Two years later
In a villa in Marina City, Cara Jao looked out at the waves as they came crashing into the cliff below.
She sighed as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
It had been two years and six months.
Two years and six painful months since she left Capital City. She she couldn't deny that she missed her father but most of all she missed the man that had sent her running to Marina City.
She had heard two years ago that Aldrich Lawrence had been forced to reveal his identity to the world.
If rumors were to be believed, he had a new woman on his arm every month, not letting any of them stay long enough.
Her heart broke the first time she heard that, but still, she didn't go running back to him.
As a matter of fact it made Cara even more stubborn, choosing to stay in Marina City.
Her father told her once that Al would come get her when it was safe.
It seemed safe now.
Her brother had practically vanished and Al was out in public dating hundreds of women.
"Cara!" She heard her aunt call out, pulling Cara out of her thoughts.
"What is it Auntie Pandora?" Cara asked as she turned from their villa's balcony.
"I need to talk to you." Pandora said as Cara entered the living room.
Cara was caught off guard when she saw her aunt with a man.
He looked at her lovingly, as if the world revolved around her. Cara couldn't help but feel slightly jealous, she wanted someone to look at her that way as well.
The man was around her aunt's age, he was handsome with european features but had tanned skin.
He smiled at Cara, looking at her as if he already knew everything about her.
"Please be seated, Cara." Pandora said as she gestured for Cara to sit across from them.
Cara eyes them suspiciously. Her aunt was too calm for a woman introducing a man to her family.
"Who is this?" Cara asked. She frowned as she realized she might have been a little bit too rude to her aunt's guest.
"Cara." Pandora said, smiling at her niece. "This is my fiance, Andres Rocci."
"Rocci?" Cara asked, shocked at the man's name. "Andres Rocci, Francesca Rocci's brother, the head of the Rocci Family. The man that sent my aunt running?"
Andres laughed and shook his head.
"No wonder young Aldrich is so captivated by her." He said as he smiled at Cara. "Yes, the one and only."
"Why are you marrying him? Don't you hate him or something?" She asked her Aunt Pandora. "If I'm not mistaken, dad told me he was the reason why you left Capital City. He was the very person that broke your heart and tore you from everyone you loved."
Cara's voice began to crack as she spoke of her aunt's pain in the past.
To her surprise, Pandora simply gave her a warm smile and shook her head.
"Cara, I was young and stupid." Pandora said. "I didn't run because of Andres, I ran because of the lies my father and the rest of the family had fed me and I mistakenly poured my anger and hate on Andres."
"We've spoken about the past." Andres said as he looked lovingly at Cara's aunt.
Cara couldn't deny that it was clear that Andres Rocci was still in love with her aunt.
"I plan to go home and marry Andres." Pandora suddenly declared, catching Cara off guard.
"Does my father know?" Cara asked. "Does he know you are leaving me here, alone in Marina city."
Pandora laughed and shook her head.
"Your father knows." Pandora told her niece. "He gave his blessing, the king of the underworld is aware as well."
"What about Al?" Cara couldn't stop the question from slipping from her thoughts to actual words.
Pandora smiled sweetly at her niece.
"He is aware." It was Andres that answered Cara this time. "As a matter of fact, I believe he plans to visit and speak to you before you and Pandora fly home."
"You aren't going with us?" Cara asked, surprised that Andres Rocci would let his fiance travel home without him.
Andres laughed and shook his head.
"I'm sure you will be safer with Aldrich Lawrence around." Andres explained. "The young man has been working twice as hard now, especially since your brother has not been heard from."
"I thought that would mean things have settled down." Cara gasped.
"No, it's quite the opposite." Andres said with a frown. "Al said I should tell you the truth. I wanted to keep it from you and your aunt, but Al told me you deserved the truth."
Cara nodded.
She knew that she had issues with Al's lies in the past.
"We have all been trying to locate your brother and his associates, but Ray and Al both agree that our lives cannot be put on hold because of Colin and his allies." Andres declared.
"When do we go home?" Cara asked her aunt. "And where does dad live now? Will I live with him? And what about university?"
"Your father lives in an apartment set up for him by the Lawrence family. He also is working legally in the Reyes Group." Andres explained.
"He left the underworld?" Cara was surprised her father left the mafia. It was all he had done his life.
He had been educated to live and thrive in the underworld.
"He dabbles from time to time, but only if Ray asks him to. Otherwise he avoids it." Andres told Cara.
"So when does Aldrich Lawrence get here?" Cara asked in a cold tone.
She needed to mentally prepare herself.
She waited years for him to show up and apologize but he did neither.
"He just has to attend a charity event for the Reyes Group in two days then he will fly here to collect you." Andres informed her.
"Fine." Cara said as she stood up and left the couple.
She needed to be alone.
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