After spending the whole day in his room finally, Kalvin came out to see what was waiting for him. He knew that there would be judgments that were hard to bear for sure. As he made his way towards the bridge, Kalvin couldn't help but pause for a moment, his gaze drawn to the scene unfolding before him. There, near the silver fence, he saw Olivia resting her head on Carl's shoulder. The two of them were watching the sun dipping below the horizon.

Kalvin watched the pair, a flicker of wistfulness crossing his features. They seemed lost in their own little world. How light life could be when you have someone who understands you, Who's always willing to catch you every time you fall. He couldn't help but wish if Bell or Maxwell was there right now to take him out of this mess. Kalvin's contemplation was interrupted as he caught sight of Tara striding along the corridor at the other end. To his surprise, she flashed him a warm smile, rather than the cold indifference he had anticipated.

"Love birds," Tara said, pausing briefly to glance at Olivia and Carl.

Kalvin couldn't help but smirk at her playful jab. "Stupid love birds," he responded in a lighthearted tone.

Tara's smile widened, and she softened her gaze as she turned to Kalvin. "I hope you'll at least go easy on those stupid love birds, after all they did for you," she said, her voice laced with a hint of understanding.

Kalvin felt a sense of relief wash over him, his apprehension beginning to melt away. Tara's words, and her unexpected display of empathy, were a stark contrast to the harsh judgment he had been bracing himself for. As Tara continued on her way, Kalvin stood there, a renewed sense of hope blossoming within him. Perhaps the road ahead would not be as bleak as he had feared.

Kalvin entered the control room called Bridge, his mind still swirling with thoughts and uncertainties. As he stepped inside, his gaze landed on Clarence, who was currently at the helm, steering the ship. Kalvin was momentarily taken aback by the sight before him. Clarence, a low-ranking military person, was now sailing the ship. Kalvin, a former Marshall trainee – a high-ranking position – was no longer considered as such now. Only majors and Cornells were selected to be trainees. The next chancellor would be elected from the senior Marshals. Trainees are the high-ranked people that were getting trained to be marshalls. Now he's just a low-ranked person in the same position as Clarance. The punishment he had endured had taken a toll on his status. He felt a bit uncomfortable to enter the room. Kalvin's attention was drawn to Grace, who was sitting by the control panel, giggling and conversing in a lighthearted manner with Clarence. Kalvin felt a pang of discomfort as he watched the scene, his mind instantly flashing back to their encounter earlier that day.

Quietly, Kalvin made his way towards the communication system, taking a seat. The sound of the chair caught the attention of Grace and Clarence.

It was then that Grace and Clarence noticed Kalvin's presence. Clarence merely smiled, seemingly unfazed by Kalvin's arrival. The subtle shift in their relative ranks was evident in Clarence's calm demeanour. Grace could see the evident distress on Kalvin's face, but she showed no signs of hesitation. Instead, she leaned in towards Clarence and planted a kiss on his lips.

"See you later," she giggled coyly, before turning and making her way towards the door. Kalvin watched, his heart sinking, as Grace so openly displayed her affection for Clarence. The stark contrast between her current behaviour and the connection they had shared earlier that day was a bitter pill for Kalvin to swallow. He had no love interest in Grace but he cared for her more than he cared for the other two girls. Grace, on the other hand, tried to walk passing him ignoring his presence with a smirk plastered on her face. Kalvin couldn't help but block her path, the need for answers overwhelming him.

"Can you explain that?" he asked, motioning towards Clarence.

Grace's response was laced with humiliation. "As you can see, my interests have changed," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.

Kalvin was taken aback, the sting of her words cutting deep. "Why?" he asked, his inability to accept the rejections and humiliations evident in her voice.

Grace's response was unforgiving. "Because you are no longer a trainee nor a major. Even your adaptation is at risk, which means you will no longer be Chancellor Bostic's son in the near future. You are just a captain. So is he, but he's not a criminal like you. I don't want a son of a criminal by my side." she said with a humiliating face full of disrespect.

Kalvin's face paled as the harsh reality of her words sank in. His jaws clenched, and he stared into her eyes, which were filled with anger and disgust. Without a word, Grace brushed past him, her shoulder crashing against his as she walked away. Kalvin stood there, stunned and ashamed, feeling as if he had been carelessly tossed into the trash bin. Kalvin's eyes burned with a mixture of anger, regret, and a deep sense of loneliness. The path forward was shrouded in uncertainty, and he couldn't help but wonder if he would ever be able to reclaim the respect and trust he had once held. Kalvin turned around, letting out a heavy, dejected breath. To his dismay, he found Olivia and Carl standing at the doorway, having witnessed the entire uncomfortable scene.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Kalvin felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. Could this situation get any more humiliating? He desperately wished he could just run away and jump into the deep blue sea, losing himself in the calming waters as he had done so many times before when reality became too much to bear. As Kalvin stood there, his emotions in turmoil, Carl approached him, a sympathetic expression on his face. Kalvin felt an overwhelming sense of vulnerability. He had been stripped of so much – his status, his dreams, and now, it seemed, even the fragile connections he had with Grace. The prospect of facing further rejection weighed heavily on him. Carl kindly placed an arm on his shoulder. In that simple, silent act, Carl conveyed a world of understanding and compassion. He didn't need to say a word – the warmth and empathy radiating from his touch spoke volumes. Kalvin gently nodded and tried to walk out.

