"What if that's what I want?" He asked and Sofia took in a deep breath, before slightly turning to him.

"Don't you get it, Enrico? It's not a matter of what you want. It's a matter of what's best for you and no one else other than your mother and I know what's best for you. Trust me." She commented, before attempting to walk away once more.

"Trust you?" Enrico questioned, causing her to come to a halt once more. He let out a light chuckle as he looked away from her for a moment. Her words were quite unbelievable. Sofia turned to face him.

"I suppose, once upon a time, I trusted you but then, you became exactly like her... my mother. Always wanting to dictate my life. What I should eat. Whom I should date. What school I'm to attend. What friends to make... Whom I should love." Enrico expressed, whilst staring directly into her eyes. A lot of memories surfaced and he really couldn't help getting teary, although he fought it a lot within him.

Sofia slightly tilted her head to the side, a sad and pitiful expression slowly drawing across her face.

"Oh Enrico... Don't." She stated, nearly in a whisper, the tone of her voice a little caring. Enrico gulped down hard to stop the tears as he looked away from her.

"Don't make this hard for her... Don't fall in love with her." She cautioned, her very last words causing him to shift his eyes right back to her. He never mentioned he was in love with Kiana. He never said such a thing, yet he couldn't open his mouth to counter her conclusion. Perhaps, deep down, he knew her conclusion might be right.

"You're our family's sole heir and thus, you have responsibilities. That's why your mother and I are tough on you. Without all the sacrifices we made, you wouldn't have become the successful business man that you presently are, but this very woman... what did she ever do for you? She abandoned you with a broken heart and now, she's back after all these years. What does that tell you, Enrico... She's only here for the money. You're rich, thus, she wants you back into her life."

"Kiana isn't like that." Enrico quickly defended, his heartbeat increasing by the second, engulfed in rage by his aunt's choice of words.

"Really?" Sofia questioned before taking steps up to him. She slightly bent, resting both hands on his desk, so she was staring right into his eyes.

"Listen to me, son, before it's too late... Cut her off. Send her packing out of your home. If you're truly in love with her, you'll spare her from my wrath... wouldn't you?" She questioned, her last words clearly threatening. Enrico folded his hands into a tight fist, his nails digging into his palms. His heart raced with contempt. He glared at her loathly, hating the very fact of his helplessness.

Sofia stood straight, then put on a simple smile.

"I trust you'll do the right thing." She commented before turning away. Enrico watched, as she walked away and eventually left his office.

He released a breath, one he had no idea he had been holding in. Each panting a bit weakening. Eventually, he looked away from the door.

* * *

Without taking a look back or to her sides, Sofia made her way past the assistant's station, which, at that moment, was unoccupied by any being. A few steps away, she heard the familiar name causing her to come to a stop.

"Kiana, here it is." A male employee told Kiana, as he handed her a few folders, whilst she stood by his desk.

"Thank you." She appreciated before walking away, trying her best not to let the folders crumble to the floor out of her hands.

Sofia eventually turned to have a look at where the direction of the voice came from, but now staring around, she couldn't pinpoint any more although she noticed Enrico's assistant walk up to her desk and set the folders there. Sofia let out a sigh, as she got ready to give up. At the verge of turning away, the name repeats itself once more.

"Kiana, there's one more." The male employee called out, as he got up to her feet and Sofia's eyes eagerly followed his movement up to Kiana, who went forward to meet him.

Upon seeing who the name belonged to, her eyes slightly widened and at that moment, she finally recalled where she had seen and heard that very name. At the art exhibition. She had shown up alongside Enrico, but Sofia hadn't really taken a great notice to her. Who would have known his assistant would turn out to be the same woman that was troubling her family? In a strange twisted and funny way, it made her draw up a sly smile.

Fate. Fate was indeed pulling the strings there.

As the male employee walked away and Kiana busied herself flipping through the pages, Sofia made her way up to her.

"Kiana?" She called, to be sure she wasn't making a mistake. Kiana immediately looked up to her, she instantly recognised the face.

"Y-yes, madam." She answered, although suddenly feeling a bit uncomfortable. Sofia drew up a warm and simple smile on her face as she stared at Kiana.

"Hmm... Interesting." That was all she stated, before eventually making a turn and walking away.

Kiana's brows slightly furrowed as she watched Enrico's aunt walk away. She wasn't even aware of her presence. Had she already met with Enrico? Kiana couldn't fully reply to that question. It made her shift her eyes to the door into his office. Perhaps, his aunt showed up when she had stepped out for lunch. That might also mean he hasn't had his lunch yet. Her, not having lunch most times, was just to save the money for some other expenses, but Enrico, he had the money to eat as much as he could, but he took delight in starving himself. She just couldn't understand him. The thought alone made her sigh.

