chapter 26

Three days had passed since the tense moment between Amaira and Scar Boss. The mansion had been filled with a heavy silence as both of them avoided each other, the air thick with unspoken words and unacknowledged feelings. Scar Boss had become colder, more distant, as though trying to suppress the urge to confront Amaira. She, too, had retreated into herself, her heart in turmoil, caught between the lingering thoughts of their last conversation and the words of Luke that still echoed in her mind.But today, something had shifted. The atmosphere was different. The news of Dilip’s surgery had finally arrived, and as Amaira sat by her brother’s side, praying for his success, the anticipation had grown unbearable.Inside the sterile hospital room, the surgical team had worked meticulously, their focus unwavering. The surgery had been a success. Dilip was out of immediate danger. Amaira had felt the weight of the moment—the mixture of relief, hope, and for her brother's future. For the first time in days, she allowed herself a small breath of peace, knowing Dilip was going to be okay.Later that evening, when the news had settled, and Amaira took a moment to reflect in her room, Scar Boss and Luke were engaging in a different kind of conversation. The two men had always been close, however the tone of their conversation was different today—relaxed, unguarded, and oddly familiar.Luke had arrived at the mansion earlier in the evening, after the tedious surgery. Scar Boss, who had been in his study for hours, looked up from his work as Luke walked in, an easy smile on his face."Still working, huh?" Luke teased, dropping into a chair across from Scar Boss with his usual nonchalant demeanor.Scar Boss merely grunted in response, not bothering to look up from the documents scattered across his desk."Always," he muttered.Luke leaned back, stretching his arms out and glancing at the cluttered room. He hated the way Scar Boss always dressed his room: darka nd stern as his face. There was no cost element in them but the presence of the two friends together was enough to bring a subtle warmth."So, I heard everything went well with Dilip" Scar Boss began, his tone light but with a genuine undercurrent of concern."Yeah. It’s been a long few weeks. Especially with your sister's personal attention, I didn't have a moment of rest. But it’s done. Both your sister and Dilip will recover before you know it" His voice was quieter now, keeping aside the slight tiredness. Luke hadn't taken any rest. After Dilip's surgery was over, he came back to the mansion with his main motive to pack his belongings.Scar Boss looked at his papers. As much as he wanted to talk with his pal, he knew he had to complete his task but he did notice that Luke shifted a bit clearly meaning to talk something important."I am leaving." He declared. Scar Boss finally looked up. "That early?" He couldn't help but get surprised"Well, it does seem that my patients will recover soon. I am not needed anymore here. So I decided to leave. I booked the earliest flight this midnight." Scar Boss's face softened just slightly, a rare moment of humanity breaking through his usual cold façade.Keeping his papers aside, he initiated the conversation. "I wonder when we will meet again"Nostalgia formed in Luka's heart, "Don't know. Maybe long enough. I still remember those days when we promised each other to stay together and never have to leave the country. But time flows and we have grown. We need to find our own place and our own people!" Luke replied, his voice laced with sincerity. He paused for a moment before continuing, a more thoughtful expression overtaking his usual playful one. "That reminds me, how are you holding up with all of this?"Scar Boss raised a brow. "What do you mean?""You know what I mean! I am talking about Amaira. Have you thought about it?"Scar Boss didn’t answer immediately. He glanced out the window, as though contemplating his next words carefully. The flickering of the outside lights seemed to mirror the flicker of doubt in his mind."I don’t know" he said finally, his tone lower, almost hesitant. "It's not easy. Not anymore. The revenge... it never feels like enough. And now with Amaira involved... things are getting more complicated than I thought."Luke, who had been observing him closely, sat forward. He knew Scar Boss—he always kept his emotions guarded, his thoughts hidden behind that cold exterior. But tonight, it was as if a crack had appeared, allowing a glimpse into the man behind the mask."You know," Luke said casually, though his eyes were sharp, "it’s clear to me that this whole act... the coldness, the distance... it’s all just a front. You’re trying to keep her at arm’s length. But you’re not fooling anyone. Not me, anyway."Scar Boss narrowed his eyes, his expression hardening. "What are you talking about?"Luke’s smile remained, but it was different now—more knowing. "I’ve been watching. You act like you don’t care, but I can see it. You can’t keep pretending forever."Scar Boss shifted in his chair, uncomfortable with how accurately Luke had hit the mark. " don’t have time for this."But Luke wasn’t done. He leaned forward, his voice lowering to a serious tone. "No, you need to hear this. I know you’re trying to hide your feelings, but you can’t run from them. Not forever. You’ve already started feeling something for her, and you know it."Scar Boss looked away, as though the very idea of it made him uneasy. "It’s complicated."Luke chuckled softly, as if understanding the weight of the word. "Isn’t everything in your life complicated? But let me tell you something. You don’t need to hide it anymore. It’s time for you to chase what you want. To stop pretending like you don’t care. Amaira... she might be part of this twisted mess, but you’ve crossed a line. You can’t go back now."Scar Boss remained silent, his gaze distant, processing the words that Luke had thrown at him. It was rare for him to allow anyone to speak to him so frankly. But there was a certain truth in Luke's words that he couldn’t ignore.Luke continued, his voice calm but firm. "I’ve seen the way she looks at you. I know what you’ve been hiding, Nicolo. But if you keep pushing her away, you’ll lose her, and you’ll never get the chance to fix it. You'll regret it later when it's too late."There it was again—Luke’s words cutting through the silence like a blade. Scar Boss felt his jaw tighten, the weight of his past decisions pressing down on him."I won’t lose her" Scar Boss finally muttered, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.Luke smiled knowingly, standing up from his seat. "It’s time, my friend. Time to stop running from what you really want. Don’t wait too long. Don't chase the race of revenge and give in to your heart."As Luke turned to leave, he paused at the door and glanced back one final time. "You know what you need to do."Scar Boss sat in his chair, the words echoing in his mind. He could still hear Luke’s voice, clear and unwavering: It’s time to chase your heart.For the first time in days, Scar Boss found himself considering the truth of those words. As the door closed behind Luke, Scar Boss leaned back in his chair, his eyes staring out the window, lost in  thought. The path ahead was murky, but one thing was clear: he couldn’t keep running from his feelings anymore.