Ember remains silent by Nathaniel's side on their way back to the Vatore estate, where he and the rest of the Emberlynn family are staying for now. Sitting in the passenger's seat, she chews on her bottom lip nervously, eyeing the scenery around her. Unlike Nathaniel who can see everything clearly, the mystical veil of mist blocks her mortal vision.
"You can't see anything, can you?" the blond asks, breaking the ice.
"Y-yeah…" she nods, her answer is stiff and isolated.
"Well, they say that humans can not enter Forgotten Hollow without the guidance of a supernatural being after all." he continues "Unlike you, I can see everything clearly."
"Is that so…?"
Another pause between them, the awkward silence unnerves the young pair as they struggle to patch the once broken relationship.
Ember swallows a big lump in her throat, finding the still air difficult to breathe. After the interrogation with her parents, Lily and Victor reluctantly release their grasp on her, fearing that the allegation will damage the empire that they have built for themselves. Nathaniel knows Ember would never want anything bad to happen to them, even when the Fengs have done nothing but bring her pain. She does not want to see her younger twin, Emerald, clean up the mess their parents leave for them in the pursuit of money and power.
Nathaniel knows this and strikes a deal with them, forcing Lily and Victor to break off Ember's engagement with Don Lothario and warning them about the consequences of allying with that man. He also notifies them of how the authorities are having their eyes on Don and his illegal business, saying that they have more than enough evidence to build a case against him and anyone who is involved in this business. Fearing the complications, Lily and Victor reluctantly agree to the terms.
And now, here she is sitting by his side in his car, getting away from those she calls her parents…
Ember takes in a deep breath, recalling the pain she inflicted on Nathaniel just a couple of weeks ago. While she claims that her actions are meant for his protection, she can not deny the fact that she is the person who makes him cry.
From the first day she knew Nathaniel, he had never shown his tearful face in front of her. In Ember's eyes, he has always been a strong and resilient person, someone who is headstrong and never allows anything to break him. Staying by his side, she always feels safe and secure, his loving and caring nature allows her to cast away the barrier she forms around herself and relies on him.
Nathaniel…
Closing her eyes, Ember lets herself swim in the pool of thoughts in her head. No matter how difficult the situation is, how the problem looks impossible to solve, or how big the circumstance may be, Nathaniel never allows himself to succumb to it and pushes forward. He is reliable, someone who can take on anyone's problems without yielding. That strong will and resilient heart of him are the sole reasons why she never sees him cry, in the blond's eyes, no circumstances are too much for him to deal with.
That is until she is the one who breaks him. Physically, mentally, and emotionally…
That day when she called things off with him, Ember still remembers it, the hurt in his eyes and his tearful face. No matter how many reasons she comes up with, that vivid image of his painful expression still comes back and haunts her. No one has ever been able to break him and she is the first person to take that trophy. She, Ember Feng, is the reason for those tears to fall…
Ember understands that her situation is dire, how everything seems to turn their backs on her and to protect Nathaniel, she chooses to push him away. She becomes her parents' little puppet to ensure the bright future the blond deserves. Her decision means no harm and she would do it again if the same circumstance popped up. Some might say she is stupid to do so, others may praise her for such a courageous act of love, but to Ember…
She will never forgive herself for bringing pain to Nathaniel…
"Nathaniel…"
"What is it?"
She stops for a moment, unsure what to say. After everything she has done, Ember believes that she is no longer worthy to be by his side…
"Please take me back to San Myshuno…"
Nathaniel tenses up at her request, gripping the wheel tightly in his hands as he pulls up to the side, parking the car in a swift motion.
He turns his attention to her, looking at the woman he holds dear to his heart. The blond wants to reach out, to cradle her in his arms and embrace Ember. He has hope for this day to come as soon as possible, the day when he can break the chains her parents have placed on her, to see and to call her his again. But Ember seems reluctant to those ideas, despite how her eyes still shine a light of love and adoration when she looks at him, he finds her out of his reach.
"Why do you want to go back?"
"Nathaniel, I…" her lips quiver as she tries to hold back a sob "I can't, we can't…"
"Why not?" he asks her again, an ugly feeling rising within him.
