??PATH?? (WHY OUR PATH CROSSED)

"You know I don't like that," he muttered.

Bryan loved his skin, particularly his face. It was his weapon to win hearts.

Unknown to many, Bryan is a mafia-a kingpin leading a vast clan in Italy. Frighteningly, he kills without mercy, dealing death to those who wrong him.

In this darkness, he is also a sex addict.

Sweetie had been one of his enforcers until he promoted her to best friend, treating her like his wife-or at least, that's what Sweetie believed.

She smiled, clouding her head with thoughts of Bryan until she felt a sharp pain in her neck.

She winced in agony, snapping back to reality only when she realized Bryan had just hit her on the neck. She snapped her thumb and index finger together, producing a sound only she could generate, trying to ease the pain.

"Are you alright, Bryan? Why did you do that? Do you want to get me killed?" she ranted furiously, rubbing her hurting neck.

"You are the one who has lost it," he retorted.

"I've been trying to talk to you, but I guess you were lost in your thoughts," he said, not feeling any remorse for what he had just done, still sipping from his drink.

Sweetie glared at him and hissed inwardly, turning around to leave, but he held her back.

"I'm sorry," he shrugged, without sparing her a glance.

"Stupid proud guy," she cursed inwardly. Wait, you didn't expect her to say it out loud if she didn't want her tongue cut off.

"Is it actually coming from your heart?" she batted her doll lashes, pouting like a day-old baby.

"No, it's coming from my lungs," he said this time, finally facing her.

So funny!

She laughed hysterically, unable to contain herself.

Bryan knitted a brow and sipped from his glass, glancing back into space.

"I'm sorry about how I treated you last night, sweet," he said.

"For actually not letting you know about Ariel," he added, making her laughter turn into a nervous smile.

"Apology accepted. I forgive you... and make sure to be a good boyfriend to Ariel," she winked.

He shook his head.

"Okay... I want to go get a nap," he said before walking out.

"Now this is my real Bryan, dear," she grinned excitedly.

CITY HOSPITAL

Nadia sat beside her daughter, Nessa, watching her sleep soundly. Though she was staring, it was evident that a lot was running through her head.

She still couldn't believe Diana was no more.

Yesterday felt like a dream to her.

As for Leo, since the night Diana passed away, he had locked himself up in his office and refused to see anyone. Diana's mother, Mrs. Bethel, who was also Dickson's mom, had been in the hospital since she heard the news of her only daughter's sudden death.

It took Mrs. Bethel and her late husband 36 years old to have Diana. After giving birth to Dickson, she couldn't conceive again. Years later, she ran into menopause, but God saw her through, and that was how her womb was able to conceive again.

Now, nature had taken that same child away.

Oh gosh!

"Mom," Nadia's thoughts were interrupted by Nessa's voice.

Nessa was trying to sit up in bed, but Nadia quickly stopped her and hugged her tearfully.

"Nessa baby, you're up," she wept as she pulled away almost immediately.

"I will go call for a nurse," she added before leaving.

Slamming the door behind her, Nessa attempted to sit up again, but the pain from her head niggled at her.

"Ahhh, it hurts," she winced.

"This man almost destroyed my head," she hissed, touching her bandaged head.

The next minute, Nadia came rushing in with a chubby nurse.

"Nessa, I asked you not to sit up, right?" she scolded.

"I'm fine now, Mom," Nessa mumbled as she watched the nurse examine her.

"She's fine now and will be discharged later in the day," the nurse said after checking her.

"And do make sure to feed her something. I will be right back with her medication," she added before exiting.

"I will go get you something to eat," Nadia said before leaving.

Nessa inhaled deeply. "How long have I been in the hospital?" she wondered.

Minutes later, Nadia returned and started feeding Nessa some food.

"Bigger head has been calling since yesterday," Nadia muttered as she handed Nessa her phone.

Nessa smiled.

Well, the bigger head is her best friend Valerie.

"Mom, that's my roommate Valerie, the awesome soul I told you about," Nessa chuckled, and Nadia nodded in response, giving an okay.

"Did you answer the call?" Nessa added, anxious.

"Yeah. I told her you're with your dad and that you'll return her calls as soon as you're back."

"Okay! Thanks, Mom, for not telling her the truth... I will call her later," Nessa sighed.

If Valerie knew about her condition, she was sure to come running here, disturbing the whole premises with her tears.

Geez, Valerie.

"Your aunt is no more," Nadia's voice cut through the air.

Nessa's smile vanished in an instant as her mom's words sunk in.

"What happened to her?" she asked, shock written all over her face.

It can't be!

She had just phoned her two days ago, saying she was coming over for a visit. So what happened all of a sudden?

Nadia sighed and was about to explain when a loud scream erupted outside.

"I'm coming back, baby!" she shouted in shock. "Let me go check," she added, dropping the tray of food.

Hastening her steps toward the door, she opened it and saw one of the nurses rushing by.

"What happened? Why is there so much noise?" she asked curiously.

"The doctor... the doctor is dead," the nurse managed to say, breathing heavily.

"Uncle Leo!" Nessa murmured, barely able to process the information....