessary

changes."

"Good," Samuel had said, his voice cold.

"And one more thing. The girl who was

speaking to the students by the oak

tree? She deserves every opportunity

this institution can offer. If I find out

you've treated her or any other student

unfairly, you'll answer to me."

As Samuel finished recounting the story,

Andre's respect for his friend grew. "So

you saw her again after that?"

"Yes," Samuel said, a soft smile returning

to his face. "When I came out of the

director's office, I saw her again. She was

smiling, helping the workers around the

university without hesitation. It was then

I realized she was the daughter of the

man who came to my office for a loan.

Her kindness, her selflessness, and her

beauty... I fell for her completely."

Andre smiled, understanding the depth

of Samuel's feelings. "You did the right

thing, Samuel. Hana is lucky to have

you."

Samuel nodded his resolve

strengthening. "And I'm lucky to have

her. I'll do whatever it takes to protect

her."

As Samuel and Andre finished their

dinner, the conversation about Hana

lingered in Samuel's mind. He felt a

deep longing for her presence, so he

decided to take a walk in the garden to

clear his thoughts. The night air was cool

and refreshing, and the garden was

bathed in soft moonlight, creating a

serene atmosphere. Samuel took out his

phone and called Hana, eager to hear

her voice.

"Hana," he said as soon as she

answered, his voice filled with affection.

"How are you?'

'm good, Samuel. How are you holding

up?" Hana replied, her voice warm and

reassuring.

"I miss you," Samuel admitted. "I wish

you were here."

"I miss you too," Hana said softly. "But

I'm safe, and that's what matters."

Samuel took a deep breath, feeling a

little more at ease. "I need to tell you

something, Hana. There's a lot going on,

and I want you to be prepared. I've

informed Natasha about the situation."

Hana paused for a moment. "What's

happening, Samuel? Is everything okay?"

"Andre showed up tonight," Samuel

explained. "We had a conversation, and

it turns out the men who attacked us

weren't his. There's another player

involved, and we're still figuring out who

it is."

Hana's voice was filled with concern.

"That sounds serious. Are you safe?"

"I'm fine," Samuel reassured her. "Andre

and I are working on it. But I wanted you

to know, so you can stay vigilant."

"Thank you for telling me," Hana said.

"I'll be careful. Please, take care of

yourself too."

"I will," Samuel promised. "Can I talk to

Natasha?"

"Sure, I'll get her," Hana said.

A moment later, Natasha's face

appeared on the screen, her expression

serious. "Samuel, what's going on?"

Samuel quickly explained the situation,

detailing the unexpected turn of events.

Natasha listened intently, her brows

furrowing in concern.

"This is worse than we thought,"

Natasha said. "We need to stay ahead of this new player. But for now, Hana is

safe here. We'll keep a close eye on

things."

"Thanks, Natasha," Samuel said, feeling

grateful for her support. "I knew I could

count on you."

Natasha nodded. "Always. And Samuel,

be careful. We can't afford to lose you."

"I will," Samuel assured her. "And thank

you for looking after Hana and her

parents."

Just then, Andre joined Samuel in the

garden. He noticed Samuel on the call

and gave him a nod of

acknowledgment. Samuel gestured for

Andre to join the conversation.

"Look who's here," Samuel said, turning

the phone towards Andre. "Andre

wanted to say hi."

"Hey, Hana," Andre greeted, his tone

cheerful. "How do you like the safe

house?"

"It's really nice," Hana replied. "Natasha

has been wonderful."

"That's good to hear," Andre said. "By

the way, we were just reminiscing about

old times. Do you want to join us?"

"Of course," Hana said, her curiosity

piqued.

For the next hour, they talked about

their past, filled with funny and

adventurous stories. Andre and Natasha

shared stories about Samuel that made

Hana laugh.

"Do you remember the time Samuel

tried to impress a girl by cooking for

her?" Andre started, grinning. "He ended

up setting off the fire alarm, and we had

to evacuate the entire building."

Natasha laughed. "Oh, I remember that!

And the girl was more impressed by the

fire department than Samuel's cooking

skills."

"Hey, in my defense, it was a

complicated recipe," Samuel protested,

smiling at the memory.

"And then there was the time we all got

lost on our way to that party," Natasha

continued. "Samuel insisted he knew a

shortcut, and we ended up in the middle

of nowhere."

"But we found that amazing little diner,

and it turned out to be one of the best

nights ever," Andre added.

Hana was delighted by these stories,

feeling a deeper connection with Samuel

and his friends. "It sounds like you all

had some great times together."

"We did," Samuel said, looking fondly at

his friends. "And we'll have many more."

As they continued talking, Hana felt

more at ease, knowing she was part of a

close-knit group that cared deeply for

each other. The conversation eventually

wound down, and they said their

goodbyes, promising to keep in touch

and stay safe.