"Condolences to you and your family." Seiji smiled faintly and asked his secretary to place the flower at the altar. "I didn't expect that we'd be reunited under these circumstances. How are you?"

  "I'm doing better as time went by. Although, it's still brings me pain whenever I remember my mother." Cayenne responded. "Come inside. I'm sorry I don't have anything better to give you at this moment." She placed a cup of coffee and some pastries in front of him. "When did you come back? Oh! Arthur's here by the way." She turned to Arthur and called him. She can use this opportunity for them to catch with each other.

  Seiji kept a smile on his lips when he was facing Cayenne but the moment she turned around to call Arthur, his face disappeared and he looked Arthur sharply.

  Arthur was no different. He was hiding his sharp glares with a sweet smile. And Cayenne had no idea that an intense battle already occurred between these two men that she thought were friends. After all, they've been together for quite sometime during their high school years.

  "Arthur come here." Cayenne called for him. "You must have missed Seiji, too. You guys were always together in high school."

  "Is that the look of people who spent time together in high school years?" Luna asked Jessie beside her.

  "I bet only Cayenne think these two men were friends. If I were to say my opinion, these two were rivals. And who they were rivaling for, it's obviously Cayenne's heart. And this girl couldn't even see that." Jessie replied in a whisper, making sure that only their group will hear her words.

  Manager Kim and Celine agreed with her words. As for Ali, he didn't bother joining their gossips.

  Seijie, Cayenne and Arthur sat around one table and talked about their recent life activities but no one asked Cayenne about her marriage. Seiji thought that it would be inappropriate to talk about it given that she was still mourning over her mother's death.

  "I heard that your brother left your home. Did he also leave your company?" Seiji asked Arthur even though he didn't really want to talk to him. In front of Cayenne, he had to play nice and kind. When you think about it, Arthur and Seiji were of the same feather. They both hid their true colors in front of the woman they like but they would show their fangs to the people they don't like.

  In the blink of an eye, it was almost midnight. Seiji bid farewell saying that he'd come back again the next day. Arthur was the same. He would never lose out to his rival. Apparently, they both forgot the point that Cayenne's married. She's no longer available for them to have a contest of who could win her heart.

  When most people left, Luiz and Kyle went to Cayenne and sat with her.

  "Did Stefan call you already?" Kyle asked while looking on a far distance. "Did you tell him what happened?"

  "I don't want him to get distracted. When he left, he looked so stressed and worried about his business. And you know that his family worked so hard for it. Since he didn't call me, he must be busy. As soon as he calls me, I will tell him about our mother's death."

  Luiz looked at his sister, wanting to say something but he decided to keep quiet and wait for the right time. He and Kyle got so many questions but they didn't want Cayenne to think so much during these times. As much as possible, they wanted her to be relaxed and free of worry. But they also know that those were just wishful thinking in their part.

  The next day, Arthur came and unexpectedly, he met with his brother Cole. They haven't seen each other for over a month already. He didn't expect to see him during Emerald's funeral.

  "Yo." Arthur greeted his brother and he even walked towards him, thinking of persuading him to come back home. However, Cole just nodded at him and went inside to find Cayenne and her brothers.

  When Arthur tried talking to him, he also did his best to avoid him. He was determined to cut ties with his family.

  It was the third day of the funeral which means, it was the third day that Stefan has gone to PH. And it was also the day for him to meet with Seiji.

  Stefan arrived thirty minutes before the appointment. This time, Seiji didn't disappoint him. He was already waiting for Stefan to come, waiting for him to come to his trap and act the play that he was directing.

  "Good morning, Mr. Sy." Stefan greeted him and offered his hand for a handshake.

  "Good morning, Mr. Dumrique." Seiji responded to him. "Have you been staying in PH these past three days?"

  "Yes. I had to do some business while I was free."

  "I see. What I did must have kept you busy." Seiji admitted shamelessly.

  "May I know why Mr. Sy did what he did? Your family was never interested with our business. Why do it now? And you could have bought small shares if you just wanted to be our business partner. You don't really have to boldly do something like this to gain ownership. And I asked your father about this, too. It seemed like the decision was solely made by you. Did I do something that offends you?"

  Seiji snapped his fingers and his secretary gave him a folder which contains the documents of the shares he bought. There was also a transfer of shares agreement that he prepared for Stefan.

  "Mr. Dumrique, I wasn't really planning to take ownership of the business that your family worked so hard for. I did it to have a little leverage against you. And of course, I'm willing to give it to you, making you the sole owner of Madeline Park. How does that sound?"

  "And why would you do that? There's no free lunch in this world. What do you want?"

  "Simple." Seiji crossed his legs, leaned back on his chair, clasped his hands together and placed them on top of her knees. He looked more elegant, like an aristocrat sitting on a chaise for someone to paint him. However, his words were cold and demanding. "Leave Cayenne."