Chapter 62

**Kapittel 62**

**"But on one condition."**

"What is it?" Dane asked Allison, to which she giggled in delight. She could see that he was very eager to have her forgiveness. "Invite me in your kid's christening. Make me your baby's godmother."

His eyes widened, and his lips parted in both surprise and delight. "Of course!"

She laughed, but she soon hardened when she caught a glance at someone from the corner of her eye. She turned her head to look outdoors. She felt weak at the sight. It was a huge figure of a man, staring in their direction with sick and restless eyes. It was Hades. She looked at him in terror. He was angrily staring at her hand that was holding Dane's.

"Al? Al? Hey!"

She gasped audibly when she saw someone snap his fingers in front of her. She reluctantly looked at Dane in surprise.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked her worriedly.

She shook her head and pulled her hand away. "Nothing," she gave him a wide smile before saying, "That wasn't bad for closure, was it?"

He nodded in reply. "Yup. It wasn't. Now I feel good and free," he stated before stretching. He then offered a hand to her. "Friends?"

She giggled and took his hand. "Friends," she said and officiated their newfound friendship by shaking hands.

Just then, Dane's phone rang, indicating that he had a message. He pulled his hand away and fished his phone out from his coat. She saw how his facial expression changed when he read the message on his phone.

"I need to go," he stated before taking his phone back to his coat. "Jewell's already asking what's taking me so long." He stood up from his seat and took his plastic bags. He grabbed his cup of coffee before telling her, "It was nice having coffee with you, Al. Merry Christmas."

She lifted her cup with a faint nod, bidding goodbye. "Merry Christmas, Dane."

He gave her one last smile before turning on his heel to leave. And somehow, like what he felt earlier, she was feeling good and free as well. Like someone took something heavy off her heart.

**Right after Dane left,** Allison took a deep breath, emptied her cup, and prepared herself to leave. She turned her head to see if Hades was still outside. But he was no longer there, to her relief. She took a deep breath once again and mused how she had seen him earlier. It had been days since she saw him, and she couldn't say that he looked better. He looked worse more than ever. How was he coping up?

She shook her head, telling herself that she shouldn't think about him. She finally stood on her feet and went home, only to find herself being scolded by Brent because she made them wait. Allison only gave him a smile and apologized, to which the latter accepted. Her day passed like quickly, like a blur but was spent wholesome. She assisted Brent in cooking their meals for Christmas Eve. When dusk came, everything was settled. The three prepared themselves the whole evening until the clock struck twelve.

"Oh my gosh. Merry Christmas, Ally!" Rebecca greeted her and gave her a huge bear hug.

"Woah!" she exclaimed in surprise but hugged back anyway.

"Merry Christmas, ladies," Brent greeted the two with a radiant smile on his sculpted face.

"Merry Christmas, Dawson!" she greeted him back cheerfully and was about to tackle him into a hug, but before she could, Rebecca beat her to it by flinging her arms around Brent.

"Merry Christmas, Brent!" the woman greeted him and went on her tippy toes to kiss him on the cheek.

"Awh," he held Rebecca by the waist before kneeling in front of her and kissed her baby bump, then saying, "Merry Christmas, little one."

Allison looked at her pregnant friend and saw her was looking at him with teary eyes. The former couldn't help but wonder about pregnant women getting emotional. However, her thoughts were knocked off when she heard the penthouse's telephone ring.

"I'll go get it," Brent volunteered and stood up to answer the call.

Rebecca pouted and muttered, "Stupid phone call." She stomped her feet that made Allison laugh, but it faltered when he came back with a panicking expression on his face.

"It's Aunt Irina and Uncle Jonathan. They said that they're coming to celebrate Christmas with us!"

As soon as she heard those words, her heart dropped on the floor along with her jaw.

"Oh gosh, what should we do?!" Rebecca asked frantically while bitting her newly trimmed fingernails, a mannerism that she did when she panicked. That's how scary Allison's parents were. Even her friends were intimidated by their presence. Just hearing their names were already enough to make them cower in fear.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

She walked towards the ringing telephone when she heard it ring loudly again. 'Who could this be' she asked to herself while staring at her phone buzzing on her hand. But despite being dubious, she slid the answer button before pressing the device on her ear.

"Hello?"

"Love."

Her heart pounded wildly the moment she heard that familiar voice. That familiar velvety voice. The voice that belonged to only one man she knew so well.

"Allison?" Hades called her name, but she gave him no answer. She remained silent.

Seconds, minutes passed, and she heard him sigh over the other line in defeat.

"Allison, talk to me please?"

Her heart almost broke when she heard his voice go croak and thick. He sounded so sad, so weak.

"Love, please? It's been long since I heard your voice."

But Allison being Allison. She kept herself stubborn. She didn't answer him. She might cry and unleash all the hatred left in her chest if she spoke to him. She still couldn't forget what he had done to her.

"I miss you," he confessed, but still, she kept silent.

She heard him sigh the last time a few moments later.

"Merry Christmas, my baby..."

Her heart pounded insanely more than ever because she heard him say next.

"I love you."