The initial tragedy of it all.

Chapter 15

Ethan was standing naked in a room that he did not live in; he had no reflection on what happened last night. Everything was beyond the club fight; the wound on his side and shoulder was now gone; he was tired and out of breath; the idea that something meaningful had just happened was not even there; there was no reflection at all, not even a vague memory of the events that transpired. Ethan's mind was blank, his body sore and bruised, as he tried to piece together the missing puzzle of his lost memories.

Ethan could hear people talking outside the bedroom door; it was getting louder and closer. He was able to quickly grab his pants, run toward what looked like the bathroom door, and hide there. As he crouched down behind the door, Ethan's heart raced with fear and confusion. The voices outside grew louder, and he could feel his pulse quicken as he struggled to make sense of his surroundings.

The voice of an elderly woman just barged in and was panickingly calling out Katarine's name, asking if she was okay. As the woman entered the room and saw her sleeping she demanded what in world happened, The confusing news about her sudden disappearance and even death inside a burning club building was spreading like wildfire. The elderly woman was asking Katarine's father about the news that she saw while on the private jet to their destination. Katarine's father looked calm and immediately turned on the news channel to let his mother the Grand Matriarch Helena Felicie Siegert, see the breaking story for themselves.

The people who were inside the Katarine room were elder members of their family, and the noise they created finally woke her up. As soon as she raided her hand , everybody realized what they just did and began to panic because they all knew what kind of temper Katarine has when she gets annoyed. The last tantrum she had when she was 14 years old was when she blew the east wing of Burghausen Castle, where the garden was located, the same place where the Grand Matriarch Helena Felicie Siegert used to hold her tea parties. Everyone scrambled to leave her room before Katarine's wrath was unleashed once again. The memory of that explosive tantrum still haunts them all.

And they are going to see that again here; even Grand Matriarch Helena Felicie Siegert, head butler Kraus positioned themselves to protect the Grand Matriarch. Katarine sat up and strenched her arms; everybody who was seeing this was holding their breath, While the news of the club phantom explosion was being reported, the tension in the room reached a breaking point. Katarine's unpredictable behavior was a constant source of anxiety for all those in attendance.

When Leonhardt Maier Siegert Katarines father spoke with a calm and authoritative tone, the room fell silent as all eyes turned to him for guidance. It was clear that his words would carry great weight in the decisions to come.

"This is an inane reaction , coming from my own blood line,"

"Really, mother , you came all the way here just to stand behind Kraus."

"Honestly, Leonhardt, can you blame me? Among generation after generation, Katarine holds the most unpredictable flame our clan has ever seen."

" its the same Flame as the Ophanim ."

"The agreement with the seven still stands firm."

"Her flame is slowly getting out of hand; how long do we have to wait until the final seal breaks,"

"The only thing that could stop this is the kaleidoscope."

"This would be a huge issue if you, Leonhardt just listened to me in the first place."

"This again, mother,"

"How long has it been? The past is haunting us more than ever."

"I will never renounce my love for my wife Eurielle."

"Sign! Guys please I have a splitting headache. Can all of you leave my room!"

"My dear how are you feeling?"

"Grandmother, I'm feeling much better now that you're here. Your presence always brings me comfort."

"Don't worry, dear. I'll make sure everyone gives you some space to rest and recover."

"I appreciate that, grandmother. I just need some peace and quiet right now."

"Of course, I'll take care of everything. Just focus on getting better, my dear."

Hearing this made Leonhardt smile. Nobody noticed the change but her father instantly saw the change in his daughter's reaction. When she was still her old self this place should have been engulfed in flames and destruction. Leonhardt's father knew that his daughter's strength and resilience were still there, even if hidden beneath her current vulnerability. She finally opened her heart to possibility.

That small change was enough to convince him they had found the right person, who could help Leonhardt heal and recover from whatever she was going through. Her father felt a glimmer of hope for her future, knowing that she was on the path to recovery. Ethan was sadly gone and found a way to leave the place by rappelling down from the second floor mansion that was situated in the most expensive district in the city.

The 2000 square meter Siegert mansion was located on top of an artificial hill in the southwest corner of the city, near where the government protected the last remaining virgin forest. Ethan had always been an adventurous soul, and his escape from the mansion was a testament to his resourcefulness.

As he disappeared, he just climbed over the 10-foot wall and proceeded to walk barefoot with a towel covering his upper body. Ethan was already on the main street when a car horn made him look; it was Mr. Ross driving the warehouse delivery van, waving frantically at him to get in. Ethan never hesitated, even for a moment. The fact that he was half naked and getting arrested by the police would be really terrible.

Ethan could not believe the coincidence that his boss was in the area; as he recalled, his delivery business is associated with Siegert Corporation, maybe a subsidiary. As he settled in, he wondered if Mr. Ross had any idea about the trouble he was in because he had no memory of what so ever. Mr. Ross handed him a shirt and a pair of running shoes and told him half the truth.

"Mr. Ross, I am really worried. The fact that this situation I am in is making me question every choice I make."

" I need to know if Siegert Corporation is involved in any illegal activities that could be linked to me."

" Can you please provide me with more information about our business dealings with them?"

Mr. Ross hesitated for a moment before responding,

"I understand your concerns, but rest assured that everything will be fine as long as you continue to cooperate with me."

" Siegert Corporation is a clean and reputable company with no history of illegal activities. I will provide you with a detailed report on our business dealings with them to ease your worries."

