Empty.

"WELCOME BACK!..." Irene heard her friends shout the moment she stepped into the cafe.

"Thank you guys, I missed you so much " she hugged her girlfriends.

"We missed you too " Rose and Irene hugged her back.

"No one visited me while I was home?" she sighed as they sat down.

"We wanted to give you some alone time with your future husband " Vivian laughed.

Irene gave her a half-smile and took a sip of her juice. After everyone had left Rose stayed behind to keep her company.

"I noticed that when Vivian talked about your upcoming wedding your reaction was discouraging " Rose looked up at Irene.

"It's nothing am just wondering if am still up for the wedding anymore," she said

Rose got up and walked to where her friend was, " Hi, you don't get to act foolishly like I once did and run away from your problems. What happened had nothing to do with you since it happens all the time to some women " Rose let out.

"I know it's not my fault but..." Rose stopped Irene

"If you know it's not then what's this nonsense your spouting. Am still wondering why I ever tried to run away from my responsibilities in a stupid way I can't allow you to do the same "

She moved closer to her best friend and hugged her, " I can't say I know how it feels to almost be a mother but then lose that chance cause I have never experienced it but I know your a strong woman who can go through this "

"Am just so empty " Irene cried.

"I know but if you keep pushing away the love Sean and us are giving you then that emptiness will grow even bigger so lets us be there for you okay "

Irene nodded, " I missed you " she hugged Rose.

Sean received a call from his mother a few days later requesting to see him but especially check and apologize to Irene.

He hesitated first but Arthur and his father persuaded him to give her a chance.

"I don't hate my mother I love her but after what I saw her do to Irene after all the chances I gave her. I just got tired of watching her hurt the woman I love like that " Sean explained to Arthur.

He turned to look at Arthur who was facing the big windows in silence as he listened to Sean complain about his mother.

"I mean look at you. You promised her never to hurt others again but immediately she was hurt you didn't butt an eye while killing all those who were behind it " Sean smirked.

A frown seemed to appear on Arthur's face the moment Sean finished the statement. Sean noticing the change moved back.

"Am sorry I didn't mean to say that " he said running out of Arthur's office.

Arthur watched Sean's body disappeared behind his office door, he fell back into his seat and gazed at the sky through the window.

"I don't know if I can live with this secret and still wake up with her in my arms " he sighed.