Eric suspected something was wrong the moment David stepped in. He could see the guy looked visibly shook. Hours later, as he was working on his laptop, David came down from his bedroom, the solemn expression on his face, fully intact.

Oliver fell asleep in his makeshift crib but his toys were scattered all over the living room. A maid was called to clean everything while they catch up on work.

David saw Eric busy in a meeting, so he prepared a coffee for both of them. He was here, caring for his son, even in his presence. He was grateful and he could show it through a coffee.

He kept the coffee before him and settled himself with a laptop. He had to look into this blueprint of a new mall in Spain. He was busy or atleast pretending to be when his work halted because Eric spoke up.

"Where did you go that you have such a long face?"

Even if he was well acquainted with such tactics of Eric, it still caught him off guard. Ofcourse Eric would know. They have practically lived together since they were just babies. He had to know.

"Nowhere that concerns you."

Eric chuckled unamused, "I know Aurelio is in the city."

David looked at him, and then looked back at his laptop.

"I know your men and you don't respect my privacy. But again, Aurelio has nothing to do with you."

That confirmed it for Eric that he indeed met Aurelio. If there was someone on this earth who he would kill without remorse, it would be Aurelio. He was everything that he hated. He didn't look at woman decently. He lived on his brother in law's money. He was very manipulative. And he had a flair on becoming a victim in a situation.

"You shouldn't waste your money on him. We may earn alot, but it all comes after a lot of hardwork. Save it for your kids."

David passed him a brief glance, "I don't need your financial advices."

It was clear Aurelio asked for money. And it was even clearer that David was giving it to him. He sighed, making a note to ask Erica or Hope to talk to him. But money alone can't be the reason why he seemed upset. Genuine concern filled him. And so even through all his pretence, he asked him.

"Why are you sad now? It's definitely not because of money."

That had something snapping in David. Eric Ashton had the power to sit before him effortlessly, and make him speak it all even when he doesn't want to. This was a big disadvantage for him.

And so he snapped, "What will I have to do to convince you that me and you are no more friends. You have single-handedly destroyed our bond. And now you have no fucking right to ask me what makes me sad! I'd be dying for God sake, but won't turn to you for a single drop of water."

All the years of history, but his words never hurt him as much as they did today. Somehow, his words weren't false. He was actually dealing with his liver damage but never once thought of informing him. Eric was sure he was convinced he'd use his illness against him in the case. A deep and profound ache surrounded him, but as he always was, he maintained a stoic face. That wound to his ego didn't even let him reply anything.

Moments later, as his words finally registered and he made peace with them, he picked up his laptop, phone. Taking a last look at the sleeping Oliver, he left the penthouse.

And as soon as he left, a profound guilt surrounded David. The unfinished coffee mocking him. Yes, he believed his friendship was beyond the repair line, but saying harsh words to Eric worsened his already bad day.

*

Hope focused on the kid in her hand who looked out of the window in awe. She looked dazed and well rested. She has already cried once for Erica but Hope managed to calm her.

The sweetness in her arms smiled often and gently. Her eyes a weird combination of blue and green that Erica seemed to love very much, both in her husband and her daughter. But she could understand, because she too loved the nightly black eye colour of her husband and her son.

With that thought, she looked at her phone. She had called David, a quite many times, but he never picked up. That concerned her, but she also knew Oliver must be keeping him busy. She received a text though, that said-

"In a conference Hope. Oliver is sleeping so I am getting some work done."

It was alright but something felt off about the text. He wasn't being his irritating self. He wouldn't miss an opportunity to mess with her. She only called it her overthinking and moved on to focus on the beauty whining in her arms.

When Erica came back late at night, she found Eve falling asleep in Hope's arms.

When they laid Eve and moved on to their dinner, Erica asked, "Did you talk to anyone back home? Eric is not picking up my calls."

"I don't know. Even David didn't pick up my phone and texted to be busy with the conference."

That had suspicion rising in both their minds.

"I'll call mom. She sent breakfast for them."

And then they called Jessica.

