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Chapter 39

Angelo's P.O.V

Have you ever felt like the wind whispered in your ear? Well, that's what happened to me while I was sitting in the round table together with the stockholders of Grande enterprise. That day, we were discussing about the cost of the new building that they planned to build in Italy.

Mr Hayman, a bald and middle aged man, was presenting his proposal to minimize the cost of the project. Everyone looked interested as they looked on their monitor. You see, the table has four monitor placed around the table, each monitor was 20 inch in diameter. And that time, Mr Hayman was holding the control over the system, regarding his presentation.

I looked at Mrs Brey, a lovely old lady, sitting beside me. She was simple yet elegant in the sense that she deserve to be respected. From what I have heard, she was a successful business woman that owns 5 different company. She was a 'titan' in the field of business, however, all her wealth did not come from her parents or anyone. In fact, she came from a very poor family but through her perseverance and dedication in achieving her dream, she became successful as she is. One thing I adored about her is that she dedicated herself in helping poor families by means of employing them or supporting their essential need. She was always sweet to me. That time, she was my comfort during that boring meeting.

"When is this going to end?" I whispered, heaving a deep and silent sigh.

Mrs Brey chuckled and held my hand as she looked back at the monitor in front of her.

I tried to look interested as I can. But, looking at the graph and dollar sign in the monitor screen in front of me made my head spin in full 180 degree.

How did I end up here? Well, my dad were on some kind of important agenda overseas. He asked me, no, basically, he ordered me to relief him with his schedule for a week. As much as I did not want to be ordered, especially given by my father, I agreed to it. He sounded desperate when he called me to tell me about it. One thing that made me do it is because the fact that he called me. He never, in my life, called me. Not even once to say hi. It was just that time. And so I guessed it was really that important to him.

I have been away from Brisbane for almost a week now. I left the city the day when Daniel and I decided to cool off. The word 'cool off' always leaves a bitter taste in my tongue whenever I thought about it. We did not brake up totally, we just decided to take a break and see what destiny has for us. We didn't talk about for how long does it going to be, but we agreed to whatever the outcome to come up, we'll accept it.

A break. Yes, I could feel that I need it. And so as Daniel. I guess he needed a break from me after all the complicated things that was happening right now. I feel like ever since Daniel and I started our relationship, things in our life became complicated.

It feels like God was punishing us for defying his command. 'You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination' He said, or at least that's what the Bible says. I am not a devoted Christian that kneels for an hour to pray. But I believe that Jesus came to Earth in the flesh of human to redeem the sinners. Not only that, I believe that Jesus' coming was to renew the old law in the Old Testament. The Old Testament was full of battle, blood, death, and evil. When Jesus came, it was just a battle of good and evil. Jesus ate with prostitutes and sinful people. He accepted the sinners and blessed those who believe in him. He never mentioned anything about loving the same gender in intimate way will burn us in hell. Or did He?

I feel like it was just those people who were trying to be 'God' using the words of God were the culprit behind the hatred towards the 'forbidden love' as many calls it. They said 'it's in the Bible.'. That was their common reason in defence to their hatred. But all they did is looked at just one verse or a couple of words from a sentence of a paragraph in the bible. For short, they just understand the words that they want to understand. Never mind the following words or sentence. Just the words that makes them feel righteous.

However, despite all the troubles that we are facing right now, I strongly believed that God never forsaken me and Daniel. He never will, for I have been lonely for a long time. I have been longing for a comfort, love and intimacy from someone. I have been praying to God to give me the person that will care for me indefinitely and unconditionally. Every night. Until one day, Daniel came into my life, together with the little angel Jared. From that point, I knew that God has answered my prayer. And I wanted to tell the world that whoever believes that our relationship is an abomination, I'd like to suggest that they should complain to my God, for he was the one I given my life to take control over it.

A break. Perhaps leaving Brisbane behind for a while can help me relieve the pain in my chest. Daniel has been calling me for a week but I never picked it up until he stopped a few days ago. As much as I didn't what to think of it, I still thought maybe Daniel has realized that after all, Chloe is the best for his life. However, Alex told me once that Dianne was not impressed over Chloe at all. Veronica was keeping me updated about the plan for Jared's upcoming birthday and I could say that it was really exciting.

I was staring at the graphs shown on the monitor when suddenly, a cold breeze brushed into my neck and something whispered "Angelo." I was surprised as the voice that I heard was familiar.

