Chang Holdings.
Around 11 in the morning.
A despondent figure was leaning against the leather chair with his back facing the glass doors. His deep dark eyes gazing at the brilliant blue sky through the floor-to-ceiling window in cogitation.
The man was none other than Ethan Lee.
Although Ethan Lee appeared prim and proper as usual, attired in a light blue suit that added a soft touch to his cold looking face, there was something different in his gaze.
A doleful dark aura unfurled itself without any surefire track or a predestined path, creating a deviating barrier of blues around his being.
A disconsolate fog veiling his otherwise clear gaze that could captivate hearts in just one look!
The door clicked open, a towering figure in midnight black emerged while Ethan Lee sat staring abstractedly with his thin lips pressed together.
With his one hand in his pocket, Lucifer strode inside the chamber as a surprised look colored his handsome face before he eased his expression.
'Hmm? Ethan? Xinglei didn't inform me about his arrival, neither did Ethan say anything..'
The sound of Lucifer's footsteps echoed in the deafening silence as he made his way to the black leatherette.
The man inadvertently recalled the text message he'd received from Xia Ruo Lan at 3 in the morning, his gray orbs flickered with light.
It stated - "You were right, I screwed up!"
"Ethan? What are you doing here? Don't tell me you've decided to work for me now.."
As Lucifer's teasing words fell, he perched across the silent Ethan Lee and his gaze flicked to his lips. Abarely visible bruise on his lower lip attracted his attention, forcing him to abruptly halt.
"Brother, I know.."
After a beat, Ethan Lee reacted to Lucifer's words. His dark orbs gazed straight into his gray irises, his tone of voice was low but profound. His chiseled jaw clenched as though he was holding himself back with great difficulty.
"Huh!"
The way Ethan Lee addressed Lucifer in a serious manner left him confounded. The former rarely calls him as brother except when he is very serious or very emotional.
He didn't think that Xia Ruo Lan would affect Ethan Lee so much!
"Ethan, What's wrong?"
Lucifer's dark eyebrows shot up as he inquired gravely, his tone low with apprehension.
"Sera.. I know about you guys!"
The wounded Ethan Lee's gaze was firmly locked on Lucifer. His fluctuating emotions and expressions, everything was taken in by his sharp gaze.
"Oh! Damn.. You scared me"
After what seemed like eternity to Ethan Lee who was impatiently waiting for an answer from Lucifer, the latter sighed in relief as he blurted out. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Initially, Lucifer was on the edge seeing the grave Ethan Lee. Slowly the man's shock transformed to evident surprise and finally happiness, for he didn't plan on hiding his relationship with Sera to his bestfriend. It was killing him.
"Actually, I didn't mean to hide it from you buddy! You know I'm not into these things.. Love? Hah, it's just that.. She, I mean Sera changed everything in me.."
The usual flicker in Lucifer's gray irises switched to that of a dreamy look even his deep vibrato softened with each word that was uttered. Especially when the name 'Sera' brought a visible light in the devil's eyes that discombobulated Ethan Lee to no end.
"Two years ago, I'd have forgotten her.. If she didn't walked into my life again.."
Failing to notice the stupefaction on Ethan Lee's face, Lucifer honestly vocalized the secrets buried deep inside his heart to his bestfriend. His lips curled into a huge grin as he reminisced their memorable past, it was a rare sight to see.
Lucifer usually looks like that only when he is talking about Mia Chung!
"Two years ago?"
Aghast by the shocking revelation made by his bestfriend, Ethan Lee asked with a visible frown and his face paled. He cast a doubtful glance at Lucifer's happily grinning face which was scarier than his scowl.
"Well.. It goes like this..."
Like an eager child, Lucifer excitedly started telling Sera and his fated encounter to Ethan Lee who had a funny expression. He couldn't believe how fate brought these two lovers together in the most unexpected scenario.
After intently listening to Lucifer's how-I-actually-met-her story, Ethan Lee felt extremely stupid. It was no doubt that Sera and Lucifer had a real connection which remarkably went back to two whole years.
And here Ethan Lee thought that he lost his so-called love to Lucifer, his bestfriend who had betrayed him and his trust. How silly of him!
"Woah!! I'm.. Speechless! I didn't know you guys run that deep, if only I'd known.."
Running his hands on his face, Ethan Lee exclaimed. The details of their love story left him bamboozled.
"Huh?!"
Unable to discern the hidden meaning behind Ethan Lee's words, Lucifer uttered questioningly.
"Nothing.. I have something important to attend to, I'll take my leave now.."
Laughing to himself, Ethan Lee concealed his expression as he said. He straightened his outfit ready to stand up and leave.
