Used

Chapter # 4

A month has passed by...

Cole's father suggested that I should stay by his son's side, while he on the other hand investigates on the accident.
Right now I have just arrived in the Anderson's mansion. Since the day the accident happened Cole hasn't been taking good care of himself.

Getting near to the doorstep of his room, a maid stood in front of his door holding a cater of food.
"Sir Cole food is here, you havent been eating well... you father has been worried". The maid said as she kept on knocking the door.

But to her dismay not one sound nor answer was heard from Cole... I then decided to take the cater of food from her...

"Miss I'll handle it". I said and smiled at her, seeing her leave I then knocked the door.

"Cole its me Allistria, may I come in?". I ask hoping that he will answer..

Before the only reason I was with him was because Cynthia asked me to keep Cole from finding out about her situation but now... I'm with him as a friend and because his father asked me to.

A few seconds later after I knocked I heard slow foot steps coming near the door. Cole just opened the door, showing his messy hair , a masculine beard has grown out on his chin, his bags thick, his clothes clearly worn out for days, and he stinks. He then backed away from the door and landed on his bed.

"H-hey... I have food do you wanna eat?". I ask while I stepped inside his room and closed the door.

Not earning a reply..." Or do you wanna eat in town?". I ask again.

"A month has passed Allistria...No matter what even if you act like nothing happened... it did happen". He sat on his bed and looked at me.

He looks so tired, his eyes red and puffy from all the crying.

"I am hurting too Cole...But what I am doing is not act but move forward...Because life continues with or without them, yes I am hurt but at least I am somewhat moving forward and doing something, not forgetting them but setting them as a motivation and inspiration to move forward in life and do what you can do in life". I said as I looked at him straight in the eye.

"I know... That's hard for me to do". He said.

"Now... Go get a shower, get dressed and we'll go to town...you need a haircut". I chuckled lightly.

He smiled, not reaching his eyes...

While waiting for him, my guilt of not telling him about Cynthia's cancer keeps eating me alive...

As Cole got out of the shower he was all dressed up, looking like the old Cole... Except for his eyes. Thick bags hung over his almond like eyes which made him look sick.

"What?". He asks probably wondering why I kept on eyeing him.

"Sit down". I said as I pointed towards his bed.

"What? What are you gonna do?". He asks again.

"Just sit and close your eyes, I wont do anything harmful, I'm just gonna fix something". I explained.

Knowing that I wont tell him anything he just closed his eyes in defeat. I then took out my concealer from my pouch and started applying the product to his face, trying my best to make it look natural, which it did.

"No... Make up?". He said alarmed when he felt the product being applied to his face.

I just chuckled.

"You can open your eyes now". I instructed, as he opened his eyes I smiled. "Now would you look at that, hey Cole". I said.

He looked at himself in the mirror seeing as the only thing that changed was his bags, he didn't say anything.
Arriving in town we decided that it would be better for us to eat first before going to the salon.
Now that he has a freshly cut hair, he looks fresh and clean.

"Now... What do you wanna do next?". I ask satisfied that progress has been made.

"I wanna buy flowers". He said surprising me.

And so we went to the flower shop he bought orchids, and to my surprise drove us to the cemetery...
As we stood near the grave of his beloved and his mom, tears slowly started to shower out of his eye.

"The day we bought that bracelet ... I already accepted the fact that we broke up... All that I ever needed was the reason... And now it seems like I will never know that". He said quietly.

I cant take it anymore...

"I wasn't been able to say goodbye to these two beautiful and wonderful ladies... I wonder how----".

"C-cole... Cynthia broke up with you because she has stage 4 cancer...". I said starting to tear up. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you all this time... because I knew how hurt you were in this situation,I don't wanna make it worse". I continued finally getting it all out of my chest.

He didn't look at me, but I felt the tension somehow rising...

"N-no... it hurts me more not knowing the reason Allistria... imagine being left out for whatever reason you don't know...". He said as he turned to look at me, image of betrayal visible in his eyes. "I'm sorry but I need to be alone right now". He added as he walked away to his car and drove off.

I decided to go to his house and talk to his dad, having to enter his office after knocking his door, he sat on his leather chair.

"What is it that I may help you with Miss... Cruz?". He asks formally.

Every time he says my family name, theirs a weird tick sound coming off from his tongue.

"Its Cole sir... I told him the reason why Cynthia broke up with him that made him upset and drove off without me". I explained.

"And what might that reason be?". He asks.

"She has stage 4 cancer sir...". I answered.

"Allistria... Even though both our families are... Close, do you know that both have rival companies?". He asks while looking at me intently.

"'N-no ". I answered.

He just nodded.

"Do you know that while investigating I found something very... Unfortunate?". He asks again.

"And what might that be sir?". I ask.

"That your parents... have something to do with the accident". He calmly observed me as he spoke.

Surprised I was somehow speechless...

"I know it has nothing to do with you...". He said as he took something from his drawer... A gun and pointed it at me." But..Both the dead ladies has nothing to do with my company as well". Calmly with range he said.

I shivered at the thought of death coming before my eyes, my heart beat accelerated as nervousness engulfed my veins.
But he heaved a sigh as he placed the gun back down.

"But I do not stoop that low just to get what I want... Unlike your parents...". He said. "Tell you what... Cole is becoming CEO in 3 months... But unfortunately his condition isn't very well suited for it, I want you to get him to push himself to get ready or else... You'll lose another friend, you wouldn't want him hating on you just because of your parents right? If you do as I say... I wont take them to jail". He said.

Sacrificing justice for his son, for Cole's future... What a father he is...
A real business man indeed... A scary one at that.

Understood I just nodded and got out of his office, to be surprised to see Cole just enter the house.
Instead of saying something to me, he just passed by me.

"Im sorry". I said as I looked at his back getting further away from me.

"Its okay... You were caught in the situation as well... I just wanted to know the truth...". He said as he went inside his room.

Now knowing that we we're somehow alright, I heaved a sigh of relief... but how am I supposed to face my parents knowing what they have done...