At the museum, three days after the Auction.
Malorie in Henry's office, sat on his black matte desk, legs crossed. Her face filled with a teasing smile, gaze fixated on Henry.
Henry caught her gaze, then looked away. Her stare, unrelenting. "What?" he said.
Malorie didn't answer. Gaze still fixated, her face refreshed with another chilling-teasing smile that gradually intensified.
He sighed. "Fine, you win."
Malorie stepped down from his desk, back resting on the desk's edge. Henry just looked at her.
"I wonder how Ellie got to know that handsome donor from the auction," she said, voice now serious.
"Donor? That wasn't a donor."
"Hmm… And why is that?" She turned, eyes locking with his behind the glasses.
"Because he gave it to her," he said, "and he explicitly said thank you for the other day." His fingers rotated the outer rim of his glasses.
HAHAHA. "Do you think Ellie will keep that antique? Personally," she said, index finger dabbing the speck of tears from the corner of her eye, "she would obviously add the event that happened as part of the auction report when she meets with the director."
"Fine, point taken," he said, voice low. His eyes returned to the scroll.
Her eyes widened. Look at this jerk.
She yanked the scroll from the desk and tucked it behind her back.
What the— Henry looked at her, eyes bewildered.
Malorie stepped back. "Hehehe."
"Give that back!" he said, voice warm and soft. He stood up, his executive chair rotating behind him.
He strode toward her and pressed her against the wall opposite his desk, her head rested on the wall. He caged her in with his arms, their eyes locking.
"I would like to have my scroll back," he said. A warm smile ran across his face.
Malorie's face reddened, mind absent.
Henry collected his scroll and returned to his desk. He looked at her.
"Malorie," he called, voice warm.
Immediately, she snapped back to reality. She strode toward him.
Voice chill. "Why was an Alexander at the auction?"
Clip. He flicked her forehead.
"Why did you hit me?" she said, voice pitching higher, and started hitting him playfully on the arm—little repeated taps.
Henry looked at her, and while her hand still drummed against his sleeve, he reached up and flexed her cheeks, pulling them into a ridiculous smile.
Creak.
"You guys are playing?" Ellie asked, stunned.
Malorie and Henry blinked at her, surprised.
Back to the night of the auction, at the airport.
"This so-called mother ring," Colin said, pulling it from his pocket. "Why is it resonating with me?"
"9 p.m." He glanced at his manual analog wristwatch, gaze shifting to the silver band.
She looked at him, eyes narrowed. Isn't that Colin?
I thought he left Britain. She strode toward him and tapped him from behind.
Her palm touched his shoulder. He startled, turning around—still seated. "Colin?" she asked, voice rising.
"It's you." She smiled, hands running through her long messy dark blonde hair.
"Greyhound?" His voice warm, childlike.
This jerk. She clenched her fists.
"You know…" She sat on the metallic two-person chair. "I have every right to kill you."
"But you aren't. Would you, Anna?" Colin asked, face carrying a playful smile.
"Hey, wanker, what brought you here?" His voice low and precise, the initial smile fading.
"Haa." She sighed. "How would I put it? I came to confirm the job of one of my lot," she answered, voice warm.
"Oh—yeah, you Greyhounds are assassins." His voice teasing.
"So what, you Alexanders are devils."
He sighed. "You know I feel proud when you call me that."
"Why did you leave?" she asked, voice falling slightly.
"For adventure—" He looked up at the night sky. "I wanted to explore some of the endless possibilities."
Look at him. Acting all cool.
"Colin," she called.
He turned, her dark hazel eyes fixating on his.
"You know we were engaged," she whispered.
He smiled at her. "We never had good chemistry to begin with."
You jerk… After telling me you were leaving— Her porcelain face reddening.
"Hey, why is your face red?" He smiled.
"Uh?" She touched her face.
"I know you aren't going to go back to your family even if I urged you to," she said, bringing out a gold Rolex watch. "At least take back what's yours."
