171 Amber's Illogical Reasoning

Timothy remained silent.

He was obviously affected, such words applies to both he and Xander. They had been living their lives in accordance to what their family wants.

It was only after meeting Amber did he decide to really focus on his own company.

He was only able to really return here because their attention was no longer on him. It was on Xander who became a doctor and could be compared just fine with Glenn.

Both he and Xander were the same, they would live their lives for one another, thinking of one another. Not once have they thought about themselves.

"Made you think?" Jake asked upon noticing his silence.

"Have you heard that from her?" Timothy couldn't help but ask.

"No, it was from someone else. She runaway from home despite having a good life, despite having her precious people in there, she chose to runaway. And during that time was also when my career was on the rocks."

"She suddenly appeared in my life and spoke to me about life. The funny thing is, she was a lot younger than I am," he answered with a sad smile.

"I somehow wants to meet her," Timothy replied.

Jake sadly shook his head, "I also haven't seen her in a long time and by the time I've heard news about her, she was already gone."

"I'm sorry."

"If it were the past me, I would have been completely devastated but now? I just want to keep going, taking with me everything I have learned from her and knowing that most of the things I've learned came from her."

"What are the two of you talking about so seriously/" Amber walked to them and asked.

"About life, so how about you two? Done with your lessons?" Jake instantly replied.

"Yup all done and I am hungry, shall we eat now?" Amber rpelied with a smile while Alissa nodded behind her.

She may not be smiling but she looks fine compared to a while ago.

"Let's go to the canteen then, my treat," Jake replied.

"Why only the canteen then? We should head to a better place instead," Amber complained.

Jake raised an eyebrow as if saying, 'We currently have a scandal right?'

"Stingy," Amber replied before pulling Alissa ahead of the two of them.

"Thank you," Timothy suddenly said to Jake as they started following the other two.

"What for?"

"For your words, it helped me calm down a lot after finding out who she will get back at."

"Can I ask you one thing then?" Jake gave him a smile before asking.

"What is it?"

"You all barely knew her, less than a year I presume. What do you all think about her?"

Timothy fell into deep thought.

Brian, Mathew, Xander and him.

They actually had some conversation regarding Amber.

Ash and the others knew her from Star Country, even Aldger.

That is why the four of them could see how much those guys trust her for Ashton.

Or would she be even worse?

Then came the event with Carl, all four of them wanted to help but due to their family circumstances they couldn't and that left them guilty.

Especially Brian who was also a Cooper and that he also knew how much Cooper was trying to shield the Barbers family.

Ashton told them that they are not at fault at all but being a friend you would still feel guilty no matter what the other say.

It was one of their dinner did all four of them come to truly respect Amber.

(Flashback)

"Are we in another round of apologizing here? Every time Carl was in the conversation you would all look so guilty," Amber suddenly commented when everyone was being down because they couldn't do anything for Ashton and the others regarding Carl.

The four of them were somehow offended.

"Offended? Then why not stand on your own? If you can't do anything about your family, stand on your own. You can build your own empire and would be able to help him no matter what."

"Not everyone is like you," Mathew couldn't help but to rebuke.

"I know. That is why I really don't understand. Since you still couldn't do anything why always act this way? It was the circumstances that didn't allow you to help not you yourself. It's like you wanted to eat something very much but couldn't because you are very much allergic to eat that you would die if you do."

She started lecturing them.

"Are you still going to eat it?"

They shook their head at the same time.

"See, even if we are talking about a life in here. You being guilty all year round, the dead would just want to get back up and hit you hard. If you can't, surely someone will be able to help. You feeling bad despite Ash and the others telling you not to is the same as you making them guilty that they couldn't protect Carl."

She suddenly raised both her hands, "Then alas, everyone was now guilty. Are we going to keep repeating that cycle?"

Ashton looked at her, 'Says the one who has the greatest guilt.'

"Was it their fault that Carl died? No, but it was mine," she retorted upon seeing his look, understanding the reason behind it.

Ashton just shook his head towards her.

"She's right, you're making us feel even more guilty that we couldn't save Carl at all."

(End Of Flashback)

It was then that they started accepting the fact that they really couldn't do everything and started moving on from their guilt and instead started accepting that it was Carl's fate to leave the world early.

"We respect her," just as they were about to reach the canteen, he finally replied to Jake���s question from the office.

"Then that's more than enough," Jake answered with a smile.

'Though I wonder what she meant by that back then? It was her fault? Her parent's death? Ash only gave her a look and she already knew what he was thinking. Truly such a scary couple.'

He thought as he looked at Amber and Alissa who was now seated and looking at the menu.

"Come to think of it, we didn't invite Hayley," Alissa remembered after giving their orders.

"I asked her when we passed by her office, she said she was still full and that she still has some designs she needed to finish," Jake replied.

Amber remained silent while Alissa nodded in understanding.

"In the end, did you come here to tell me that I am suspended?" she remembered and asked.

"No I had some talk with Amber," Timothy replied.

Amber raised an eyebrow towards him, 'You weren't here just to talk to me.'

"Since-"

He suddenly kicked her under the table and gave her a look, 'Shut up.'

Amber remained silent but she was glaring daggers at him.

Jake, who was beside him, felt what he did and was stifling his laughter.

Timothy really came here for Alissa but he didn't know why so he didn't want her to know that he came here for her.

'Seriously those who are dense are the funniest at the same time the most irritating. They love being in denial when they already knew subconsciously that they love the other,' Amber thought as she rolled her eyes at Timothy, who suddenly found the glass of water interesting.

Meanwhile, Alissa who was the center of everything was happily waiting for her lunch feeling so hungry after the one-hour long lecture.

Jake found it funny, how these three are reacting.

One was in denial.

The other was reprimanding the in denial one.

And the third was clueless about everything.

'If you are to find out that she was your younger sister would your reactions be even funnier?' he thought glancing at Timothy who remained staring at the glass of water.

After eating Amber and Jake went upstairs while Alissa was tasked to see Timothy off, though it was truly unnecessary. It was only because of Amber's illogical reasoning.

"You have to consider your own workplace as your own home. And when you have a visitor at home, are you just going to sit and see them off letting them walk out of the door on their own?"

"She really is something at times isn't she?" Alissa complained to Timothy.

If back then it was only subtle, right now, she was openly matching the two of them up.

"She's your friend, you tell her," he answered back.

'Well she is your sister, shouldn't you be the one telling her?' Alissa entertained herself by thinking of this.

"Be careful on the road," she instead bid him goodbye.

They were in the parking lot so the reporters won't be able to enter.

"You too, don't think too much of the scandal or your suspension. Use this time to rest, you will have more work once you return," he rode off after saying this.