<h4>Chapter 382: Years ago...</h4>


    "He left the country? Not even taking his assistant with him but instead his COO? Funny." He smirked coldly.


    The subordinate hesitated briefly before continuing. "It seems to have been an impromptu decision. He attended Santiago’s banquet, and before long, he was gone."


    "I suppose that must be for the summit. Based on estimates, itsts for five days... an approximately one-week trip."


    He inhaled deeply, his eyes shing with a dangerous glint. "That should give me enough time to unravel and settle some scores."


    The man leaned back in his chair, his hand pausing mid-motion. The younger boy sitting nearby turned his gaze toward him, uncertainty clear in his expression.


    "Brother, what is going on?


    Are you investigating Davis Allen?"


    "Aren’t you his assistant?"


    Questions churned in the boy’s mind, but every time he sought answers, his brother would only push him away, urging him to "live well."


    For years, Luke had forced him to live abroad, his life reduced to schooling, eating, and sleeping, while he himself carried all the weight. The gap between them was filled with unspoken truths.


    "Brother, can you really talk to me? Haven’t you shielded me enough? At least let me know what it is you are doing... or what you are going through." His voice trembled with frustration.


    Luke nced at his subordinate and waved dismissively. "You can go. Keep an eye on his wife."


    The man nodded silently and left.


    The younger boy quickly dragged a chair forward and sat down, his warm eyes fixed firmly on his brother. His stance was clear, he would not be leaving until he had answers.


    Luke rubbed his temple as he stared at his mother’s miniature figure who was his brother.


    His voice was heavy with restrained grief.


    "Noah Norman, I only hoped you could live well and never be tainted by this dark side of life."


    "Brother, I know you wanted the best for me," Noah pressed softly, "but I also wish you had the best for yourself. Wouldn’t that make me happier?"


    Luke took a deep breath, his gaze settling on this brother of his who had been the reason of his living as he fell into memory.


    Years back, the weather was still clouded when Nu tapped him gently, her soft hand brushing across his brow.


    "Wake up. Mom and Dad are about to go out," she whispered, her voice tender and soothing.


    Luke stirred, sitting up groggily, rubbing his eyes as a quiet yawn escaped his lips.


    "Sleepyhead, wake up," his mother teased.


    "Mom, I’m already up. But it’s still so early. Today’s Saturday, right?" His brows furrowed in confusion.


    It was their household routine that Saturdays meant sleeping in, no nanny, no interruptions, just Nu at home to care for them.


    "It’s Saturday, sweetheart. But I’ve got some things to check out at thepany, and I’ll be back before long," she assured him gently.


    "At thepany? Aren’t Saturdays supposed to be free days?" he pressed, his natural curiosity getting the better of him.


    "Don’t worry. After the test is sessful, I’ll take you and your brother to the park. It will be a fun-filled day, I promise." Her warm smile disarmed him instantly that he found it difficult to refuse.


    "Mom..." he started again, but his father entered, ruffling his hair. "You’re already so big, yet you still have questions about everything."


    "Dad, talk about asking questions...you’re the one who set the example. Otherwise, how would you end up researching?" he retorted yfully.


    His father chuckled, slipping an arm around Nu’s shoulders. "I suppose I learned from her."


    Nu red at the culprit who had sessfully made her leave her intended field of study to be a researcher.


    "Shouldn’t I me it on you?" Nu shot back, her eyes narrowing yfully.


    Luke rubbed his forehead. "So... my kid brother?" he asked, already sensing the request behind their banter.


    His mother crouched down beside him, while his father scratched his head awkwardly, his gaze anywhere in the room beside him.


    Luke knew at that moment they wanted him to watch over little Noah again.


    He had done it before, especially on the nights they both spent at thepany. But he still asked, "What’s in it for me?"


    "Your dream book."


    "A trip to the haunted house." They answered in unison.


    Luke sighed, copsing back into bed. "I have a date with friends. Do I really have to stay home?"


