Reconciliation

Kaye paced back and forth anxiously outside the emergency room, nervously biting her thumb as the clock ticked away. A whole hour had elapsed, and there was still no sign of the doctor. Worried thoughts raced through her mind—what if Warren had lost too much blood, what if he slipped into a coma?

Kyle, sensing her distress, rose and gently patting her shoulders. "Darling, please calm down. He'll be fine."

"W-What if... he's in critical condition?" Kaye stammered, unable to contain her fears.

"Sshhh. Don't entertain negative thoughts," Kyle consoled, enfolding her in a comforting embrace. "He's Ryu, the leader of the Crimson Blades. He'll defy even death. So please, calm down and take a seat."

Nodding, Kaye settled into a chair, taking a deep breath as she continued to send hopeful prayers into the silence of the waiting room. The anticipation weighed heavily on her, each passing moment feeling like an eternity.

However, Kaye froze when she saw the approaching figure. Mikhail?

A mix of shock and nervousness seized her, freezing her in place, her eyes fixated on the unexpected presence of her husband.

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Mikhail received a report about what happened to Warren upon arriving in the CN Province; he headed straight to the hospital where Warren was brought. After inquiring with the nurse, he navigated through the hospital to find the emergency room. As he approached, he froze.

"K-Kaye?" he was surprised. Tears welled up in his eyes; it wasn't a dream. It was really her, his wife.

He rushed to her, enveloping her in a tight embrace. "Kaye... You're really alive," he whispered, tears streaming down from his eyes.

Stunned, Kaye was too overwhelmed to speak. She grappled with fear, uncertain about what to say. In her bewilderment, she instinctively pushed him away.

"Kaye, what's wrong?" Mikhail asked.

"W-What are you doing here?" she questioned.

"I received a report about Warren's situation, that's why I came here. And I didn't expect that we would finally meet here. Kaye, I've been searching for you. I thought you were really dead. You have no idea the pain I felt when I thought you were gone. Every day was like torture for me, blaming myself for not being able to save you!" Mikhail explained.

Kaye looked away, holding back her tears.

Mikhail held her hand. "Kaye... I don't understand why you left, but please... Please return home now. Everyone misses you. Without you, we will never be happy again. You are the missing piece in our life. Please Kaye... Please come back to me. Please come back to us!" Mikhail begged.

Kaye closed her eyes while tears streamed down her face. "Y-You are wasting your time... I... I will never return..."

"Don't say that, Kaye! Please don't do this to me... I already had enough, I can't take any more pain. Why do you keep torturing me? Please Kaye... I'm begging you, don't leave me again!" Mikhail kneeled in front of her, desperation etched across his face. "P-Please... I can't afford to lose you again... Kaye... Why do you keep disappearing?" he cried.

Witnessing Mikhail's heart-wrenching plea and the raw expression of his pain, Kaye couldn't hold back her own emotions. She burst into tears, crumbling to the floor, holding tightly onto Mikhail's hands. "I-I'm sorry... I'm very sorry!" she cried, her voice breaking with remorse.

"Kaye, I understand... I will always understand," Mikhail said.

"I just got scared... I-I'm scared that you will hate me... That you will never accept me again, and my child... I'm sorry for leaving you... I'm truly sorry!" she sobbed, her words choked with genuine regret.

The waiting area echoed with the weight of their emotions, creating an intense and heartbreaking scene.

Mikhail wiped her tears and cupped her face. "Just promise me that you will never disappear again."

Kaye nodded. Mikhail smiled and hugged her tightly. Kyle watched, unable to intervene in their emotional reunion, relieved that Kaye had finally met Mikhail.

After their emotional reunion, Kaye explained everything to Mikhail—how they met Warren, how she ended up in the CN Province, and her son, Eros, and his father. Mikhail clenched his fists upon learning that Timothy was indeed the father, cursing aloud.

"I'm sorry if I disappeared. I was just scared that you all would harbor resentment towards my son. Although the father was Timothy, he's still my son, and I could never bear to see him receive hate from the people I love. That's why I attempted to take my own life. Thankfully, Isaac saved me that day. If not for him, I would not be alive now. So please don't blame him as well. I'm the one who begged him to hide me and lived far away. It's really my fault. I'm very sorry," she explained.

Mikhail sighed. "Kaye, you don't need to hide. Please don't do that again. What if Isaac hadn't come that day? What if you had truly died? I would never forgive myself, Kaye. I will blame myself forever. I followed you into this world because I was devastated and couldn't bear the pain anymore. I wanted to be with you again, so please... Please don't die here too. I will never accept it if you die here too."

Kaye wiped her tears. "I'm really sorry..."

"Just promise me, Kaye... please," Mikhail said.

Kaye nodded. "I promise... I promise I'll never do that again."

Mikhail smiled and kissed her forehead. He then glanced at Kyle.

"My hunch was right, that we would find you here," Mikhail said.