"I…" her shoulders shake as she turns away. She has no right to cry in front of him, not after all the pain she has caused him "I'm sorry…"
Gripping the wheel tightly, Nathaniel feels his eyes become watery, but he maintains his composure. He can not allow himself to be weak, Ember needs him. Even when she is actively pushing him away, the blond knows that she needs him more than anyone else right now.
"L-let me take you somewhere safe first, then we can talk…"
Swallowing the big lump in her throat, she gives him a soft nod and reluctantly agrees.
Primrose's eyes pander between Ember and Nathaniel, chewing her bottom lips as the silence grows louder. When they arrive at the Vatore Estate, Lilith welcomes them with open arms, smiling at how their rescue mission was a success and the older Feng is here with them. Despite the warm and cozy environment, what is left between the blond and his ex-girlfriend are broken pieces of their crumbling relationship.
With both their parents back at Emberlynn's residence, watching over the construction of their home, Primrose is left at the Vatore Estate, struggling to help her little brother reconnect with Ember. While she is the author of many successful romance novels, Nathaniel's situation is something she finds hard to deal with. Not only does it resemble her problems in the past, but engaging it means she will have to open the wounds that she has set aside to build a future with Caleb.
What can I do?
She thinks to herself, not knowing a dark figure is walking towards her. When a hand sets on her shoulders, Primrose lets out a yelp as she is silenced by someone. Turning her attention to the owner of this hand, surprised to see Caleb is right behind her, glancing at the awkward couple in the living room. The raven head pouts, telling him to not scare her like that again as she rests one hand on her chest, hoping to calm herself down.
"Sorry, beloved…" planting a kiss on her forehead, he looks at Nathaniel and Ember, who are both staying as far away as possible "How are they?"
"Well, they are…" her shoulders slump at the question, Primrose casts them a tired gaze "They have not uttered a single word since their arrival."
Caleb looks at his lovely raven head then turns his attention to the young couple in the room. He can read the awkward air between them, the silence is eating away that thin thread of their connection. If Nathaniel and Ember don't speak up about the matter fast, what will left between them is the broken pieces. And nothing pains a heart more than the feeling of regrets.
He knows this more than anyone else…
"Why don't you talk to Ember and I will take care of Nathaniel?" he looks at his beloved, who is staring at him with wide onyx orbs.
"Talk?"
"Their situation is similar to ours, right? If we can give them different perspectives of why Ember did what she did, maybe it can help them see the complexities of this situation."
Primrose looks at him, chewing on her bottom lips as she is unsure how to respond. His solution is a good idea, especially when both Nathaniel and Ember refuse to open their heart to each other. While her blond brother is eager to give their relationship another chance, Ember's reluctance proves to be difficult to handle. If Nathaniel doesn't handle this delicately, she fears that he will lose Ember forever.
Caleb studies her troubled face, he knows that this task may be difficult for Primrose as somewhere in her heart still holds onto that mistake he made years ago. He doesn't blame her, not when what he did back then had caused her tremendous pain. The young lord admires how strong and resilient she is, to open her heart to a man like him, to push away the doubts just to give this connection another chance.
Letting go of that fear means she is leaving the pillar of stability within herself and opening herself to an unknown future, but Primrose does it anyway. She believes their fragile connection will withstand all obstacles and for that, he is grateful. Now, Nathaniel and Ember are facing the same problem as them years ago, Caleb doesn't want to see the blond go through the same pain he and Primrose experienced years ago. If he can do anything to help them, he will do it, and the young lord knows that his beloved is thinking the same thing.
"Caleb…"
Caressing the softness of her cheek with one hand, he leans down, capturing her lips with his. A hand surges up, holding onto his white dress shirt as he circles his arms around her, pulling the young maiden closer to him. Just like their many kisses, this one is soft and gentle, wrapping them in a peaceful embrace that they desperately hold onto. In his arms, she feels protected and cherished, knowing that Caleb will do everything to ensure her safety and comfort.
When they pull away, Primrose and Caleb stare at each other again, his hand still resting on her cheek, silver eyes looking at her with love and adoration. Her face is engulfed with a bright blush and she finds herself lost in the depths of those silver orbs. No matter how much she looks at him, the raven head always finds his gaze mesmerizing.
"Let's go help your brother?" touching her forehead with his, Caleb asks her again.
