Warning: This chapter contains content that may not be suitable for some readers
The hardest part for Ray, Jin, and Ryu was to watch Peter lifelessly gotten prepared by them before leading him down to the dining table where Cassandra had prepared a simple porridge meal for everyone. The brothers were having a hard time by themselves coping with Ivy’s condition and juggling with the family business. Losing Jason so suddenly made them drown in their guilty conscience as none of the brothers had ever thought in that year’s early breezy February would they lose a dear figure.
They may have pushed him away for fear having him close by their sister would harm her but instead, had made him sacrifice his life for her. Ray felt the most impacted as it was his idea in the first place to keep the couple apart. His guilt has been haunting him lately that all he was focused on was to guard well of whatever Jason had left.
With Peter no longer active with business management and Jin was heading into his last year of high school while Ryu was in his second last year and had decided to take a break from the basketball national team to focus on helping out in the family’s business, Ray decided to take a short hiatus from studying to develop his skills in the business further. Lately, Ray was glad that James had been accompanying the family more often to keep Peter on watch and also to help the brothers out in business management discreetly.
Although Jason and Nancy’s funerals were held together and buried alongside each other as arranged by Jeremy, many of the guests were attending for Jason. Daisy couldn’t control her agony while being held by her husband as they watched Jason’s coffin being lowered down into his tomb. Her wails while watching her beloved son being buried were resounding everyone’s agony.
Marcel had noticed Nancy’s bare grave after the ceremony. A tug in his heart was felt as he pitied the brutal fate of Nancy and now a lonely tomb on its own. He ended up laying a chrysanthemum on her grave. He left a little prayer hoping for her soul to finally be at peace and that she would lead a better life if she was to be reborn. Jason’s ex-band members went over to Nancy’s grave too and all they could bring themselves to do was to bow in respect as they couldn’t accept what she had done. Bowing was already the least of respect they could offer her as the dead.
As for Nick, the trauma he had felt wasn’t an experience he could let go of so soon. With his days accompanying Ivy, his nights were still filled with nightmares of Nancy’s last moments. Although he knew about the funerals, he couldn’t bring himself to attend them. The brothers and Marcel took turns visiting Ivy who was constantly accompanied by Peter or Nick. Occasionally, James would drop by too. The doctor had recommended for family members to speak more to Ivy but only on non-sensitive matters as although she was unconscious, she could possibly still hear them and this would stimulate her to be awake quicker.
Jeremy on the other hand had been trying his best to win favors from the Ophal’s family as he would send flowers to Ivy and Nick and monitor their condition often. Although he was getting impatient with Ivy not waking up, he knew this was the last stretch of all of his efforts to finally gain power over his brother’s business. He forced himself to lurk behind the scenes patiently but still discreetly increasing the movement of his drug trading activities at the construction site.
Marcel was no doubt by their side all along to help out. Even with so many people’s efforts and sacrifices, Rahi’s consulting segment was temporarily put on hold as they couldn’t find a suitable speaker. Whenever there were unavoided talks, Ryu being a socialiser naturally would step in to help out but even then due to his lack of experience, he wasn’t as spectacular as Jason or even Nick.
James began to worry about the deteriorating condition of the company as Jin suggested to him his plans to involve Marcel in their secrets as he was capable and the ideal candidate whom they could trust to keep watch on the management even if it changed.
“I have noticed Jeremy is making bold moves lately. Their illegal acts at the construction site are getting more active. What I fear in time to come is that he would start to go after Dad’s shares in the company. With that, he could at least have minimal control and slowly buy the rest of us all out of the management.” Jin explained as James nodded in agreement.
“Shouldn’t we get rid of the construction company from the merger?” Ryu, being inexperienced asked as Jin shook his head.
“It would not be cost-beneficial and dad will not agree to this. Plus, we need Ivy’s approval on this as the major shareholder since the director didn’t approve of it. For the time being, there is nothing much we can or Jeremy can do as Ivy’s approval is required for major restructuring unless Jeremy successfully persuades dad…” Jin explained as he looked worriedly at James.
“You don’t have to worry… We will cross the bridge when we reach.” James comforted Jin.
“Jeremy must be plotting at this moment for when Ivy is awake, he would start his counterattacks…” Ryu said after pondering for a while.
“You shouldn’t worry much either as you have these two to think for you…” James pointed at Ray and Jin as Ryu smiled sadly, suddenly feeling like he was useless although he wanted to help in any way.
“Plus, Jin, you should focus on your studies. It’s your last year of high school.” James advised as Jin smiled at his brilliant idea.
“Having said so, I felt we should bring in Marcel to this plan since he will work closely with the management and he could monitor and indirectly spy for us even if the management happens to change….” Jin suggested.
“That’s right… But how trustworthy is Marcel?” James raised his doubt.
“That would be the least of your worries, Uncle James. Marcel was loyal to Jason when he was alive. He is in fact in charge of Jason’s estate. He was supposed to come to see us later. Apparently, Ivy is inheriting Jason’s wealth.” Ryan explained which made Uncle James a little shocked.
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“That makes Ivy’s position even more dangerous. Knowing Jeremy, he will be going after Ivy once she is awake. The problem is if Ivy remains unconscious, what would Jeremy's plan be other than going after Peter’s shares?” Uncle James pondered as the brothers remained silent at the uncertainty.
As days went by, Peter sat by Ivy’s bedside hoping for her to wake up soon only to no avail. A father’s worry for his children is endless. He was worried about Ivy not making it and giving up halfway while fighting to wake up. He felt bad for his sons who were working hard to defend his empire but he was glad that his brother was by their side. Although he didn’t know exactly their plans, his gut feeling told him that he could be at peace leaving his sons with his brother as he focused more on his daughter.
