"What are you doing here?" I queried, frowning as I waited for him to catch up.

"I came to drop your bike," He says, getting closer to me and I sneer a little. Why am I wasting my time if that is what he came to do?

I extend my arms and say, "Let me have my key fob then,"

He gives it to me and the instant I turn around to begin leaving his presence, he grabs my hand. This freezes me.

"This is not the real reason I was here," He claims. "I'm so sorry," He continues as I catch his gaze.

"You apologize for?" I shrug in response.

"I'm sorry for betraying you," He answers. "Please find a place in your heart to forgive me,"

"You have no idea how you hurt me," I remark.

"I know,"

 "That was the last thing I expected from you, I trusted you," I acknowledge, already emotional.

"I swear, I didn't know what got into me that I fell into his trap," He says with regret. "I was carried away by the life he promised and offered me, not thinking of the consequences of betraying my best friend, and I'm deeply sorry,"

I let out a sigh. I knew my father had a way of manipulating people's thoughts, he had even tried it with me and Olivia, not to mention Mom. That was his way, but I was not expecting my buddy Scott to fall for it in betraying me.

Since it was all over, I had no choice but to forgive him.

"If this happens again..." I'm warning him when he cuts in.

"I promise it will never happen again," He assures me, and I nod alright.

He leans forward and hugs me, saying, "Thanks for giving me another chance. I've missed you,"

I roll my eyes at his final remarks.

"It's only been three days, man," I say, and he pulls back from the hug, peering into my eyes.

"Without talking to you?" He wonders, and I smile a bit.

 "Let's go in and have those talks then," I shrug humorously and we begin to enter. Before heading to my room, I strongly suggest that we stop by the hotel lounge for breakfast. The way Scott is looking around indicates that this is also his first time here.

"You like it here," I respond to the amazed expression on his face.

He replies, continuing to take in the scenery, "This place is beautiful."

"You can say that again," I retort as we enter the hotel lobby. While we make our way to a seat, other people are already there, taking it all in and unwinding.

In contrast to Scott, who orders a cup of coffee with egg and ham, I order a cup of coffee with sweet French toast.

"What have you been doing these past three days?" I inquire while we wait for our breakfasts.

"Just working on my project," He responds which reminds me that we have a project defense coming up soon. Our department's deadline is coming up next week. With Scott and Becky's assistance, I have been conducting some research on my own, I must now move forward with it as soon as possible.

"How about your girl?" As the server approaches to start serving us, I ask.

"We haven't talked," He admits, appearing uncomfortable. "She is mad at me for what I did to you," 

"Wow!" That's all I could say to him.

"Thank you," I say to the waiter, who answers, "You are welcome," before leaving our presence.

We start talking about football news as we peacefully eat our meals while watching the highlights of football games on TV.

Scott and I tour the hotel after our delicious meals and a few moments of rest. We leave the lobby and proceed to the hotel's many amenities, which include the restaurant, the bar, the spa, the fitness center, and the swimming pools. This hotel is amazing, with a welcoming atmosphere and lovely views of its architectural features, artwork, and design aspects.

After we had gone over all of the recreational and leisure facilities, we returned to my room so Scott could see how luxurious it was. The indulgence had him overwhelmed.

He spent the rest of the day with me, playing video games, watching TV, and cracking jokes while conversing, before leaving later in the evening.

The night came, and after going to bed, I woke up at six o'clock the next morning. That's early for me to be awake at that hour, right?

That's because I had to take my mother and sister to the airport. Mom never requested me to take them, yet I'm still expected to. I rise from my bed and make my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth and take a shower. When I got back to my room, I moisturized my skin and changed into my cargo trousers, black t-shirt, and sneakers. I grab my phone before leaving my room and going to Olivia's.

Since we haven't spoken since after Dad's trial, I do need to ask her a few questions now that she and Mom are leaving the country.

Several minutes after I knock on her door, she answers it and lets me in. When I finally enter the room, I discover her luggage already packed and lying on the floor.

"Good morning, Mike," She says as she moves to the standing mirror to finish styling the lace wig that is attached to her hair.

 "Good morning, sis," I retort and move to settle down in the comfy chair. I can't think of how, to begin with my question, so I keep gazing at her.

"Let it out, kiddo, whatever is bothering you." For her to say that, she must have observed me in the mirror.

I clear my throat, still considering how to phrase my questions.

"Thank you for helping Jeff in court," I finally say, to which she scoffs.

"I didn't help him. I only did what I had to do," She objects as she focuses on her reflection in the mirror.

"Come on! You helped him in court, so I reasoned..." I paused because I didn't want to say more. All I want to express is that since she defended him in court, I believe she would forgive him.

Turning to face me again, she emphasizes, "Just because I testified in court doesn't mean I'm good with him. I only did that to reveal Dad's wrongdoings,"

"Yes, I know," I say in agreement with her. "But I think you guys need to see and talk before you leave,"

"He is the last person I want to see," She says, putting on her lip gloss.

 "But I thought you loved him," I shrug, feeling concerned.

"Of course, I loved him," She says. "But that's not what I had in mind. He is not the type of person I want to spend the rest of my life with. He lied to me," She states with great emotion.

"I understand that Jeff broke your trust, but I also want you to know that he was one of Dad's victims. He was involved in the job out of options,"

"Oh! Will you tell me this if he was caught while trading the cocaine rather than at the mansion? Won't our father continue denying that he has no involvement with him distributing drugs? He would have been sentenced to prison for our father's crime, and he will rot in there." She debates, and it's clear from her words how worried she is about Jeff.

"I asked and begged him to tell me whatever the reasons Dad didn't want us to be together, but he chose to be a fucking coward, engaging in the dirty business,"

"That was the mistake he made," I comment. "I'm not trying to defend him but I think you can give him a second chance," I add and she sighs and tilts her head back.

"Mike, you can miss something and decide not to want it back," I groan as I try to process what she said when she replies. "I don't want to have this conversation again, and I hope you get it,"

That's exactly what Jeff hoped, but I doubt I'll ever get it.

"And I think you should focus on yours," She says, her gaze fixed on me.

She then shrugs and gives me a blank smile, "You understand what I meant."

Of course, I knew exactly what she meant. She was talking about my relationship with Ren. I am absolutely the last person Ren would want to see.

I opt not to respond to her when we hear a knock at the door.

As I stood up, I inadvertently pulled down her handbag from the table, and as I bent to pick it up, I noticed something had fallen off the bag.

I attempt to grab it from below the table to see...

"Is this a pregnancy test?" I let out in shock, as I picked it up, my brows furrowed in uncertainty, trying to read what was written on the box.

She rushes over to me and snatches it away from me.

"Are you pregnant?" Looking into her eyes to discern her expression, I questioned.