Zayan had a long day ahead. Meetings with executives were lined up, and before leaving the villa early that morning, he made sure to address everyone.
"Go out, explore, have fun," he said, adjusting his coat. "And keep Nora close."
They all nodded, watching him leave. As soon as he arrived at the company, the atmosphere shifted to business. Discussions kicked off, voices overlapping in negotiation and strategy. The tension of high-stake deals filled the boardroom, but by the end of it all, an agreement was reached.
A partnership was born — one that promised strength and longevity for years to come.
A week passed quickly in Hong Kong. The group continued to explore, visiting temples, museums, and marketplaces. Nora, however, preferred to paint. Each day she captured different emotions, strokes of color reflecting her inner world. At the museum, she held Asher's hand tightly while examining the artwork. Her gaze lingered on a painting of a broken bridge over still water.
Meanwhile, Zayan stayed focused on company matters. In a quiet office, the CEO, Mr. Ethan Wai, extended a warm hand.
"It's been a pleasure working with you, Mr. Kai," Mr. Ethan said, smiling. "And… I heard what happened to your wife. I'm deeply sorry. How is she doing?"
Zayan gave a small smile. "She's fine. She'll get better."
"You should come for dinner sometime," Zayan added, casually.
"Sure. Let's go now," Ethan offered, and his wife, Mrs. Joyce-Mei, agreed with a nod.
But nothing prepared them for the chaos that greeted them at the villa.
The moment they stepped inside, they found guards and staff on the floor groaning in pain. Nora stood in the center of the room, furious tears running down her cheeks. In her hand was a brass knuckle.
"They ruined my painting!!" she yelled, her voice broken and filled with raw emotion.
One of the doctors whispered to another, shocked, "Where the hell did she get that?"
"HEY!" Nora snapped, pointing at them. "Why do you guys always whisper like rats?" She mimicked rat squeaks, making the entire room freeze in awkward silence.
"They ruined my painting! For Z!" she added, lifting the half-torn canvas with trembling hands. "See? I made it for him… It's really, really mean!"
She burst into tears again, which triggered another nosebleed.
"She's bleeding again," Mrs. Joyce said in alarm.
"Yeah… it happens a lot," Zayan sighed, calmly stuffing tissues in her nose like it was routine. He turned toward her and pointed at the brass knuckles.
"Where did you get this?"
She giggled softly, wiping her tears. "The rings are pretty. Look—when I join them like this…" She clicked the knuckles together, and a needle popped out.
Shaw groaned from the floor. "Please… how the fuck are you this strong in your state? You threw everyone down! You don't need protection, you are the danger!"
He scrambled up, hiding behind Neal.
Zayan extended his hand. "Alright, now give me those. Now."
"Hmmup… Meanie," she muttered but surrendered the brass knuckles with a pout.
One of the guards walked past, bowing politely. "Good evening, Nora."
"Evening, dear," she replied sweetly, like nothing had happened.
They all sat down for dinner, and the mood slowly relaxed. Until the next moment.
A strange dish was placed in front of Nora. She stared at it suspiciously.
"What is this?" she asked.
"It's octopus," Kyomi answered with a smile.
Nora gasped, her eyes wide. "The one with twelve legs?"
"They have eight," Zayan corrected, laughing. "And yes, from the sea."
Her smile fell. "That's really mean and evil," she muttered, voice trembling. "Why do they kill the octopus? They have families too…"
She slammed her fist on the table, then grabbed her head as if in sudden pain. "That's… that's BAD!"
"Nora?" Zayan rushed to her, eyes filled with concern.
"Leave me!" she cried, voice sharp and fractured.
"What's going on?" Mr. Ethan asked, deeply alarmed.
Kasir, already anticipating this, dashed off and returned with a tranquilizer injection. "Here!" he called, tossing it to Kyomi.
Zayan held Nora down gently, murmuring soothing words as Kyomi administered the shot. Nora kicked and screamed, but the effects kicked in quickly. Her breathing slowed, her body went limp, and her eyes shut.
Zayan sat down beside her, face buried in his hands.
Mr. Ethan came over, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Mr. Kai… I see what you're going through. My deepest condolences."
Later that night, Imara changed the bandages on Nora's back. The bleeding hadn't stopped. They had to sew her wounds a bit tighter this time.
Two hours passed. Nora awoke, gazing quietly out the window. Zayan entered the room with a tray of food and called gently:
"Nora, baby?"
She turned to him slowly. "Nora sorry, Z… I'll not be naughty again."
He smiled and sat beside her. "It's okay, love. It's not your fault… We'll be leaving for Sweden at six. Okay?"
She perked up, her eyes lighting. "Sweden has snow. I can build a snowman, right?"
Zayan chuckled. "Yes, baby. You can build a whole snow family if you want."
She nodded happily and began to eat.
At exactly 6:00, they packed up and left Hong Kong behind. Sweden was waiting.