Wait, did Arthur and Yao know each other? The Russian was definitely missing something, unaware of the personal relationship the two had in the past. That claim just made by his partner had shocked him, what did he mean by Arthur didn't show compassion for him? Ivan immediately let go of the Brit that was struggling so desperately.

"Yao please, it's been more than 10 years! Get over it already, you can't arrest me for that."

The Chinese man pierced the Brit with his glare, furrowing his brows while clutching his fist. He felt his blood racing and his heartbeat accelerating, he was going to lose control. So many years of bottled up anger, frustration, and sadness couldn't be contained any longer, his emotions had reached a tipping point. Those hurtful words were the little droplets that were missing to make the sea of his sentiments overflow. Gritting his teeth, he raised up his fist, ready to give the Englishman a fatal blow on the face. He saw the frightened look of Arthur as his fist got closer to that perfect little face of the professor. He was so close, so close to giving Mr. Kirkland a black eye when his partner suddenly let go of the Brit and took his place. The fist arriving at Ivan's cheek with so much force that threw the Russian to the side.

"Ivan!"

The Asian called out, suddenly realizing what he had done and getting out of the anger trance he had entered. Horrified, he ran towards his partner that pushed against the wall holding his reddened cheek in pain. Shit, he didn't mean to punch the Russian, it was an accident! It was supposed to be for the Brit but Ivan got hit instead when trying to protect Arthur. Yao was already regretting his decision of attacking the English man. His personal life and feelings had gotten into the way of his logic and judgment. His professionalism had disappeared and he had gone wild, hurting his partner.

"Bloody hell Yao, what the fuck is wrong with you?"

Arthur cursed, completely alarmed as he saw detective Braginski holding onto his cheek and seemed like in a lot of pain. To even think that the punch was directed to him sent chills down his spine. He was lucky that the Russian jumped in on time, or else he would be missing a tooth already.

"Ivan, I'm so sorry."

The Chinese man apologized immediately, feeling ashamed of how he had lost his composure and acted in such a barbaric way. He was going to have to offer Ivan some explanations later. He already planned on telling the Russian about Kiku but now he also had to tell him about Arthur? It was going to be hard for him to open up about two very personal relations he had in the past and how it impacted him so profoundly that turned him into the bitter individual he was now.

"Stretch your hands, Mr. Kirkland."

The Russian asked, moving his hand away from his swollen cheek after the furious punch coming from his partner. He didn't understand why the Chinese man did that, well he sort of had an idea why. Arthur hadn't been very nice to detective Wang either but that was no excuse to hit someone, said the guy who picked up fights when drunk before becoming a policeman. He would have time to discuss with the Chinese man later about what happened, but now he had to do the right thing and continue the investigation. As soon as the Brit stretched his hands out, he unlocked the handcuffs from the English man and in a swift move placed them on Yao.

"What? Ivan, seriously? Are you fucking kidding me?"

Outraged, the Asian hissed when he noticed that his partner had handcuffed him now. Why was this happening? Did he really plan on letting the Brit go? Or was this some sort of punishment for the unintentional punch on the face? He wasn't sure about it, and the only thing he was worried about now was the English man escaping because he genuinely thought Arthur did it.

"Thank goodness, finally someone with common sense!"

Arthur was glad that those handcuffs were off from him, it was about time. Hopefully the Russian would let him go now because this certainly had been a huge misunderstanding. Or that's what he thought at least when he took a step forward in direction of the door but detective Braginski stretched his arm out, stopping the Brit from moving further.

"This interrogation is not over yet, Mr. Kirkland. You have confessed to stalking Michelle so we have all the reasons to believe you could have killed her."

A satisfied smile appeared in Yao's lips. Thank goodness that Ivan wasn't going to let the English man leave so easily. That man was guilty, he had all the reasons to believe so since Arthur had motives and the confession of stalking, the Brit would have to convince them that he didn't lay a finger on her.

"Wait, wait, I'll explain everything but don't put those bloody handcuffs on me again!"

The English man screeched and Ivan nodded, pulling out a little notebook to jot down the testimony. The Brit inhaled sharply before recalling the events of yesterday evening.

It was about 5 PM when he was at the flower shop, waiting to pick up a bouquet of 12 red roses that he especially ordered with anticipation for his plan to win his lover back. The traditional meaning of 12 roses meant: be mine. Which was exactly what Arthur wanted, to have Michelle all by himself and have her back to his side after their rupture. It had hit him hard, harder than any other breakups he had in the past. Considering that he was always the one asking for the breakup and not the other way around. But he was already a grown man, not that charming and witty young man from before, so of course, she would drop him to be with a more sporty and lively folk. He wasn't going to give up that easily however, he wanted her, he needed her! It was like some sick obsession that he couldn't get over with.

