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It was past nine, and a few hours after Nana was pronounced dead. Alex was devastated with the news, and he had his head buried in his palms, while Dominique sat at his side - her eyes staring into the vacant space. It was obvious that they were both still in shock of watching the old woman die.

The door to the waiting room came open, and Matthew walked in - beside him were Madison and Abigail. Upon seeing the duo on the seat looking black, they knew that's something was wrong.

Abigail went to her son, "Baby, what is wrong? How is your grandmother?"

Alex slowly looked up, and met with his mother's eyes. He was tense and reluctant to tell reply his mother. Unable to get answers from her son, the desperate woman turned to Minnie.

"What's happening? Is everything alright with Nana?"

The corners of Dominique's lips drew-down and her stare was empty as she reluctantly shook her head. Abigail and Madison gasped, while Matthew clenched his chest as he staggered back in shock. His eyes were drawn out and round with shock.

"It can't be," He muttered to himself, as he kept his eyes on the duo.

This was unbelievable. It was lie. His mother was not dead. Yet, no matter how hard he tried to push the reality away, it just kept surging back and hitting him in the face. He covered his face with his hands, as he let the truth sink into him. Nana couldn't have left them so soon? She was fine the last time he saw her, and there was no sign of her dying. Her eyes were as alive as ever, and her smile was always as cheerful as it had always been. Her words were just as comforting as it always was.

How could she be gone? She had died, and he didn't even get the chance to see her before she left. His jaws clenched and the cords in his neck became rigid, as he recalled how Alex had denied him a chance to see his mother before she died, and it was all the fault of his so called lady friend.

Looking up from his thoughts, he shot his glare to Minnie. "This is all because of you!" He snapped.

Both Minnie and Alex faced him at once - the life drawing from Minnie's face as she met with his glare.

"What the hell are you talking about, dad?" Alex asked.

"This wouldn't have happened if she hadn't returned," Matthew gritted through his clenched teeth, "All she brings is nothing but bad luck. If she hadn't come back, then maybe my mother would still be alive."

The air in the room went still, as Matthew's words danced in the room. Minnie's eyes circled in shock at his words.

"Matthew, what are you saying?" Abigail sniffed, "None of these is anyone's fault."

Matthew's glare remained hard on Minnie, "Oh no, in this case, it is all her fault!"

Madison stood to her feet, "Dad, please. Grandma's just died! Stop placing blames."

"You and your mother are both naïve," Matthew spat, "This girl had brought ill lucks to us in the past, and now, she's back to ensure that she completely ruins us."

Minnie's tongue was caught up as Matthew kept hurling words at her. He was so wrong, and she wished she could tell him so. He had no right to pin this on her. She couldn't kill anyone, and he had just accused her of doing that.

"Didn't you say you'll leave," Matthew chided, and kept on howling words at Minnie. All this while, Alex remained quiet with his face still buried in his palms. "You are a gold digger, here to scam my son of all his wealth."

Alex couldn't hold his anger anymore, and he snapped to his feet, "Dad!"

His voice echoed throughout the room, and it was defiant that others around the room would have heard him. His icy stare could pierce through anyone, and the veins pulsing in his neck showed that he was over the edge with his anger.

"Alexander, you know I'm saying the truth," Matthew tried to explain, but Alex chimed in without giving him the chance to speak.

"I don't want to hear anything from you, father!" Alex exploded, "Don't you ever get tired of blaming people for your own mistakes. Haven't you learned to take responsibility for your own actions? Sorry dad, but I think I'm more matured than you."

Matthew's face grew red, "How dare you say that to me, Alexander?"

"Oh, I dare to do even more than this, father," Alex raged, "I have had just about of your hurtful words to Minnie. I kept quiet before, dad, but I'm not sure I can do that again."

Matthew laughed. "You're still taking the side of this whore?"

"Don't you call her that, or-" Alex gritted.

"Or, what?" Matthew retorted, "What will you do, Alex?"

Alex was about to say even more, but Minnie held his hand tightly, and he turned to her. Her eyes were filled with fear, and her hand shivered.

"Please," She begged, "For Nana's sake."

Alex's shoulders slouched, and he sighed. He had to keep his anger down just out of respect for Nana. He faced his father with an emotionless face, "You wouldn't want to know what I'm capable of doing, father." He said.

Matthew scoffed, and walked away from them and unto the ward. Abigail and Madison followed him, and once again, Alex and Minnie were left in peace. Minnie wrapped her arms around him, and sobbed into his chest, and he held her lightly.

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Few days later, the church was quiet as a graveyard, as people silently found their way to their seats, while some walked to the front benches where the Canaan's were seated. Nana's surviving sons; Matthew and Vincent sat on different benches. They were both covered in black suits, as with the majority of the attendees and the family to the deceased. However just below the altar sat the coffin, which was slightly opened. Alexander was at the side of the coffin, his hands firmly on the rims of the woodened casket. His eyes were blunt, as his they pierced unto the body of his grandmother.

Dominique watched him from the side of the church; she was seated on one of the chairs aside from the main benches which stood in rows all across the huge chapel. She took a look around the room, and met with several shades of black. The whole room was like a giant ridge of plain black. She had always questioned why funerals where always graced with the sadistic color of darkness. Now, just as she thought of the past few days, she finally understood what it meant to lose someone dear.

The past days were hell, and time just moved slowly. Everything changed. Alex became a shadow of his old self - he was always brooding, and he just never really spoke up to her or to anyone else. Yes, she knew he was affected with Nana's death, but several days had gone by, but he still refused to let go of his grandmother.

