61 do you still like me? (1/2)

”Argh,” grunting to the striking pain that assaulted him even before he opens his eyes --probably due to the intense alcohol intake he drunk last night. Also, his aching body made it worse with only a thick duvet that covered him the whole night.

Massaging his temples, Alexander Han got up from the floor he slept.

”Argh...” Scanning across the room, he realizes he slept at the master's bedroom to which where Seraphina was staying. As reality struck him -- his mind malfunction. After all, that cruel woman owned this space for the meantime.

He hastily got up from his position and check himself in front of the mirror. Seeing there are no bruises nor evidence that she might have beaten him for invading his own room, he heaves a sigh of relief.

”At least she didn't kill me.” he mutters. Looking around -- he couldn't find her.

He tried to remember the events that transpired last night yet he could only recover fragments of his memory.

After the cold treatment he received from Seraphina, he tried to ignore the familiar perception from her. He knew by drinking more than he can take, the feelings he had been suppressing would vanish. Then, his memory skipped to him finding his room -- wasted. After that, all he could remember was a pair of captivating black eyes staring at him. Her gaze pierces right through his soul, it was as if reading the entire untold story of his life.

Frustrated at the blurry images of last night's memories, he heavily sighs once again.

Since he was a mess from last night's celebration, he took a quick shower before going to elder Hong's residence where he usually spends his time. To his surprise, just on his way on his mansion's lobby, he heard a few familiar voices, talking -- with the touch of panicked from their voices, his brows furrowed.

As he gets closer to the crowd, the trembling expression of elder Meng baffled him.

”Isla Cara… They destroyed our island.” tears started to form on the corners of elder Meng's aging eyes. His elderly shoulders trembled as he spoke of the unforeseen outcome.

On their way home from last night celebration, a continuous explosion coming from their homes was heard from a distance. Seeing a huge flame engulfing half of the island, they retreated back.

A few choppers continue to mercilessly drop bombs to the island. It was horrifying. Just the thought of them being there -- if it weren't for the party they attended in Isla De Paz, all of them might have been burnt to death.

Hearing the news, Alexander Han stood rooted from the tiled floor. He couldn't believe his ears. How could this happen? Did he underestimate to how ruthless those felons? He unconsciously clenches his hand into a fist.

On the living room, Seraphina nonchalantly sipped her cup of tea. Ace kept his stoic emotion intact while Riggs seemed to be deep in his thoughts. Elder hong together with Brandon and a few men that were in charge of protecting this island have a grave expression of their faces.

Giving him a side glance, Seraphina spoke for the first time their discussion started. ”That island is beyond savable. They're now under your wings.” her melodic cold voice was like a resonant sound that slapped everyone back from reality.

”What -- but,” elder Meng couldn't find the words he wanted to spout. He devoted his life protecting that island, even his granddaughter that lost her life wanting to protect the island -- how could he just give up?

”You can go back there and lose your lives while fighting for your island, or evacuate here and start a new life.” backing up Seraphina's words, Ace stern opinion was like a wrecking ball shattering their hopes in getting their island back.

Although his suspicions rose once again about how Seraphina stay composed in this appalling news, he still agreed to her wise judgment.

In retrospect, if one organization boldly struck an attack to another mafia boss such as Luciano --he might have a greater alliance. In other words, since Petrov chose to launch a counterattack to Luciano, that is the only explanation he could come up. Besides, everything can happen in the underground world considering Luciano had been inactive for almost two years -- their enemies might have had their schemes ready.