Darkside

With that, Adam silently sipped on his coffee and smirked to himself. Deep in thought, he let out a chuckle as he responded, "Umm, that sounds interesting."

Nodding his head, he got up and paid the bartender, then left for his office. As he entered the office, he was met with chaos. Employees were in a hurry, work was under discussion, and files were scattered all around. It reflected the staff's activeness, but somehow the view made him uneasy due to the loss of track in everything. He examined everyone with a silent death glare, causing them to halt in the middle of their work and look at him fearfully.

"Sir!" one of the employees dashed towards him and bowed their head down instantly. Adam didn't bother to look at the person beside him as he was busy glaring at the remaining staff.

"What's happening here?" He growled, still glaring at the staff. The employee beside him flinched a bit before hesitantly replying, "Sir... the meeting you cancelled for Friday evening is creating a loss."

"Ahan, is that so?" Adam said, raising his eyebrow in amusement as he took a look at the owner of the voice.

"Yes, sir..." the employee muttered while shaking his head continuously.

"Oh... okay then. "Bring the files into my office," Adam ordered.

He was about to leave, but the employees spoke altogether, "But sir, they aren't complete yet!"

He turned around, examining all of them, and shook his head in acknowledgment while saying, "Oh, so that's what the chaos was all for... "

All of them nodded their heads in embarrassment and muttered a low "Yes."

"Okay then, complete it by 4 pm," he said while glancing at his watch and dashing towards his office.

Entering the office, he massaged his temples lightly and opened his laptop to start working. While working, his mind was diverted towards his encounter with Ella earlier that morning. Her chirpy voice rang in his ears, and he couldn't help but let out a chuckle, "She will be amused," he said out loud while rubbing his forehead.

It was almost 3 p.m., and a knock was heard on his office door. "Come in!" he responded sternly.

"I will come in if you still deny it," said a manly voice, causing him to look up with sparkling eyes. In walked a man in his late fifties in an all-gray outfit.

"Uncle Dany!" Adam joyfully said, rising from his seat to hug him.

"It's Daniel here, baby boy," his uncle joked.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Adam responded, waving his hands in the air as if surrendering.

"Still not changed, boy?" his uncle asked, laughing at his antics.

"Only for you," Adam said, hugging him again.

Breaking the hug, he held his uncle's hands, guiding him towards the chair to sit. Once they were seated, he asked curiously, "How's Aunt?"

"Better," his uncle replied shortly.

"Just better?" Adam asked with a frown.

"Yeah, you know, the doctor said it's like a mental stress that is eating her up... but she's afraid to open up to others... and to me..." his uncle responded with a sigh, avoiding showing his vulnerable side.

"You should talk it out," Adam suggested.

"I did," his uncle replied.

"Then?"

"She just laughed it off."

"What?" Adam was completely bothered by this.

"Yes," his uncle assured.

"But why, then?" Adam asked, giving his hands a little squeeze.

"My fault," his uncle responded, silent tears falling from his eyes. Adam just sat there, listening to all his words as he continued, "She thinks I will judge her too, like everyone else did... How can I make her see my heart? Can't she see her condition is killing me daily? Can't she forgive me? Can't she forget my past mistake?"

He yelled the last parts, looking brokenly into Adam's eyes. That's when realization hit him—he spoke too much. He hesitated and let go of Adam's hand. Uncle Daniel was looking everywhere but at him. Getting up from the couch, he faced the window in front of him, trying to control his tears and ignoring Adam's confused eyes.

"What did you do, uncle?" Adam's voice came out. Uncle Daniel didn't turn around.

"Uncle! I am asking something. Tell me!" Adam said sternly, tears pooling inside his own eyes too, but he kept himself stiff.

Uncle Daniel turned slowly, holding the glass in front of him for support as he broke down into tears while saying, "I hurt her."

"How?" Adam asked with all his courage.

That's all it took for Uncle Daniel to lose control as he let out, "I damaged her soul with my nonsense. She told me she wasn't wrong, but I didn't listen and slapped her."

Adam stood there dumbfounded by the situation. "When?" was all he could utter.

"25 years ago," Uncle Daniel said with embarrassment hanging in his voice.

Adam simply stood there, calculating the whole scenario in his mind. Slowly and cautiously, he held his uncle's hand and made him sit. While handing him a glass of water, he said, "Uncle here, drink it."

"I don't want to," Uncle Daniel said through tears.

"Uncle," Adam said with a stern look.

His uncle silently gulped down the water as Adam now held his hands tightly. "Uncle, see, I am not going to ask you the reason for raising your hand at Aunt Tessa, but let me make one thing clear to you. It was decades ago; it made her believe you didn't trust her. Show her that you will not judge her. Try to get her to open up to you so she can get well soon. Otherwise, she will suffer alone. Stop crying and do this. Show her your care."

Adam genuinely advised while wiping his uncle's tears.

"My boy has all grown up," his uncle said with a smile through teary eyes.

"I had to... you are the only family I have left," Adam says sorrowfully.

His uncle stares at him deeply before saying, "No son, you will have a family. The family you will make. A loving wife that will wait for you every day. A friend that will share all your good days and bad days with you. Your children that will make your dull life a happy one. You will have it."

His uncle caresses Adam's cheeks with each word as, unknowingly, tears flow from Adam's eyes. For a while, his mind clicks the image of Ella in front of his eyes when his uncle mentions family, but he denies it back.

"Not now, uncle," Adam mutters.

"Then when will, my child?" Uncle Daniel asks deliberately.

"It's not time," Adam declares with an intensely teary gaze.

"Please, Adam, my boy... Settle down... don't curse yourself," Uncle Daniel mumbles, holding his face in his hands.

"No! No! Not till I avenge them!" Adam roars, freeing himself from his uncle's grip as he stands up.

"Adam, that was years ago... it was an accident! Leave it!" his uncle pleads miserably.

"It wasn't! I saw him! How he let them die!" Adam growls in intense anger.

"Their daughter was bleeding! She was in a critical state! They had to save her! Try to understand!" his uncle desperately explains.

"But he could have called the cops!" Adam retorts furiously.

"He was in haste! You know that!" his uncle defends.

"Nah, he was afraid he might get caught!" Adam hisses, seething with rage.

"Adam, what are you trying to do?" Uncle Daniel is frightened by Adam's dark demeanor.

Adam smirks darkly as he mumbles, lowering his voice a bit, "Make his daughter pay for his deeds," and chuckles manically.

Adam's deep chuckle sent shivers down Uncle Daniel's spine, and he stood there, clutching his chest tightly in fear of his nephew's frightening words. The intensity of Adam's emotions was overwhelming, and Uncle Daniel couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and concern for what Adam might do next. He knew he had to try and reason with him, to bring him back from the edge of vengeance before it consumed him completely. But in that moment, he was at a loss for words, fearing that any wrong move could push Adam further into darkness.