~ Rewritten Fates ~

Chapter 3 - Hope

Henry stands on the office balcony, staring blankly at the city below, completely lost in his own thoughts. The cool breeze brushes past him, but his mind is elsewhere, tangled in the memories of Diana's words and the confusing pull he feels toward Alex. The usual noise of the city fades into the background as he tries to make sense of it all.

"I think you should tell her the truth," Percy says from behind, his voice calm but firm. Henry, startled, turns around. "What?" he asks, his heart racing. "No, I can't ruin her childhood. I'm not telling her anything!" he panics, running a hand through his hair, the thought of it overwhelming him. Percy rubs Henry's back gently, trying to calm him down. "You can't hide it forever, mate. One day, you're going to have to tell her," he says softly.

Henry sighs, his voice strained, "Yeah, I know. But definitely not now. She's just a kid, Pez. It would devastate her completely." He looks away, the weight of the decision heavy on his shoulders. "Fine, take your time, H. Call me if you need anything," Percy says, giving Henry's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before heading back to finish his pending work.

Henry remains standing there, silently staring out at the skyline, his mind swirling with uncertainty and guilt. The quiet breeze offers little comfort as he grapples with the weight of his thoughts.

~~~~~~

At Alex's studio, the soft glow of his computer screen illuminates his face as he sifts through the pictures of the kids from the event. He carefully arranges them, each image capturing the joy and excitement of the day.

He pauses when he reaches a picture of Diana, staring at it for a moment longer than the others. Her bright smile and the way her eyes shine remind him of something - something he can't quite put his finger on. He leans back in his chair, still gazing at the photo, lost in thought.

"What's wrong, Alex? You know you can always tell me," Nora says gently, sitting on the sofa nearby, watching him with concern. Alex glances over at her, then back at the picture of Diana. He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know, Nora. There's just something about this kid.... I can't explain it." He taps the edge of the photo lightly, lost in thought.

"Why? What do you mean?" Nora asks, her curiosity pigued. "I wish I knew," Alex replies, his frustration evident. "She reminds me of something - someone, I mean. But I have no idea who!" He shakes his head trying to shake off the nagging feeling.

"It's okay, drink some water," Nora says, handling Alex a bottle. He sips calmly, the cool liquid helping to clear his mind. "I think you should take some rest. Don't worry, I'll handle everything here," Nora adds with a reassuring smile. Alex nods, greatful, and heads out of the studio to get some much-needed rest.

~~~~~~

Henry's frustration mounts as he struggles with a design, his anger evident. "I swear I'll quit this job someday," he mutters under his breath, his irritation palpable. "Take it easy, Henry," Percy chuckles, trying to lighten the mood. Henry shoots him a death stare, the tension in his shoulders visibly increasing.

Percy goes silent, sensing the danger in pushing Henry's anger any further. He knows well enough not to provoke his best mate when he's this worked up, and he definitely doesn't want to be on the receiving end of Henry's frustration.

"Sir, Mr. Shrivastava wants to see you in his cabin. He said it's important," a lady informs Henry. "Oh!" Henry and Percy exchange a glance, a mix of curiosity and concern on their faces, before heading towards his boss's cabin.

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"Yes, Shaan? Is everything alright?" Henry asks as he steps into the cabin.