A hell was created in that house that night. The mansion was congested with policemen and forensic experts. It was undoubtedly concluded that Bran turned quite hateful toward Eric last night. He even threatened to kill him, and he did it. He killed Sir Eric and committed suicide because he never wanted to get back to prison. A suicide note was found in his room. On that, the ink was breathing heavily. His handwriting was really terrible, which showed how intoxicated he was. That note said that he was tired of all that. He committed a terrible sin. There was no reason that he could live. The letter ended without saying farewell. The police interrogated Matt. He said that he tried to climb up to the balcony, but before he could reach there, Bran jumped off. He told them that he couldn't make it in time and wept some fake tears before the cops.

Lady Lynda, Nina, and even Nick kept crying before their bodies. Matt didn't come to the funeral. He was somewhere else. He was at the place where he sought peace. When the funeral was over, Nina returned to Barrel's place. She was going through the memories of Eric and Bran. The family photographs hung on the walls. They looked so happy there. She found some songs in Bran's Walkman. Most of them were her favorite songs, along with the old songs loved by Bran. She listened to all of them one by one. She wept a lot. That time, she forgot that she used to get mad at Bran for playing those songs all day and night. In those songs, she sought something. She listened to them again and again until she memorized them. Nick came to her. "You like them?" He asked.

She shook her head while crying. "I love them." Having said that, she hugged him.

*  *  *

Months passed. Things began falling into place. Lynda, Nina, and Nick continued living in that house along with Sir Oswald. Lady Lynda was handling all the businesses with his help. When the Clarks were informed about all the things that happened that night and all the secrets and past that came to light, they were stunned. They didn't say anything to Nina. Lynda stopped them from doing it. She did not have any grudges against Nina anymore. She acted like a mother to her and a grandmother to Nick. Matt rarely stayed in his home. His entire day used to pass in his paradise with his love, Victoria.

"I'm sorry. I'm terribly sorry that I didn't listen to you earlier." Matt confessed to her.

"It's okay, dear. Now everything is settled. I guess you belong to me now."

"Completely. I'm all yours." She kissed him passionately. Matt said, "I never want to leave you." He kissed her again.

"Neither do I." They kissed. They spent a wonderful night after that in the elegant, spacious apartment Matt had brought for her. That place was a paradise for him. They used to meet there every day and pass most of the hours in peace and love.

*  *  *

Time passed, and Lynda was still handling the businesses alone. Matt had even stopped paying attention to it. He had become a spoiled brat. He came to his home once in a blue moon to drink or to sleep. Nick never came out of his room and faced Matt, nor did Nina. Nick had grown enough to understand things. He was aware of the nature of Matt and, thus, stayed as far away from him as possible. For Matt, the only family he had during those years was Victoria.

Nick was a teenager by then and was always engrossed in his mobile game. Nina scolded him a lot for it, but his all-time savior was Lynda, who was still spoon-feeding everything to him.

"GG!" Nick shouted while being glued to the screen. "Well played, squad!"

"Are you going to put it down or not?" Nina scolded.

"What do you keep playing all day?" Lynda asked.

"You'll not get it, grandma. I'm going to be a great e-sports player, stream, and make money. Just watch!" He retorted boldly.

"Okay. Are you done? Now put it down. I'm about to leave." Nina instructed. She left for the supermarket. Lady Lynda also left for a business meeting with Sir Oswald. Nick stayed there, engrossed in completing his homework as early as possible because there was going to be a great celebration that evening.

*  *  *

"You're not feeling well, I guess." Victoria got concerned as she laid her palm on Matt's shoulder.

"No. I'm fine."

"You cannot hide it from me." She stated it audaciously.

Matt looked at her for some time, sighed, and said, "It's Nina's birthday today. We used to celebrate it with joy, drinking and dancing all night."

"Are you feeling it now? After so much time? Are you still with her?" She grilled him.

"No, of course not. I used to ignore it all this time, but mom called me today. She seemed so upset and frustrated. She was crying on the phone and asked me to be there. She expects me to make things stable again. I tried to get away with an excuse, but it seems like she is not listening to me this time. She wants me there badly." He held her hands tightly. "Please help me to forget Nina. It is becoming impossible for me. Since the past few weeks, those same feelings have been arising in me. I don't want it. I only want you. Please help me."

"It's not a joke, Matt. It is serious trouble. If that love grows, one day you'll abandon me like you abandoned her."