Looking at it makes Primrose unable to hold back her giggles, the way he crouches down just to meet her eyes, despite their obvious height differences, is endearing. Holding onto him, the water mage gives him a firm nod and a kiss on his cheek, rewarding him for such a caring action.
They walk into the living room, with Primrose moving to Ember's side and asking her to come out for a private talk while Caleb is making his way to Nathaniel, stopping the blond from voicing his objection.
"Come with me, Ember."
The older Feng looks at her, then back at Nathaniel who is wearing a complex expression. She lowers her head, feeling stuck between the two siblings, but Primrose holds onto her hand and guides her out of the living room, much to her brother's dismay.
"Caleb, what is the meaning of this?"
The young lord looks at Nathaniel, the fear of separating from Ember shines brightly in those blue eyes. While he feels bad for the blond, Caleb knows that this is the best course of action for both of them, as well as to give Ember room to breathe and to think clearly about her actions.
"Come to the kitchen, I will make us some coffee."
"Where is Primrose taking her?" Nathaniel, still in his defensive stand, asks him with irritation.
"Somewhere that is safe for Ember to talk."
His nonchalant expression fuels the blond's fear even more as he demands to have Ember by his side, he is unable to stay away from her even if it is only for a few seconds.
"Nathaniel, calm down." Caleb looks at him, his voice is firm, as if to chase away the fear the blond has "She is safe in Primrose's hands. And you need to cool your head before thinking about getting back with her."
His response startles Nathaniel as he stares at the young lord, struggling to come up with another reason why Ember should not leave his side right now. But the more he tries to speak, the further he finds himself spiraling. Realizing that Caleb's words are true, the blond reluctantly follows him to the kitchen, getting away from that suffocated silence.
Sitting on the bar stool, the blonds let out a loud sigh. He has been so focused on how he needs to get Ember back that he completely ignores the aftermath of his confrontation with the Feng family. Now that she is no longer bound by the chains of her parents, Nathaniel finds himself unable to reach out to her, despite how much he wants them to be together. The damage of her words and actions, the heartbreak within him, and the fear of losing her once again suffocate him to the point he is unable to say anything when they have that alone time in the living room.
"Your coffee." Caleb sets the cup on the counter in front of the blond "You need to clear your mind before taking any action, Nathaniel."
"I…thank you…"
Taking a sip of his coffee, he can feel the dark, bittersweet liquid hit his tongue. The coffee tastes amazing and somehow, that caffeine substance is slowly easing the nerves within him. His shoulders relax, slumping down as if to throw away all the pressures he is carrying up to now.
Nathaniel begins to ponder his thoughts. Why Ember did what she did? Why he did what he did? Why are they so close and yet, so far at the same time?
Ember broke up with him to protect him from her parents, she broke his heart to ensure his safety and future. She sacrificed herself and her freedom for him…
Nathaniel knows that he should be grateful for what she did, and yet, deep down, he finds himself unable to forgive her for the pain she inflicted on him. Despite how much he loves her, the thought of that day, when she left him in their shared apartment, broke him physically and mentally. And he is struggling to forgive her, even when he knows the truth behind her actions.
"Why…?"
Caleb stands across the blond, leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in his hand. He knows that Nathaniel needs time to recover from this. No matter how much he loves Ember, that ugly feeling is still hawking in his heart, waiting for the right time to resurface. It feels like a ticking bomb and the blond will eventually break if he can not deal with it.
"It feels like her actions are unforgivable, right?"
Nathaniel lowers his head, taking in a deep breath and nodding to Caleb's observation. It is true that no matter how many excuses he tries to come up with for her words, none of them help him.
"You believe that there was always a different approach, one that would not break you like this. Had she told you the truth from the beginning, none of this would have happened." Caleb continues "Despite how reasonable and logical her actions were, your heart was broken because of her."
He looks at Caleb, baffled at his words. Here he is, struggling to find the reason for the ugly feelings in his heart, the young lord is able to list all of them out easily without lifting his fingers.
"How…?"
There is a knowing smile on his face, followed by a remorseful gaze. Setting his coffee cup aside, Caleb thinks of Primrose and her fearful face when they first met each other after years of separation. While Ember gave Nathaniel her farewell, Caleb chose to keep silent and left Primrose without a single word. To this day, the guilt of abandoning her still gnaws him and Caleb knows that she is struggling with the same thing, fighting back any thought of how history will repeat itself.
