Day Ninety-Nine...
At Sparks Family Mansion
Everyone was busy preparing for tonight’s gathering. Nathan and Jane invited their families and close friends to celebrate with them for their recovery.
Dave and Nathan went to the mall together with Ethan to buy so necessary things while Jane and Abigail were left in the mansion, instructing the maids and butler about what to prepare.
Cherry and Kathleen joined them.
"Are Stephen and Aiden coming over?" Jane asked.
Abigail reflexively glanced at Cherry and Kathleen. The two won just fell silent when the two n being linked with them were ntioned.
"Hey, I have no idea. Why are you looking at like that?" Kathleen complained to Abigail.
Abigail and Jane just smiled teasingly when they noticed Kathleen’s blushing face. Then the two sisters turned to Cherry.
"I don’t know either. I’m not in contact with them," she responded while shrugging her shoulders. She chose to feign ignorance, ignoring the teasing look coming from the sisters.
"By the way, where is Hanabi? Is she not joining us?" Cherry changed the topic instantly.
Jane’s expression shifted when she was reminded that Hanabi and Tatsumi couldn’t make it to today’s gathering.
"Hanabi, Tatsumi, and Uncle Kazuki went back to Country J last night. They have an important thing to do."
Kathleen fell silent for a mont, her thoughts drifting elsewhere. A certain soone flashed through her mind—Jack.
He had occupied her thoughts for the past few weeks, no matter how hard she tried to push him away. She had recently discovered that he was from Country J, and ever since he returned there, they had lost all contact. No calls. No ssages. Just silence. She wondered if he was still upset with her.
’I wonder how he is doing right now,’ she mused, her gaze unfocused as she sank deeper into thought.
"Hey! Earth to Kathleen!" Cherry’s voice cut through her silence, accompanied by a light tap on her back. "You’re totally spacing out. What are you thinking about, or should I say, who are you thinking about?"
Startled, Kathleen quickly composed herself and pouted slightly, trying to mask her embarrassnt.
"Nothing," she replied. "I’m not thinking about anyone."
Cherry raised a suspicious eyebrow but didn’t press further. Before the teasing could continue, the front doors of the mansion swung open.
"Well, well, look who finally decided to show up!" Cherry exclaid with a grin as Chantha and Axel walked in, each holding a bottle of champagne.
"Here co the lovebirds!" Jane chid in playfully.
All eyes turned to the couple. Chantha, glowing as always, swept in with a bright smile and greeted the ladies with warm hugs, one by one.
"Hello, Ladies! I’ve missed you all." Chantha uttered in her elated voice.
Axel followed behind her, offering a sheepish grin as he scratched the back of his head.
The mont the playful teasing started, his face flushed, clearly unused to the attention.
"Where are the guys?" Axel asked, darting his gaze around his surroundings.
"They are late! Aiden and Stephen are not here yet. Can you please call them, Axel?" Jane made a sudden request.
"Alright. I’ll check on them," he responded with a smile.
Axel excused himself. As the ladies continued their conversation, Jane suddenly received a call from Tatsumi.
She quickly turned to Abigail. "Sis, entertain our guests. I’ll have to answer this call."
"Okay, Sis. Just take your ti."
Jane nodded with a grateful look in her eyes before she headed out to the balcony to answer Tatsumi’s call.
She knew they were in the middle of an important mission, which made her wonder why he was calling her now.
"Hello, Tatsumi, is everything alright?" she asked him worriedly. She thought sothing went wrong during their mission.
"Hi, Jane. Sorry to call you at this hour. Don’t worry, everything is fine on our end." Tatsumi reassured her. "But there’s sothing I need to consult you about. It’s regarding Hanabi..."
Jane furrowed her eyebrows when Hanabi’s na was ntioned.
"What’s wrong? Did you argue with Hanabi again?"
"No! No! It’s not like that!" Tatsumi promptly responded, shaking his head.
Jane just blinked in amusent as she waited for Tatsumi to elaborate on his words. "Alright. Tell . What is it?"
There was a mont of silence from the other line, a sign of Tatsumi’s hesitation. Jane could hear his deep sigh.
"The truth is... Hanabi is troubled by this mission... Even though she is not showing it to us, I believe Hanabi is having a hard ti right now. Jane... to be honest with you... Hanabi is close to Arthur Wayne. We managed to capture him easily because she used her connection with him."
Tatsumi spoke spontaneously, expressing his thoughts.
"I believe... Hanabi and Alexander have feelings for each other... and our mission will complicate things between them. I know she doesn’t want to admit or acknowledge her feelings... because of her loyalty... her loyalty to you and our clan."
"I’m worried about her. She is so stubborn. She won’t even listen to . I know her... deep inside, she is not alright. Can you please talk to her, Jane? She only listens to you. She might confide her true feelings with you."
Jane was at a loss for words for a few seconds. She hadn’t expected to hear that Hanabi had grown close to Alexander and his grandfather. The news caught her off guard, and she needed a mont to fully process Tatsumi’s words before responding.
"I understand, Tatsumi. Thank you for telling ," she said softly, her voice laced with concern.
"I had no idea that this had a negative effect on Hanabi." She paused, thinking about Hanabi.
I care about her deeply... She’s always put our best interests ahead of her own, never once thinking of herself first. She’s so selfless," Jane continued.
"Hanabi would rather endure pain in silence than risk betraying our trust. That’s just the kind of person she is."
Tatsumi nodded in agreent. They knew her well. That’s exactly what Hanabi is.
"Don’t worry, I’ll figure out what I can do for her to lessen her burden. I don’t want her to regret doing this. Hanabi is more important to than my revenge... Leave this to , Tatsumi." Jane gave him reassurance.
"Thanks, Jane... I know you are the only one who can help her at this mont. By the way, we are flying back today, together with Arthur Wayne. I’ll keep you posted. See you soon."
After Tatsumi hung up, Jane remained still, quietly assessing her own emotions.
Arthur Wayne, the man responsible for her mother’s murder, was soone Hanabi had grown close to.
The weight of that truth pressed heavily on her chest. She found herself torn, carefully weighing the decision she would have to make.
’Is killing Arthur Wayne the only way to get our revenge. I know my father has been waiting for this mont for so long. A justice for my mother’s murder. There’s no way he would ever forgive Arthur Wayne. He’d never let him walk free.’
She clenched her fists.
’But if we’re the ones to take his life... what then? Alexander will hate us... including Hanabi. And things between them would never be the sa... What should I do?’
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