Chapter 281 – Reunited

Day Thirty-Two…

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Abigail was able to figure out the meaning of Nathan’s words. But she wondered why Stephen and Aiden were also there. Abigail moved her gaze back and forth between Aiden and Stephen. Then her eyes stopped at Stephen.

She recalled the conversation she overheard between Aiden and Nathan. Nathan mentioned that Phantomflake was the reason why Stephen insisted on doing the mission. As a result, Stephen was the one who got captured by the Red Dragon Mafia.

With his current appearance, Abigail could already imagine the pain he endured at the hands of the Red Dragon Mafia. Stephen was beaten up badly. His bruises were visible on his face. But it didn’t make him less attractive.

“Cough! Cough!” Nathan cleared his throat to get Abigail’s attention. He saw how Abigail stared at Stephen for a long moment.

“Shall we go inside?” Nathan signaled Aiden to open the door.

Stephen smiled at them and bobbed his head. Aiden opened the door for everyone and walked ahead together with Stephen. Nathan guided Abigail, not leaving her side. On the other hand, Cherry who was still clueless why they were there just followed everyone.

Passing through the hallway for two minutes, the five of them stopped at the center, facing a steel door. It was larger than the other doors inside that house. Two guards were standing in front of the steel door. But they were not human, they were humanoid robots.

Abigail and Cherry were amazed to see those two robots. They were reminded of Ethan’s robotic friends– Powy, Riemc, and Star S. This type of robot was the latest version of humanoid robots of SYP Starlight Corp.

“Amazing! They are your guards. Are they more capable than human guards?” Cherry asked them in amusement.

“Well… Nathan provided these robots because a certain someone here doesn’t want to have many strangers in his home. I think they are as capable as the human guards. At least, these robots won’t betray their master.” Aiden replied to Cherry’s question.

“Certain someone? Who owns this house?” Abigail threw a follow-up question.

“Mine!” Stephen raised his hand and smiled sheepishly at them.

Abigail and Cherry were surprised. They didn’t expect that this house belonged to Stephen.

“Why are we here?” Cherry asked them again, feeling intrigued.

“Yeah, I’m also curious. Why did you bring Abigail and Cherry here, Nate?” Aiden butted in once more. He thought outsiders were not allowed to go there.

Stephen had no idea either. Nathan didn’t mention the reason why he decided to bring Abigail and Black Rose.

“We are here to see the patient,” Abigail spoke on behalf of Nathan. “Can we enter now?” She was dying to see her body. Bam-Bam already mentioned that her physical body was also affected when she got shot. She wondered if her injuries were recovering well.

According to Nathan, Stephen suggested letting Phantomflake stay in his house. He would closely monitor her condition. Since Phantomflake was taken from the Medical Facility of the Syphiruz Mafia, it wasn’t a good idea to bring her back there. She should be transferred to a place where their enemies couldn’t find her.

Nathan just raised his right hand and the two robots gave way, opening the steel door for them. Nathan walked ahead without waiting for them. Abigail immediately followed him. Stephen invited Cherry in and the three of them entered the room at the same time.

When Cherry saw a familiar figure lying on the sickbed, she froze on her spot with startled eyes.

“Sis Phantom…” She mumbled in a low voice. Her gaze was fixed on Phantomflake’s body. Her eyes became teary and her body trembled. She felt the lump in her throat as she tried to hold back her tears. She didn’t want to cry in front of Aiden, Stephen, and Nathan. But she was overwhelmed at this moment.

She had never imagined that she would see Phantomflake today. So this was the meaning of Abigail’s words. Phantomflake was now in Nathan’s custody. No wonder Abigail said that she would finally listen to her after this. Abigail was so confident that Nathan would be able to take Phantomflake from the Red Dragon Mafia.

‘Sis…’ Cherry finally found her strength to take a step. She thought she was dreaming. But the moment she reached the sickbed, she got a closer look at Phantomflake’s face. She was indeed Phantomflake… her mentor, her sister, and her friend.

‘I’m glad she is here… She is alive.’ A single tear fell from the corner of her eyes when she touched Phantomflake’s hand.

“W-What happened to her? How is she?” Cherry asked them in her trembling voice. She had mixed emotions.

“She is still in a coma. But her condition is stable now.” Stephen was the one who answered Cherry.

“Does she know her?” Aiden asked, nudging Nathan’s shoulder.

Nathan just gave him a cold stare, signaling him to stay quiet. “Let’s leave them for a while…” Nathan signaled Aiden and Stephen to follow him outside. This was one of the requests made by Abigail.

