<h4>Chapter 271: I Know Your Secret Now</h4>


    (Author’s POV)


    As Yelena and Wendy stepped inside the house, Sandra scurried towards them and embraced Wendy in a tight hug. Her eyes were bloodshot, as if she had been crying. Her voice held a tremor when she asked, "Are you alright?"


    "Mum, we are fine," Wendy gently patted her back in an attempt tofort her.


    William, who was standing on the side, looked at the entrance and then at the two girls. He frowned, "Where is Myra?"


    Sandra pulled away from the embrace as well and asked, "Yes, where is she? Why is she not with you girls?" Her voice came out hoarse.


    "She and Fabian had something to discuss about tomorrow’s event. She will be back soon," Yelena uttered, without missing a beat. "Uncle William, Aunt Sandra, don’t worry, folks. Your daughters are safe. After all, didn’t I promise you to take care of them and be their bodyguard? Now wipe away your tears,dy." She did an ’okay’ gesture.


    Both Sandra and William sighed in relief as the former approached Yelena, surprising her with a gentle embrace, "You must have been scared as well, Yelena."


    Yelena was left stunned for a brief moment. Her body went stiff as a stone. She hadn’t realized yet that she was shaking as well, but when Sandra asked that question, she was overwhelmed with raw emotions. Although she was carefree and headstrong at all times, there were moments when she was frightened, too. It is just that she was not very good at showing this side to anyone, so she kept it hidden behind her goofy nature and teasing.


    Her voice kind of choked as she muttered, "You must have been scared, too, Aunty."


    As the atmosphere was getting too emotional, Yelena diffused it by pulling away while teasing both Sandra and William, "Anyway, sorry to disrupt your date night, my young couple." With a hand on her hips, she inquired, "By the way~ .... Uncle William~ ...... where is the romantic setup, the flowers, the candlelight, the music, I tipped you about?"


    Sandra wiped the corners of her eyes, smacked her shoulders yfully, and said, "Don’t tease anymore, umm." Yelena chuckled and replied, "Okay, madame of the house, Miracle. On your orders. No more teasing."


    William crossed his arms and asked, his voice firm, "Did what Myra said on the phone, correct? Were you all not in the mall when the fire broke out?"


    Wendy bit her lips and looked at Yelena as she was the one to reply, "Of course, of course. It is just as Myra told you. Actually, at that time, we were not inside the mall but in the shopping district nearby, as this daughter of yours~" she pointed at Wendy and continued, "wanted a street style hamburger."


    Getting the cue, Wendy yed along, as she added, "Yeah, we were just so lucky. We were standing outside the mall, with a burger in one hand and a c in the other, when we saw smoke and massive mesing out of the building, and people rushing out of the ce. It wasplete mayhem."


    William caught something from her words and gave her a questioning look, "Burgers and Cs? Didn’t you three vow not to touch it because it had too many calories in it? Are you lying now? Hmmm, Wendy?" His voice was stern as he stared at his daughter.


    Wendy clicked her tongue, but Yelena covered for her in time, "It was one of our cheat days."


    Though William was still doubtful, he didn’t ask any further. Sandra said, "Enough with this talk. We are d you were not trapped there and came home safely. That’s enough for both of us, and the only thing that matters. By the way, I was just about to prepare dinner. Tell me, what do you both crave? I and William will make it for you in a jiffy."


    ___________________


    Fabian’s house was located on the opposite block. The car drove off in silence, as Myra looked out at the evening sky, which was painted gold and red with a hint of blue, reminding her of the zing fire from the incident and the person rushing upstairs to counter it.


    ’But why was he running towards the fifth floor where the fire happened? Was some from the Everests family trap in it? But how is this possible? They are ....... were~wolves. They are so powerful. I have experienced it firsthand. So, why~ ......’


    "We are here," Fabian’s voice interrupted her thoughts as she looked at him with confusion. He then added, "My house, we have arrived," as he pointed towards a mid century styled house, giving off a totally different vibe from that of Myra’s.


    Though they were good friends, Myra had never visited his house even once, all because he was a professor and she was just a student. Fabian didn’t insist as well, as it could lead to harmful rumors and baseless allegations towards Myra and tarnish her reputation, which he never wanted.


    Myra hesitated, and Fabian saw it. He suggested, "If you are notfortable, then you don’t need toe inside. I will bring the first aid kit for you here."


    "No, it’s okay. The sky is already getting dark. No one will see us," Myra replied as she stepped out of the car. Fabian was a little disappointed by herst sentence, but he didn’t let it show on his face and walked in beside her.


    As Myra stepped inside the main gate, she noticed that his ce wasn’t designed like other houses.


    Fabian’s house featured an off white brick wall with arge, floor to ceiling window, which would ensure an ample amount of natural light. The perfectly manicured greenwn and the various nts,plemented by a maple tree, added color and texture to the overall look.


    It gave off contemporary elegance, just like the person living in it.


    As they entered the house, Myra, who had the habit of changing outdoor shoes first, searched for slippers. Fabian saw it and bent down to pick up his pair of slippers and ced them in front of Myra, "Wear these as I don’t have another pair, especially the one for girls." This also meant that he had not brought other females into his house, and Myra was the first.


    After wearing, he asked Myra to make herselffortable and went inside his room to get the first aid box.


    Now that Myra was alone in his living room, she could see a clear reflection of Fabian’s personality in his ce. It was clean and tidy, and aesthetically pleasing. What caught her eye the most was the floor to ceiling built in wooden bookshelf, covering an entire wall.


    It was packed with numerous books. Myra got tempted and made her way towards the shelf and started looking at them. She took out a random book from the stack and read the title, "Theory of Macroeconomics."


    She kept it in its ce and took out another book, this time with a shiny, emerald cover. The book looked more like an ancient scripture than a normal textbook. She narrowed her eyes at the title as it read, "Taming the Beasts."


    Myra was just about to open the first page, but before that, Fabian came from his room with a first aid kit in hand, as he called out, "What are you looking at?" When he noticed the familiar book in her hands, he rushed to her side and took it hurriedly, and said, "Don~ ... Don’t look at it. It is~ it is ~ ......" he got flustered and wasn’t able to form any excuse.


    Myra shook her head as she uttered, "I didn’t expect that from you, Fabian," her facial expression neutral as she said this.


    Fabian hesitated, "I~ ... I am~ ...... it is not what you think~"


    "Ohh, really? Then why are you hesitating and fumbling so much? I guess I have got your secret, Fabian Stephens. Am I not right?" She gave him a death stare.


    "Myra~" Fabian started, but Myra interrupted. She ced a hand on his shoulder, and the next second, she chuckled while saying, "It’s okay. It is okay, Fabian. In front of others, you are a professor at Red Stone, but inside your own house, you can be whatever you want. I am not judgmental at all. I won’t judge you on your unique preferences at all."


    Fabian was stumped by herughter and her reaction afterwards. He thenughed awkwardly and stated, while scratching the back of his head in embarrassment, "Hehh .... You got me. I am d you understand."


    "Of course, I do. After all, what are friends for, huhh. Plus, you are an adult. You have got your needs," Myramented.


    She had totally misunderstood the title as something R-rated, as Yelena had such books with a simr title.


    "No .... No. It is just a children’s book. You have misunderstood," Fabian rified instantly. "Okay, enough of it," he ced the book on the top shelf and carefully led Myra to the cream colored sofa, "Sit down, I need to clean your wound."


    To Be Continued . . . . . . .