He picked up the bouquet as he quickly began walking towards the Bonnefoy residence. The university was nearby and the flower shop was close too, so it was easy for Arthur to transport on foot, he also was a fast walker. The Brit still couldn't believe that she broke off with him without telling him the truth or giving him a worthy excuse. She just went: oh daddy doesn't like you and we have nothing in common, sorry! Since the moment she told him that, he didn't buy it and was suspicious. That's when he began following her around campus very discretely and that's when he found out by the chattering of her girlfriends that she was seeing something else. Then he tried to talk to her about it, to confront her about it! He tried everything, calling her, paging her, sending letters, and trying to talk to her outside of school. Nothing worked, and she seemed to be less interested in him every time.

"Michelle, my love! Take me back, please! I beg of you, I beseech you, my darling!"

Arthur practiced as he walked on the solitary streets, it was a tad bit dramatic for his taste, perhaps he should try another line. He was desperate at this point, it was pretty much impossible to have such a gorgeous and bright girl like Michelle to pick an old and outdated man like him rather than being with some handsome young man of her age. He didn't know much about this other lad anyways, he only heard that the guy was younger, that was all. Since he had been following her around campus, he had sorted out that the boy wasn't from the university, so it must be from elsewhere. He needed to find out, he had to! He deserved to know who was the man that stole his sweet Michelle from him. Finally, after walking for several minutes he found himself in front of the house and pressed the doorbell.

"Michelle, I'm sorry-"

The Brit mumbled, practicing what to say before she could even answer the door. Why was he apologizing for? He's not the one who went for a younger girl, she should be apologizing! No, he needed to say sorry for continuing to bother her and follow her after they broke up. He definitely hadn't been on his best gentlemanly behavior lately but that was because he was lovesick.

"My love, forgive me."

Now that sounded much better and made him seem like less of an asshole. He pressed the doorbell again since there was no answer coming from the house. Arthur was a bit of a hurry, he needed to teach a class in less than half an hour and he had managed to squeeze in reconciliation in his busy schedule.

"Love? Michelle? Open up, darling!"

He called out, knocking on the door this time but there was still no response. Getting already impatient, he remembered that in the back yard, there was a window directly from Michelle's room. Perhaps if he goes there and shouts, she would hear him.

"Enough games, my love. I know you're in there!"

Arthur called out once more, taking the bouquet while making his way towards the backyard and he looked up at her window that was covered with curtains. Only to see her shadow entangled with the shadow of a man. The Brit felt his stomach drop almost instantly. Who was that one? That insolent boy who held her by her waist so dangerously close and she with her arms wrapped around his neck without a care in the world. He dropped the bouquet in shock, his heart already shattered into million pieces. The English man knew that this was happening behind the closed door but he did not expect it to be on full display right in front of him. Although he could only see the shadows of them and not the complete view.

"MICHELLE!"

He screamed on top of his lungs, watching the feminine figure push the man to the side and the curtain sliding open to reveal her wearing a turquoise turtleneck with her hair tied into two tails with her usual red ribbons. She crossed her arms, frowning while looking down at him.

"Why are you here? Stop following me around, you sick fuck!"

Those words hurt him profoundly. She had never raised her voice at him nor a single curse had escaped her delicate lips. She was changed, not his sweet and caring girl anymore. It must be that man beside her that had corrupted her, Arthur was sure about it.

"How can you do this to me? You know that I love you!"

An uncomfortable silence was created when the love word was mentioned and she just stared blankly at him. Did she not feel the same way as him? Did she even feel the slightest attraction to him at all?

"Do you, do you not love me? After all, we've been through? Just so you can dump me to be with a younger fellow? Was I not good enough for you, Michelle? What does he have that I don't?"

The Brit took a more aggressive approach, venting out all his sentiments to her as she watched from the window. He couldn't see the man anymore but he was certainly in that room, hearing their entire conversation.

"Stop this, stop it now, Arthur! You're being so possessive and we're not dating anymore, just leave!"

She insisted, not wanting him to be there and disturb her any longer but the professor wasn't willing to give up yet. He just felt like it wasn't fair, but maybe it was just karma coming back to him and biting him on the ass after being such a horrible boyfriend too so many people and a complete heart breaker when he was younger. Now that he was more mature, less attractive and a boring literature teacher, he had been played by clever Michelle.

"I will not! You owe me an explanation, you can't and won't get rid of me so easily!"

The yelling started again, and the English man was demanding. Michelle took the side of the curtain and began pulling it before giving Arthur one last word of warning.

"Don't come any closer to me ever again, I swear I'll put a restraining order on you."