|| IRIS's POV ||
" Have you switched the folder? Tomorrow is the final day, darling. Don't disappoint me, darling!"
" Why aren't you replying to me?Hmm?"
I bit my bottom lips down, swallowing the fear that was crawling through my skin. Arthur was persistent in putting the task on me. Still, now, I didn't make up my mind. With Xavier, I had the best feeling. Although we weren't supposed to be together, I couldn't deny the truth that I liked Xavier more than anything now. Even the engagement ring from Arthur felt heavy on my fingers.
I threw the phone away, sinking myself into the couch. Tears of agony threatened to come but I let them hold. For days, I kept contemplating my decision. No matter what, Xavier was the only choice to leave with. I couldn't betray the person that I loved so much now. I had to leave my past behind, probably begging for forgiveness in front of Xavier.
After all these conclusions ran through my head, I picked up my phone again to reply to him,
" Let's talk about something tomorrow, Wolf."
I sighed then drifted back to sleep. Xavier had already asked me not to wait. He was too busy with political affairs today. However, I kept missing the warmth of his body. It was more like I had become used to his presence.
In my dream, I remembered the day I was kidnapped from my neighborhood. The dark room, a little boy and finally snapped out of my sleep when the face of my dead parents appeared in front of my eyes.
" Baby ...."
I woke up, hearing Xavier calling out for me. He was still neatly dressed, coming back from the meetings. I had already turned into a sweating mess. My nightmares were long gone but the current situation was bringing them back. My doctor told me that those nightmares would come back often unless I allow myself to heal completely.
I sat up weakly, Xavier kept wrapping his arms around me. His voice echoed soft and gently,
" What's wrong?"
I blew a few long breaths out. He looked concerned for me. I intended to tell him everything about my past but the guilt of betrayal was still there. So, I didn't tell him and skipped the question,
" Just...bad dreams..why did you come back?"
He knitted his brows together, caressing my cheeks,
" Just a while ago. Baby, I want you to listen to me once this time."
I sent him a questioning look. He continued, looking into my eyes deeply,
" An old enemy is back. So, you should go outside less and less from now on. I don't want any dangers around you, got it?"
My face was stiffened by his words. Surely, he had met Arthur already. How could I tell him that his worst enemy was me, not Arthur?
I felt another rush of self-guilt, running through my veins. Hiding the silent tears, I fell onto his chest and hugged him tightly.
__________
|| XAVIER'S POV ||
The cheers from netizens continued on the field. I smiled and waved at them, turning a few girls crazy. I had no idea about their daydreams. I was only interested in making one single happy.
Today's campaign was special. First of all, we were going to read out some plans about the state if I reoccupied my position again. Secondly, my lady had told me that she would like to see me, give a speech today. Although I wanted to arrange everything for her secretly, she said that it was troublesome and she could handle it alone.
My gaze swiped over the crowd once again to find her but it was hard to detect among thousands of people. Putting my mind back to the projects, I spoke with Daniel first. He suggested that it was the best idea if my father announced the project regarding the children's hospital. We found a hospital that was abandoned twelve years ago. I planned to reopen the hospital after the election and gave treatments to the poor children for me. Daniel staged it well. He said that It should be announced as a gift to my parents to earn more support from the netizens.
The formal speech continued for a while. Soon my father went to the speaker position with the folder in my hands. A project revolving around children was a jackpot before the election. We had always played smart and it was no exception. The speech began and my father continued to shed tears. Finally, he passed the pen drive to one of our men to show the new renovation of the hospital. My team made a 3D presentation to show the netizens. The video started playing soon but it was no longer the 3D video that we made.
I saw my father in his teenage years, dropping a child on the street. Then he pushed a woman out of his car and drove off in a different direction. The woman in the footage started crying after picking up the child.
All of us stood up in shock even though my father was too stunned to speak. Someone from the crowd shouted at us loudly,
" He is evil! He left his woman and children on the street. Boycott this man and his son! "
More voices joined in the chorus. The situation turned worse when the netizens started shouting, running in different ways. Daniel quickly blocked the public who tried to jump up on the stage. I went forward to grab my stunned father away.
The whole campaign turned into a disaster. People started throwing different objects. We barely had time to run away. Except for me, other members of our party were shocked by the video. I knew the story behind it. But it was never in my imagination that someone would use our darkest secret to ruin my campaign.
I was careful and well-planned from the beginning. Even before getting in the car, I checked the video and everything was all perfect. How could this happen within this short moment?
Within an hour, we rode away from the campaign with my silent father. He finally spoke just when we crossed our house's door,
" Xavier...I...I am sorry...I was young...This shouldn't have happened. Someone must be doing this... What will happen to us now?"
I loosened my tie frustratingly. My brain was wrecking to find out how to deal with the media now. They were worse than the public. I replied shooting him a sharp look,
" Lies can always be hidden. Today or tomorrow, we had to face it. As for the election, I will simply resign from this election."
My father shouted in despair, his tone full of determination,
" NO WAY!! You can't...We have been doing this for decades...You can't give up, Xavier. You must be the president. I don't care...You should.."
I cut him midway, letting out a frustrated sigh,
" At this point in life, I just want to be happy, Father. But yes.. before giving up everything, I must find out who has touched our dark spot in front of the whole nation. The person needs to pay for his mistake. I will show no mercy to the soul who ripped off your face."
Being president didn't excite me anymore. I was doing it out of duty, not of passion. If the party wanted to eliminate me, I would be having no remorse. Before everything, I had to find out how a twenty-year-old video had slid into my folder...Was there a mole in my house or did it happen somewhere else?