"I accidentally met him in a convenience store. He's helping me here while Isaac was away," Kaye explained.

"It's nice to see you again, Your Majesty," Kyle said.

Mikhail smirked. "Likewise."

They turned their attention to the emergency room's door; the doctor finally came out.

"D-Doc, how is he?" Kaye inquired.

"He lost too much blood. Fortunately, he was brought here; otherwise, he would have died. We've removed the bullet from his wound, but due to blood loss, it will take days before he regains consciousness," the doctor explained.

"But he'll be fine, right?" Kaye sought reassurance once more.

"Yes, he'll be fine. Let's wait for him to wake up," the doctor assured her.

Kaye heaved a sigh of relief. Thank God!

The doctor left them. Kaye sat down, tears streaming down her face; she was too scared earlier, fearing Warren might leave her forever.

Kyle rubbed her back, offering comfort. Mikhail took out his phone and called the headquarters.

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....

"Damn it!" Isaac cursed while staring at his phone.

Kaye wasn't answering his calls, and worry gnawed at him, fearing something bad had happened to her.

"They said they will only buy groceries," Nanny Sally muttered.

"Did Kaye mention how she and that Kyle met? I don't remember anyone from her friends named Kyle," he asked again.

Nanny Sally only shook her head while carrying Eros. Isaac sighed in frustration. Just who the heck is he?

His thoughts were interrupted when his phone rang. It's Kaye!

"Mine, where are you? I've been calling you numerous times, but you're not answering my call. I'm so worried!"

(I'm very sorry; my phone went out of battery. I just recharged it here in the hospital.)

"Hospital? What are you doing there? Are you all right?" he asked worriedly. "Which hospital is that? I'll go there!"

(I'm fine, Kiel. It's not me who was brought to the hospital. It's Warren.)

"Warren?" Isaac's brows furrowed.

(It's Ryu; he was wounded when we saw him on the road.)

We?

"Kaye, who's with you? Ah, forget it; I'll go there!"

(Okay, I'll wait here.)

After the call, she sent the address to him. He quickly left the house and went to the said hospital. When he arrived, he was surprised to see Mikhail and a man who resembled Maximilian.

"K-Kaye...w-what are they doing here?" Isaac hid Kaye behind him.

"Kiel, it's all right. I already explained to them what happened." Kaye tried to calm him down.

Isaac held both of her shoulders. "But I thought you don't want to see them anymore? That I am enough for you. You accepted me as your son's father, right? Why do you have to meet them again?"

"Kiel, it's fate that led us to meet each other again. And besides, I am already tired of running away. I made too many mistakes in the past; I feel too much guilt for leaving them. I hope you understand. I also need them; they were also my husbands that I vowed to be with for the rest of my life," Kaye said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"N-No, Kaye.... You said I'm enough... I'm the one who saved you, right? I'm the one who's by your side during your fight with depression... Why do you have to return to them? Why?!" Isaac couldn't accept it.

"Don't be selfish, Kaye was the one who decided to return to us. You have no right to stop her from doing what she wants," Mikhail said.

Isaac scoffed. "Selfish?" He glared at Mikhail. "You're the one who's selfish here! You hid her from me! If we didn't meet that day, Kaye would be dead by now! It's me; I'm the one who saved her, so I deserve to object!"

"Shut the hell up!" Mikhail punched him. Isaac punched him back, and the two created a scene in the hospital. The staff and patients were all shocked by the scene.

"Stop it!" Kyle pulled Mikhail from Isaac. "Aren't you two ashamed? We are in the hospital. Just think about Kaye's feelings!" he scolded.

Mikhail fixed his clothes while glaring at Isaac. Isaac wiped the blood on his lips while glaring at Mikhail as well. Kyle sighed; when will these two reconcile?

"Please, don't fight," Kaye begged. "I married you two because I love both of you, not to see you trying to kill each other." She shook her head in frustration then left.

"Kaye.." Isaac called.

"I'll talk to her," Kyle said and followed her.

"Tsk," Mikhail sat down. "Look what you've done."

"Ha! Now you're blaming me again. Nice!" Isaac leaned on the wall with his arms crossed.

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.

Kaye sat on the bench outside, gazing at the ground. When would those two ever accept each other?

She sighed once again.

"Kaye..." Kyle approached her and sat beside her.

"How are the two?" she asked.

"They already calmed down when I left them," Kyle answered.

"I wonder when those two will reconcile. They're brothers, but they can't seem to accept each other," she said.

"We can't blame them; they have a troubled past. They once tried to kill each other, and hatred has already filled their hearts," Kyle explained.

"If only I could do something to make them forgive each other," she said.

Kyle rubbed her back. "They'll be fine, just give them more time."

Kaye nodded. "I hope someday they'll learn to care for each other." She leaned on his shoulder while watching people pass by.

"Are we going to return to J City after Warren wakes up and gets discharged?" he asked.

"Yeah, there's no reason for us to stay here," she said.

