Daniel

"Tia, have you seen my wallet?" I asked, after searching all over myself and in my packed suitcase.

Silence.

I shut the suitcase. I was ready; all set to leave for San Diego. Alone.

I felt her presence on my right as she slipped my wallet into my pocket.

"Where was it? I was searching all over for it." I drew my wallet from my pocket, turning to face her. It was a brand new unfamiliar leather wallet. "What is this? Where's my old wallet?"

"Darien, it was so tattered. You've been using that forever. I told you to change it but you didn't. So I got you a new one."

"But it was a good one, Tia. It is all I need." I opened the new wallet to see all my cards, dollar notes and coins already inside. Where was that old paper? Did she throw it away from my old wallet?

"Isn't this new one good?" Tiara pouted.

"It's better than good, my love. It's perfect." I cupped her cheek with my right hand.

"That's better."

A small smile played at the corner of my lips while I checked the inside of my new wallet again. "Tia, did you transfer everything from my old wallet into this?"

"Everything that was in your old wallet is in your new one now." Tiara answered as she stepped away to check my packed suitcase.

"Fine." I slid my new wallet back into my pocket. So what if that old paper isn't with me from now? I don't need the memories of my lonely childhood anymore. "Alright, Tia, it's time for me to leave."

"Mmm." Tiara's gaze was fixed on my suitcase; she didn't want to look at me.

"I'll call and talk to you and our baby every night." I placed my arm across the back of her shoulders.

"Mmm." She leant her head against my chest; her gaze was still transfixed on my suitcase.

"You'll look after my baby, won't you?"

"Mmm."

My hand slid down from her shoulder to her waist. I could feel a movement and warmth against my palm, where a tiny heart was beating inside her womb. "You'll look after your Mommy, won't you?"

Tiara glanced at me through the corner of her eyes, with a frown.

"I was talking to my baby."

"Mmm." Her gaze shifted back to my suitcase.

"Tia, I have to go."

"Mmm."

I turned to go. She grabbed my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. I turned back to face her.

"You're going there for Rats, right?"

"Yes."

"Promise me something."

I raised my eyebrows, asking her with my eyes what it was.

"Promise me that no matter what happens, you won't let any harm come to your brother by your own hands."

"I promise, Tia." I folded her fingers in mine, sealing the promise. "You know I wouldn't want to hurt him."

"I know but I'm scared, Darien." Tiara stared straight into my eyes, squeezing my hand.

"Look, Tia, there's nothing to fear. I'm going there for his good."

"I don't think he might listen to you. Don't go, Darien."

"Tia, we've already had this conversation before and you agreed to let me go for his sake. I need to stop him before he becomes even more dangerous or gets caught by the police. I believe I might be able to bring him back as my brother and your best friend again."

Tiara held my gaze for a moment before turning away from me.

I wanted to hold her in my arms one more time before I leave.

I stretched out my hand and placed it on her shoulder. She shook my hand away, standing with her back facing me.

"Alright, Tia, I can't keep the taxi cab waiting."

I turned to go and carried my suitcase out of my apartment, down the stairs and into the taxi cab waiting at the gate. Feeling incomplete, I asked the taxi cab driver to wait for a moment. I turned back and took the stairs to my apartment again.

As I arrived at the door of my apartment, Tiara sprinted into my arms.

Embracing her, I lifted her chin gently with my finger so she would look up into my eyes. "These misty eyes don't suit you, Tia."

A tear escaped her eye and she blinked it away. "You won't forget that I'm waiting here for you, will you?"

"Tia, I would never forget you or the times I have spent with you. No, I would never forget even the seconds I have spent with you. You are my life, my soul, the only reason for my existence, Tia. How can you ask me such a question? I could never have a life without you. I may not say I love you a hundred times; I may not be the perfect romantic husband who showers you with gifts and praises all the time. But you know what you mean to me, don't you?"

As she lowered her gaze with a small smile, I pressed my forehead against hers. "I'll come back, I'm giving you my word, Tia. Give me a call when you need me and I'll come rushing back to be by your side, alright?"

"Mmm."

"I'll talk to you tonight." I kissed her forehead before I left her and walked out of the apartment.

I felt an emptiness in my chest like as though I had left my heart behind.

I staggered a bit and held onto something that felt like the handle of the door of a car.