"Mom? How are they? Both of them are not picking our phone "

Jessica sighed, "I am going to them child. Eric called me a few hours before to go to David's place. So I thought I should cook for them. I'll leave some food for James and mom here and then I'd stay the night.*

Late at night, David finally called, making her sigh in relief.

"What is it David? I was worried."

She heard him sigh, "Don't worry. Oliver is sleeping now. He didn't sleep on his usual time, Jess had to take over."

"Is he fine now?"

He hummed, "Yeah...cried himself to sleep. I don't know why he grew hysterical. I...I simply panicked."

"Eric? Why did he leave? He could have calmed him down."

He sighed, "We fought. And he left."

At that, Hope wanted to curse him, infact curse them both. But she couldn't. She knew David's confidence about Oliver was already low, and if she pointed anything, he'd think of himself incapable of taking care of his own son.

"You know. It happens. When he was two months old, there was a night when he cried for five hours straight. We ran to a hospital thinking he's hurt or something. But he was only disturbed because of his teething. That's a perfectly natural process."

He sighed, "I think he wanted Eric."

They stayed silent for a while before she speaks, "It's not a problem if he wants Eric."

He only hummed in reply.

"What was the fight about?"

"He was being himself and I was in a pissy mood."

She chuckled, "Why were you in a pissy mood?"

All the day's happenings dawned upon him. Meeting with Aurelio. His claims about Venus. Fight with Eric and then Oliver's distress. He had a bad day. No doubt. But now he wanted Hope beside him. It seemed as if she would again set it all in place for him. But a part of him also mocked him. Wasn't he guilty in the morning for the so called 'moving on'. If he could build a mountain of his conflicting thoughts, he'd probably build his own personal mount Everest.

She sensed something wrong, and Hope knew how pestering someone to talk can push them at the edge when they are not ready to say something. So before David could reply anything to her question, she changed the topic.

"Tell me one thing? Did you eat?"

He closed his eyes and looked at the phone screen as if he was directly looking at her.

"I ate. Jessica brought this really fine lasagna."

She nodded, "Medicines?"

He looked at the four pills kept on the nightstand, "Not yet. Needed some motivation."

She rolled her eyes, "Ofcourse you do. David it is way past your regular timings. You know it will impact your improvement."

"I know. I hate them."

"David! Take them. Right now. And message me as soon as you do. Also, sleep now. Its way past your bedtime."

"Oh Hope! Stop being my sugar mommy!"

*

The four days were over, but when they returned back, nothing was as they left it. Eric was beyond upset. He didn't come anywhere near David's apartment. Even after they organised a celebratory dinner for Erica's trending concert on Hope's insistence.

And that was the night Erica decided to confront him.

"It's okay to fight. But it's not okay to take things on ego. You know what all he has gone through. It has impacted him as a person. And when people are at their low, they tend to distance themselves."

'I'd be dying for God sake, but won't turn to you for a single drop of water.'- the words echoed in his ears and he gulped a lump.
He spared her a glance, and then went back to his laptop.

"You don't know Erica. Just because he's at his low, I won't accept everything."

She sighed, a tinge of agitation surrounding her, "David told me you went berserk because he met Aurelio."

"And you believe him?"

She shook her head, "No! I know Aurelio loves David's money. He has been living off it since ages. But you know, it is David's money. We can't really object him to do whatever he wants. And now, Aurelio holds more sentimental value in his life due to Venus' demise."

He nodded, "God forbid me if I don't know this shit Erica. But he wasn't sad about it. Did he tell you the real reason why he came with a long face that day? Aurelio is a manipulative bastard, and things have just started falling in place for David."

"I asked him. He said it was nothing."

He chuckled, "So go ahead and enjoy your lives. The problem lies with me! I can't fucking sleep properly if I see any of you a little bit low. But don't you and your brother bother about it. It's my problem and I'll deal with it."

With that, he left the room. She went after him, only to see him walking out of the penthouse.

*

Everything was fine, but at the same time it wasn't. It seemed like something snapped in David. There was a profound change in David. Yes, he was being himself. But he wasn't being himself with her. It seemed like they were back to square one. His occasional kisses have stopped all of a sudden. He avoided taking refuge in her during sleep. She knew well they had made an habit of cuddling. But now, it stopped all of a sudden. She tried not to think of it too much. Medicines mess up people - that was her only excuse.
He had also stopped making inappropriate jokes on her, or even flirting. Which was a shocker.