"Daniel!" I cried, whilst standing up from my chair roughly. All of the people sitting on the meeting table looked at me, shocked and confused at the same time.

I looked at Sebastian, who was by then talking to someone on the phone. I saw him nodded and whispered back to whoever he was talking to. As usual, he gazed on me with his calm look. But I know that there was something wrong, I just can feel it.

Mrs Brey regarded me with worried look. "Are you okay, sweet heart?" she asked, and she held my hand to sat me down.

Mr Hayman looked at me rather annoyed but he kept his cool. He regarded me with a cold look but I couldn't care less about him. "So, before Mr Grande interrupted me, I'd like to say that concludes my presentation."

Everyone around the table applauded as Mr Hayman gathered back his things for his presentation and put it in his satchel bag. When everything settled down, they looked at me. They were expecting an answer from me, to which I didn't have any idea what would it be.

All I wanted was to get out of the room and rush to Daniel. I could feel that something was wrong. "Thank you for uhhhh, a wonderful performance, Mr Hayman. However, this is a massive amount of money that we are talking right now. I suggest that everyone should review the proposal once again and think about the possible pro's and con's and we will discuss it again." I said, as I ascended from my chair.

"But I already mentioned everything that has to know, if only you were listening. Or perhaps, you're deaf or rather stupid?" Mr Hayman argued. His tone was annoyed.

I really wanted to get away from that hell of a meeting room as soon as possible. But the middle aged man who think he knows everything was blocking my way. And so I did what I was good in doing. I scared him.

I calmed myself down as possible and closed my eyes for a second. I sighed one last time and opened my eyes- the eyes that only Grande clan has. I looked straight at Mr Hayman. His fear was visible as soon as my eyes landed on him. He slammed back onto his seat. I could also hear the gasp around the table and everything went silent.

"Listen Mr Hayman. I am the heir of Grande family. I alone. Regard me once again with that tone and remarks, I will make sure that you will never have anything left in your life." I said, in a cold and expressionless voice. "Now, those who in favour of reviewing the proposal once again and discussing it during the next meeting, say 'aye'.

Mrs Brey was the first one who said 'aye' followed by the rest of the people around the tbale including Mr Hayman.

Satisfied with the answers, I smiled at them and adjourned the meeting right away.

In no time, I was sitting on Daniel's bedside. He had a deep scar on his right eyebrow that needed a three stitches. For sure, it would leave a mark and for some reason, thinking about Daniel having a mark on his eyebrow makes him hot.

I felt my cheeks slowly heated up from my imagination. I shook my head and I heard a soft chuckle. Daniel was looking at me amused.

"You're blushing. Thinking about some naughty stuff while I'm sleeping?" he teased. I slapped his chest softly and he put his hand over it, feigning hurt. "I miss you too, my angel." He smiled.

I buried my face on his chest. I could hear his heartbeat beating fast and his steady breath as he put his arms around me. "I miss you." Was all I said just as doctor with his nurse came in.

The doctor was probably in his mid-30's, tall and quite handsome. He smiled at us and flipped his little chart board on his hand. The nurse looked at us amused as she started checking the dextrose hanging beside Daniel's bed.

"Mr. Bradley." He nodded towards Daniel. "And?" he then looked at me.

I stood up and offered my hand. "Angelo. Angelo Grande, doctor." I said.

He shook my hand gently. "Well lads, Mr. Bradley can go and take a rest at home. There's no need for him to stay here at all. He just had a mild concussion and a cut that needed some stitches. He will feel some slight pain from the bruises but I can give him some painkiller to relieve the pain. Apart from that, nothing more. Melody here will just check Mr. Bradley's vital signs once more then you can go." He explained. We thanked him and he left us with the nurse.

Melody, the nurse finished checking Daniel's vital signs and bid us goodbye. But before that, she hesitantly asked me and Daniel about us. She stopped mid-step on the door and faced us. "Uhhh, sir." She said, looking down the floor.

"Call me Angelo." I smiled at him.

"Just call me Daniel." Daniel said, grinning from ear to ear.

She nodded, and I couldn't ignore the blush on her cheeks. "I know it isn't my business, but can I ask you something?"

'Oh girl, you better not ask Daniel out. It's either distance or ambulance.' I thought to myself as I kept my smiley face out.

"Ask out." Daniel answered as he started to get up.

"Are you two a couple?" she timidly ask.

Daniel's face suddenly shifted from ecstatic to serious. "Sadly, we are not officially together. We decided to 'cool-off' with our relationship." He said.