Clarence's voice rang out with a firm, commanding tone. "Your duty starts around 6," he said to Kalvin, the weight of his words emphasizing the shift in their relative positions.Kalvin, now also bearing the title of captain, could not help but feel a sense of defeat. "I'll be back after tea," he responded, his voice tinged with pain as he turned to leave.Olivia let out a heavy sigh, although she didn't like this guy before now she has started to see the soft side of him. "Poor guy," Carl said, his voice laced with empathy."He got his share of pain for playing with other's feelings," Olivia remarked, starting to walk back inside. Carl raised an eyebrow as he knew Olivia's attitude toward disrespecting girls. She then approached Clarence, her brow furrowed in concern.

"But the way you treated Kalvin wasn't right. He could be in the same position as you, but he's still in charge of the ship," Olivia said, her voice laced with a hint of complaint.

Clarence stared at Olivia, puzzled by her defence of Kalvin. "Why are you defending him? He's a criminal!" he asked, his tone dripping with disdain."Because the council gave him a full pardon. They did so because they understood that Kalvin was forced into committing that crime," Olivia explained, her conviction unwavering.Clarence scoffed his expression one of dismissal. "So? What? He's always been Chancellor Bostic's favourite, which is why he owned everyone's respect. Besides that, he's a piece of trash from outside, and now he's proven that. The reason I talk to him is because he's still in charge. I think you got your answer, Miss Blake – another privileged one," he said, his words laced with bitterness and contempt.Olivia clenched her fists, her desire to punch Clarence in the face evident. But Carl gently grabbed her hand, his eyes silently pleading with her to refrain.

"Besides all Chancellor Bostic still cares the same for Kalvin. I suppose he might get his glory and position back once we go back to Octagon Verenda. I think you should know that" Carl said, his voice soft yet tinged with a subtle threat. Clarence visibly tensed, the weight of Carl's words unsettling him. Carl turned to walk to the communication system with Olivia.

Olivia leaned in, whispering angrily, "That one deserves a broken nose."

Carl smiled, offering a gentle reminder, "If you do that, Kalvin will have to work double shifts."

Olivia reluctantly nodded, following Carl to the communication system. "He's a jerk who thinks every outsider is trash. There are lots of extremist people who think so. Also, he hates privilege. Chancellors get lots of hate these days because of their strict rules and executions. Their families have to bear some of it," Carl explained, his voice calm and measured as Olivia dialled the Octagon Veranda.

"So you still love a privileged person after your parents died stressed and overworking?" Olivia asked gently in a soft voice.

Carl gazed lovingly at Olivia, a tender smile on his face. "There are good privileged people, like the girl I love," he said, before leaning in and kissing her softly on the lips.

The moment was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Turning towards the screen, they saw the familiar face of Bell, who was smiling warmly.

"Look like you've found the wrong place, kids," he said, his tone playful.

Olivia blushed, feeling a hint of embarrassment. "Sir, I just want to talk to Mom," she said, her voice steady.

"Oh, I see. Um, but she had to go to a meeting suddenly. She was waiting for you to call, um, it looks like you're going to have to call tomorrow," Bell said, his soft, reassuring voice instantly putting the pair at ease.

"Okay," Olivia replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips, though a hint of frustration was evident.

"That's all it, good by..." Olivia began, but Bell quickly interrupted her.

"Olivia, wait!" he said, his urgency palpable.

"How's Kalvin?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

Olivia exchanged a weighty glance with Carl, unsure of how to respond.

Bell's gaze grew introspective. "I know he's hating you for being Elsa's daughter. I always wondered why he hates Elsa. Now it's crystal clear," he mused, more to himself than to the pair.

He looked back at the screen, his brown eyes filled with genuine concern. "He's treating you rude, isn't he?" he asked, his perceptiveness evident.

Olivia's tightened lips confirmed his suspicion.

"He's not a bad guy, Olivia. He's a good person, but he tries to cover it up with playfulness and rudeness. I think it's because of everything he's been through. That kid has faced a lot. I know this isn't a fair request, but can you please help him? It's a hard time for him," Bell said, his fatherly concern evident in every word.

Olivia nodded gently. "We'll do what we can do. We've already found some allies for him," she replied, her voice soft and reassuring.

"You are so much kinder than your mom," Bell said, his smile warm and genuine.

"That's a bad way to say 'thank you'," Olivia teased, her own smile brightening.

"Octagon Veranda out," Bell said smiling, and the screen went dark.

"Kalvin has so much similar to Bell," Carl said as Olivia stood up.

"Yeah, I noticed that too, both have playful brown eyes and dark brown hair," Olivia said as they walked to the door.

"Even character, both are very stubborn, kind and funny" Carl said closing the door.