"You remembered after all this time." He took the watch and checked his silver watch again. "Seems like it's time."
They stood up, eyes locking. Colin opened his arms in an embrace, and she stepped into it.
"You know you are my best friend and always will, so for my sake, protect Luna from us devilish Alexanders."
He let go of her, palm resting on her shoulder. "So tell her to visit me every once in a while."
He turned and strode off.
Memories bleeding in.
A few months ago.
A young lady with black hair, delicate porcelain skin, and purple eyes held on to Anna while sitting on the floor of her chamber. Tears flowing profusely down her cheeks.
"Luna, your brother has already left." Anna rubbed Luna's back. Gentle and smooth.
"Why didn't he tell me?" Luna let go and got to her feet. Her hand systematically found her handkerchief.
"He must have told you, right?" she asked, eyes locking with Anna's.
Anna didn't respond; she got up from the floor.
Luna rose to her feet. "So, he didn't tell you either?" Luna walked to the rocky chair and sat.
"He's the only family I have. My older half-brother obsessed with the succession competition. My father, who can do anything for politics. My mother, long dead. Colin—my blood brother, who just abandoned me."
"I'm sure there's a reason behind this." Anna moved closer. "Besides, you still have your father."
She turned to Anna, face filling with disgust. "He stopped being my father the day my mum died."
Anna gasped.
"Only Colin is my family. My older brother. It's as you've said—there's a reason behind this." She grabbed the metal cup from the table beside her.
"I will find out the reason and take care of it." She released the metal cup, got up, and walked out of the chamber.
Anna looked at the squeeze-dents her fingers had left on the metal cup. No matter how I look at it, the Alexanders are monsters.
She looked up.
Colin, due to his prodigious talents, was dubbed the new successor. She sighed. Successor? Wait—Brad— Her eyes widened with alarm. "Luna! Luna!" she called, sprinting out of the chamber.
Memories bleeding out.
"Fool, your younger sister doesn't want to see you," she whispered, voice breaking. Tears welling up.
Idiot. After breaking my heart… Tears rolling down her cheeks. Now how am I supposed to get back at you—you jerk.
At the Alexander Manor.
The young man from the auction was sitting on a steel chair across from another man. The man wore a blue, short-sleeved T-shirt and jeans.
"You said you saw this man at the auction." His brown eyes shifted from the picture to the young man. "Are you sure this is credible?" He glared at the young man.
"Yes…" the young man replied, voice shaking.
"Brad, at least leave the young man in one piece." A lady's voice came from the passageway behind Brad.
She moved toward Brad, arms resting on his shoulders.
"Oh my—" she said, green eyes fixated on the picture. "Isn't that our handsome Colin?"
"Lena, it isn't your call," Brad said. Air thick.
"Fine, fine." She raised her arms in surrender. "I'll be going, if you don't mind."
Eyes still on the young man, his dark brown hair amplifying his intimidation. "Keep tabs on him."
Beep. His gaze shifted to his pager; his lips curved into a smirk. "Seems our chat has come to an end."
Brad got up and walked away.
"Get me everything you know about him!" the young man snarled, porcelain face reddening.
The next night. 8 p.m. New York.
"Ellie, are you going to take the train?" Malorie's voice came from behind, low.
"Yes. Are you also taking the train?" Ellie turned her head, catching Malorie's gaze.
"Of course." Malorie grabbed her by the arm. "You donated the Herod statue your hot crush gave you." Voice teasing, face filled with a teasing smile.
"Hot crush?" Ellie closed her eyes, opened them again. Malorie's teasing face. "Crush." Ellie's face reddening.
"So, he's your crush." Malorie's lip curved.
"What! Let's go to the train station before we miss our train." Ellie walked with faltering grace.
Ellie opened the door of her apartment. Tomorrow is my day off, so I…
The auction. The Herod statue pressed into her hands. His face.
