Chapter Two

June was yet to recover from the shock that felt like she just had a face-to-face encounter with some gunmen, and from the look of things she might never recover from it. Throughout the meeting, June felt uneasy, suffocating herself with thoughts and immeasurable anxiety. She couldn't focus for a second, and Anthony made it difficult for her by questioning her as though she were learning in the classroom. Questions she barely answered.

The meeting came to an end with June condescending and being laughed at by the shareholders. She finally lost the family business to an old enemy. The same Kings family her family battled with many years ago.

Losing the company was nothing like a problem. Whether she lost a company, she didn't care because the loss ahead demanded her might, soul and everything to put into place and plan ahead.

After the meeting, Anthony had approached her in the parking lot and they tore into huge confrontation that almost sent her begging on her knees when he made it clear that he was hungry for revenge. Exactly as she feared. But she stood her ground, and would make sure he failed.

“Ensure to tell Kayla to get ready for a new beginning.” This statement made by him in the parking lot galvanized her desire to act fast and save Kayla from what she thought was more dangerous. Of course, dangerous now he came alive after everyone believed he died. Dangerous that he might have become something unimaginable. He was definitely coming for Kayla. Already he began his vengeance with buying Asrijet.

June endured the heartache until she returned home. She was supposed to be happy to see her family, and make them happy to see her after eight months of being away. But instead, June seemed doleful from the moment she stepped into the house. Her obvious uneasiness provoked worries in her children and had them questioning her, especially Sam and Kayla who seemed to have knotted her to their hearts.

“You’ve never been this sad before, Mom. Did anything happen?” Kayla, who just hugged June, gave her a worried look and asked.

“Anything could have happened,” Pinky said with a mouthful of cereals she scooped from a bowl of cereal she held, then waved her hand with disgust and went upstairs. Other daughters who misunderstand their mother walked away, only Kayla and Sam remained. Jonathan wasn't home.

“You aren't saying anything, Mom,” Sam complained, frowning.

“Sam, I need to take a nap. It was a long day today. We'll talk about everything later.” June couldn't fight the tiredness and worries in her voice; it was conspicuous to Sam and Kayla. Giving them the assurance, she plodded upstairs.

Since the situation was nothing June could handle on her own, she took Lena to a bedroom to share the problem.

Lena wasn't only something like her, Lena was that person she shared her ups and downs with, also the person with whom she confided her deepest secret. Lena had never seen her father before, yet she loved her mother, and could do anything for her. She was an illegitimate child in the family, who June had in her early age for another man. Lena was innately strict, and people avoided her because of her cold demeanor. Moreover, she was wealthy from her pocket.

There in the bedroom, June sat on the bed, shaking like she were held at gunpoint. She stood up often, paced and sat back down. She was devastated to the point where she wept.

Lena stood with her arms folded, trailing June with her eyes to examine her complicated gestures. Lena felt no worries because she was stone-hearted, she wanted to know what has happened to June that shattered her to such extent.

“Won’t you tell me, Mother? You know you can't drown in your pain while I'm here.” she stepped closer and stood in front of June. “Is it about Asrijet?”

“No, Lena.” she wiped her tear with a flick of her fingers. “It’s — I may sound crazy, but —” She ran her hand through her hair, confused how to say something that impossible. “Clinton Kings is alive.”

Although Lena got stunned on hearing June, doubt kicked out the fear that would have dashed into her. Lena didn't show any sign of shock or whatsoever, rather a glimmer of doubt could be spotted in her eyes. “Are you seeing things, Mother?”

June got on her feet because of the height of shock that came with Lena’s unbelievable question. Her brows arched with anger, she was about hitting the roof. “No. I saw Clinton Kings with my own eyes. He's all grown up, he called me Lady Bossy, and he confronted me. Worst being he’s the buyer of Asrijet.”

“What?” Lena’s arms unfolded, and her eyes widened, her brows met in the middle — Lena was dead shocked. At first, she thought June told a lie, but this time it clicked that June might be right. But how possible? A boy who died had come alive? The part that ruined Lena’s mood was Clinton buying Asrijet. Moreover, she knew Clinton had returned for revenge. Lena scoffed after she quenched her fear, and anger replaced. “It seems Alicia is good at playing chess.” She looked at June. “Clinton is back, but he can do nothing.”

“I wish he can't, Lena.” She teared up again. “He threatened to ruin this family, which he already began with buying Asrijet. According to him, Kayla should get ready for a new beginning.” She held Lena's arms. “Don’t you understand that Clinton wants to harm Kayla as he swore in court?”

“He swore, Mom. But he cannot predict the future.” She wiped June's tears with her fingers, then placed her hands on June's shoulders. “Don’t worry, Mom. I'll take care of him.”

June's eyes widened in apprehension. She took Lena's hands off her shoulders. “No, Lena.” June felt displeased with Lena's assurance, and it frightened her because being up against Anthony would definitely cost Lena's life. June could not afford losing any of her children. “I will not let you take on Clinton. Like I always say, you know just a little about the Kings family.”

“I know Arnold Kings was a monster, Mom. I can—”

She gestured in the fit of anger, and yelled, “Don’t, Lena. And if you want me dead, then go ahead and take on Clinton.”

“What then are we going to do to save Kayla and our family?” Lena asked with a shred of worry in her voice; her eyebrow quirked.

June sat, abounded with a million thoughts that left traces on her bleak face. Lena knew she was thinking about something, and could end up with a pointless idea.

June raised her index finger in the air, “Yes,” She tilted cocked her head. “Yes. Nicolas Hudson.”