Almost an hour later, Kiana was dead busy with a lot of work on her desk. Her eyes were glued to the paper in front of her, her pen stuck between her teeth as her mind wandered off. No matter what she did, she couldn't seem to concentrate. She hadn't seen or heard from Enrico. It made her wonder if he was even alive. He wouldn't even bug her as usual. Not to exaggerate, but the silence was killing her. It would be the right time for him to call for her attention and play one of his silly jokes on her. Sincerely, she wouldn't mind. The thought of him having possibly fainted due to hunger crossed her mind. She wasn't even sure if he had his breakfast that morning. She left before he got out of his room.

"Urgh!" Kiana grumbled, before letting her head fall flat on the desk. She shut her eyes for a moment as the thoughts kept going on and on in her mind. Finally, she raised her head and slammed the folder shut, before getting up to her feet. She reached for her purse within her handbag and sooner than later, she was on her way towards the elevator.

* * *

Enrico had his head slightly bent and rested in his palms, whilst his elbows rested on his desk. After fuming for a while, he suddenly felt weak. Perhaps, it was because of his confusion on what to do next, or maybe because he was still battling with his feelings. He couldn't tell. All he knew was that everything had gone wrong. Before Kiana returned once more to his life, he had gone somehow living immune to his mother and aunt's tantrums, but now, everything had somehow managed to change. He had words combat with his aunt because of her.

She's only here for the money. You're rich, thus, she wants you back into her life.

He recalled his aunt's exact words. Of course, Enrico didn't believe even a word about that very statement. Yes, Kiana might not have said yes to him in the past, but there was one thing he was sure about and that was her character. Kiana wasn't materialistic. She would never choose money over her dignity. His aunt was wrong and that's why he defended Kiana.

Don't fall in love with her.

He recalled another of her exact words. The thought of it alone made his heartbeat accelerate. He raised his head away from his palms where he had rested them on.

Love.

Is that really what he has been feeling all this while? Is that what might have made him give extra care towards her? Is that what has made him somehow forget the grudge of the past and his desire for a little revenge? Is that what has somehow made him desire for something more in life, instead of just trying his best to live immune to his family's tantrums?

What exactly is love and has he truly fallen in love with Kiana?

A knock came through the door and Enrico immediately looked towards its direction. He took a deep breath.

"Come in." He replied then watched as the door knob turns, the door pushes open before Kiana steps in. His heartbeat heightened upon seeing her. It made him quickly look away from her, embarrassed that she might notice something off about him.

Although quite unsure of her idea, Kiana ventured further into the office towards Enrico with her hands full. She noticed just how he stared somewhere else and not at her. Nevertheless, there was no backing out now. Gently, she stretched her hand further and left a wrap of sandwich and his favourite latte on his desk. Enrico shifted his eyes to what she left on his desk.

"I figured that you might not have had lunch so... I know it's not much, but it holds well until dinner time." She explained, hoping he wouldn't reject her offer of help. She watched, while he stared at the items on his desk without uttering a word. His face held no expression that she could decipher and it made her wonder if she had crossed the boundaries. She let out a silent sigh. Perhaps, it would be best if she left.

"I'll be right outside if you need anything else." She calmly told him and after waiting for what seemed like ages for a reply, she turned away after getting none.

"Kiana." He suddenly called, causing her to come to a halt. Her heart sank down, causing her to be a bit agitated as she turned to him. This was usually the part where he's either grateful or just plain mean and ungrateful.

Her eyes followed him as he got up from his seat, walked past his desk and only stopped when he was in front of her. She wanted to meet his eyes, to steady her gaze into his, but she just couldn't for some reason. She knew his eyes were on her. She could feel it. She felt a little uncomfortable. The awkward silence was taking longer than she might have imagined. Kiana lightly bit her lower lip, before looking up to him with an intention to speak up. Right that moment, he took a step forward and put his arms around her, drawing her closer for a warm hug.

Kiana stood still, frozen at that very second. Her eyes slightly widened in surprise. Her heart raced so fast that it scared her. Her mind told her to push him away, he had been crossing boundaries, but her heart contemplated that thought. Her hands laid still by her sides, unable to do what seems to be the right thing.

"Thank you." He suddenly states, his voice almost a whisper.

Kiana felt a loss for words upon hearing those words from him. She didn't know what to do, but something about the way he sounded made her feel sad. She recalled how moody he looked right from the moment she stepped into his office. It broke her heart to know he might not be okay. It made her want to comfort him. Her hands moved with the intention to hold him and accept the hug, but they hesitated a lot. At the end, she gave in as she wrapped her hand around his waist, her hands rested on his back.

"Are you okay?" She asked, care lacing on her words.

If you're truly in love with her, you'll spare her from my wrath... wouldn't you?

Enrico shut his eyes upon recalling his aunt's exact words. He hated having to recall her words, but somehow, they had managed to stick in his head. Subconsciously playing over again without a warning. He opened his eyes once more.

"I'm fine... I'm fine." He managed to give a reply to her question.

To himself, he knew he was lying, but if that lie would make her feel better and safer, then he was ready to do it over and over again. Kiana need not know of his plight. It was his family, his feelings. He was going to deal with it all on his own. He wasn't going to let the past repeat itself. He wasn't going to impose on her once more like he did in the past. Somehow, he was going to get through this.