Lucifer felt that it was odd how in their entire conversation there was no mention of Xia Ruo Lan or her name. He couldn't keep quite, his curiosity and responsibility as a friend overtook his rationality as he blurted out.
"Ethan!"
At Lucifer's call, Ethan Lee raised his gaze to meet his troubled expression that slowly turned somber.
"About Xia Ruo Lan.. Please, don't blame her, I don't know what happened between you guys.. Just, trust her and give her a chance to pour her heart out to you.. That's all!"
The name Xia Ruo Lan brought a familiar tinge in Ethan Lee's heart, his expression unreadable as he took in Lucifer's words of advice, patiently. Both his hands under the table clenched tightly.
"Hmm.."
Nodding his head, Ethan Lee hummed with a half smile. He was having difficulty in breathing when Xia Ruo Lan's glowing face, her smile, her vulnerable expression when she cried and begged him to stay crossed his mind.
Ethan Lee wanted to escape from these feelings, this hurt, this suffocation that was killing him..
"I'm really sorry.. My brother! Please forgive me.. I've unintentionally hurt you!"
Abruptly rising up on his feet, Lucifer made a slight bow as he sincerely apologized to his bestfriend - Ethan Lee - who was shocked out of his wits. His eyes popped out, the earnest expression coupled with the man's moving gesture earned a low gasp.
All his grievances earlier concerning Sera had already perished into nothingness, still Ethan Lee was extremely moved to tears by Lucifer's unforeseen actions. His eyes reddened, his bslled fists under the table loosened.
This brilliant and outstanding man with his unshakeable standing in both underworld and business world had never bowed his head to anyone in his entire lifetime, not even his parents or God. Yet here he was asking forgiveness from his best brother for keeping secrets!
"You.. You didn't have to! I'm not upset. Oh c'mon, you're doing this to make me look like an idiot.."
Blinking his tears away, Ethan Lee wrapped Lucifer in a hug before stepping back in embarrassment. He laughed lightly, wiping the saltiness at the corner of his glistening black eyes.
*ahem*
Suppressing his laughter, Adrian coughed throatily to make his presence known to the two grown men. When Adrian entered the cabin unannounced, he saw Ethan Lee holding Lucifer as he cried.
The scene left Adrian dumbfounded, and he stood gaping at the strangely amusing sight before understanding the situation.
Chang Holdings.
Around 11 in the morning.
A despondent figure was leaning against the leather chair with his back facing the glass doors. His deep dark eyes gazing at the brilliant blue sky through the floor-to-ceiling window in cogitation.
The man was none other than Ethan Lee.
Although Ethan Lee appeared prim and proper as usual, attired in a light blue suit that added a soft touch to his cold looking face, there was something different in his gaze.
A doleful dark aura unfurled itself without any surefire track or a predestined path, creating a deviating barrier of blues around his being.
A disconsolate fog veiling his otherwise clear gaze that could captivate hearts in just one look!
The door clicked open, a towering figure in midnight black emerged while Ethan Lee sat staring abstractedly with his thin lips pressed together.
With his one hand in his pocket, Lucifer strode inside the chamber as a surprised look colored his handsome face before he eased his expression.
'Hmm? Ethan? Xinglei didn't inform me about his arrival, neither did Ethan say anything..'
The sound of Lucifer's footsteps echoed in the deafening silence as he made his way to the black leatherette.
The man inadvertently recalled the text message he'd received from Xia Ruo Lan at 3 in the morning, his gray orbs flickered with light.
It stated - "You were right, I screwed up!"
"Ethan? What are you doing here? Don't tell me you've decided to work for me now.."
As Lucifer's teasing words fell, he perched across the silent Ethan Lee and his gaze flicked to his lips. Abarely visible bruise on his lower lip attracted his attention, forcing him to abruptly halt.
"Brother, I know.."
After a beat, Ethan Lee reacted to Lucifer's words. His dark orbs gazed straight into his gray irises, his tone of voice was low but profound. His chiseled jaw clenched as though he was holding himself back with great difficulty.
"Huh!"
The way Ethan Lee addressed Lucifer in a serious manner left him confounded. The former rarely calls him as brother except when he is very serious or very emotional.
He didn't think that Xia Ruo Lan would affect Ethan Lee so much!
"Ethan, What's wrong?"
Lucifer's dark eyebrows shot up as he inquired gravely, his tone low with apprehension.
"Sera.. I know about you guys!"
The wounded Ethan Lee's gaze was firmly locked on Lucifer. His fluctuating emotions and expressions, everything was taken in by his sharp gaze.
