Chapter 01

Nora perspective:

We were at the dinner table. Eating. Just eating.

This was not the dinner that every happy family have. Well, this wasn't a happy family, at least for me. On the table there was my father, my stepmother and my very own stepsister.

"Nora, are you really ready for the business. Look you are stil-" my dad said to me a little hesitantly, but I cut him off.

"Of course, I am." I said to him not looking at him, eating.

"Well, you know from tomorrow you are starting-" I again cut him off.

"I know that."

"I will give you my full supp-" I again cut him off and this he was pissed. Good.

"I am done." I spoke. I get up from the table and was going from there.

"But I am not done with you." My dad snap at me.

"But I am done. I can handle the company. You don't have to worry about me." I glance at my stepmother then went to my room. I can hear Sana saying ridiculous thing behind, I sighed.

I close the door and jump on my bed and remember the day when it all start.

Flashback

18 years ago

"Papa, papa." I shouted when I spotted him, and he lift me up and hug me in his big arms.

"My princess, now come on say hello. This is your mother, Sana Simons." My dad introduces the women.

"Hello Ms. Simons. I am Nora. Nice to meet you." I politely said, keeping my manners.

"Well hello sweetie. Nice to meet you too." She grabbed my cheek and pinch it hard.

5 years later

"Nora, Nora princess. Where are you?" My dad calling me, I get out of my room and went to my dad.

"Yes dad." I answered him.

"Princess I am going for a business meeting in Switzerland, maybe I come months later, I don't know, when. But you have to listen Ms. Simons, okay princess?" My dad said to me, and I nod, don't know what she's goanna do to me now.

"Good girl, now say goodbye to papa." He passed me a smile and kisses my forehead. I kissed him m on cheek and hug him tightly, not daring to leave him. Until he called me. Afraid what going to happen if he leaves me?

"Nora, princess papa is going to be late dear."

I leave him and bid how m goodbye. Lucy, my stepsister my age, and now she was glaring me, because I accidently bump into her and for more drama she started to cry. Ms. Simons grab me by my forearm and shake me.

"Ms. Simons, I am sorry. It was an accident." I apologize to her, beg to her. Tears streaming into my eyes, but she didn't care she led me to a dark room and throw me on my knees.

"Accident. Accident is that you came into this world. If not, then this was all of my daughter." She grabbed a belt from a side and hitting me with it. I was shouting, begging, apologizing, but no one came. She started to tell me how she and her friend killed my mother and her friend. From that day I swear No matter what happened I am going to take revenge on her of my mother and her friend. 

Present

I laugh a little at the memory and a lone tear escaped my eye I wiped it harshly. Head to the washroom with my sleeping gown, to take a shower and then sleep.

I take off my clothes, and on my back, neck there were bruises which I've never. No, nobody let me treated because they want me to keep remembering myself for what they done to my family and me. I changed into my sleep wear and laid in bed, how can someone this greedy to kill thier own friend? How...

 Nicholas Perspective:

I wake up and head to the bathroom to take a shower and get in my closet to wear something, black pant with white dress shirt and comb my hair. I look at the time and it is 9:25. I went out of my room and head downstairs everyone was sitting there.

My father, stepmother, stepsister and brother.

I sighed and take a seat next to my father. " Good morning" I mumbled and sat. They all glance at me, my stepsister smiled at me and my stepbrother pat on my back. I smiled at both of them.

I continue to do breakfast, its complete silence until it broke by my own father. "There is a new deal in office. Don't mind being in meeting." Dad said.

"Yes" I obeyed.

"Dear. Why are you working so much. It would be bad for your health." My stepmother said. "Besides Seth can handle everything. Why are you pushing Nicholas? " I rolled at her fake worrisome She said glancing at me, more glaring at me.

"I know but this idiot had to learn something of business. After all he's the one who's going to handle the business, and Don't drag Seth into this he is still studying." My dad said harshly to her at last sentence.

"Nicholas" he said softly this time.