What—no. Why did he do that?
Ah, I think I need to go for a stroll. She slipped out of her heels.
At Colin's estate. Bedroom.
"Hmm, it's been a while since I've seen Anna…" A grin ran across his face and faded. "But why would I say something so cringey—'You know you are my best friend and always will—' ugh, that's so bloody cringe." He stood up and strode to the mirror. Time to enjoy the night while I'm at it. He smiled, combing his hair.
An hour later.
Wow, outside is so chilly. Ellie, in her cream cardigan and black liquid leggings, hugged herself tightly with both arms. Because of my suit, I never knew.
Her eyes wide, Colin—in a black long-sleeved polo shirt, blue jeans, and black palm slippers—entered a restaurant. Isn't that him? Isn't he feeling the cold?
Seems my stroll just got interesting. She smiled and followed him in.
"Who is that hot guy?" a waitress said to another as Colin walked past.
This is why I rarely go out. I'm never comfortable. He stopped and looked around. Gazes from both men and women fixated on him. He saw them all.
I specifically dressed like this to avoid this—I'll just order takeout. He turned and walked toward the order deck.
Ellie took a seat at the front.
Such is the life of a hot guy. Ellie sighed.
"Hi," Colin said to the attendant.
The attendant's face heated. "Uhm… sir, what would you like to order?" Voice dropping lower.
"Wow, I wish I was the one he looked at with those blue eyes," a female customer said to another.
"You wish."
Screw this! I can't wait for takeout anymore. Colin gritted his teeth.
"I would like two deluxe cracker pizzas. Here's a hundred dollars." Colin hurriedly grabbed the pizza box from the small shelf and stormed off.
"Oh my God, so manly," another attendant said.
Ellie immediately followed after Colin.
"Girl, Lady's damn hot," a waitress said to another.
Outside the restaurant.
"Where is he going, and why is he following this dark alley?" she murmured, gray eyes scanning the alley.
After a while.
So that's where he's going. She looked up—a tower.
"Finally, some peace and quiet." He sighed.
At the top of the tower.
Colin sat at the tower's edge, eating a slice of pizza.
"Hmm, this tower would be, what, sixty metres high?"
How did he know I was here? Ellie's eyes wide.
"Yes, it would." Voice warm, shaky.
She strode toward him and sat at his right, the two pizza boxes between them.
Wait—there was someone here? His face, still forward, stiff with shock.
"You can have the other pizza," Colin whispered.
"Thanks," Ellie answered.
She took the unboxed pizza.
"Aren't you afraid of falling from here?" she asked, unboxing it.
"No, I'm not." Colin turned his face to hers.
His eyes widened. "You're the lady from the auction."
"Yes, I am." A piece of pizza in her mouth, a slice in her hand.
She stretched out her hand. "My name is Elanor Wood." A warm smile.
Colin sighed. "My name is Colin Alexander." He shook her hand.
Alexander? Wait—he is an Alexander—Alexander? Of course he is. His accent is British. But I can't jump to conclusions yet. Ellie's fingers tightened around the pizza slice.
Instinctively, her back leaned—into nothing. She slipped backward.
Eyes closed. What the—I'm falling? But why does it feel like I'm being carried—wait, Colin—
She opened her eyes. His face, mid-air. His arms around her. They landed.
"Thank you—Did you just rescue me by jumping off?!" Ellie asked, voice light and strained.
He sighed.
"That's what you say? Fascinating." He smiled at her. "I hope to see you again. Possibly tomorrow night. Thanks for the company." He strode off into the dark.
He's a superhuman? He survived that jump? That fall? She looked at the tower, head to toe, face bewildered.
"I will see you again tomorrow?" She looked down at the streetlight-illuminated floor.
In the dark street.
Why did she seem terrified after hearing my name? Colin's steps silent. Does she know about the Alexander family?
At the Museum.
The restaurant. The tower jump. Ellie narrated everything.
