Xeria’s P.O.V

I didn't call or reach out to Khaos before leaving for home, and now I'm sitting in my parents' room, surrounded by old pictures.

"Potato, look at your puppy photos." I pat his head as he stares at the pictures without licking them.

"You were so small," I say, showing him pictures of himself with his mother, father, and siblings, and he wags his tail happily, holding back from jumping around.

I look for more old photos that will help me connect with Khaos' past. My parents loved preserving memories, hence the bundle of creative albums and videos.

I pick up a beautiful handmade album that I believe dates back to my parents' college days. I turn the pages, looking at the happy couple's pictures, until I come across their wedding photos, which is surprising because there is a separate album for that as well.

I turn the pages to find pictures of Quentin's parents and their wedding, then Ivan's, and finally Khaos' parents. I see Alice and the mysterious man named Aiden. Not going to lie, he's more handsome than Khaos.

They looked like a perfect couple, just like me and Khaos on our wedding day. The thought makes me sad because they both didn't end up well, but I don't want that for me and Khaos.

I turn over the page to find something even more beautiful. Baby Khaos in his father's arms, looking the happiest, and Alice not being anywhere in the picture.

Just what exactly happened to them?

Potato's playful barks catch my attention as I see him with Dad standing by the door.

"Going down memory lane? Alone?" Dad pouts, making me laugh.

"This album?" Dad takes the album from my hands and looks at it.

"I met him, Dad. He's waiting for me, and I'm more than willing to go back to him; it's just that I don't know what or how I'm supposed to do that," I explain to him, and he smiles.

"But that's not the reason you're looking through these pictures?" he asks me, and I tell him everything about my encounter with Khaos.

"Aiden was everything that shouted spoiled rich heir, but he was more than that: a filial son and a loving father. I'm not quite sure about the husband part, though. No one knows why Alice agreed to marry Aiden, but you know an offspring is what was required out of their unfortunate marriage, and thus Khaos was born. The only thing known to us is that Alice and Sebastian never stopped seeing each other; you see, she was never present in Khaos's life either. No one knows what happened, why Aiden left, but that man loved his son more than his life." Dad narrates the past, and more mystery unfolds rather than solving it.

"Khaos never speaks highly of his father; he doesn't even see him as his parent," I explain to Day as I look at Khaos's pictures with his father.

"And how could he not resent his father for walking out on him? and worse, Khaos was uprooted by his grandfather. None of us were allowed to keep any contact with him; the old man was trying to correct his mistakes in his own ways. These pictures are from the time when Aiden was still around," Dad recalls, and I sigh. There is so much that I don't know.

"I was biased because you were my child and my top priority. Xeria, if you want to be with him, I will never refuse. It's time to see things clearly beyond our sorrows." He gives me a side hug, and I lean my head against his shoulder.

"This is all so complicated yet so simple." I close my eyes while Potato coils in Dad's lap.

"Well, that's what makes us humans: complicated beings." He runs his hand through Potato's fur while I hum.

*

It's a beautiful day, and Potato is chasing butterflies through the soft grasses.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me," Jake says, dragging the chair and taking a seat across the table from me on my patio.

"I have learned to listen to others rather than jumping to conclusions." I cross one leg over the other and observe his undercover appearance.

"Did you take a good look at those pictures?" he asks, sliding his phone across the table to me.

I take the phone and look at the pictures before returning my attention to Jake.

"These were not the photos we took." I slide the images and examine each one.

"Exactly someone else took them, or a stalker, to be specific," he leans against the table.

"Like your wife?"

"I mean, I heard she had a crush on you back then." I return his phone to him and he leans back.

"She's clear; I checked her first," he admits with an embarrassed expression.

"So, we're looking for an old stalker?" I ask him.

"Leave that to me," he sighs, putting his phone back in his jacket.

"Are you getting back with Khaos?" he asks, clearing his throat.

"Aren't you quite a newscaster?" I counter, and he looks away.

"I'll get going now," the chair screeches as he stands up, and I nod.

"Aren't you placing a lot of trust in this man?" I look back and notice Ivan standing against the pillar.

"No, just observing how he's going to disappoint me this time," I chuckle as I turn back.

"Xeria, you don't need his help." Ivan approaches and keeps his hand on my shoulder.

"Well, if I'm lucky, he might be able to help me this time. I can't exert myself right now because I'm taking care of myself," I pat his hand on my shoulder as he takes a seat next to me.

"People have forgotten this side of yours for quite a while," he looks at Potato, and I just laugh.

"Why have you graced me with your presence?" I question him, and he rolls his eyes.

"Just regular home visits, and why won't I visit you if I'm here?" He responds, and I nod my head.

"Khaos is with Tarquin today." "They get serious; it's boring, so I escaped," he finally admits.

"And you've gotten boring, too," he says, rolling his eyes.

"Look where seriousness has gotten me." I smile, and Ivan leans closer to me before backing off, scoffing.

"Don't go all out; keep a gentle hand, okay?" He becomes serious, and I nod.

Ivan and I both became aware of our potential when we were continuously competing against each other, knowing fully well we could easily dethrone some of the people sitting on the top of the ladder, but we decided not to do so because where is the fun in that?

Because of all the mess, I went a little ahead in these two years, but now it's clear that I have to stay stable.

"Are you still bullying your secretary?" Ivan inquires as Moira's name appears on my phone screen.

"He likes to work; I just help him by giving him more of what he enjoys." I shrug my shoulders and dismiss his call.

"One of these days, he will leave," he says, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes.

"I pay him generously; where else will he find it?" No matter how much he nags, he will not leave.

"But why are you so reckless with Khaos, so spontaneous, even exposing your weakness?" he asks, resuming the conversation.

"Aren't you the same with Tarquin?" I counter-question him.

"Things we do for love," he murmurs.

"Mom told me it was okay to let my guard down when it felt right," I remember her saying.

"If our parents hadn't restrained our crazy, we would have ended up somewhere else." I look at him, being fully aware of the weight of these words and the exact incident because of which we both turned like this.

"Kids don't go there; it's dangerous territory." Dad breaks into our conversation, and we both nod in unison.

Some things are better left unsaid, and we are both aware of the horrors that will ensue if it is ever revealed.