"Yes dad".

"Come in my room, when you are done." He said to me, I nod, and he get up, Elizebath (stepmother) helped him and went to his room. My sibling also went to school.

After few minutes, she came back and said, " You surely don't want to be death of your own father, right?"

"What do you mean by that?" I asked confused.

She scoffed and said " Don't you play dumb Infront of me. I already warned you that you have to stay away from business, Seth going to handle it. But you don't listen to me. You pathetic just like your mother." She spat the last sentence.

Pathetic did she even what the word meant, I didn't say anything. "James is calling you." She spate. I stand from my seat, went to dad room. I nudged her shoulder and walked upstairs, where dad called me. I knocked on the door and there was 'come in' shout, so I went in.

Dad was laying on the bed, he gestured me to sit down on the chair that was beside him. I sat on it. "Nicholas, do you know where is Adrian? He didn't come I want to discuss something from him." Dad asked confusely.

"He is helping his uncle; they open another branch of the resturant. He is a little busy. I was going to visit him."

"Nicholas, are you alright?" He asked concerned in his voice.

"Yes dad" I said looking at my intertwine hands in my lap. He sighed.

"You are grown up now, you know Nicholas. Just end your stubborness. You are not child anymore." He spoke. I looked anywhere but not him.

"I am sorry dad if I'm worrying you, but we already talk about it, right?" I said to him.

"So, you are not giving up."

I shake my head still not looking at him.

"Nicholas look at me." I did. "I know that you were too small to know that your mother died. But that is truth, you know" dad said in calm tone.

"Dad, I know you are worried about me, but I can't accept mom death was accident. At least for my own consolation let me do it, please."  I said pleading. "And from now on we are not talking about this subject." I said sternly.

"Alright, not this subject but I want to talk about a really serious matter." he said getting a little excited.

I tilt my head and frown, "what do you mean by that?"

"Nico, look you are grown up, you don't have any girlfriend as far as I know," He said scratching his head, I looked at him confusedly, "So, I want you to get married." He said like it was the most fun thing in the world.

There was silence for some moment, I looked at him disbelieve "WHAT" I asked shocked and get up from my seat.

"What do you mean by what? Didn't you understand what I said, idiot." dad in an annoying tone.

I sat down, shocked still on my face " You" I gestured my finger in his direction, " want me" back at me " to get married." I pushed married word. He nods. I take a long sigh. " Do you have someone in your mind." I asked glancing at my dad, my dad had a genuine smile on his face because he knows that I am going to listen everything he said, "Its look like you have someone in your mind." I said giving up to refuse. He nods still smiling. " Who is she? " I asked, not interested.

"She is my best friend daughter" dad said in his own memory.

"She doesn't have a name?" I asked looking at my dad like crazy.

"What kind of nonsense, of course she has a name." he said irritated by me. But what can I do it's not my fault that I don't know her name.

"Her name is Nora, Nora duke." Nora not a bad name.

"So are we going to meet 'her' or her 'family'." I said quoting her and family.

"Yup, at dinner, be a good boy, I don't want to disappoint by you." I chuckle at his statement.

"Okay." I spoke. " I think I have to get going Adrian is waiting I will meet you at dinner send me location." I said to him and hugged him. I was going to walk out but he called again. 

"Nicholas, think about it." I node and went to my car.

3:47 pm

"I've been waiting for you almost 2 hours and now you are showing up."

"I am sorry. Dad wants to discuss something."

"About what?" Adrian asked me.

"You know about something " I said to him not meeting his eyes, moving my hands round.

''And what is that something?" He asked me, mimicking me.

"Well, you know, something."

"What something?

"Just something"

"Nicholas" 

"What"

"What something?" I shrugged. The next moment he grabs the vase and gesture it that he is throwing at me, " you are going to tell me or not. I am already pissed off." He said in anger.

"You can't throw it on me. Uncle Mardin going to kick you." I mock him.