"You know, this can wait till you're on duty." Malorie winked. "Or perhaps you missed me that much?"
"As if."
"Well, as he said, you have to meet him again. But he's from the Alexander family… hmm." Hands to her chin. Thinking.
"You don't seem surprised," Ellie said, eyes narrowing.
"Ehe… ehe, I'm surprised." Malorie's eyes avoided Ellie's.
"You're sure?" Ellie looked at her, eyes focused.
"What do you know about the Alexanders?" Malorie asked.
"Aside from the fact that they're an aristocratic British family—nothing."
"What the—How the hell are you the deputy director if you know close to nothing about the Alexanders?" Malorie got up from her seat, eyes wide.
"I'll check on him. 'Colin Alexander.' It'll take some time, but who knows—he might even be the next heir." Hands returned to her chin.
"Heir? Why would the heir of a British aristocratic family be in the US talking to me?" Porcelain face reddening.
"There's no way." Ellie paused. The heir would be in Britain, not the US.
In the night.
"You were earlier than I expected." Colin smiled, walking toward her in his—black overcoat, shirt, trousers, black Oxford shoes.
"You were late," Ellie replied, voice carrying a note of expectation.
They talked through the night.
Night after night, they met at the top of the tower.
Seven months later.
Malorie burst into Ellie's office. Chest heaving. Skin glazed with sweat. "Your boyfriend's… the heir!" Voice panting, hands on her knees.
"Uh?" Ellie blushed.
"Yeah, right. I forgot—you're deeply in love now." Malorie's lip curved.
"Ehm…" Ellie coughed. "Get to the point."
Malorie straightened. "According to the reports, your boyfriend wasn't the initial heir. But due to his talents, the patriarch made him the heir."
Since he's the heir, shouldn't he be in Britain? Something doesn't add up. Ellie crossed her arms, eyes on the POP ceiling.
"How do you know all this?" Gaze returned to Malorie.
"That's a trade secret," Malorie answered.
That night. The tower's top.
There he is. Ellie stacked her palms to her chest, eyes fixated on Colin.
Colin turned. Pure coincidence. He saw her.
Ellie sat at his right, a pizza box between them.
I want to ask him about what Malorie told me, but as much as I want to ask him—
"It seems like it's time for me to tell you," he said, jaw tight.
Uh? Ellie's eyes widened.
"The Alexander Family is an old aristocratic British family in Great Britain, and I chaotically happen to be the heir."
Thanks to Malorie, I already know all this.
"Us Alexanders are also a supernatural family. We have the bloodline of a fallen god. But with new generations rising, the power is gradually diminishing. The family uses a special type of energy to do impossible feats—but strangely, I can't use that energy."
He took a slice of pizza and looked at Ellie.
"The most shocking thing is that even without the energy, I was not weak. Instead, I could do greater feats."
It's almost as if I'm using my will. He sighed, turning his head forward.
He took another slice.
The Alexanders are superhumans? Ellie's face white.
"My older half-brother—the initial heir—was disinherited, and I was made the heir. Of course, the majority of the family opposed this. Even I had no idea I was going to be the heir," he said. Nor do I know the circumstances behind my brother's disinheritance.
"I hated politics," he continued, voice low. "And because I became the new heir, I had a lot to face—especially the targets on my back. But I had to leave, to protect my little sister from those targets."
I've always wanted to leave the manor anyway.
He sighed. "It's no surprise if she resents me now. After all, she doesn't know the reason behind my sudden disappearance."
He brought out a small bottle of golden whiskey from his overcoat. He looked at it.
Ellie touched his face with both hands. She kissed him on the lips. Slow. Aching. Daring.
She held his face up, porcelain face reddening. "You—have—me now," she stammered. "Colin—she doesn't—resent you. You did what you had to do."
A tear escaped from his left eye and ran down his cheek.
His gaze still fixated. "Would you like to be my partner? To walk with me? Lady Eleanor." He smiled. Warm.