Reluctant to leave, Aiden was just pulled by Stephen as they went outside, leaving Abigail and Cherry inside.

“Hey, Nate. What’s going on here? Please explain. My dumb mind can’t understand this.” Aiden immediately interrogated Nathan.

Stephen also gave Nathan a questioning gaze. He didn’t know what was running through Nathan’s mind. Why did he suddenly bring Abigail and Cherry there? Were they related to Phantomflake?

“I guess, they know each other… am I right?” Stephen asked Nathan as well.

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“Yes. They know each other. Cherry… is Black Rose. She is a member of Phantom’s Assassin Guild.”

“WHAT?!” Aiden gasped in surprise. His eyes were wide open. Even Stephen was taken aback when he heard Nathan’s response.

“Then why did you bring her here? Does she know that you are a member of the Syphiruz Mafia?” Stephen inquired.

Nathan shook his head. “She didn’t know. This is part of my deal with Abigail. Abigail is also a hacker. Her alias is Cliste. She knew Black Rose but she is not a member of Phantom’s Assassin Guild. Abigail was the hacker who helped me track Phantomflake’s location. In other words, because of her, we found Phantomflake…”

“WHAT?! Abigail is a hacker too?!!” Aiden reacted exasperatedly once more.

Stephen and Nathan shot Aiden with sharp glares. His loud gasp and overreaction were a little bit distracting. Can’t he just act naturally? He already heard Nathan. Why did he have to repeat the question?

“What is the deal between you and Abigail?” Stephen asked Nathan seriously. Aiden shut his mouth and waited for Nathan’s response.

“In exchange for her help and assistance provided to me in searching for Phantomflake, Abigail asked me not to involve Black Rose in my revenge against Phantomflake because she said Black Rose had nothing to do with Monica’s death. She’s innocent–”

“I AGREE!” Aiden blurted out, cutting off Nathan. For some unknown reason, he didn’t want Nathan to hurt Cherry aka Black Rose.

Stephen glared at Aiden, telling him to stay quiet.

“What else did she ask you?” Stephen was curious about the deal between Abigail and Nathan.

“Abigail promised to hide the truth about my identity as the Leader of Syphiruz Mafia from Cherry. She suggested that we would pretend that I helped her in taking Phantomflake from Red Dragon and the Syphiruz. In exchange, she would convince Black Rose to work for me…”

“Whoa! Brilliant Suggestion!” Aiden clapped his hands and chuckled.

Nathan and Stephen turned in his direction, giving him a deathly glare. “Shut up, Aiden!” Both men said in unison. Aiden was ruining the mood. The two were talking seriously while Aiden was making some comments.

“Fine. Fine! I will keep my mouth shut. Don’t kill me with that look.” Aiden zipped his mouth.

“Nate. I know how you hate Phantomflake and the members of her guild. What urge you to accept this deal?” Stephen marveled as to why Nathan agreed to this deal.

“Why do you ask? It’s simple. Of course, Nate felt indebted to Abigail so he couldn’t say no!” Aiden failed to hold his tongue once more and just butted in.

“Aiden… I’m not asking you.” Stephen sighed helplessly.

“Oops. I’m sorry…” Aiden apologized right away. “But kidding aside, what is your real reason, Nate?”

Nathan paused for a moment, assessing his feelings. Then he glanced at the closed door before speaking up. “Because Abigail is also a close friend of Monica…”

Stephen: “…”

Aiden: “…”

‘No way. Is this true? What a small world it is… after all!’

“Have you confirmed it?” Stephen asked again, still trying to absorb Nathan’s revelation.

“Yes. Abigail knew something that only Monica and I knew.” Nathan said meaningfully. “But I will continue to ask her things related to Monica and see if she truly knows Monica.”

Aiden and Stephen could only nod their heads.

“Are you fine with this setup? Are you not bothered by Black Rose’s presence?” Stephen just wanted to make sure that Cherry would not trigger some bad memories of Nathan.

“Yes. I’m fine with this setup. What we need to do is to focus on Phantomflake’s recovery. And who knows… Black Rose’s presence will help Phantomflake’s condition to improve and wake up.”

Stephen smiled at Nathan, feeling satisfied. His best friend was now coping up.

“So expect Cherry to pay Phantomflake a visit regularly. Keep watching her… She might also volunteer to take care of Phantomflake during Weekends.” Nathan informed Stephen because this was his house.

“It’s okay. I don’t mind it at all. Cherry is not a stranger to me.” Stephen said.

Aiden furrowed his eyebrows when he heard that. “I will also come here during weekends!” Aiden declared to them.