"For your very kind information this is my restaurant, no one can throw out me. So, tell me what is this some else." He mimics me and then again asked with gritted teeth.

"Okay okay I tell you." I said to him taking vase out from his tight grip.

"Now, tell me, I also want to go elsewhere."

"Where" I take a sip of drink and asked him.

"My uncle said to me, to get some things there, seriously I am not the only one here." He says to me, annoyingly.

I laughed, " that's why you were throwing vase on me, that you piss of your uncle and now you are annoyed by it."

"Well duh, does he even bother you"

"Who " I ask innocently.

"My uncle or who you fool."

"Well, what can I say?"

"What is 'something' you were talking about." He said quoting the something.

"Yeah, my dad said to me something..." I trail off don't know how to say it.

"Oh, come on Nicholas, I don't have whole day for you." Adrian plopping on his seat.

"My dad said to me to..."

"Too" he leaned on the table.

"To..."

"To what idiot" he snaps at me. The customers looking at us. We apologize to them. "Say it or my uncle going to kill me if I don't stop snapping at you." He hissed at me.

"So shut up, I am trying" I said also annoyed

"So don't try and say." He again snaps at me but in lower voice.

"Okay (my both hands Infront of him to calm him down) don't get too shocked." I said dramatically.

"Are your goanna say it, or I am going to kick you out." He threatens me.

"Uh... My dad said to me too... To ...get you know get married. I said fast and closed my eyes. First, I didn't hear anything, so I open my eyes.

"WHAT" he shouted and get up from his seat. Drama queen.

"Lower your voice idiot" I hiss at him.

"What are you talking about" Adrian said in whispering tone.

"That's what my dad said." I whispered back.

"What? How? When? When are you getting married? " He throwed question at me in whispering.

"I don't know" I said to him plopping on my seat.

"Did you say yes?" He asked I nod my head, "What" He shouted again, the customers started to look at us with weird expression. Adrian put a great smile and bowed them as apologize. I chuckle a bit. He turned towards me, "When are you meeting to her? And are we talking in whisper again." He asked innocently in whispering.

"Tonight. And you started it first." I answered his questions in whisper.

"What! about marriage. I swear I am not married." He said to me in whisper.

" No dumb, I am talking about whisper." I whisper to him.

"Oh, I thoug- " he was cut off by Martin smack his head. I laugh at his expression.

"What are you doing both of you?" He made a face that was disgusted.

"Nothing" Adrian said to him.

He is Adrian's uncle that is very honest, good, and caring towards both of us. 

"So why you were talking like that." He points his fore finger between both of us.

"Talking how? Nicholas how we were talking?" he said innocently, and I shake my head, shrugging.

"Adrian." Uncle said in Sturn voice.

"Uncle I was just leaving. Give me some moment."

"No, I won-" 

"Oh, that customer is calling you" Adrian said pointing to a random customer. Uncle turned but didn't got fool. He was getting another smack, but I interrupted.

"I think I should leave; I have to go somewhere." I said and Both of them look at me.

"Why? Where are you going?" Uncle asked curious.

"I was go-" I was cut off by no one else by Adrian.

"He is going to meet his to be wife" I smack his head and Martin was shocked to hear that, although its relief he doesn't shouted.

"You are getting married? When? "He asked, shocked in his voice.

"Yeah, I am." I said glaring at Adrian.

"So, who is she?" Martin asked.

"I don't know but dad know her." I answered honestly.

"Oh. So good luck I guess " he said smiling to me

I smiled back and said 'thank you' "I am going, now"

"I am coming with you." Adrian said.

"You are not."

"Yes, I am"

"No, you are not." I said harshly.

"Yes I am." He said back harshly.

"No. You. Are. Not." Martin said 

Adrian groan beside me and said, "but I am going to meet my to be sister-in-law."

"I hope no one in this world get a friend like you." I said while sighing.

"Don't worry I am only one in this world." Adrian said laughing. I chuckled at him.

Idiot.

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