chapter 39

Six Years LaterThe young man sitting at the window of the luxurious office had sharp, grey eyes that stared out into the bustling city below. His features were flawless, his jawline strong, his raven-black hair styled to perfection. He had an undeniable Italian look, an aura of power surrounding him despite his apparent youth. Yet, beneath his composed exterior, there was an air of something lost—something irretrievably broken.The city stretched beneath him, but he wasn’t looking at it. His mind was far away, in another time, another place. A place that had been taken from him too soon. His fingers lightly grazed the smooth surface of his desk, lost in thought. The world has changed in the six years since that day. His world had changed. The power he once wielded, the empire he built... it all felt distant now. But one thing remained unshaken. Her memory.The door opened quietly, and a figure entered. It was Richard, his loyal assistant, standing tall and professional as always. The moment he stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted, as if something important was about to unfold.“Boss,” Richard said, his tone respectful but cautious. It was always hard on him when his Boss was in his thoughts. He no longer wore the overpowering mask, but this didn't stop his rueful aura from vanishing. And after what happened 6 years ago, Scar Boss_ Nicolo had become even more challenging to handle.The young man, who had been lost in his thoughts, turned slightly, his gaze still sharp and distant.“Is everything ready?” the man asked, his voice low, almost cold. His eyes flicked to the door, but his mind was elsewhere.Richard hesitated, his gaze lingering on the man in front of him, as though searching for something. “Everything is ready, Boss,” he replied, his voice neutral. “But I need to speak with you about something.”The man sat up straighter in his chair, his expression unreadable. "What is it?"Richard stepped forward, his footsteps steady. “It’s about the meeting later. We need to prepare for the negotiations. But... there’s something I need to say. I’ve noticed you haven’t been yourself. You’ve been distant. Preoccupied.”The man remained silent, his gaze unwavering, his thoughts seemingly drifting elsewhere.Richard continued bearing the fright of possible future consequences. “You know... it's been six years since... since the accident. You’ve built an empire, but there’s always been this weight around you. You don’t have to keep it all inside. You can let go, Boss."There was a moment of stillness, and then the man finally spoke, his voice quiet but heavy with emotion. "I’ve let go of everything, Richard. I left the mafia world and the mask. Everything except... her. That’s the one thing I couldn’t control. The one thing that I’ll never get back. She did not die alone that day. Scar Boss died with her!"Richard looked at his Boss, his heart heavy with sympathy. "You never really let go, did you?"The man didn’t answer. Instead, his gaze turned toward the window again, his sharp grey eyes reflecting the city lights in the distance, but his mind was far, far away.The silence between them hung heavy for a moment as if the weight of the past still pressed down on the young man in front of Richard. His posture stiffened again, as though a wall was being built around him once more.The man’s jaw tightened, his expression sharpening as his eyes flashed toward Richard with an intensity that sent a chill through the room. "I don't need your pity, Richard. I’ve made my choices" he said, his voice cold.Richard didn’t flinch. "I know you have, Boss. But we all make mistakes. And sometimes, the past doesn't stay buried like we think it does."There was a long pause, and then the man stood up abruptly, walking toward the window. His back was to Richard now as he stared out at the skyline, lost in his thoughts."I didn't choose this life, Richard"; the young man murmured, almost to himself. "I didn’t choose the pain... or the way it all ended. But I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter. It never mattered."Richard stayed quiet, watching his Boss, his loyalty unwavering. He knew the depths of the man’s pain, but he also knew that no amount of words could reach him right now.Finally, the man spoke again, his voice soft but resolute. "But there’s something I’ve learned in all of this... You can't outrun the things that haunt you. They’ll find a way to catch up with you, no matter what. And when they do, you have to decide what you’re willing to lose."Richard didn’t respond. He simply nodded and stepped toward the door."Let me know when you're ready for the meeting," he said quietly. "We’ve prepared everything."The young man didn't turn around. "Let's do it now. Life must go on and I must go on, just as she would have wanted," he said, his voice distant.As Richard left, the door closed softly behind him. The man remained alone, his eyes fixed on the city below. His fingers curled into fists by his sides.In the quiet solitude of his office, he allowed himself a moment to remember. To remember her. To remember the life he had with her, even if it had been stolen from him too soon.The past six years had felt like a long, endless storm. But through it all, one thing remained. The memory of her. And even though he tried, no matter how many times he told himself to move on... the truth remained.He couldn’t forget her. And perhaps, he never would.Author's note: This is the 39th chapter, which should have been published earlier, but due to some publishing problem, I guess it was not. I noticed it right now and immediately uploaded it. You can read this chapter before I reorder it again. And excuse your author for the inconvenience. Happy reading!