She spent her day in the office with Oliver, but there was no call or text from him. Only a message that said- 'Call you later.' The 'later' hasn't come yet, even six hours later.

Also, it has been a week since her return, and David has not talked about the decision she asked him to make. Even if it's a no, she deserves to know it.

"Moooom!", Oliver walked towards her chair, leaving behind his little play area in her cabin. She has stayed in her cabin all day. Any client who had it urgent came to meet her here, knowing they had a little someone who could interfere anytime.

She picked him up and placed him on the table.

"Tell me? What does this little prince wants?"

Oliver grinned at her words, having newly learned who is a prince. A man with colourful clothes, who has a lot of toys.

"ChocoChoco!"

She smiled, "Hmmm...so my baby is hungry? Is he?"

He nodded, his body moving a whole lot as his head moved.

So she picked up a banana from the basket on her table and sliced it into small pieces. And then added some small crumbs of chocolate on it after showing him.

"You want strawberry?"

He nodded, "Stawwey!"

So she garnished the small mixture with a few slices of strawberry.

"Now my baby is going to eat this very healthy chocolate fruits! Is he?"

"Yaass!", he threw his hands up in excitement.

She fed him with his spoon, and when he was halfway done, the door to her cabin opened, revealing the very own David.

He smilingly greeted them and she smiled back. He went forward and kissed Oliver's head. Hope braced herself for his now usual gesture, but that damned forehead kiss never came. Instead he sat back on the chair opposite her, and talked to Oliver who animatedly showed him the paper aeroplane that Rebecca made for him.

The father son duo talked in their own language while Hope sat interpreting what has actually happened. Was Eric right? Erica told Hope about everything that conspired before and after they came. She only advised Erica not to fight with Eric because no doubt Eric always has David's best interest in his heart. And everybody knew this, even David himself.

They decided to head back home when Hope was done for the day, but everything was swimming in her mind. It was very silly of her, but since these little changes in her marriage, even her heart had started believing that there is a hope for her and David. And that something more than friendship would eventually brew. But now, she wondered if any of her expectations held any substance.

She knew if she asked herself, his answer may break her heart. But she still liked to live with clear air.

And so, after he had his dinner and medicines and they laid back on the bed, she approached with the topic.

"David? What have you thought of your 'problem'?"

He snapped his head to look at her, already looking bothered on having to answer a question of this type. It unnerved him when he tried to convince himself of the answer. And he pretended he forgot it all, only so he doesn't have to answer. This has made things very difficult for him because all he has learned throughout his life seemed to give way to a mess he wanted to survive from..

The truth was he was attracted to his wife, but that was borderline attraction. Borderline attraction is where you find them attractive physically but you also know that one single push shall send you tumbling over the side where you'd be attracted to even the mess they make. According to Hope, it was because they were tied in a marriage. But according to him, it was because she has become an anchor in his life. He abandoned all his weapons in her feet and trusted her to save him from all the harshness of the world. And she kept his trust till now, without making him feel burdened about her doing something for him. This is huge. Love is a necessity. Yes. But when we start learning to trust someone, start relying on them for the smallest of things, that becomes the point of breaking all huge walls of apprehensions. Why do we turn to God for the worst of our circumstances, because we trust him to keep us intact. That is how he feels with her. That no matter what comes, she won't let him fall in the mess.

And this was the realisation why he even decided to talk to her about the so called 'problem'. He was ready to give this marriage a chance. A real one at that. But it was also true that his mind went in the rebellion mode the moment he heard Aurelio. He knew Aurelio was manipulative. But he was still Venus' brother. If he could feel so, even Venus can. Was he cheating on Venus? In the worst way possible? Moving on from her memories and making the same with another woman?