"I was never able to forgive myself for what I did to her…"
Nathaniel stares at him, realizing who Caleb is talking about.
Primrose…
He thinks of his sister, how heartbroken she was after returning from Glimmerbrook, how she was unable to move on from Caleb, how happy she was when the young lord returned to her, how he was doing everything he could to stop her from getting back with Caleb, and so much more.
"No matter how many apologizes I make, how much love I give her, how much I want to give her the life she deserves, it never relief me from the guilt I have in my heart." the young lord wears a rueful smile "Even when she forgives me, I know that Primrose still carries that pain with her. Just like you are right now…"
Nathaniel tightens his hold on the coffee mug, finding himself unable to respond. It resonates with him very well, how Primrose went through everything with Caleb. While Ember remains silent by his side, the blond can see how that guilt is slowly eating her heart. The pain is visible in her green eyes whenever she meets his gaze…
"H-how did you deal with it…?" Nathaniel mumbles under his breath.
"Well, I just do my best to let her know that I am serious about this. My past mistakes taught me an important lesson, but I could not let it hinder the connection we share right now." Caleb calmly responds "Primrose will tell you the same thing if you ask her."
The blond remains silent, he understands what the young lord is telling him. Studying Nathaniel a bit, the young lord continues to press on the matter.
"Can you find yourself with someone else but Ember?"
"What? No! Never!" taking a defensive stand, he exclaims.
"Then use that determination to win her back." with a knowing smile forming on his lips, Caleb responds "She might be at fault for breaking the relationship, but she is struggling to find her way back to you, as you are to her."
Ember follows Primrose to the rose garden of the Vatore Estate, admiring how beautiful the blooming flowers are. The white petals are a stark contrast with the centuries-old mansion, a pure canvas reflecting the elegance of the roses and the beauty of the historical architecture. The raven head takes a pair of scissors and cuts two white roses, giving one to Ember as they slowly make their way to the graves underneath the plasma tree.
"This is the resting place of Caleb's parents."
Placing the flower on the grave, Ember follows her, doing the same thing. She looks around their surroundings, a peaceful smile forms on her lips. The rose garden brings a sense of tranquility, easing the turmoil within her heart. She desperately needs some time alone, away from Nathaniel and everything that has happened up to now.
Despite how grateful she is for him to intervene and remove her parents' influence on her future, Ember finds herself unable to look at him. She is ashamed for hurting with her words and actions. No matter how much she tries to tell herself that what she does is for the best, Ember can never forgive herself for bringing Nathaniel such pain and sorrow.
"Nathaniel's punishment was concluded, you know…" Primrose's words draw her attention as Ember looks at the raven head "He still has his magic locked away, but only for one month. And he will have to do community service in one year."
She stares at Primrose, blinking excessively before her lips quiver, green eyes well up at the news. Covering her mouth to block away the sob, she succumbs to her relief as her shoulders tremble.
Thank God…
Primrose remains calm, listening to Ember's soft sobs. Instead of pulling the older Feng into a warm embrace, she stays by her side, offering her silent support. Ember needs a space to let out the ugly feelings within the depths of her heart, the fear and frustration of what has occurred in her life, and the newfound freedom she receives.
Within a few weeks, her life has taken a turn, from engaging with Don Lothario to breaking up with Nathaniel to getting away from her parents' control. Everything happens so fast that she is unable to process anything, physically and mentally. And now, the blond wants her back, he wants the girl who has broken his heart back in his life. Ember finds it difficult to understand why he wants her of all people…
"Why do you think it is a good idea to run away?"
"What…?"
Isn't it the best course of action for her?
She can not face Nathaniel, she can not bear to see his face. That look in his eyes… It is the same gaze he had when she broke things off with him. It hurts her to see how broken and devastated the blond was to the point he chose to commit a violent act on Don Lothario. And all of that happened because of her.