I can feel his heart racing. It's taxing him.
Ellie hid her face behind her palms. Wait—did he just propose to me?
Look at you, acting all shy—what the—her heartbeat. I can feel it.
He released her palms, then held them again. She looked at him. "Sir Colin, let's walk together."
He stood and offered her his palm. She held it and stood.
In a flash, he swept her off her feet. She grabbed onto him, and he jumped.
Colin landed, silent. He set her down.
Colin turned to leave, but Ellie held the edge of his black overcoat.
"Let's meet again tomorrow night," she said, voice a whisper.
"And officially become my fiancée." Colin completed the sentence and smiled. He pulled her close and kissed her.
The next day. At the museum.
"You did what?! Kissed him, and he proposed to you—in such a cool manner!" Malorie exclaimed.
"You and Henry got married three months ago." Ellie paused, letting the words hang. "Seems it's time for me to get married, huh?"
Malorie held both her shoulders. "You will be a great wife."
"Do you love him?" Malorie asked, voice serious.
"Yes…" Ellie answered, cheeks turning pink.
"Finally, you admitted it! We should celebrate." Malorie clapped her hands. "Oh, we need to buy both your engagement and wedding rings—something expensive."
"Expensive?!" Ellie exclaimed.
"Obviously. He's a noble," Malorie answered.
Nine years later.
8 p.m.
"Derrick and Jane—happy birthday," Colin and Ellie said in unison.
"Congrats on your seventh birthday," Colin said to them.
"Uh? Jane, why is your face red?" Ellie asked, voice light, hands stroking Jane's hair.
"It's Derrick, Mom," Jane answered.
Derrick stood in his—white long-sleeved shirt, trousers, white sneakers.
"Oh, my cute little brother!" Kate rushed in.
"Smile, it's your birthday." She pulled his cheeks into a grin.
"Let go," Derrick replied, voice low, flat.
Jane slipped away to the toilet.
"Kate, what about the guests?" Ellie asked.
"I've seen them off," Kate answered, releasing Derrick from her grip.
"Kate, look after them. Your dad and I will bring Aunt Malorie and Uncle Henry."
"Don't worry, Mom. I'll take care of them," Kate said, smiling.
Colin and Ellie smiled and left for the garage.
"Kate, where are Mom and Dad?" Jane asked, returning.
"They're going to bring Aunt Malorie and Uncle Henry," Kate answered, voice bright.
"Why are they going? Can't Aunt and Uncle come back by themselves?" Jane's voice tightening.
"Maybe their car broke down," Kate said, voice low. "Don't worry. They'll all come back safely."
VROOM, VROOM
"Oh, it's Dad and Mom. They're going to pick Aunt Malorie and Uncle Henry."
Derrick strode for the stairs.
Four hours later. The sitting room.
"When is Dad coming back?" Jane asked again.
Kate looked at the silver wall clock. They should be back by now.
"Don't worry. Sleep now. I'll wake you when they arrive," Kate said, patting her back.
Jane laid her head on Kate's lap and drifted off.
Derrick is still reading those books—at this time? Gaze on the silver wall clock.
His birthday gifts this year were also big books. The same type of gifts last year—big books. She looked at the presents on the dining table.
Ten minutes later.
Yawn. "I'm getting bored," Kate murmured, gray eyes scanning for the remote.
She stood, paced.
She found the remote. Her face lit up.
She returned to her seat and pointed the remote at the TV. It flickered to life.
"A car has been involved in an accident. It appears to have collided with a massive tanker," a reporter announced.
"That's the car Dad and Mom entered!" Kate screamed.
Derrick heard the scream. He came down from the study, calm and quiet. He looked at the TV and saw the lifeless bodies of his father, his mother, Malorie, and Henry. Suspicious.
His gaze shifted from the screen to the weeping Kate and the stirring Jane.
