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Quinn

I spent the morning staring at his face and tracing his features into my heart. The warm wooden table beneath us was our resting place and he was still peacefully asleep. Our naked bodies were pressed against each other and the memories of last night flooded my mind. We finally got to spend the night together again and it was perfect.

I woke up way earlier than usual, probably because I was scared of him leaving me all alone before I could wake up. He finally stirred and his eyes fluttered open. A smile caressed my lips and his fingers cupped my face.

"Hey love," he smiled and placed a kiss on my forehead. I leaned into his chest as he wrapped his hands around me. That was the safest place for me.

After laying in each other's arms for a few minutes. He carried me to the shower and let the water pour down on our bodies. His touch, the gentle kisses showing my body, the little laughter everything with him was so special.

"Quinn love," he whispered and I hummed in response while taking a bite of the muffin Alex bought the previous day. It was our breakfast.

"I'm leaving soon."

I froze and dropped the muffin.

"Wha- what do you mean? What do you mean you're leaving soon?"

"I'll be back, I promise. But now I can't endanger you by taking you with me. And I also can't tell you where I'll be, just know that I'll come back for you when the time comes and we can go away from here... forever." He softly grabbed my hand and my downturned lips quivered as I took a deep breath.

"I don't mind being in danger with you," I whispered and he shook his head.

"I would never. I would never risk putting your life in danger. Please trust me. In a few days, I'll be back and we'll leave on a boat quietly," he told me his plan and I reluctantly shook my head feeling the headache settling in.

"Promise me, that you'll be safe. That you'll be back."

"I didn't want to do this to you. I just wanted Alex to send this message to you yesterday but it's better this way." He placed a kiss on my forehead as I shut my eyes.

