Chapter 713 - First Meeting After A Year

After they all settled into their rooms with the butlers and servants' assistance, they all gathered at the bar outside to enjoy the fresh air and the sound of the waves. Vivian had prepared everything as they didn't need clothes because each and everyone of them had their own closet full of clothes in their size!

Hence, there's no problem aside from how they would enjoy this well-deserved break by their fairy godmother named Vivian. 

"Hello! Hello!" As they enjoyed their refreshments while others had their cold beers, they heard a familiar voice.

Angelo.

"Oh em ji…" Owen uttered under his breath. "Hey, Gelo! Are you sure you're not followed by your enemies? We don't welcome that life anymore!" 

"Ohh… how cold!" Angelo scoffed as he stopped and perched on the bar stool. "I had a great backing to hide all my activities. Also, Satan would die if I…"

Angelo looked around and leaned closer to Owen and Carter. "Karma will kill Satan if Boss Zhou gets involved with that again."

Since they all shared this little secret about Vivian, they had to be discreet. After that incident two years ago, they all had chosen the path they wanted to walk on.

Just like Owen and Carter who chose to stick with Matthew and ended up being friends with him. Angelo chose to stay in the life he had always known.

Now, Angelo had become a powerful felon. They didn't have much contact with him. They talked at least once a year about Angelo's crazy life. But their friendship remained.

"You didn't come with your boyfriend?" Carter asked, looking behind Angelo. 

Also, they had accepted Angelo's sexuality. It was quite a surprise, but Inigo had been teasing Angelo about it until they somehow got used to it. Hence, when Angelo informed them about it, they weren't as shocked as they thought.

"Patrizio? Man… he's a pain. That's why when Karma called I had to attend the wedding, I just went. No questions asked." Angelo sighed as he gestured to the bartender for a drink.

"You're pretty stressed, huh?" Owen clicked his tongue as he could tell just by studying Angelo's demeanor.

"But I'm alive." Angelo just shrugged as he chugged down a glass of rum in one go.

*

Meanwhile, around Zoey's table, there was Matthew, Zion, and Cora. Since Owen and Carter ought to drink until they drop tonight, they decided to stay at the bar. Unlike this group who just want to unwind with a wind to enjoy.

"Mom is the best." Zoey breathed in the salt air as she turned towards Matthew. With Matthew in his loose polo shirt, it felt like she was blessed to have such a loving and handsome husband.

"It's just Angelo." Zion muttered as he glanced at Angelo who was hanging out with Owen and Carter. "I thought it's Ryan and Ivan."

"Do you want to see Ivan that much?" Matthew raised his brow before taking a sip from his wine.

"Not me." Zion snapped his tongue and discreetly cocked his head towards Cora.

Matthew and Zoey moved their eyes towards Cora. Although she was physically with them, her mind had already drifted elsewhere else. She was just staring at her reflection in silence.

Zoey bit her lower lip. It's been a year since Ivan and Cora's messy break-up. Cora had locked herself up after the break up and wrote like crazy.

They had heard the reason, of course. But it was too late. Zion only told the truth to her when Ivan had already left the country.

Hence, they couldn't blame her. She messed up a relationship, accused him falsely, and hurt him because of a petty misunderstanding.

"Cora," Zoey called out softly, her eyes glinting with concern.

"Oh," Cora snapped back from her thoughts as she raised her gaze to them. "I'm sorry. I was thinking about the plot of my story."

She sported a forced smile as an awkward chuckle followed. "Anyway, Z. I will join you guys later. I have to take down notes and tell my readers that I'm on a vacation."

As she said so, Cora helped herself up and walked away. She didn't even wait for Zoey and Zion to speak as she picked up her pace. 

"I knew this would happen." Zoey sighed as she had foreseen this coming. However, Cora reassured her it was fine. After all, Ivan was Zoey's little brother -- although not biologically. 

"She still loves him." Zion also sighed, shaking his head as he watched Cora walk away.

Meanwhile, Matthew remained silent as it had nothing to do with him. Still, he was intrigued.

"Didn't you like her?" Matthew asked. "I'm still surprised you two didn't try if you can work things out."

Zion chuckled as he picked up a glass of wine. "I loved her, and I still do. But as a friend this time."

"As a friend?" Matthew raised a brow, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"I didn't know you're that interested to hear about my personal affairs, brother. But, I might be a doctor, but I won't beat myself up just to patch someone's emotional wound." Zion humored with a shrug. "If we're meant to be, so be it. But I don't like to force things. I'd rather let it flow naturally."

"Wow, brother…" Zoey awed as she gave him a slow clap.

"Also, we're good friends." Zion chuckled as he had let things go -- let Cora go -- for a long time now.

Also, deep down, Zion knew that no one could ever replace Ivan in many aspects of their lives. And he respected Ivan because of it.

***

Meanwhile, Cora rushed back to the mansion without a pause in her pace. She hadn't been thinking about Ivan for a long time. But, with everyone gathered here and friends with him, she just felt… restless.

Just as Cora entered the mansion, she bumped into something solid. His scent immediately wafted her nose.

Before she could fall back, someone grabbed her hand and pulled her back to restore her balance.

"Oh, sorry…" 

As soon as she heard that familiar voice she had been longing for day and night, Cora froze. Slowly, she raised her gaze and met his pair of clear blue sky.

Ivan's eyes slightly widened upon meeting her gaze. However, instead of acting awkward in front of her, Ivan smiled and let her wrist go.

"Sorry about that." He said in her language fluently.

"It's… it's fine." Cora stammered and sported a smile. "I got to go. Zoey and the rest are outside."

"Oh…" Ivan nodded. "Thank you."

The two of them exchanged subtle smiles before they once again parted ways. Just like a year ago, they had to go on separately. But this time, there were no tears… 

Just heaviness.