"Why are you crying?" Jane asked, voice tight with worry. "Sis! Sis!"
Kate pointed at the TV.
"It can't be!" Jane said, tears in her eyes.
Fascinating. They're crying for someone who's already dead. Will they come back if they cry their hardest? Derrick walked to the dining table, sat, and watched Kate from his chair.
An hour later.
Jane has wept herself to sleep. Kate has brought her weeping to a minimum. Derrick's gaze steady. Kate will soon—
Kate stopped crying and looked at Derrick from the sitting room, tears still streaming down her cheeks. She stood, went to him, and hugged him from behind. "I'm here now. You must have been worried," she said, voice breaking.
The four days before the burial. Constant weeping.
At the Alexander manor.
"I can't believe Colin is dead," Anna said, tears flowing.
Luna looked out the window, eyes sagging.
"Where is the venue of the burial?" she asked, voice flat.
"I don't know, but the Alexanders are attending," Anna answered, shoulders slack.
The day of the burial.
The atmosphere, cloudy. No sun. No rain. Cars parked inside and outside the cemetery.
Kate stood before the graves. Jane wept behind her. Derrick watched from a hill, under an oak tree—leaning, the distance kept close.
Luna stepped from her car. She walked to Colin's grave. She saw Kate and Jane, and she hugged them both.
My nieces. Tears flowed down her cheeks.
Anna blended into the crowd. She looked at Colin's grave, hand pressing to her sternum. Uncomfortable, she walked to the grave, dropped her flower, and stood before it. Luna was behind her, still holding her nieces. Many of the Alexander family had come.
A metallic-black car drove into the cemetery, escorts trailing behind.
The car halted. The door opened. The patriarch stepped out.
Murmurs flew.
Luna got to her feet. She stared at the patriarch, eyes reddening, face filled with disgust. So he came. She gritted her teeth.
"Look at Colin's daughters. They're only eight and seven," one British lady murmured to another. "Look at her—just eight, and showing such maturity. Unlike the weeping one."
"I heard she's the one who arranged this funeral."
Why is no one putting flowers on Mom's grave? Derrick's eyes moving across the crowd. Aunt and Uncle were buried by their own families. So who are these people?
"My name is Luna. I'm your aunt," Luna said to Kate and Jane.
Derrick took a bouquet from beside him. He walked down the hill toward his mother's grave. Everyone watched.
He stood before the grave. He looked at it.
The lullaby Ellie sang.
His first chess victory against his father.
The psychokinesis he used to lift his mother.
The smiles of his parents.
He dropped the flower. Calm. Quiet. He turned and walked back up the hill, to the oak tree.
"Colin?" Anna's voice dry.
So that's my brother's only son. Luna's gaze following Derrick up the hill, a faint smile on her lips. He's different from Brother. He seems cold.
"Colin's son? Colin, as handsome as he was, wasn't that handsome—and so still," Anna said, voice breaking, tears flowing down her cheeks.
Derrick continued to watch. Still standing. Still resting.
One by one, the crowd began to leave the cemetery.
The patriarch strode up the hill.
"Would you like to come live with me?" He stood before Derrick.
Derrick looked up. "No," he said, voice flat.
The patriarch sighed. "Haha, you truly are Colin's son."
"You are the son of the Heir," he said, voice cold.
He turned and strode down the hill. A child is still a child.
Luna ran up the hill. "Thank goodness." She breathed out. I can't believe the patriarch still said that. She looked down at the patriarch from the hilltop.
"Biological aunt?" Derrick said, voice flat.
"Yes. I'm your biological aunt." She hugged him. So handsome. So cute.
She released him, hands resting on his shoulders. "My daughter is a year younger than you. It's a shame she isn't around," she said.
She straightened. "Farewell." She waved and turned, walking down the hill.
So that's Dad's family. Nobody from Mom's family came. Strange. Kate looked at Ellie's grave, Jane's head resting on her shoulder, still weeping.