Her Decision

It's dark outside when Henrick and Georgina come out inside the mall, where they spend their time watching movies, playing in the time zone, trying ice skating, and eating in a fast food chain. They walk here and there. Though she didn't want to buy anything, he still bought her everything.

She thought Henrick would punish her for spending time with Giovanni, but the way she sees it, it's not a punishment but an award. Throughout the entire time, Georgina keeps looking at him, but Henrick's on his usual playful side. She doesn't know what he's thinking or planning after the things that happened before. It's not like he has something to do with her family affair, and she's just dragging him to the edge to fall together.

A deep sigh escapes from her mouth upon having random thoughts.

"We're here at last." Georgina flinched when he hastily grabbed her hand and dragged her towards the bench. "It's my secret place, and even Kiela doesn't know it. You're the first person. Aren't you lucky?"

Georgina didn't speak but looked at the view ahead of her. They're in an overlooking place, it's a very secluded one, and they can see the entire scenery of the city, the glistening lights from cars, billboards, and street lights. It's beautiful and peaceful to watch. Besides, the place isn't broad as the first overlooking place she went to before. There's a small space with a single old tree and a bench beside it as if designed for one to two people to spend time together. Even the noise from the cars didn't reach them, only the rustling of leaves and the gush of the wind brushing their body.

A moment of silence lingers between the two. Henrick couldn't help but glance in her direction and saw the seriousness in her gaze as if she was thinking something deeper.

"I'll apologize in advance if I'm meddling in your family affairs, but since I already ride the same boat as you... I have the right to know the things going on. About you, your mother, and that man, Giovanni." Henrick asked though he had an idea because of what Jin told him.

"How should I answer you? It's a complicated story. All I know is it started with that witch. She left us when my brother was still young and came back when everything was going well with us. Dad loves her so much. He accepted her with a single word of sorry and let her inside our family again. I'm totally against it, but I respected my father's decision. Besides, I want him to be happy." Georgina said, chuckling without breaking her gaze in front. "If I know she's the sole reason my father isn't with us now, I shouldn't accept her. She ruined everything in my life and involved those people I treasure."

"You're saying Giovanni got involved in a dispute between the both of you?"

"He's my ex, the person I treasure, and the one who makes me happy. It's the reason the witch targeted him. She doesn't want me to be happy, not even a single smile. She wanted my life to be miserable, and it happened. Giovanni got involved because of me. The guilt I felt as the days passed by kept arising, and knowing that she's been targeting his family made me feel like the worst person living in this world. A mere thought that someone's living a miserable life because of me makes me want to erase my existence."

"Why your mother hated you to that extent? Do you have any idea?"

Instead of answering his question, Georgina heaves a deep sigh and hugs herself as the gust of the wind blows.

"If you don't want to answer..."

"I have no idea. Maybe, the evil witch hated me since I was born." She chuckles before turning to him. "The memories when I was a child aren't clear, and I felt there's a huge part of that memory that might answer some lingering question inside my mind."

"You lost some of your memory? Did you get involved in an accident?"

"Yeah, it's quite a huge accident. If I remember right, Dad told me when I was in elementary during our fieldtrip the bus lost control, many students had severe injuries, and some got comatose for six months. I'm one of them."

"For some reason, I know what you feel, I lost some of my memories too, but my parents didn't tell me much about it, so I let it pass since we're all living in the present time and not in the past."

Another silence came between them after that conversation.

They both stare in front and watch the glamorous scenery without making a single noise. Despite it, Henrick pays his attention to her again. He unconsciously tucked a strand of hair beside her ear. It made Georgina look straight into his eyes.

"Hey, I decided to fight back against that witch. I don't know the outcome, but I want to make everything right and end it all, for my dad's sake, for Warren's sake, and for Giovanni and his family. I'm willing to be miserable with her for the sake of those people I want to treasure." She said, fidgeting as she looked down, trying hard not to shed a tear. "If you don't want to get involved, let's end it here. I'm grateful that your family helped us when my father died."

Henrick frowns because of her words. "Like the words I've said before, I already ride the same boat as you. Don't try to push me in the middle of nowhere. If you want to fight back then, let me in."

"Y-you... are you listening when I said that the witch..."

"Did you forget that you're my fiancee? Your mother wants to get half of my shares in my family in exchange for me having the right to meddle in your family business. I can get the information you want inside your company. All you need to do is to trust me fully and let me help you."

Georgina couldn't utter a word and looked at him with teary eyes. He notices it through the moonlight, so Henrick touches her face—caressing her left cheek. A brief smile escapes his lips as he pulls her closer to hug her.

No words came out from Georgina. Instead, both eyes widened in surprise because of Henrick's abrupt action. Amidst the cold night, in a secluded place where no one could see them, she felt warm and comforted by the simple hug from the man whom she didn't expect to help her this far.

"I don't want to ruin this moment, but what's your plan?"

"The witch wants Warren to get his shares in the company. Even if I want to get Warren away from her, he's still a minor, and all the rights are still on that witch, but I need to surrender something to get what I wanted, so I let her take Warren."

"Are you really okay with it?"

"Warren isn't a child nor an innocent like what she expected. He wants to treasure the company that our father built up through hard work and perseverance more than anyone. Besides, I trust him. I know he'll come to surrender himself without me saying it." Georgina separates from him and looks down. "I'll take my brother back once I finish everything."

"Well, if that's your decision, let's do it. Live with me until your mother faces her defeats."

"I'll be in your care for a while then,"

"I needed to work hard to feed, dress, and give you everything you want. Your dad treats you as her princess, so I should treat you as a queen this time."

"What the hell are you saying?"

"I'm saying a husband must treat her wife well."

"Cut the crap. I had goosebumps here. We're just pretending until everything is over, and after that, we're going in separate ways."

"Now that you said it, while we're still pretending, don't get near your ex or meet up with him secretly. He's already Kiela's fiance."

Instead of saying a word, Georgina looked away and crossed both arms with an annoyed face.

"I don't care if you're still in love with your ex or so whatever, but I don't want Kiela to get hurt, so don't cross that line."

"Argh. Don't say that woman's name." She snaps and raises her voice. "V-Van and I are already done. Even if I still have lingering feelings for him, he only had anger and disappointment left in me."

"You don't know how the two of you look at each other..." Henrick mumbles to himself.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. It's getting dark. We should go home."

"Bring me to that place."

"Place? What are you talking about?"

"The first place you brought me. I don't want to go home."

He thinks for a second before heaving a deep sigh."Whatever the young lady wants, shall we go?"

"Thank you for today." She said before standing, holding the hand he offered. "I might change my mind once you talk back again, so I'm saying it now."

"Anyway, I almost forgot that I should give you a punishment for taking your sweet time with your damned ex."

"What are you talking about—mmph..."

Her eyes widened when he felt his soft lips touching hers. She wants to push him away, but the man wraps his arm around her waist without letting go of her hand.