Eight

She didn't make a mistake, the car was like the one she had seen earlier.

There was a man in the driver's seat and she gave him a nod of acknowledgement, which was reciprocated.

Orion was really back.

She had doubted when she saw him earlier because he looked very different. She didn't have enough time to scrutinize and figure out what made him look different but he just was.

April breathed in and out deeply for a whole minute, standing in front of the door. She finally gathered the courage to open the door and stepped in, shutting it behind her softly.

She could see Orion's back facing her, her mom was in his arms as she hugged him tightly. Her Dad was sitting with Iver on the opposite side, happiness evident on their faces.

She walked further into the room and they finally noticed her.

Her mom released Orion, facing her with a surprised look on her face. She usually doesn't come back home that early and it's already evening.

She looked away from the intense gaze of Orion and walked towards him.

She wrapped her hands around his waist and planted the side of her face against his chest. She had missed him greatly.

Before he left, she never knew she could ever miss him if he leaves, she thought she would be happy that there was no one to boss her around.

She was wrong.

She stayed in his arms for a whole minute and he didn't hug back. In contrast to his cold gaze, he was warm and he smell nice, too nice April sniffed in his scent.

After her hope of him hugging her back wasn't fulfilled, she started to withdraw but then he wrapped his arms around her, bringing her more closer.

April smiled. She lifted her head up to him. Her jaw now against his chest. He didn't smile back but she wasn't offended, she was just so happy to see him.

Now she knows what made him look so different. His man-bun is gone, in place of it is a neat buzz-cut that fits him perfectly well.

His man-bun coupled with his cold expression always gave him a look of someone dangerous, mysterious and hot-tempered.

This new look however, still coupled with his elegance and cold exterior, gave him a look of someone intimidating, authoritative and powerful.

He was in a black suit, even the shirt inside was black.

"Welcome home, brother. You look good," April beamed.

"You don't," he replied bluntly.

April's eyes widened but she quickly masked her true feelings. She was hurt by his words and it added to her insecurities.

She slowly withdraw from him and he let her go. Mr and Mrs Caddel were disturbed with Iver's reply and made a note to speak with him privately later on.

"Wow, you are home early today," Iver said sarcastically to April.

Orion frowned and checked his wrist watch, looking back towards April. Of course April knew what time it was, it was after five, she had checked before entering the house.

"Where were you this time?" Mr Caddel asked.

April glanced at Orion, she was scared. Her father had forbade her from seeing Kylo and he would be really crushed if he finds out that she disobeyed him.

"Dad, do you perhaps have some wine? I'm craving one," Orion spoke.

"We don't have any but-" Mr Caddel replied.

"Will you have some fruit juice instead? I made it myself," Mrs Caddel said.

"No no. If you want wine, Iver can go get you one from the store a few blocks down the street." Mr Caddel suggested.

"It's fine. I will have the juice, Mom," Orion said.

Mrs Caddel quickly went in the direction of the kitchen and Orion unexpectedly followed her.

April exhaled and dropped on the couch.

"He hates me," she stated.

"Here we go," Iver rolled his eyes.

"He told me I don't look good," April pouted.

"You look good, April. Maybe- maybe a lot thinner but you look good. He's probably jet-lagged or something," Iver assured.

And that is why April can never hate Iver, no matter how strict he became on her or how stubborn she was towards him.

She only hated him giving her orders because he didn't consider her advice to break up with his girlfriend.

Kelsey, Iver's girlfriend is the most rude person April has seen. The lady came from a rich background and her brother is working on one of her family's subsidiary company.

Perhaps, that is the reason why she thought she could treat him like a pushover.

April found her very manipulative and controlling. She wouldn't have minded her character but she couldn't stand it whenever she sees her disrespecting her brother.

Iver tolerates Kelsey more than he should.

There was a time she threatened him with his job when they had a misunderstanding.

Then, April suspected that Iver was overlooking Kelsey's attitudes because he really believed her threat and since his income was the main thing supporting their family, he chose to endure all her tantrums.

April didn't justify that excuse though, Iver was a university graduate and he should be able to get a good job elsewhere.

He is a talented programmer that graduated with extraordinary grades. She didn't know why he couldn't just give up the job and break free from Kelsey's chains.

Orion and Mrs Caddel came back and took their seat, Orion sitting right beside April. She just listened to them catch up on things that happened over the past years.

She noticed that Orion spoke more now, he was no longer the one-worded guy.

He spoke to them about his purpose. A subsidiary company of his family business is to be built in their city and it would be a one month plan. Not just that, his house would be completed in that one month period also.

According to him, he is back for good, even though he would be going back sometimes to visit his biological family.

He also told them about having two half-siblings, April had felt a tab bit jealous even though he has spent more years with them than he did with his biological family.

Few minutes later, April excused herself to her room.

She dumped herself on her bed laying sideways, wondering if it was all real or whether it was a dream. She had given up hope of Orion ever coming back to them again.

They see him on TV from time to time and he would unfailingly send them gifts on their birthday but that was it. April was no longer expecting that they would see face to face again.

She laid on the bed and just continue staring at the ceiling with her mind full of various thoughts, until she was called about thirty minutes later. It was Orion's voice and even though she didn't do anything, she was a bit scared.

She doesn't know why she kept feeling like he loathed her now.

Even six years ago when she would always get on his nerves and frustrate him always, he wasn't so cold to her so she wondered what went wrong.

Especially because he wasn't like that towards Iver.

Her phone dinged and she checked it.

Kylo- Do you still need the pills? I have them now.

Her eyes widened and she quickly hid her phone, forgetting she the only one in the room. Another ding.

Kylo- syringe or pills?

Her heart raced as she sat up.