He looked at Hope, who was patiently waiting for his answer. It was not that he needed Aurelio's approval to pursue Hope. It was his vulnerability after hearing such words. What if he feels the same after taking their marriage to a next level? What if someone else comes and claims he moved on from Venus? That would bother him? Hell yes. But if he starts distancing from Hope after they indulge in something more concrete, he may hurt her beyond repair. And so he came to a conclusion and answered all her doubts.

"My answer is no. Yes, I was driven by attraction when I said all that to you. But you being away, cleared my mind upto a great extent. I can't indulge in something that I won't be able to commit to. And I am sorry Hope, but I will never be able to love you the way a husband loves his wife. I have been damaged beyond repair. And I would hate myself if I let that damage reach you."

As a friend, she wanted to sympathise with him. But as his words registered wholly, she learnt that this was the very things that has scared her since day one. The rejection. Rejection when she was not the one to initiate anything with him. And what was the worst part? Her heart still reached out to him. If hate was one word she described to feel for herself, that would be an understatement. Her one sided love will give her a heart failure one day. And she eagerly waited for that day, because the daily dose of pain was out of her bearing power.

David saw distress cover her face for a moment, before she plastered a stoic expression and then smiled at him, uneasily.

"Alright. I am sure there's no problem now. Let's sleep. I am really tired."

With that, she covered herself in the duvet and turned towards Oliver's crib, not wanting to face him.

"Hope..", he tried to say something but that was only an attempt at damage control. And to be honest, at that moment, she didn't care. Not even for him.

*

Her eyes opened in the middle of the night. But there was no sleep in them. Sleep had abandoned her, like all her hopes. She looked beside him to find him fast asleep. He had moved alot in his sleep for the three hours after she pretended to fall asleep. Even when his medicines were high dose, so much that they put him deep in sleep.

Now when she was sure nobody was awake enough to witness her, she sat up and left the bed. Going into the closet, she packed two of her dresses in a travel bag, and changed herself into her professional clothes. Thoughts of Oliver bothered her alot, but she nonetheless packed her important stuff. When she was done, she made sure he wasn't awake. And then she pulled out a post-it note and wrote something on it, pasting it on her pillow. She went towards Oliver's crib and leaned down to place a kiss on his head. He stirred a little but did not wake up. Taking a last glance at him, she picked up her phone, and messaged her PA and Erica. As soon as she was done, she took her bag and left.

The bodyguards stationed at the threshold of the building approached her on seeing her.

"Ma'am? At this hour? All okay?"

She nodded, "Everything's okay. There's just an emergency at work."

"Okay ma'am. I'll call the driver."

She shook her head, "Oh don't. I am picking up a friend on the way. Keep tracking the car if it gives you peace."

He nodded, well aware of her warm nature. She doesn't like to bother her own staff too much. But even after that, he took a security measure and had a car following her own.

She stopped nowhere, not even in her old penthouse, or even the office. But went straight to the airport. They were confused because they were not informed of any travel plan. But a jet was leaving in an hours time, her company jet. That jet took the celebrities and managers around the world and tonight, Louis Hathworne was going for his upcoming tour with Rebecca as his manager. But it seemed like there was a sudden change in the plans.

*

David woke up hazy and bothered because his sleep was very much disturbed. He felt like something was wrong throughout the night. This was the same feeling he had when Hope suddenly left the school and went to God knows where.

To assure himself of her presence beside him, he extended his hand to feel her, but he only felt a cold and empty bed. That made him wide awake and he snapped his head to her side to see it was indeed empty.

Sticking on her pillow, instead, was a pink sticky note.

"David,
Have a issue at work. Rebecca isn't well so I'd have to accompany Louis to his tour. Other managers are engaged and this concert is huge so I can't take chance. I have texted Erica to help you with Oliver. Take care of him.
Bye."

The note unnerved him so much, it looked like he has read his death sentence. He knew Louis Hathworne had a tour, but he also knew Hope was not supposed to go there. She came back just a week ago.

He immediately called her, hoping the jet would have still not taken off and he can go see her off. If that is the best he could do. But his heart dropped when he was it was already six am. Nonetheless, he called her number. The jet can always be delayed.

But all he heard in answer was- 'The number you have dialled is switched off. Please call again later.'