''So the second life really happened!''

    "So… This is what… The future holds for all of us?" Arnold choked his words like he couldn''t believe it, but with Athan confirming that he was rather lucky to return, he couldn''t help but become so distressed with such the confirmation.

    What transpired in front of Athan was more likely to occur worse than once in a blue moon, for so many things happened at the same time.

    It was as though a measly paper, but it was different to him: like a prophecy, an accurate version of his life and what happened onwards.

    But it only cut off the aftermath of Mystique''s death, and early ordeals of the war shifted in his favor.

    With her life coming to an end as a cost of saving innumerable lives and more to come in the future was beyond commendable.

    Tears of Arnold trickled from the cheeks, plopping to the manuscript.

    The Grand Duke was at its peak of vulnerability, and even Ashtra was surprised but only scrunched his face, looking away as he couldn''t bear the sight of him.

    Arnold took his time, having some deep breaths, and gave the manuscript to her while looking at Athan''s eyes. "Now it made sense why you went after me…"

    "Certainly." He clenched his fist, confronting him about what he planned right from the start. "But I was at fault as well; for doing that to your only daughter. I know you cherished her in some way."

    "But I treated her so differently."

    Even then, Nathalie held back her tears as she clasped tight on the manuscript. After which, she opened up something else to both of them. "I know you''ve asked why I only gave a vague part of Mystique earlier but please hear me out.."

    "Please do tell us," Athan replied on their behalf.

    "It was— as though I entered into a play… Only I was a spectator—  I couldn''t do anything else... I stood there, watching what happened— The important people in the story, but… Though mostly from you." She choked her words, trying not to wallow in sorrow. "I hated to admit it but I relate so much to her…"

    "You do?"

    "Of course." While she bobbed her head. "No amount of fame, prestige, and wealth could replace what she desired the most: that was the validation she needed from those she loved dearly."

    Nathalie''s eyes then met Arnold''s, even from a distance, he gulped so hard while arching his eyebrows up from it as he also realized, albeit too late.

    "I know as I''m the majority of it to blame…" He then sighed, slumping his back, and arching up against his neck like he was about to give up in life. "Only I could turn back time…"

    Athan already knew that he was owning up to his actions ever since he got the gist of how her daughter turned out to be and it shed a light on what seemed to be complications in his head. Thinking how much Nathalie knew, perhaps everything laid out in here.

    "Fortunately so, it did; I''m here, trying to stop before it actually happened."

    But then, his crimson eyes darted at her, whose glance at her so-called father brimmed with warmth and compassion.

    To him, she was the blessing in disguise; like she was the buffer, and the beacon of hope.

    Nathalie reached for the tissue box and gave some for Arnold, to which he mouthed hearty gratitude before accepting it and wiping off his sweat and tears.

    After having a skim to it, he couldn''t help but ask, "So, you really don''t know what happened at ''Thousand Isles'' then?"

    "I don''t…"

    He scratched his chin, pondering, "I''m sure something happened there."

    "May you tell me?"

    Suddenly, Jonathan alarmed her once more.

    "Miss Quinn, they are entering the building."

    "Entering— They?!"

    "That''s right. I''m seeing Tyler and Mystique outside!"

    From there, they couldn''t help but take a peek at the window, as they drew close to the vicinity.

    Even Athan was curious but even from a distance, it wasn''t much of a problem when he heightened his senses, and he noticed a tall man; despite donning thick and layered clothes like sleeves and coat in him with a cap on, his body had a stark outline and was lean enough to his taste.

    ''That must be Tyler guy…'' His body went firm and rigid like he had to control himself of what he''d seen thus far.

    He shuffled his way out and met the fair lady that stood a few feet away from him.

    The periwinkle locks that turned into a low bun after having a fascinator on her head didn''t help that she was easy to spot, more so in such plain sight.

    Yet that didn''t stop him from noticing the man again; aside from the color differences, that man looked like him.

    While the possibility crossed his mind, he ought to dismiss it every chance he could get but now it was so hard to deny the reality he was in...

    "Impossible!" he breathed, eyes almost popped out of sockets.

    He also had a counterpart in this world.

    Moreover, his gut instinct crept him that it was the same man he saw on that TV earlier.

    Despite being actors, he could tell that the two people he noticed turned out so similar to what he watched then.

    Even Arnold and Keith had the same reaction as him. They also stole a glance at him then went back to the surprising scene on the streets.

    Nathalie, on the other hand, creased her eyebrows deep like he wasn''t fond of what she saw the same way as them.

    She wasn''t having any of it.

    "Well, well, look what do we see over there?" Ashtra mused and clicked his tongue in dismay.

    But it didn''t shock him when she then went on to slink her arms around his even with that smug smirk she had on her while looking at him in the eyes.

    Their gestures…

    Their stares…

    The interaction between them left him breathless…

    Arnold rolled his eyes up like he was about to faint of what appeared before him.

    ''... Like a real couple…''

    A part of him had dropped his gut to a bottomless pit, churning so much that he curbed back to his seat and leered on the floor.