"Oh! Damn.. You scared me"
After what seemed like eternity to Ethan Lee who was impatiently waiting for an answer from Lucifer, the latter sighed in relief as he blurted out. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
Initially, Lucifer was on the edge seeing the grave Ethan Lee. Slowly the man's shock transformed to evident surprise and finally happiness, for he didn't plan on hiding his relationship with Sera to his bestfriend. It was killing him.
"Actually, I didn't mean to hide it from you buddy! You know I'm not into these things.. Love? Hah, it's just that.. She, I mean Sera changed everything in me.."
The usual flicker in Lucifer's gray irises switched to that of a dreamy look even his deep vibrato softened with each word that was uttered. Especially when the name 'Sera' brought a visible light in the devil's eyes that discombobulated Ethan Lee to no end.
"Two years ago, I'd have forgotten her.. If she didn't walked into my life again.."
Failing to notice the stupefaction on Ethan Lee's face, Lucifer honestly vocalized the secrets buried deep inside his heart to his bestfriend. His lips curled into a huge grin as he reminisced their memorable past, it was a rare sight to see.
Lucifer usually looks like that only when he is talking about Mia Chung!
"Two years ago?"
Aghast by the shocking revelation made by his bestfriend, Ethan Lee asked with a visible frown and his face paled. He cast a doubtful glance at Lucifer's happily grinning face which was scarier than his scowl.
"Well.. It goes like this..."
Like an eager child, Lucifer excitedly started telling Sera and his fated encounter to Ethan Lee who had a funny expression. He couldn't believe how fate brought these two lovers together in the most unexpected scenario.
After intently listening to Lucifer's how-I-actually-met-her story, Ethan Lee felt extremely stupid. It was no doubt that Sera and Lucifer had a real connection which remarkably went back to two whole years.
And here Ethan Lee thought that he lost his so-called love to Lucifer, his bestfriend who had betrayed him and his trust. How silly of him!
"Woah!! I'm.. Speechless! I didn't know you guys run that deep, if only I'd known.."
Running his hands on his face, Ethan Lee exclaimed. The details of their love story left him bamboozled.
"Huh?!"
Unable to discern the hidden meaning behind Ethan Lee's words, Lucifer uttered questioningly.
"Nothing.. I have something important to attend to, I'll take my leave now.."
Laughing to himself, Ethan Lee concealed his expression as he said. He straightened his outfit ready to stand up and leave.
Lucifer felt that it was odd how in their entire conversation there was no mention of Xia Ruo Lan or her name. He couldn't keep quite, his curiosity and responsibility as a friend overtook his rationality as he blurted out.
"Ethan!"
At Lucifer's call, Ethan Lee raised his gaze to meet his troubled expression that slowly turned somber.
"About Xia Ruo Lan.. Please, don't blame her, I don't know what happened between you guys.. Just, trust her and give her a chance to pour her heart out to you.. That's all!"
The name Xia Ruo Lan brought a familiar tinge in Ethan Lee's heart, his expression unreadable as he took in Lucifer's words of advice, patiently. Both his hands under the table clenched tightly.
"Hmm.."
Nodding his head, Ethan Lee hummed with a half smile. He was having difficulty in breathing when Xia Ruo Lan's glowing face, her smile, her vulnerable expression when she cried and begged him to stay crossed his mind.
Ethan Lee wanted to escape from these feelings, this hurt, this suffocation that was killing him..
"I'm really sorry.. My brother! Please forgive me.. I've unintentionally hurt you!"
Abruptly rising up on his feet, Lucifer made a slight bow as he sincerely apologized to his bestfriend - Ethan Lee - who was shocked out of his wits. His eyes popped out, the earnest expression coupled with the man's moving gesture earned a low gasp.
All his grievances earlier concerning Sera had already perished into nothingness, still Ethan Lee was extremely moved to tears by Lucifer's unforeseen actions. His eyes reddened, his bslled fists under the table loosened.
This brilliant and outstanding man with his unshakeable standing in both underworld and business world had never bowed his head to anyone in his entire lifetime, not even his parents or God. Yet here he was asking forgiveness from his best brother for keeping secrets!
"You.. You didn't have to! I'm not upset. Oh c'mon, you're doing this to make me look like an idiot.."
Blinking his tears away, Ethan Lee wrapped Lucifer in a hug before stepping back in embarrassment. He laughed lightly, wiping the saltiness at the corner of his glistening black eyes.
*ahem*
Suppressing his laughter, Adrian coughed throatily to make his presence known to the two grown men. When Adrian entered the cabin unannounced, he saw Ethan Lee holding Lucifer as he cried.
The scene left Adrian dumbfounded, and he stood gaping at the strangely amusing sight before understanding the situation.