"I promise love, I'll be back."

~~~~~♡♡♡~~~~~

Kenna
My home became the meeting point.

Ace, Nayoung, Harry, Alex.

The only person missing was Quinn but Ace already made it clear that he wanted her to have nothing to do with this. We all sat in the wooden diner.

"Okay, erm thank you all for coming. We're going to need every mind we can get for this," I said and took out my laptop.

"We have two missions here. To bring down both your families' companies." The weight of my words weighed on my tongue as I spoke and looked at the three of them.

They were all staring into space and I glanced to Alex who shrugged.

"Harry..." his name created a bile in my throat and he turned to me sharply. I took a deep breath. Remember this is work not time to think about our personal life. "About what I said the last time? Did you find anything?" I took my gaze away from him and pretended to type something on my laptop.

"I got into the factory and took some pictures. Last night, I asked him about it all and he finally told me the truth. He said he told me so I'll protect Nana if the time comes." His voice was hoarse and he shut his eyes before placing his phone on the table. The voice of Mr Kim rang in the air through the phone as we all listened.

He said everything about the company and the murders. It was a close case.

While the recording was playing, I took a look at Nayoung and Harry. They both looked so dead as they realized that they were ruining their lives and their family name. They both knew the weight of what they did and there was no going back. A tear ran down Nayoung's face as the recording ended and I pried my eyes away from her.

Just like I suspected from the beginning. He was the mastermind being the murders and hired an assassin who was almost perfect at his work. We had everything, then I just had to hand it over to the police and get an arrest warrant. He would be arrested and the company would be shut down for investigation.

"It's a closed case," I whispered as no one had said a word since the recording ended. Then I decided to ask the question I knew had been bothering me. "Are you guys certain you want to do this? Once I take this, there's no going back," I questioned.

"Kenna," Nayoung sniffed and raised her legs to her chest. She turned to me with a broken smile, "You think this is going to ruin our lives right? That's cute. Our lives are already ruined, we have nothing. Our dad controls our mum and we have no say. This is what will give us our freedom. Don't worry about things you have no business with."

I blinked. Was she offended by my question? I couldn't put my head around what she meant or the tone of her voice. She was grateful but then annoyed that someone cared.

I swallowed and nodded. Harry sent the recordings and pictures to me.

"Once, this is over. I'll start the company with a good name and regain back our name," Nayoung said after a while and I pursed my lips but said nothing.

"So we're using this against Mr. Winston before releasing it right?" Alex asked and we all turned to Ace who had been quiet since we started the meeting.

It was so weird seeing him being too quiet and unresponsive. The Ace I remembered was always the life of any room and never let his real emotions show. But then, he didn't put on his usual mask. He was just him.

Ace tilted his head and looked up. "Yeah," he breathed.

"My grandfather is involved in this just as much as everyone else. He has to pay for everything he has done, if you need me, Kenna, I'll stand as a witness," Ace said softly.

We all went over everything we had to do once again and they all left after. I took all the evidence with me to my office and started a plan with a team of lawyers immediately. As I sat on my desk and looked outside to see that the sun had set I could finally breathe.

I grabbed the picture frame on the desk and took out the picture of my graduation from law school. Behind it was my favorite picture of all time, a picture of Angus and me on my seventeenth birthday. His bright smile was almost blinding as he forced me to wear a birthday hat and I tried to get it off unable to hide my smile. A birthday cake with a candle was in front of us and the lighting resembled that of a sunset due to the camera used to capture the moment.

I felt the tear drop down to my hand as I caressed his face through the picture wishing to hold him one more time and tell him how much I truly love him.

The room was void of any other person but me. The lights were off except for the natural light from outside. I remember the scene from the picture and how excited Angus was to celebrate my birthday.

"They said you have to wear it!" His laughter rang in my ears and I rolled my eyes.

"It'll make me look fat and round! Get that away from me!!" I yelled at him and kept my hands over my head. He pouted and turned to Quinn who was on Dylan's lap trying to hide her laughter.

"Hey you! Do you think Kenna looks fat? Are you the one telling her that?" He retorted at Quinn, immediately deciding that she was the cause of the thought in my head. Quinn's eyes widened and she moved her head from Dylan and back to us. Angus and I were seated on the floor behind the little table that held the cake and three presents

"What the hell, must you assume everything she says comes from me? We have other friends you know," Quinn said and sipped on her drink.

"Really like who?"Dylan laughed and we all looked around to see that we were the only ones in the room for my birthday. We all looked at each other and burst out laughing. We were always together and we were the closest, I loved it like that. The others just wanted to get close to us to use us for one reason or another. I only celebrated my birthday with my true friends.

"Okay! Pictures pictures!" Dylan exclaimed and grabbed the camera from the desk as he gently took Quinn off his leg. She held onto his arm and they stood before Angus and I ready to take a picture.

"You'll look cute in this for the picture Kenna." Angus tried his luck once more and gave me the cutest puppy eyes he could muster. His tricks worked as a laugh escaped my lips and I couldn't stop smiling. He had a satisfactory look on his face as he tried to put it on me once more and a snapping sound was heard as Dylan took the picture.

The table was filled with three presents from the three people I love the most. Angus held me in his arms and kissed the top of my head.

I was sobbing uncontrollably as the memories flooded my head and my heart physically ached as I clutched my chest. He was gone so soon and had so much more to give to the world.

"I love that picture too," a soft voice said from behind me on my chair and my heart stopped. My hands trembled as I held on tight to the picture and slowly turned around.

No... no....no.... Angus sat two feet away from me on my chair with a smile on his lips. My lower lips quivered and my chest heaved. I couldn't even muster the strength to speak and choked on my breath.

"You looked so pretty with the hat... just like you do now. And always have."

A soft gasp escaped my lips and my trembling hands covered my mouth. My body was unable to take in what I was seeing, Angus was before me, real or not real it was the most real thing I had felt in the longest time.

"Angus?"

"Yes darling."

My strength crumbled down and I loud cry escaped from my lips. I shook my head as he suddenly stood up and walked towards me until he was standing before me. His eyes, his smell, his lips, his smile, him. Everything about him made my head spin and I suddenly forgot how to speak.

"I've missed you, darling." His eyes wrinkled as he spoke. Still crying, I couldn't even reach out to touch him. I was scared he would disappear.

"I've missed you more Angus," I breathed and then he reached out. Just as his fingers almost touched my face, I shut my eyes trying to relish the feeling of his touch as he wiped my tears.

"I know I'm unbelievably attractive but no need to cry over my presence."

The chuckle I let out turned into a laugh as our eyes locked again. That was my Angus. My Angus was there, he came to see me.

"I'm sorry I took so long," he said softly and I shook my head.

"It's okay," I whispered. "I have to tell you something, something I should have told you a long time ago."

The fear that he would disappear caught onto me and I had to finally tell him how I've always felt.

He smiled and nodded like he knew what I was going to say.

"I love you, Angus. I always have, I've never felt anything like the love I have for you. I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you, I'm sorry I was so difficult. I was so so stupid," I cried and he immediately pulled me into a hug as I cried into his chest.

"I know darling. And I love you so much more. Even in death, I've never loved you more. It's okay to grieve and let me go," he breathed and I shook my head in his chest. He suddenly pulled my chin up and the tears dripped down my eyes he leaned down and our lips touched, I felt a tear drop from his eyes down to my cheek and felt his body trembling.

"Even in death, I've never loved you more."

"I knocked twice and no one answered. But I saw your car and knew you were inside," a voice spoke and brought me back to earth as the door opened.

Suddenly I was alone and Angus had disappeared. I felt my check and I could swear I still felt his tear that dropped into my face. I quickly put myself together and took a deep breath before putting the picture in my pocket. My hands were still trembling and tears still threatened to drop.

But his presence gave me the strength I needed to get past the next few days.

I turned back around to see Brandon!

"You're back from your Paris trip!" I said with my voice hoarse from the tears and he engulfed me in a hug. Brandon gives the best hugs.

"I've missed my girls so freaking much." He mumbled and dropped his bag on my desk. "What's all this I'm hearing about Quinn and the Winston's? Did Quinn and Ace break up?"

I placed my hands on my forehead and sighed. "It's a lot, Brandon, I'll fill you in on the important deals on the way. Have you had dinner?"

"No, where do you wanna eat? You better not leave any details out," he said pointing at me I chuckled and we began to walk out of the office.

I locked the door behind me and felt the picture in my pocket as we walked to my car.

Now I could only mourn him.

~~~~~♡♡♡~~~~~

I don't even know what to sayyy.

I'm taking way too long to update and I hate it but I've been so busy. And I know I have no excuse but I'm so sorry to everyone who has been waiting and I appreciate your support. I promise to update more frequently and now we're so close to the end of the story of Ace and Quinn.

I hope you all accept my apology and enjoy this chapter. The next chapter will be out very soon and I promise it's worth the wait.

Love you all!!🤍