    "Please, darling. Mom will make it up to you," Nu pleaded gently.


    And so, with yful bargaining, warm words and a few set of instructions, three-year-old Noah was left in the care of his brother as they both left.


    That was the end of it. Luke waited and waited but his parents never returned and that was thest time he saw them or will ever see him.


    Evening fell. Luke and his brother sat on the steps, waiting faithfully for their parents to return.


    Instead, a group of strangers arrived, their eyes heavy with pity as they whispered among themselves.


    Luke wasn’t sure of who they were or why they came.


    Clutching his brother tightly in his embrace he took the steps ready to bolt into the house but then a gentle stopped him.


    "Luke," a woman called softly, sessfully halting him. He lifted his gaze to her face as he struggled to ce her face from the faces in his memory.


    He was certain, he hasn’t met her before but knowing his name, he sighed.


    "Who are you?" he demanded while his gaze took in the faces of the other persons with her.


    "I am your mother’s friend," she replied.


    Her voice was warm and kind as she spoke to him.


    Thedy offered to take them with her. In her words "your mom couldn’t make it back home so I was on the way and she asked me to pick you up."


    The words of another man cut through the moment, sharp and merciless.


    "Luke, it’s a pity, but your parents are dead."


    "Ss, this is wrong. He is still a child. How could you give him such news?" Thedy queried, anxiously she pulled them into her embrace.


    The rest of what was said was lost on him.


    And from that day, the stories of their life took a drastic turn.


    They were sent to the orphanage, the youngdy and her husband visited them a few times with so many gifts promising to take the responsibilities of their care.


    In one of their visit, he had managed to ask the woman her name but her response had been clipped and soft. "Siri." She answered.


    It wasn’t long and they stoppeding and nobody visited again. Not even the uncles and aunts that had always visited their home.


    At ten, with nobody bothered about them, the future bleak, he fled the orphanage with the hope of securing a better life for himself and his brother.


    Living in the streets, doing all sorts of odd jobs while he sneaks back to check on his brother at intervals.


    At fifteen, he returned to the orphanage and took his brother with him, to make sure they were set free.


    He pleaded and bought over a family that stood as their adoptive parents.


    Since the death of his parents Luke had only two goals in life; protect his brother and get revenge on the family that took their parents from them and yet abandoned them.


    During the incident, the Allen Group had promised topensate and to take on the responsibility but then it was nothing more than empty word.


    "Brother?" Noah’s voice snapped him out of his daze.


    He was surprised he hasn’t answered him yet his gaze had been trained to the distance.


    "Don’t you think you could be more relieved if you tell me what happened and what you are going through?"


    "Noah, can you keep patient a little more. I will exin everything to you at a due time."


    Noah slumped back on his seat helplessly. His brother had always been an engima.


    He is unyielding, protective and painfully secretive that he sometimes wonder how burdened he must be.


    ~Allen Family~


    Vera sat in her bedroom, d in a silk nightdress. Files were scattered across her bed as she studied the documents carefully.


    The shrill ring of her phone shattered the silence.


    ncing at the caller ID, she picked up immediately. "Something?" She asked, her tone even and her voice calm.


    "Davis seems to have left the country," the subordinate reported.


    "For how long?" She asked.


    "Don’t know the details yet, his movement was sort of discreet," the subordinate replied.


    "Alright. What about Jessica?" She asked.


    "In town." He clipped.


    "That’s okay. Update me with any changes."


    The call ended with a beep. The phone slid down ear, she sighed. "Finally, a chance to breathe and solve these cases."


    "Davis, by the time you return...I believe the Alpha project will be a forgotten matter."


    As she made to continue with her work, it buzzed again. She looked at the caller ID, her eyes narrowed as she slid her hand across the screen.


    "Vera, I have been informed that Davis left the country. Complete your task within this period. We must have the Allen Group...the process is long overdue."


    "But Dad..." She began to protest but Louis’ cold voice cut her off.


    "Vera, it’s already in motion. You only have to do your part." He smirked and the call ended.