Misunderstanding

Mikhail's excitement to see Kaye heightened as he glanced at the roses in the backseat of his car. Approaching Kaye's workplace, he noticed her engaged in conversation with someone outside. Intrigued, he stopped the car and observed discreetly.

"What are you doing here, Timothy?" Kaye inquired, surprised by his unexpected presence outside their building.

Timothy, having called her to announce his arrival, confessed, "I just want to see you, Kaye."

"Tim, we've discussed this, right? We're just friends now," she asserted.

"I know. I just... I can't forget you," Timothy sighed, struggling with his emotions.

"Timothy, please don't be too hard on yourself," she said.

"I'm sorry. I've accepted we're only friends, but I was hoping you won't stop me from seeing you," he pressed.

Kaye fidgeted, sensing the complexity of the situation.

"Why don't you want to see me? Have you found someone else? Do you already have a lover?" Timothy asked.

Kaye took a deep breath, meeting his gaze. "Yes, I already have a boyfriend. So please don't bother me anymore, or my boyfriend might misunderstand," she confessed.

"Is it the doctor from J General Hospital?" he inquired.

"Yes, it's him," she confirmed.

Timothy smiled. "He seems nice. I'm sure he'll take good care of you, unlike what I did before. I regret it."

Kaye felt a pang of guilt.

"If only I could turn back time," Timothy added, regret lacing his words.

"If only we could turn back time, I wouldn't have accepted you. I would've done everything to avoid losing my memories," Kaye thought.

"Please leave now, Tim, before someone sees you. I don't want my boyfriend to get jealous," she urged.

Timothy's eyes reflected sadness. "Alright. I'm sorry for bothering you."

Kaye turned to leave, but Timothy spoke again, "Can I hug you?"

"Tim, that's enough," she insisted.

"This will be the last time. After this, I won't bother you again," he promised.

"Will you promise?" she asked.

Timothy nodded, and with a sigh, Kaye conceded, "Fine."

Timothy smiled and embraced her tightly. Little did she know, someone was taking pictures of them.

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Mikhail's hands tightened on the steering wheel as he swiftly departed from the scene. So, is this how we are now?

Bringing the car to a stop, he discarded all the roses into a nearby trash bin.

That night, Mikhail didn't show up at Kurtis' house, ignoring calls and seeking solace in the nightclub. Despite consuming copious amounts of alcohol, he remained sober. Women from the club cast glances his way, and a few even approached him, but he paid them no attention.

Worried about Mikhail, Kaye asked Benjamin's help to find him. Learning of Mikhail's presence in their nightclub, they hurried there.

"Did you see him?" Kaye inquired, scanning the crowded and noisy surroundings.

Her gaze halted when she spotted Mikhail with a woman on his lap. Just as the woman was about to kiss him, Benjamin intervened, pulling Kaye away and covering her eyes to shield her from the painful sight.

"Benj," Kaye whispered, suppressing tears. "Let's go home."

Benjamin nodded in understanding. As they exited the club, Kaye couldn't contain her emotions and burst into tears. Benjamin, unable to witness her distress, enveloped her in a comforting hug.

"I-It hurts..." she cried, expressing the pain caused by Mikhail's actions. Benjamin gently rubbed her back as she continued to cry in his consoling embrace.

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Mikhail forcefully pushed the woman away when she attempted to kiss him. "Get lost! Fuck!" he yelled, the woman hastily retreating in fear.

"Sir..." Kira appeared, addressing him.

"What now?" Mikhail asked, clearly irritated.

"The Boss is on the phone," Kira informed, handing him the phone.

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As Kaye calmed down, Benjamin drove her home in a heavy silence. As he drove, she sat silently in the backseat, staring out of the window. Benjamin stole a glance at her through the rear-view mirror, noticing her swollen eyes from the recent tears.

Breaking the quietude, Benjamin urged, "Please trust him."

Tears welled up in Kaye's eyes again. "Why did he do that?" she questioned.

"He isn't the type to get involved with other women. Even back in Serolf Empire, his eyes were only on you. I'm sure it was just a misunderstanding," Benjamin reassured.

"I don't know... I don't know, Benj," Kaye whispered, wiping away her tears.

Benjamin sighed, pulling the car to a stop. He stepped out and opened the car door. "Take some fresh air. It will help you," he suggested.

Guiding her out of the car, they sat on the boulevard, watching the night sky. As Kaye cried again, Benjamin felt the ache in his heart. Unable to bear seeing her in pain, he tenderly embraced her, allowing her head to rest on his shoulders. Throughout her difficult moments, William consistently stood by her side, offering unconditional love.

"I love him so much," Kaye muttered.

"I know," he responded, feeling the ache in his heart.

"You always witnessed me being weak," she remarked.

"Being weak means I have to protect you even more," he whispered, holding her as she sobbed.

"You said before... That if we ever meet in another life, maybe you will love me too." Benjamin clenched his fist. "Will that ever happen?"

Kaye locked eyes with him.

"I still love you, Kaye," he admitted.

Tears continuing to stream down her cheeks. "Benj..."

Without waiting for her response, he kissed her on the lips. Kaye closed her eyes, caught in a whirlwind of emotions. Perhaps due to the profound hurt she felt, she allowed him to kiss her. This might be wrong, but her thoughts were too muddled to think straight.