" I was once a part of Siegert Corporation; sadly, for personal reasons, I resigned."

" I started this delivery business with the intention of providing a reliable and trustworthy service to our clients."

" I can assure you that my past experience with Siegert Corporation will only benefit our partnership moving forward."

" I can vouch for their integrity and professionalism based on my personal experience working with them." " Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to ensure our business relationship remains transparent and successful."

"But those who see Siegert Corporation as competitors are the ones you must be weary of."

"They have been known to use underhanded tactics to gain an advantage in the market."

"Many are targeting Katarine because they see her as a weak link."

"As you saw in the news, she is unpredictable and volatile, which can make her an easy target for those looking to exploit weaknesses."

"It's crucial that we remain vigilant and support our main client in order to protect our business interests and maintain a strong position in the market."

"All of the negative press about her has small validity, but it's not the whole truth, so we must be careful not to make assumptions based solely on what we see in the media. It's important to gather all the facts before making any decisions that could impact our business relationship with Katarine."

"I witnessed her growing up; her personality might be somewhat hard to comprehend, but you already know that."

"Yes and no, it's really hard to comprehend what she is like. She just does what she wants,"

"Exactly; she's always been independent and unpredictable. That's what makes her so intriguing to work with."

"Agreed, it keeps things interesting and challenges us to think outside the box."

"But sometimes it can also be frustrating when we're trying to plan and she throws a curveball."

"True, but it also pushes us to adapt and be more flexible in our approach."

"Remember, Ethan, you are the only person she could rely on, it might be a very unconventional and weird first encounter,"

"I witnessed her growing up; her personality might be somewhat hard to comprehend, but you already know that."

"That's a great foundation to build on moving forward."

"Huh! Wait, how did you know that?"

"I just know things,

"Just keep being yourself and supporting her; she'll appreciate that more than anything."

"But... I have no idea what to do next; everything started off in a very chaotic way,"

"That's the fun part, Ethan, embracing the chaos and unpredictability of life. Just go with the flow and see where it takes you."

"It may seem overwhelming now, but you'll figure it out as you go along. Trust yourself and have faith in the process."

"Remember, every experience is a chance to learn and grow. Embrace the journey ahead with an open mind and heart."

"Mr. Ross, thank you for your wise words of encouragement. I will try to keep an open mind and trust in the process moving forward."

"Just admit that you are playing cupid here."

"She is truly beautiful but has a soft, unseen side to her."

"Yes, Katarine is like a wild flower, but I can't force love to bloom where it doesn't belong. I'll simply create opportunities for them to connect and see where it leads."

"I understand your intentions, boss, but I believe love should be allowed to grow naturally "

"Let's see if they have a genuine connection that can blossom on its own."

"You do like her, right?"

"That's the weird part; my brain is telling me that she's not the right fit for me, but my heart seems to think otherwise."

Ethan smiled , feeling torn between his logical thoughts and emotional desires. He knew he needed to trust his instincts and give love a chance to unfold in its own way. as Mr. Ross offered a reassuring pat on his shoulder and reminded him that sometimes the heart knows best in matters of love. Ethan nodded, feeling comforted by Mr. Ross's wise words, and decided to follow his heart despite his initial doubts.

'Sometimes our instincts can surprise us in matters of the heart.' Mr. Ross returned the smile, his gaze softening.

'I agree, Ethan; you can step back a little and allow the relationship to unfold organically without any forceful interference.'

The air hung heavy with unspoken emotions, the future of their playful manipulation of fate was hanging in the balance. Ethan took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over him as he embraced the uncertainty of what was to come. With Mr. Ross's guidance, he was ready to let go of control and let love take its course.

"its just annoying, to think my first time had no memories to remember."

"What do you mean by that, Ethan?"

"Huh! Oh, it's nothing, Mr. Ross."

Meanwhile, detectives and news reporters were still conducting their investigation with

The recent destruction of Club Phantom was a mystery that continued to unfold, with new revelations by standers who were outside the club witnessing the panic and chaos that ensued.

The burst of people running out was recorded by those who helped smart phones capture the scene, adding to the ongoing coverage of the incident. The authorities were piecing together witness accounts and surveillance footage to try and understand what had led to the destruction of the popular high end nightclub.

The video capturing the explosion was shared on social media, quickly going viral and sparking speculation about potential causes or suspects. As the investigation continued, more details emerged about the events leading up to the explosion, leaving both authorities and the public eager for answers.

But one thing was sure: many were pointing out that a powerful burst of light was seen first going up, and after a few minutes, a powerful burst of fire engulfed the nightclub, luckily no death were reported.

The authorities assured the public that they were working diligently to piece together the timeline of events and identify any individuals responsible for the incident. The community came together to support those affected by the explosion, demonstrating resilience in the face of tragedy.

But one man was carefully watching the last footage taken within the club before it burned down to the ground, determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious fire. As Victor scrutinized the footage, he noticed something wrong.

" I finally have confidence."

"' I wasn't hallucinating, oh my sweet Dear Katarine Horn Siegert."

" You are truly a magnificent, lovely specimen."

Victor's heart raced as he realized the significance of what he had found in the footage. The pieces were starting to come together, and he knew he was on the brink of a breakthrough in solving the mystery behind the fire that nearly took his life.

but also opened up a whole new world of questions and possibilities.