Her eyes danced over to the family, and she sighed. Ever since Nana's death, things had gone practically down the hill with the relationship between father and son; brother and sister; mother and son, and whatsoever relationship she had to every one of the Canaans.

Dominique brought her eyes back to the front, and just like the past two hours, Alex was staring at the body. And just like the past few days, her heart stung her and she winced. It was hard to have to deal with this emotional part of him. Before, she thought that being emotional meant breaking down in tears, but she was just proven wrong - Alex hadn't shed a single tear again. He had been muted and kept to himself. He would do nothing all day, but just lock himself in his mind. He didn't even share anything with her. He didn't do that with anyone, but she wasn't anyone to him, and so, she kept feeling that he probably didn't trust her as much as she thought he did.

A slight tap on her shoulders made her snap out of her thoughts, and she widened her eyes to her surroundings.

"Minnie, our deepest condolences," Genesis said.

Dominique's eyes danced about and she gaped upon seeing them all - Standing around her was Sharon, Anastasia, Genesis, Paul, Victor and Gen's brother; Justin.

Her lips shifted at its edges to give a small smile.

"Thanks, guys."

Sharon placed her arm over Dominique's shoulders, "How are you holding up?"

"I'm good, I guess," Minnie replied, but her gaze flew to Alex, and her shoulders slumped, "I can't say the same for him."

They all followed her gaze, and understood what she meant.

"It's understandable, Minnie," Anastasia said, "It must be hard losing his grandmother. They must have been really close."

Minnie muttered under her breath, "More than you can imagine."

Sharon squeezed her shoulders slightly, and Minnie's smile deepened.

"I'm so glad you guys came," Minnie said. She however pulled her lips into a frown on seeing Victor and Justin, "What are you dough heads doing here?"

The two guys exchanged glances, and both laughed.

"Have you missed us that much?" Victor chuckled.

Minnie rolled her eyes, "You wish I missed you." She said, and Victor only laughed. However, Justin's face became straight and blunt.

"Jokes aside, Dominique. We are here to provide our support," He spoke, "To both you, and to your boyfriend."

She was taken aback with his concern, but she found herself wondering how he knew about the burial and about her relationship with Alex. What's more, she wanted to know why they were here, but she had to be at her best behavior to provide support to Alex. So, she'll let it slide, and bring it up whenever all this is over.

"Thanks, Justin."

He nodded, and stepped back.

Paul came over to her side, and took her hand in his. This made her to look straight to his eyes, and she instantly felt relieved that he was here. She couldn't tell why, she just felt that way. "I hope you're sincerely okay?"

Minnie nodded with a forced grin.

He sighed, "Listen, if you or Alex need anything - I mean anything - You can let us know, and we'll be there for you."

"Thanks, Paul. I know you've got my back," She replied him.

She warmed up on seeing all this love from her friends, and she was just feeling like the luckiest person in the world because of the friends she had. Here were Genesis and Paul both off duty to see her, and show their sympathy. Her thoughts came to a pause as she recalled that Joe might be all alone, and having to handle the club all on his own.

Her forehead became puckered, and she stared hard at Paul. "If both of you are here, then who's in the club with Joe?"

Paul smiled, "Joe's fine. He's also here, too."

Minnie's eyes went wide with surprise, "You mean Joe's here?"

Paul nodded. "He is. He also came to pay his final respects to Ms. Nana Canaan."

She gaped. "That means he knew her?"

Paul shrugged. "I can't answer that, Minnie." He said as his eyes wandered off behind her. She turned her head towards the direction his eyes were pointing out, and she saw Joe seated at the back with a very fair tanned skin blonde beside him. She was very young, and from one look, Minnie guessed they might probably be around the same age, or the lady would be older than her.

"Who's with him?" She asked.

Paul pulled his eyes to the lady and said in a lower voice, "That's Joe's other daughter." He pointed out to her.

"That's weird. Joe never mentioned having another daughter. He was always talking of Annemarie," Genesis chimed in.

Her brother laughed, "Well, I guess you don't know your boss as you claim you do."

Genesis threw her glare to him, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Dominique cleared her throat to get their attention, "Please guys let us not do this here. We all have to supportive, and not end up making a scene here." She said as she stood to her feet.

"Where are you going to, Dom?" Sharon asked.

Dominique sighed, "I have to be with him, even if he doesn't want anyone around him." She spoke and walked to Alexander.

On getting to his side, she placed her palm over his which rested at the side of the coffin. He turned his hand around, and took hers in his.

"C'mon Alex, Nana would not love to see you this way," She said to him.

He sighed, and muttered something under his breath but this was too low for her.

"Alex," She whispered to him, "Please, stop brooding over Nana."

Several seconds went by, but Alex did not reply her or take his eyes off the body. She sighed in defeat, and pulled her hand away, as she turned to return to her seat, but Alex gripped her hand, and pulled her back to himself.

In a low whisper, he said, "I'm sorry, Minnie. Please don't leave."

Her heart warmed up on hearing his voice, as it felt as though it had been ages since she last heard him say something to here. Her lips curved into a slight smile as she interlaced her fingers with his.

His eyes met hers, and they sparkled with his hidden emotions and his pain. It was obvious that he was still very much covered with the pain of losing his Nana. She wrapped her arms around his body lightly, and he held her to himself.

"I'm not leaving you, ever." She muttered.

He smiled, "Even if you do, I'll be right behind you."

She looked up to his eyes, "I bet you will."

Alex's smile pulled deeper into a dimple at either side of his cheek, and he placed a slight peck on her forehead. Meanwhile, watching from his seat, Matthew clenched his fist, and snorted under his breath.

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