William... You're always there for me. Even in my darkest time. You saved me many times, and even sacrificed your life for me. I'm sorry that I made you suffer because of me.

She found herself responding to his kisses.

They went inside the car, their kisses deepened, and Benjamin slowly removed her clothes. She moaned as his kisses went down to her neck to her bosom. The car filled with her moans and it grew louder when Benjamin moves faster and deeper inside of her.

In that peaceful evening, something intimate occurred between them inside the car.

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....

Days passed, but Mikhail continued to ignore Kaye, leaving her hurt and burdened with guilt. She wondered if he had discovered what happened between her and Benjamin. But he also cheated on her.

Noticing Kaye lost in thought, Raon decided to invite her for dinner.

"Honey, try this one. It's our best-seller," he suggested, trying to lift her spirits.

"Thanks," Kaye replied, taking a bite. "Hmm, it's delicious!"

Raon smiled, "I told you."

As Kaye enjoyed the meal, Raon observed, "Now you're finally smiling."

She paused, and he sensed her hesitation. "I'm not dense; I can feel that something is bothering you. It's Mikhail, right?" Raon asked.

"I'm sorry," she confessed.

Wiping her mouth with a tissue, Raon reassured her, "Honey, if you're sad, you can talk to me. I'm always willing to listen."

"But isn't it weird, talking to you about my problems with Mikhail. You see..." she trailed off, lowering her head.

"I am also your husband," Raon reminded her.

Kaye held back tears, expressing her gratitude. "Thank you, honey."

Raon smiled again, and they continued their meal. However, his phone rang, and he excused himself to answer the call, stepping outside. During the conversation, something outside caught his attention.

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Fuck!

Mikhail cursed silently as they entered the restaurant. He found himself with Dhyna, the daughter of his grandfather's friend. Learning that she had been in love with Mikhail Fuentebella since they were young felt utterly absurd to him.

This is fucking insane.

He and Kaye were still on bad terms, and now this woman suddenly appeared in his life. He didn't even like her; in his eyes, she was ugly. Kaye remained the only beautiful woman in his eyes.

Dhyna came to J City for business, and his grandfather requested him to entertain her. However, he couldn't tolerate her behavior, feeling an intense desire to strangle her.

"I heard this is the famous restaurant in this city. I'm excited to taste their dishes!" Dhyna exclaimed and hugged his arms, causing him to inadvertently touch her boobs.

Mikhail rolled his eyes, expressing frustration. If it weren't for his grandpa, he would have already kicked this woman out.

But he stopped walking when he and Kaye saw each other.

"Kaye?" he muttered.

Kaye, surprised, glanced at Dhyna and then at their intertwined arms.

"Kaye!" Raon came running.

He was right; it was indeed Mikhail with another woman. Mikhail was about to speak, but Kaye stood up.

"Let's go," she said to Raon, ignoring Mikhail.

Raon glanced at Mikhail, who averted his gaze.

"Alright," Raon said, holding Kaye's hand as they walked past Mikhail and Dhyna.

Mikhail wanted to stop them, but he decided not to. He only watched as they left the restaurant.

Dhyna, unaware of the situation, asked, "Do you know them?"

"Tsk." Mikhail pulled his arm. "Go and sit down at that table, then order whatever you want," he said.

"But where are you going?" Dhyna inquired.

"To smoke," he replied coldly and left her.

Dhyna just shrugged and called the waiter.

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Raon glanced at Kaye while driving.

"I'm alright," Kaye said while staring out the window.

"I will talk to him," Raon said.

"You don't have to," she replied.

"But he has to explain what we saw earlier," he insisted.

"He should have said a word earlier, but he chose to remain silent. It's already clear for me," she expressed, believing that Mikhail was involved with another woman.

Perhaps he had already fallen out of love because of what she did. In her eyes, it was all her fault in the first place.

"Don't jump to conclusions, hon. What if it's just a misunderstanding?" Raon suggested.

"Misunderstanding?" Tears welled in her eyes. "Claude, which side are you on?"

"Kaye, it's not about whom I'm siding with. My only point is you have to know what's really behind it," he explained.

"I can't... I can't take it anymore, Claude. I can't take it anymore!" she shouted, bursting into tears. "I am already hurt, and I don't want to listen anymore. What if..." she sobbed. "What if he really fell in love with that girl, and that's why he's being cold to me now?"

"Kaye..." he muttered.

Kaye continued to cry aloud. "I can't take any more pain again!"

Raon stopped the car and hugged her tightly as she cried in his arms.

"Tsk," Raon began to feel irritated at Mikhail. That bastard, how dare he make her cry. I thought he loved Kaye so much? I can't believe he would do this to her.

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....

At the airport, Ivan finally arrived in the Philippines, specifically in J City. Traveling alone as his mother couldn't leave her work in Italy, he smiled, hopeful that he would find a lead about Kaye in this city.

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....

Inside Timothy's condo, his room was shrouded in darkness, with lights off and curtains blocking the windows. Distraught and desperate for Kaye, he called her name, glancing at photos of them hugging. An eerie smile crossed his face as he picked up his phone and called someone.

"Hello? I have something for you to do," he said, smirking while staring at their photos.

Kaye, I won't leave you alone until you're mine.