<h4>Chapter 130: Memories....</h4>


    The night was supposed to be quiet—made for sleep, for rest, and for peace. But for Davis, tonight felt different.


    There was no peace in his heart, only a strange mix of emotions he couldn’t fully understand—restless, painful, conflicted and emotional. This had been this way since he discussed about his mom in the karaoke room with Elliot.


    He sat up slightly in bed, his head on the headboard as his eyes traces the shadows on the ceiling.


    It felt like he had gone back in time—back to the nights of hister parts of childhood before he was sent abroad when he would stay awake while the rest of the Allen family slept.


    He used to sit by the window then, staring at the stars and moons with his heart feeling so heavy at such a young age. The habit of watching the stars and moons was already indoctrinated by his mom.


    Tonight, that same feeling returned. He couldn’t erase the memory of his parents, her felt suffocated, his breatheing in shallow gasps.


    He couldn’t erase Be’s image from his mind—her soft voice, her presence on the karaoke stage. Her singing had stirred deep inside him. It wasn’t just the song, but the way she looked, the emotions she carried, and the gentleness in her voice. It reminded him too much of someone else—His mother.


    He remembered how she used to sing to him when he was little. Her voice had been soothing and full of love. After singing, she would always pat his head and whisper, "My son, don’t let your pure heart be poisoned by vipers. Love is the greatest of all."


    At the time, he didn’t fully understand what she meant. He would just nod, trusting her words. But now, after everything life had thrown at him, he finally understood. The world was crueler than he had imagined. And the people—many of them were far more dangerous than vipers. They smiled to your face while waiting to strike behind your back.


    He sighed deeply and turned his head slowly and his gaze softened, a rare smile dabbing his lips. Lying beside him was Jessica, her figure calm under the covers. Her breathing was steady, her face peaceful. For a moment, just looking at her, his heart felt calmer.


    He didn’t know how or when it started, but her presence had be afort he hadn’t expected. Even if his thoughts were full of the past and unanswered questions, having her beside him made the pain feel just a little more bearable.


    She wasn’t loud or dramatic. She didn’t push him to open up or pretend to understand his pain. She was simply there—quiet, steady, and warm.


    Davis closed his eyes, not to sleep, but to hold onto this small peace, this rare warmth—hoping it wouldst just a bit.


    But just when Davis felt thefort of peace, his fragile illusion shattered. Like a haunting echo from the past, a memory returned—sharp, vivid, and heart-wrenching. It gripped his mind with the force of a nightmare, dragging him back into a time he tried so hard to bury.


    The scene unfolded like a rey of a movie clip. In the warm, cozy living room, the air was filled withughter and light. Young Davis sat quietly on the sofa beside Be, who was even younger then—her tiny hand sped in his as he attend to her homework. .


    The front door creaked open. Alex Allen stepped into the room, his expression calm, his lips forming an arc as little Be hugged him back and Davis stood up to wee him home.


    He looked tired butposed, every inch the businessman he was. Monica (his mother) appeared at the top of the stairs, descending with elegance and warmth in her steps. Her smile was radiant and angelic as she rushed to embrace him.


    "You’re back?" she asked, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Davis and Be quickly returned to their seat and continued with their works.


    Alex chuckled as he looked into her eyes taking notice of every features on her face, he slowly brushed a hand over her cheek. "Not really. It’s an emergency business trip, probably a week," he replied with a charming smirk.


    Monica pouted dramatically. "You think you’re going alone?" she teased.


    Alex arched a brow. "What do you think?"


    She left his embrace and spun on her heel towards the stairs and disappeared for a moment, only to reappear with a small suitcase in hand. "You see? I’m all set," she said proudly.


    Alex gave a softugh and gestured toward the children. "And what about them?"


    Monica nced at Davis and Be, her expression gentle and full of love. "They’ll be fine. Grandpa’s around," she said sweetly. Then, looking straight at Davis, she winked. "Right, my love?"


    Davis, too young to understand the gravity of goodbyes, nodded slowly. What could he say? His parents were like conjoined twins—always together, always in sync.


    The only thing that can keep them apart was the regr work and sometimes both will chose to work in the same office even when they handles different departments. So, looking at her question, he can only nod as there was no way to stop them when they made up their minds.


    Beside him, Be clutched his hand tightly, looking at her parents with worry on her face but just like Davis, she can only endure.


    Together, they stood at the doorway, watching their parents disappear behind the closing door. It was thest time they ever saw them.


    "Mom! Dad!" Davis cried out, his voice echoing in the silent room. He shot up in bed, heart pounding, breathing in gasps. The pain wed through him like a beast let loose.


    Jessica stirred immediately, woken by his sudden movement. She sat up, worry flooding her face. "Davis?" she whispered, reaching for him.


    He didn’t respond—his body trembled violently, and tears streamed down his face in waves he could no longer control. It had been years—so many years—but the pain was just as raw, just as piercing as the day it happened.


    That day, his world had shattered. That was thest smile he saw on his mother’s face, thest yful wink, thest warm embrace and thest goodbye that wasn’t meant to be goodbye.


    They had walked out the door with ns to return, bags packed for just a short trip. But fate had other ns. What followed was a tragic ident. The hospital calls. The long, quiet corridors filled with dread. And then... the fell intoa just like him but then after several they finally gave up.


    They never came back.


    Davis buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking. The image of them leaving—so alive, so full of dreams—burned in his memory. That single moment became a memento of everything he lost.


    Jessica wrapped her arms around him gently, holding him without words, slowly patting his back. She didn’t ask questions. She didn’t press. She simply stayed quiet and calmforting him like a lighthouse in the middle of his storm.


    And in that moment, Davis realized the painful truth. He had never truly healed from the scars, it had only been buried deeper.