chapter 44

Amaira rushed into the airport, her sharp eyes scanning the arrivals. Her heart pounded as she spotted Alex standing alone near the baggage claim, casually adjusting his backpack as if he hadn’t just traveled across countries by himself.Relief washed over her, but anger burned right through it. She stormed toward him, her heels clicking against the floor.“Alex!”The boy turned, eyes widening as he saw his mother. He immediately took a step back, sensing trouble.“Uh… hey, Mama,” he said, forcing a sheepish smile.Amaira didn’t slow down. She grabbed his wrist firmly but not harshly. “Do you have any idea how reckless this was? Flying alone? Without telling me?” Her voice was low but furious.Alex pouted. “I did tell you. Kinda.”She narrowed her eyes. “A text fifteen minutes before landing doesn’t count.”He tried to flash his innocent grin. “But I made it safe, didn’t I?”Amaira exhaled sharply, trying to calm herself. “We’ll talk about this later. For now, we’re going straight to the hotel.”Alex, sensing he had pushed enough, simply nodded and followed her out.***Nicolo stepped into the lavish suite of the London Tower Hotel, his sharp grey eyes scanning the space with a detached expression. The suite was grand, as expected. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the glowing city, while the interior was a blend of modern luxury and old-world charm—deep mahogany furniture, gold-accented décor, and velvet upholstery that screamed sophistication.Justin, however, seemed unimpressed. He tossed his small backpack onto the king-sized bed before making his way to the adjacent room. It was designed for a child, yet elegant—soft grey walls, plush bedding, and a massive bookshelf filled with children’s literature.Nicolo loosened his tie, glancing at his son, who had already curled up on the couch with a book. “Get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow.”Justin merely nodded, flipping a page, and Nicolo sighed. The quietness between them was familiar. Even now, Justin spoke very little, his thoughts a mystery even to his own father.Nicolo leaned back on the leather chair by the window, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand. His mind drifted—not to business, not to power plays, but to something, or rather, someone he hadn’t allowed himself to think about in a long time.Amaira.He clenched his jaw and downed the drink in one gulp, willing himself to forget.Justin entered his room, closing the door softly behind him. He climbed onto his bed and pulled out his phone, his small fingers tapping the screen with practiced ease.He scrolled through his messages until he found the one contact he cared about the most—his mysterious friend.Ever since he was young, Justin had never been good at making friends. He never spoke much, and most kids found him too serious. But one day, while checking a math lecture on Facebook, a friend request popped up. It was from someone with a simple username, no profile picture, no details—just a name.Instead of ignoring it, something in Justin told him to reply.Justin: “Who are you?”The response had come instantly.Mysterious Friend: “Someone like you.”That was all it took. One message led to another, and before Justin even realized it, he had found someone who understood him. They never spoke about personal details—no real names, no locations, nothing. Just thoughts, ideas, and stories they shared.Even though they had never met, Justin knew this person was his only true friend.Now, as he lay on his bed in the dimly lit room, he opened their chat and typed:Justin: “I finally made it to London.”A reply came within seconds.Mysterious Friend: “Really? That’s great! I am arriving there very soon. Let's meet then"Justin smiled slightly.Justin: “sure. Send me the time and location."Mysterious Friend: “okie. They had been talking for years, but never once had they brought up the idea of meeting in person. Their friendship had always existed behind the screen, a secret space where they could talk about anything without the weight of reality pressing down on them.And now… they were in the same city?A while later, a text arrived.Mysterious Friend: “How about the café near the Tower Bridge? Tomorrow at 2 PM. Is it alright?”Justin stared at the message. He had no idea what his friend looked like, no clue who they really were. But for some reason, he wanted to go.Justin: “Okay. I’ll be there.”He locked his phone, his mind racing.Tomorrow, he would finally meet the person who had been his only true friend.Justin stared at the words, a strange feeling settling in his chest. He didn’t know why, but tonight felt different. He was finally happy as he went for his dinner with his father.