Lena sighed and wagged her head in disbelief, she knew June was going to come up with an unfavorable idea. “Nicolas Hudson cannot save Kayla from Clinton, trust me when I say so.” She folded her arms.

“Of course, he can. Clinton will beat feet when he learns that Kayla had mar…”

A knock came at the door — a knock that shut June up on the thought that whoever it was had heard their conversation. And when Kayla identified herself, June gasped out the deluging fear that came on hearing Kayla's voice. She felt it was necessary for the ground to open up and swallow her. If there was something June needed to keep from Kayla, it was Clinton's return and everything behind it.

On the contrary, Lena had no problem with Kayla being at the door, and June's frantic reaction annoyed her. What would happen if Kayla heard about Clinton? She'd abide in fear and more regret, what more? Would she snuff it?

“Get ready to talk to Kayla about Nicolas,” Lena supposed. June wiped away her tears but never stopped looking pale, regardless of her attempt to look even a bit cheerful. “Come in, Kayla.” Lena glanced at the door, then shifted her glance back to June.

Kayla walked inside and went straight to June. Kayla now seemed angry and not sad because June still couldn't stop worrying, and June did not attempt to say a word to her. “Will you tell me what's wrong?” her voice now mixed with annoyance.

June said nothing; instead, she put down her head and burst out crying.

Lena realized that June would not speak, so she became June's spokesman. “Kayla. Mom's worried about Linksway. And—” She placed her hand on Kayla's shoulder, her face looking like she was about to say something unpleasant to Kayla. “She wants you to marry Nicolas Hudson as quickly as possible.”

For a dismayed moment, Kayla gazed into Lena's eyes, then at June. Her feelings entangled, yet June's desire was comedic to her. Kayla couldn't grasp why June suggested she marries Nicolas now. She scoffed in disbelief — she was near having a fit.

“Why’re you doing this to me, Mom? I'm supposed to be married at this age of twenty-seven, but I'm not because you keep stopping me from being in a relationship, claiming you want the best for me and every man I want is contemptible. You asked me not to marry Nicolas, now you want me to go ahead and marry him?” Kayla's heart brimmed over with sadness, tears clouding her eyes. Shaking her head, she concluded, “No, Mom. I won't marry him.”

June was angry to insanity because of Anthony's plans, but she unleashed her anger on Kayla's negligence by yelling at her, “Kayla, you must get married to Nicolas.” Regret and despair were obvious in June's eyes.

“I won't let you keep telling me what to do. I won't marry Nicolas. Instead, I'll marry Chax,” she yelled, almost about tearing up.

Lena took Kayla's choice as a good idea. She looked at Kayla. “If Mr. Anonymous loves you… then marry him.” She faced June. “If you want Kayla to get married, I'll suggest you let her marry the man she loves.”

“A man we all know nothing about? A man she hasn't seen before?”

“I don't have to see him face-to-face, Mom. Being familiar with him is more than enough.” Her tone now shifted from anger to a sweet convincing voice, though a bit sulky. She hoped to win June's heart through some possible means.

“Familiar on social media?” June asked, becoming furious.

“Believe me, he’s good.” Kayla sat next to June, and pulled June into her arm, making sure June looked into her eyes. Then she kept that childish expression that could prick June's heart and break that resolve. “Chax and I love each other so, so much, and I know he's my Mr. Perfect. He even had my name tattooed on his back.” She offered a smile that melted June's and Lena’s anger, replacing it with bashfulness that curled a sheepish beam on their lips. Kayla gave June a gentle push. “Come on, Mom. Let me marry him. I promise you'd like him.”

“We’re talking about a quick marriage here, Kayla. Can you convince him to marry you very fast?”

Kayla feigned a playful frown — the fact they wanted her to marry quickly was annoying. “Why do you two want me to get married this fast? Isn't it just for Linksway?” she asked. “Well—” A smile of anticipation went across her face, her expression raised questions in Lena's and June's mind. “Chax proposed to me on the phone, and I agreed.”

“What?” Lena imagined what kind of love it was. Whatever it may be, she felt happy for Kayla at least.

June was happy, for Kayla would escape Anthony once she got married to Mr. Anonymous. Nevertheless, she must get acquainted with this Chax her daughter loved that wanted to marry her. “Sweetheart. If you both love each other, then it's fine by me because I'd seen such a relationship before. But…”

Kayla's mood changed to apprehension when June mentioned ‘but’. “But what, Mom?” Her voice came off as though anxieties drew her nearer to shedding disappointed tears.

“Your family would love to meet this man who loves you this much. When should we figure on your long-awaited Mr. Perfect? You know he has to propose to you in the open, so that everyone witnesses your engagement.” She flashed Kayla an approving smile that lit up Kayla's mood.

A radiant smile dazzled on Kayla's face. “My Mr. Perfect flew in from UK today. Already, he'd planned to propose with a ring tomorrow. I was going to tell you about it earlier, but you threw a fit.” She feigned a playful frown but replaced it with a warm smile before she continued, “Now I know you support our relationship, I'll bring him home tomorrow.”

“Are you sure he doesn't mind coming to your house to meet your family?”

“I know Chax, he doesn't mind. Besides, isn't it a responsibility he meets my family before proposing to me?” She shrugged questioningly and glanced at Lena, who shrugged as well. She held June's arms. “Before he comes…” She pointed at June's face; narrowed her eyes in a suspicious but joking manner. “Your cold face must transform amicably.” She touched the tip of June's nose with her finger. “Chax is quite a shy person, so I beg that you all make him feel comfortable.”

“We’ll see to it that the necessity is done. He just has to show up tomorrow,” Lena said.

“And he'll surely come. Tomorrow is just by the corner.”