The next moment, I was standing inside a small room, facing his back. Ray.

"Well, Mr. Darien Caruso, I had already warned you last time we met. If this is the intention of your stay in San Diego, then you may leave. It will not happen. Anyway, why would I listen to you? Who are you, man?" Raymond turned to face me with a smirk.

"Why have you become like this, Ray? You're my brother, my blood. It hurts me to see you this way."

"So, you care for me? Since when, Mr. Darien Caruso?" Hearing his words, my heart flinched a bit. Nevertheless, I remained composed and let myself appear unmoved.

"Of course I care for you, Ray. You're my brother. I always cared for you. You may not know the countless times I have thought about you. Growing up, I never liked my life because you were not with me and I knew our father would never care for you like he never cared for me."

"Wow, you had such a caring family who adopted you and looked after your needs. And you say you had time to worry about me? Like I would believe that! Look here, Mr. Darien Caruso, leave before you face my wrath."

"Ray, it isn't too late yet. You can still leave everything you're doing and get a good job. I'll get you a good job. You'll have me as your support. Won't you do this at least for Tiara?"

Raymond shut his eyes tight and hissed for a moment. His eyes slit open before he spoke. "Tiara, Tiara, Tiara. You've taken her name and touched my soft spot!"

I watched him in confusion.

"Fine, I'll listen to you. I'll leave everything in my life now and take up any job you ask me to do. But will you give me my Tiara in return?"

My fists clenched but I maintained my cool. "Tiara is my wife. Speak of her with respect."

"She may be your wife now. But she was my love, my Tiara, before that. Ask her and see if she will choose you or me. We'll see what she says. If she chooses you, you better stop interfering in my life. If she chooses me, I'll take up any job you wish and I'll look after her well. Deal?"

"Do not test my patience, Ray. Try and ask her that question, you'll lose her for sure."

"Why don't you ask her that question, Mr. Darien Caruso? You'll lose her for sure, won't you?"

"Here I am trying to help you and you're trying to split me and my wife. Look, we know each other better than you think. I know her answer without asking her the question. And she knows I would never ask her such a question."

"Wow, perfect couple. Now, leave Mr. Darien Caruso! You will not fulfill my wish, then why should I fulfill your wish? Get lost from here!"

"Ray, Tiara is my wife; respect her. Leave this and come with me now before it's too late."

"I'm not going anywhere unless you give me my Tiara. Try what you may while you can still breathe."

I turned and walked out of the room. I couldn't believe that was my brother. What had made him into such a man? The same blood flowed through our veins yet our lives are poles apart.

"Daniel!" I heard a distant cry. The cry echoed, getting nearer and nearer to me.

Someone shook my shoulder hard. I found myself, standing beside my car, facing a pool of blood on the ground.

Narissa shook me again. "Daniel!"

I turned to face her. My head was spinning; it felt like it was going to burst. "I would never forget even the seconds I have spent with you." The words kept blaring in my mind. I couldn't understand what was happening inside me.

"Daniel! What's wrong with you? He just shot Tiara and carried her away and you're standing here lost in your thoughts?" Narissa was crying. There was a large visible bruise on her arm.

I held my hand to my forehead, still trying to recall what had just happened.

"Daniel! What are you thinking?" cried Narissa again.

"I need to meet Isma." I muttered under my breath before I opened the door of the car and slid into the driver's seat.

I started the engine and Narissa swiftly got into the car and seated herself in the passenger seat next to me. Mila, who had been seated in the car, was now sitting on Narissa's lap.

"I want Mommy. Where's my Mommy? I want Mommy." Mila kept on sobbing and repeating throughout the drive back home. "What happened to Mommy? I want to see Mommy."

Narissa tried to console Mila though I could feel her eyes watching me in confusion.

I parked my car at the entrance of the house and rushed towards the front door. I rang the bell a few times impatiently. I needed the answer to my questions and only one person could answer them. Isma.

In a few minutes, the door opened.

Isma smiled, holding the door open for us. "Mom, Dad and Rina just left. Did you forget you guys were also planning to attend Dr. Christopher's daughter's wedding? It isn't too late yet, you can always get ready and go now."

"Isma, I need to talk to you."

"What do you wanna talk about, Danny?" asked Isma, with a smile. Isma's smile froze as she noticed Mila was in Narissa's arms.

"Who am I?"

To be continued...

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