Jeremy’s hidden plans as compared to the uncertainty of Ivy’s condition were something Peter could afford. He could predict Jeremy was definitely after his business since Jason’s traces were on it previously and had the same fear as the brothers and James when Ivy is awake. He wondered the same if Ivy took a long time to wake, what would Jeremy’s plans be as he held Ivy’s hand tightly.
Lying on the ground grass next to Jason in the lobby of the tower of reflection, Ivy was awakened by a tight hand grip. She saw Jason’s hand intertwined with hers as her mind wandered to the other doors' possibility of what they were going to face.
Fear was overwhelming her when she finally recalled the memory loss potion she drank. She told herself to stay strong. She needed to protect Jason. There were so many questions in mind she wanted to ask him or figure out about the tower of reflection and their intertwined past when she caught Jason’s eyes meeting hers. She knew he must have sensed her anxiety as she subconsciously tightened her grip on his hand. He lifted her up from his lap as though he understood what was on her mind.
“Let’s continue to the next door. With that only then would you be able to find the answers to all of your questions…” Jason comforted as Ivy blinked, lost in her own thoughts.
“What exactly are we looking for in our past?” Ivy questioned as he half dragged her while looking for room 11. He didn’t answer her as he was equally curious.
“Trust me… Let’s go.” He said before turning the knob of room 11 and leading her inside.
They were instantly greeted by a gloomy, windy day with a heavy downpour as they ran around to seek shelter and found a window. The thunders were so loud and scary that they frightened Ivy each time they strike. Jason held her in his arm to comfort her shivering self as they stood by the window and saw a quiet intersection in front of the house they were in. Ivy noticed there was no one to be seen at all on the streets. It was as though they had entered a ghost town. As for the rain, it was strangely heavy than usual as though it was bringing flood to the town.
In the midst of her thoughts, a loud bang was heard from afar which startled the both of them while Ivy gasped loudly in fear. Jason cupped her mouth in his palm to silence her in case it was a trap. Jason was skeptical of their surrounding as he had heard stories of the tower of reflection and it wasn’t a place where they could be at peace. Not especially when they had entered the doors to their past.
The loud bang was caused by an accident of two cars colliding at the intersection. They were nervous to head over to check as they waited eagerly for signs of life. To their surprise, it was the king of seven swords, their father who was the first to come out from the driver's side of the crashed car while the other car’s door was thrown open, and came Petunia storming out furiously trying to pick a fight as usual with their father.
Jason and Ivy instantly ran over as they initially thought both their parents could see them and they wanted to question them. However, they noticed another two bodies laying motionlessly in the passenger seat of each car. Jason moved closer to the car their dad came from while Ivy ran to the one Petunia came out from while they were bickering under the heavy downpour.
He was terrified to find Ivy seated in the passenger’s seat with her head bleeding profusely. As for Ivy, she tried to hold back her wails only to find herself shaking the passenger in the car vigorously to no avail as she couldn’t touch him. Jason ran over after seeing Ivy’s frantic actions only to find it was himself laying in the car lifelessly. Ivy’s heart was breaking into pieces as she found herself watching Jason’s death again.
Tears unwillingly fell from his eyes when Petunia passed his and Ivy’s body to check on his motionless body laying in the car. Petunia then frantically continued to yell at her husband for causing a mess in this accident which had caused their twins to be the victim. Thousands of questions flew through Ivy and Jason’s mind but no matter what they did to attract both parents’ attention, none of them seem to be able to see them including talking or trying to hold on to them.
Jason wondered if their parents were always this unhappy with each other. “Then why marry and have us? What’s the point of having a family when you don’t even love each other?” Jason questioned as he watched the couple arguing despite the downpour not subsiding. They both were so drenched but claiming who was right seemed more important than the lives of their children which were slowly slipping away right in front of them.
Ivy couldn't believe she had to watch Jason’s death again as she forced herself to control her sobs in Jason’s arms while he was deep in his thoughts. Jason noticed the rain began to gradually subside when a dark figure flew by them. Ivy noticed the changes in their surrounding as she tightened her grip on Jason’s hand nervously.
“Who is this? What does he want?” Ivy questioned herself as she panicked in Jason’s sturdy arms.
“Are we… dead…?” Ivy stuttered while asking the dark figure as she gain some courage to satisfy her curiosity.
“Yes.” The grim reaper replied solemnly as he led them to an open door.
“What? We are dead? No… No, we can’t be… It was only an accident. Noooo….” Ivy denied it frantically as she wrapped her arms around Jason’s waist and tightly hugged him for fear that she would lose him. Jason furrowed his eyebrows in confusion but decided to follow the reaper’s lead before thinking further as he carried Ivy in his arms across the door.
Ivy couldn’t help but cried in disbelief as the last thing she wanted to see was Jason’s death again. Much to Jason’s relief, the both of them crossed the door, and they find themselves back in the lobby of the tower of reflection.
Ivy was still sobbing in his arms without realising that they had safely gone out of room 11. He continued to embrace Ivy longer in his cuddle and let her cry all she wanted. He thought to himself if he was still alive in her current life, he would have done the same.
“Ivy, you’re always as strong as the meaning of your name. You just ought to believe in your capabilities. I will always cheer for you.” Jason thought to himself as he gave her a peck on her forehead.
His simple gesture was enough to warm Ivy’s anxiety and calmed her down as she began to enjoy his cuddle which made her realise they were safely back in the tower’s lobby. She was still wrapping her arms around him as she secretly was trying to buy some time to enjoy his company. He smiled a sad smile as he decided to take every chance to compensate her for what he can’t do anymore once they stepped out of this tower.