I looked at him surprised. Without any thinking, I knelt in front of him. I thought it was my turn to ask Daniel out. He regarded me with confused look.

"Daniel James Bradley, will you be my boyfriend? Again?" I ask.

Daniel stood up. As soon as he gained his balanced, he picked me up like a doll and planted a passionate kiss in my lips. He nibbled my lower lips asking for entrance to which I granted it without any questions. My heart leaped out with joy as soon as I felt Daniel's lips on mine. The whole make out session lasted for two minutes until we ran out of air.

"Oh my gosh!" Melody screamed in excitement. We totally forgot that she was there.

Daniel put me down. "I'm sorry. That must be really awkward." I apologized. My face started to heat up as I stood there awkwardly.

"I just got a massive lady boner right now." She told us in a serious tone.

Say what now? I looked at Daniel and as soon as my eyes landed on him, he burst out into a laughing fit while Melody was looking at us amused.

Daniel calmed down after a couple of minutes. "I like this nurse." He said.

I looked at him questionably and he realized what he just said. "I'm sorry. What I meant was I like how she fan girl over us."

"Fan girl?" I asked, getting confused each moment.

Melody chuckled. "Fan girl is a girl who ships gay couple. I mean, I am your supporter! It feels like somehow, a story from Wattpad came true in real life." She giggled.

After congratulating us, she finally left us. Not that I was complaining about her presence, I like her cheerfulness too. It's just that I can't wait for Daniel to tell me what really happened on him.

"Hey, you're thinking deeply. What's up with the frown?" he asked as he put on his shirt. I got a glimpse of his abs and I groaned mentally from a very short view of his hot body. "Don't worry, you can have this body as much as you want later." He sniggered.

"I'm not looking at your body!" I said defensively.

"Are to." He sang as he picked up his bag.

"Are not!"

"Fine..Fine..." he cooed and ruffled my hair. He then placed his arms on my shoulder. "So what's up with the frown really? Something is bothering you?" he asked as we started walking towards the door. Sebastian already sorted out the hospital bills and other agenda,

"You haven't told me yet what really happened to you." I answered, looking at him sincerely.

He sighed. "I'll fill you up on what happened on our ride home. Okay?"

I nodded in agreement.

"Sebastian will take us home. And besides, I miss your mum and our little Jared. I can't wait to see him!" I said excitedly.

On our ride home, Daniel told me everything that happened while I was away for almost a week. I felt guilty for pushing Daniel in reconciling with Chloe. Now Daniel was hurt and Jared almost got hurt as well. He also told me that the police was searching for Chloe. They even reported it on the news.

"Stop it." He whispered in my ear. It was dark in the car. I could only see his silhouette and I could only feel his breath brushing on my neck.

"Stop what?" I asked innocently.

He chuckled and kissed me in the temple. "Stop blaming yourself for what happened. No one wanted that to happen. Let's just focus on Jared's birthday and yours."

I leaned on his shoulder. The rest of the ride was just a pure comforting silence.

The whole gang was waiting in Daniel's place. Did I mention that I came back to Brisbane with Veronica? She took me in her private jet. Thanks to her, we came back to Brisbane in no time. Everyone was looking worried but a flash of relief washed over them as soon as they saw Daniel looking great.

Sonia kissed her son and me. We had our dinner and soon, everyone bid us goodbye. Veronica stayed in Dianne's place to spend the night.

Daniel and I went up to see Jared. Sonia told us the sudden change of Jared's behaviour since morning. She told us that she was worried because he hasn't say any single word since Daniel was taken to the hospital. Even when Dianne, Alex and Veronica tried talking to him, all he did was stared at them blankly.

Daniel looked at me worriedly and we rushed upstairs to Jared's room. Daniel was shaking while gripping the doorknob to Jared's room. "What is happening, Anj? I would never forgive myself if something happened to Jared." He said as tears began to cloud his eyes.

Daniel's hand was shaking rapidly. I held his hand to calm him down and he eventually did. "Everything will be alright. Trust me."

Together, we opened Jared's door. Jared was staring at the wall while sitting on his bed. He didn't glance at us even when we seated on his bed. Daniel seated on his left side while I seated on his right side.

Daniel held Jared's hand. "Hey buddy, I'm here now. Daddy is okay. And I brought Papa with me." Daniel whispered.

There was no response from Jared at all. He kept staring at the wall like as if he didn't hear anything. Daniel looked at me worried and a trace of panicked in his eyes.