"Are you really ready to face everyone?" he asked again.

Kaye nodded. "Yes... I will never run again."

Kyle smiled, kissed her forehead, and they both watched the people.

When Kaye and Kyle returned inside the hospital, they only saw Isaac waiting for them. He mentioned that Mikhail left without saying anything. Kaye and Isaac decided to return home as well; Kaye had been outside for too long, and Eros must be crying, waiting for her. Kyle stayed at the hospital to watch over Warren, who was still unconscious.

.

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....

In the dark night, within a narrow alley, Mikhail's men relentlessly beat members of the Boral Family, their family's enemies who had ordered the assassination of Warren. Mikhail signaled his men to stop and approached one of them, pressing his cigarette to the man's face, eliciting cries of pain.

"Tell this to your boss: dare to attack one of the members of my family again, and I won't hesitate to bomb the entire Boral Family, leaving no survivor alive," Mikhail warned.

He glanced at his men. "Kill them, except this one. Put a ribbon on them and send the bodies outside the mansion of the Boral Family."

"As you wish, sir," Kira bowed.

Mikhail checked his wristwatch; it was time to see Kaye now. He kicked the man in front of him and proceeded to walk toward his car.

.

.

....

At Kaye's house, Isaac and Mikhail found themselves in the living room, engaged in a silent, tense standoff. The silence between them created an awkward atmosphere that weighed on Kaye.

"Aren't you really going to reconcile?" Kaye sighed, breaking the silence.

"Tsk," Mikhail looked away, expressing his unwillingness.

Isaac scowled, making it clear that he wasn't interested in reconciliation either.

"Guys, c'mon... Just for me, please reconcile. How will I live with you if you two aren't on good terms? I don't want our family to be filled with hatred," Kaye pleaded.

"How will I know if that guy will not stab me behind my back? That man was a traitor," Mikhail said.

"Excuse me? Between us, you're the one who's more likely to stab me behind my back. I know how long you've been eager to kill me!" Isaac retorted.

"Right, I do want to kill you. If not for Kaye, I might have done it a long time ago," Mikhail admitted.

"Hear that, Kaye? It came directly from his mouth. And you want me to reconcile with this man?" Isaac said.

"Kaye, why do you have to protect that man? He's taking advantage of your kindness," Mikhail accused.

"What did you say?" Isaac snapped.

The two glared at each other once again, intensifying the tension. Kaye sighed once more, feeling the stress building up.

"Please..." she muttered, her stress evident.

The two noticed her distress, prompting Mikhail to fall silent. Isaac, however, held her hand. "Kaye, do you really want this?" he asked.

Kaye nodded, expressing her earnest desire for reconciliation.

"But even if I want to reconcile..." Isaac glanced at Mikhail. "I don't think this man will do it."

Mikhail raised an eyebrow in response.

"Kaye, I'm willing to do everything for you. If you really want it, then I'll do it. I will reconcile with him; just don't be upset with me," Isaac offered.

Mikhail was stunned by Isaac's unexpected change of attitude. This man was truly unpredictable, now acting kindly in front of Kaye, making Mikhail seem like the bad guy.

"Hey... Who said I won't do that?" Mikhail said in his cold voice.

Kaye's face lit up. "Will you reconcile with him?"

Mikhail averted his gaze. "If that's what you want, then I'll do it. I can't bear to see you stressed because of that bastard."

Kaye beamed. "Really?"

Mikhail nodded.

"Then please shake each other's hand!" Kaye said excitedly.

Mikhail was taken aback. He wasn't expecting this idea.

"Please?" Kaye pleaded, adopting a puppy-eyed expression.

"C'mon, little brother. Shake hands with me; you want to reconcile, right?" Isaac teased.

"And who do you think you're calling little brother?" Mikhail asked, visibly annoyed.

"I'm your older brother in our world," Isaac asserted.

"It's in the past; we're in this world now, and we're born as twins in this world!" Mikhail argued.

"Hmm?" Isaac crossed his arms and held his chin, pretending to contemplate. "But if I'm not mistaken, I was born first before you. I was born on December 20, and you were born on 21. That means I'm older," Isaac defended with a smirk.

Mikhail gritted his teeth in annoyance. This guy!

Kaye chuckled. "Pft. Hahhaa!"

The two brothers looked at her, confused.

"Haha, I'm sorry. I just... Pft... I just can't hold myself from laughing after hearing your explanation," Kaye said.

Isaac smiled, happy to see Kaye joyful.

"So, do you want to reconcile now?" Isaac asked Mikhail once again.

"Yeah..." Mikhail replied.

Isaac extended his hand, and Mikhail stared at it.

"C'mon, brother," Isaac teased.

"Tsk." Mikhail reluctantly held his hand, and they shook hands.

Mikhail rolled his eyes when he saw his brother grinning. Kaye was overjoyed after witnessing the two reconcile. Finally, they had learned to forgive each other and let go of the past animosity that had strained their relationship.