"You know, when Caleb left, he did it without a single word…" Primrose stares at the plasma tree, the magical purple hue reflecting agaisnt her midnight-colored eyes "I did not know anything until the next morning, when my mentors told me that he was not there anymore…"
"Primrose…"
"All these years I ask myself why he did what he did. Was my confession that much of a sin that he could not handle? Or maybe he was not feeling the same? Or maybe he hated me so much that he could not bear to see me?" the raven head continues "I never knew that he left me just to protect me from harm…"
The war between House Vatore and House Straud, the creation of the plasma tree, the ending cycle of the strong preying on the weak, the harmonious life between vampires and humans, and so much more…
Caleb did all of that during their separation, he had a duty he must accomplish, for his family and his people. To achieve that, he chose to let her go, and along with his decision, he abandoned his own feelings for her. But Primrose never knew about this, she was drowning herself in the belief that he saw her as nothing but a burden and in turn, harbored a resentful feeling for him. That is until she met him again on that faithful day…
Ember listens to her story, finding it similar to hers and Nathaniel's situation. She has seen Primrose grow in all those years before the day she knew Caleb Vatore. While the raven head is successful in her career, she is never brave enough to open her heart to anyone else. Ember doesn't understand why an amazing woman like Primrose doesn't have anyone by her side, she never knew that Caleb and Primrose share the same circumstances she is having right now.
"Primrose, tell me…" she sighs, her shoulders trembling "Even after everything he did, why do you choose to be with him?"
"Why…?"
The raven head ponders her thoughts for a moment before a smile forms on her face. No matter how much she tries to blame him for his cruel departure, Primrose is never truly able to let him go. The little crush she had for him years ago harbored into something deeper, more meaningful. She loves him with every fiber of her being, her heart swells just at the thought of his name. Caleb is someone she holds dear to her heart, the moment he leaves her, Primrose already knows that she can not love anyone as much as she loves him.
And because of her strong feelings for the young lord, Primrose finds herself drowned in her own sorrow after many years of separation…
"How did you feel when you chose to end things with Nat?"
Ember hitches at the question, feeling a tug in her heart. To this day, she still remembers how painful it was to cut all ties with him.
"Remember that feeling, Ember. And answer me this, why do you think it is a good idea to run away from Nathaniel?"
"I…"
She feels those words stuck in her throat as nothing comes out of her mouth except a sob. She can not answer that question. Primrose understands that feeling very well, the pain of forcing oneself to stay away from their loved ones is horrible and agonizing.
"I love him…" Ember utters broken words "I love Nathaniel. But he deserves so much better than to be with someone like me…"
She knows that the older Feng will make the same mistake Caleb did years ago if she chooses to run away. It takes years for her and the young lord to find their way back in each other's arms, the raven head doesn't want the same thing to happen to Nathaniel and Ember.
"Ember, embrace this love you have for my brother." Primrose rests a reassuring hand on her trembling shoulders "Don't make the same mistake we did. I don't want to see you spend years in regret for your decision."
Moving her gaze to the approaching figure, her lips curl up into a kind smile. Sighing one last time, she takes her leave, allowing Ember to have a moment of herself as the blond approaches her, a mixture of feelings spread across his handsome face. Primrose walks past him, mouthing good luck to her younger brother as she returns to Caleb's side, praying that Nathaniel and Ember will have the happiness they deserve.
The blond stares at his beloved's trembling shoulders, she looks so small, so fragile, as if a gust of air can knock her off her feet. No matter how resentful he is, how angry and disappointed he is at her decision, in the end, Nathaniel can not deny that his heart still yearns for her.
A hand drops on her shoulder as Ember flinches, this grasp on her feels awfully familiar as she turns around, forest green eyes glistering with tears. Even when they are both at their lowest, the older Feng can still feel her heart flutter at the sight of him.
"Nathaniel…"
"Hey…" he responds, barely a whisper, as he looks at her. Despite the tear-stained face, Ember in his eyes is still the most beautiful woman he has ever seen "Can we talk?"
Staring back at those sky-blue orbs, Primrose's words ring in her head, telling her to not make the same mistake she and Caleb did. If she chooses to run away now, will she be able to protect herself from this heartbreak? Or will she be as miserable as Primrose years ago…?
Ember closes her eyes as she feels his finger grazes on her skin, brushing away the tears that form on her lashes. Such a tender touch makes her heart skip a beat and she finds herself unable to pull away. Nathaniel has always been like this, so loving and caring. Even when the odds are stacked against him, even when there is a possibility that she chooses to run away, the blond is here, ready to accept the answer from her.
It is this side of him that makes Ember fall in love with him in the first place, after all…
"Yes, let's talk…"