It was my turn to speak. "Hello my little angel. I'm here now. I will never leave your side again." I said.

Still, there was no response.

Daniel's eyes started to tear up. My heart was beating really fast as even I didn't know what was happening. I calmed myself down.

'Calm down Angelo, Daniel need your strength. Think of something that Jared always loved to do with you and Daniel. Something that always gets his attention.' I thought as I watched a weeping Daniel.

Then it came to my mind. Jared is always a sweet boy. He believes in angel. He believes in fairy tale too. He believes in true love's kiss.

What was I thinking? This was not some kind of drama novel or fairy tale. This wasn't a fantasy.

But then again, we won't lose anything if we tried. Right?

"Daniel. Calm down. I'm here. I know what to do. DO you trust me." I asked as I tried to hide the doubt from my impossible idea.

Daniel looked at me confused but he nodded.

"Follow my lead." I told him. I seated back on Jared's side and so did Daniel. "Tell Jared to come to us. Let us pull him out of wherever he is now. As a kid, he hid himself somewhere where he feel safe when he saw your face full of blood. It traumatized him to the point that his mind shut down. We can do this." I explained.

Daniel went closer to Jared ear and whispered, "Jared, Daddy is here. Come back to us. Please. Come."

I was whispering the same thing as Daniel at the same time.

We tried it several times but nothing happened. Until a miracle happened.

We already gave up and decided to take Jared to a psychiatrist. But we were really determined to bring Jared back. So we tried one last time.

"Jared. Come back. Please. We are here." Daniel and I said in unison.

Daniel looked at me tiredly and I looked straight into his eyes. "That's it. We can't do it." Our eyes agreed silently.

With that agreement, we kissed Jared at the same time as tears streamed down from our eyes, flowing right through Jared's cheeks.

We were silent for a while, our lips were on Jared's cheek. The silence was deafening inside the kid's room until we heard a deep sigh. It wasn't a sigh, it was more like the sound when you woke up from a nightmare. And the sound was from Jared himself.

"Daddy! Papa!" Jared screamed as he started crying.

"I'm here buddy." Daniel took Jared in his arms and cuddled him up on the lap as he cooed the child. "Hush now my boy. Daddy is here." He lulled.

Jared's cry calmed into a sob. "Daddy, I heard you. I heard Papa calling me too. I saw you and I followed you. You said everything is okay now."

Daniel looked at me happily as he mouthed the word 'thank you'. "Papa is here now. I brought him back with me." He said.

Jared jumped up to me. He embraced me, his little arms were around my neck while mine was wrapped on his upper body. "You're back papa. Don't leave me again, please?" he begged.

"I promised that I will never leave you again." I replied.

The week went by pretty smooth as we settled the plan for Jared's birthday. Everyone became busy with their assigned role for the party and we started confirming all the things we needed for the very special day.

"So tomorrow is the day." I told Daniel, who was by then pumping up the bouncy castle.

"Anj, I'm still worried about Jared. He isn't the same. He isn't as cheerful as he was before that incident." He said. He looked at Jared who was by then watching everyone from the porch, emotionless.

"I know. But the doctor said that it will take time for him to recover from that traumatic event. He was just a kid. All we can do is to show that him we love him very much. He'll get better." I said.

Daniel smiled at me and I smiled back at him reassuringly.

Everything was going fine, but I have a bad feeling that something was about to happen. I didn't want to spoil the day and so I decided to ignore the feeling in my gut.

"Sebastian." I called out. Sebastian walked up on my side. "Any news about Chloe?" I asked.

"No sir, she is still in hiding. The police are trying to locate her. They searched everywhere but she can't be found. The police suspects that they left the city as they busted a large factory of cannabis in the city." Sebastian reported.

"Keep us safe, Sebastian. Especially Jared." I ordered.

Sebastian bowed and replied. "Yes, sir. As you wished."

The next morning was the day that we mostly waited for. It was Jared's 5th birthday and my 22nd as well.

I woke up around 5 o' clock in the morning to pick up my birthday surprise for Jared. Daniel was still in a deep slumber as I walked downstairs. I told Sonia that I'm going out to pick my present for Jared.

Sebastian drove me off and we planned to come back in time for decorating.

What I didn't expect is that leaving the Daniel's place will be my biggest mistake to do. That day, it changed our life and everything fell into mayhem. It was supposed to be our happy day,- our day. Jared and I. But it turned out that we were wrong.

I shouldn't left them at all.

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