𝑾𝑯𝒀 𝑴𝑬

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒅

      ANGEL'S ROOM
 Grace's POV

 "Why are you suddenly asking?" Angel's voice was cautious, but I couldn't let that stop me. I had to know.

"I just want to know. Can you tell me, please?" I begged, desperation creeping into my tone until she finally relented.

"Bright's father was the king of the mafia at that time," she began, her words unraveling a story I had only glimpsed before. "He married Bright's mom and had three boys. Three years ago, Mr. Smith decided to leave the mafia because he knew it would put his family's life in danger. But before he had a chance to do that, Mr. and Mrs. Smith died in a car accident. It wasn't just an accident; it was planned. Those who tried to kill them thought the whole family was in the car, but thankfully, Bright and his brothers weren't there."

The shock washed over me like ice water. I struggled to process what I'd just heard. "Who tried to kill them?"

Angel shook her head. "Even if I told you, I'm sure you wouldn't know," she replied cryptically.

"Then don't tell me, but what happened after?" My voice was steadier than I felt.

"After that, Bright had to take over his father's empire. He became the mafia king. But I can assure you, before his parents died, he wasn't like that. I grew up with him; our parents were good friends," she said, her tone tinged with nostalgia.

"But what do you mean by 'he wasn't like that before'?" I asked, confusion knotting in my stomach.

"Bright wasn't rude like this before. He was kind, soft, and the most important, he used to smile often. But after the incident, revenge for his parents became the only thing that mattered to him. He lost his smile and became rough toward everyone except his brothers."

I felt a pang in my chest. It was true. I had seen glimpses of his kindness when he was with his brothers, moments where the wall around his heart cracked just enough for me to glimpse the boy he used to be.

"Do you remember the first time you saw him?" Angel asked, her eyes probing mine.

"Yes, I remember, but why?" I was puzzled by her sudden shift in focus.

"That day, he was planning to kill the person who killed his parents, but it failed because someone betrayed us," she explained, her voice heavy with memory.

"Did you...?" I started, but she cut me off.

"Yes, we found the traitor, and Bright killed him." The weight of her words settled like a stone in my gut. I didn't know how to process this information.

"But honestly, Grace, why are you asking?" she pressed again.

"That day, when I asked him about his parents, he didn't reply and looked frustrated," I admitted, my gaze dropping to the floor.

"I hope you get the answers you need, but Grace, please don't talk about his parents in front of him. He seems strong, but I know how much it hurts him inside. He doesn't want to appear weak in front of his brothers," she warned gently.

"Thanks a lot, Angel," I said, my heart heavy with the knowledge I'd gained. I turned to leave, but before I could, she grabbed my hand.

"I should be the one saying this," she continued, her voice earnest. "Do you know, Grace, when you entered his life, he changed a lot? It's like I found the old Bright who smiles often and cares about someone's existence again. I know he can be rude, but one thing I can be sure of is that he really loves you. He's rough because he's afraid of losing you, so please, give him a chance."