"I will never do that to you, I swear."

"I guess those are the same words you said to Nina once, and now see what you did to her." Matt was silent, staring at her. She came closer to him. She said, "Do you also miss Bran?"

"No! Why would I miss him? He was my enemy."

"So is Nina. Our enemy. You don't miss Bran because he is dead. He can no longer trouble you from inside his grave, but Nina can, and she is doing it. She is your enemy. Until she is alive, you can never breathe calmly. Remove all your enemies, and you'll be granted peace." She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. Matt was listening to her unblinkingly.

"That's not fair. It's a crime." Matt tried to counter her statement.

Victoria was outraged. "So is what that bitch is doing. I want you, but not physically. Your heart is still pondering her. This may get weirder with time. You have to remove it, and for that, you need to remove her. Think about the torture and hardships she has given you. Think about the secrets she kept from you. I'm afraid if you stayed longer there, she might have killed you. She is not someone who should be trusted or allowed to exist."

"But I can't do it alone."

She calmed down and helped Matt with the same. "No. We'll do it together. It's for our beautiful future, but we have to do it today itself. Are you with me?"

Matt nodded slowly.

"Great! She is out of your house for some shopping. We're not going to lose this chance."

"What do I have to do?"

Victoria paused and said, "First of all, you have to beg for her forgiveness." Matt was stunned.

"Are you kidding me?" He gave her a hideous look.

She laughed and narrated the entire plan to him. After listening to all that, Matt thought for a while, approved, and only two words came out of his mouth. "Sounds good."

*  *  *

Matt reached the supermarket with Victoria. She wished him good luck, as if he were about to do something good. He took a deep breath and rushed inside the supermarket.

He met Nina at the billing counter. As soon as she was done with her billing and came out with her trolley, Matt dashed to her. "Nina."

She turned back and stood there in the same position for a few moments. She had no words to say, then Matt continued, "Happy birthday." He was not able to have eye contact with her. Nina was still staring at him with that same countenance. He sighed and apologised, "I am sorry."

Nina's stern face stayed uncut. "Wow. That was really hard, right? I have never imagined that." Matt was still pondering his last words, figuring out what he just said. 'Shit! I've made a terrible mistake,' he thought. Nina turned to leave. He went to her. "Please Nina. Please listen to me once." Then he spoke while looking straight into her eyes. "I was terribly insane during those days. I didn't know what's right or what's wrong."

"You are still the same."

"You're still my wife, and I still love you. Since the funeral, I have been homeless. I don't even have the courage to come home and face you, mom, and Nick. Nina, please."

"Why, what happened? Weren't you courageous while slapping or cursing me?"

"I'm missing my son terribly. Let me see him once. I'm becoming homesick, Nina. Looking at all these families around me, I creep into nostalgia. I haven't eaten in days. I'm all alone, my love. Please help me." He clasped her palms and said, "I'm sorry, Nina. I love you." He began crying.

"He doesn't want to see you, Matt, and you were the one not ready to accept him then. So now what?" She freed her hands and turned to leave.

"Mom called me today. She was weeping badly." That was all he was left with to say.

Nina slowed down and halted. She turned around. Matt requested, "Can we discuss it while having coffee?"

They remained silent in the café for some time. 'Espresso' by Sabrina Carpenter was being played at low volume. Matt initiated, "I understand what you feel about me, and I deserve it. If you and Nick don't want to be near me, no problem. I won't bother you, but please, I don't want to see my mother suffer due to this."

"Why are you releasing this now, after years? I have seen her upset then too. She just used to stay all the time in the living room, expecting you. I saw her suffering, not you!"

Matt was filled with shame and started to shed tears. It was hard to bring out fake tears, but Victoria taught him all that really well. He joined his hands before her and begged to take her to his mother. Nina became a bit lenient about this.

"I am only doing this for her." She agreed while subduing her rage.

"Thank you so much, Nina. It means everything to me. Can I accompany you? I really don't have any money to go home. If you allow that."

Nina thought for a while but nodded unwillingly at last.

'Golden opportunity,' he thought.

They boarded Nina's car, which was parked a bit away from the coffee shop. Nina asked him to come. "After you." He said so and gestured politely. He looked at the car and then turned to the man standing next to a van. He looked like a mechanic and was holding a toolbox. Matt gestured for him to ask the status, and he nodded in response, telling him that all the modifications on Nina's car were done.