Reyona woke up to a sniffling sound in her room.
She instantly noticed that Maxwell was no longer in bed with her.
As she blearily opened her eyes, she heard a strange, melodic voice say "The doctor said she is fine, ah gah pee moo."
Wait, what?
Reyona opened her eyes fully and turned her head towards the direction where she heard the voice from.
"Rey!" Toria called her name urgently as she rushed forward to hug her.
Then she stopped abruptly before touching her and just repeated "Rey! Thank God you are okay. Are you okay? Your hands, Rey!"
More tears gushed out of Toria's eyes onto her already wet face.
Reyona's sluggish brain was fast to catch up as she reached for Toria's face and automatically wiped it with her thumb.
"Why are you crying?" she asked.
That got more tears out of Toria. "Rey," she said again as she moved forward to hug her but stopped again. "I don't want to hurt you," she said.
What was it with people around her treating her like an egg?
"You couldn't hug me if you tried. Now bring it in, or I might just offer my hug to that masterpiece behind you. That is a human, right? Or is my brain playing tricks on me?"
Toria gave a watery laugh as she finally hugged Reyona tightly.
Reyona winced a bit but quickly wiped it off her face as she hugged Toria back.
"Hmm, I have missed you, sis."
"I missed you too," Toria responded. "I shouldn't have gone to Cyprus. I should have stayed with you, then this wouldn't have happened."
"Awn awn, give it up for the almighty Toria!" Reyona said in the best umpire imitation she could do.
Toria laughed and finally sighed in relief.
Then she leaned back as she sniffed and wiped her face. "Uggh, I ugly-cried."
"When is someone going to make an introduction?" Reyona asked with a teasing smile as she looked at the man standing some distance behind Toria.
He was the one who had spoken the first time and Reyona couldn't get over how…beautiful he looked.
Beautiful
That was the word that came to her mind even as she watched the man walking towards Toria when the latter gestured to him.
The man had an olive skin tone, a toned and muscular build, tall like Maxwell, brown expressive eyes, a well-defined jawline and a chiselled look teased by his wavy chin appearance, and dark hair.
His eyes were all for Toria as he took the hand she extended to him before introducing him, "Rey, this is Andreas Kanellis, my current boss. Andreas, this is Reyona, my sister. Rey, Andreas offered the service of his jet when he learned that he had to get to you as soon as possible."
"And his service too, I suppose," Reyona mused as she tried to keep her face blank.
"Hello, ma'am," Andreas said with a slight bow. "It is my pleasure to finally meet you. I have heard a great deal about you from Victoria."
"Ah, okay. I guess we are using the full name in that delicious voice now." Reyona's subconscious was having a field day with its naughty thoughts.
"Don't believe everything she tells you though. She tends to exaggerate. Also, I can assure you that I am the best-behaving person you will ever meet. If you hear anything different, just know it is a lie."
"Rey" Toria said with a roll of her eyes.
"Just had to make that clear," Reyona said with a smile.
"I have only heard good things about you, ma'am."
"Ma'am makes me feel so old, Mr. Kanellis, just call me Reyona."
"Only if you accept to call me Andreas."
"Okay then," Reyona said.
"Actually, it is Lord Kanellis," Toria chipped in.
Andreas gave her a fond look and Reyona raised her eyebrows at Toria.
"Oh, you got a lot to spill, girl," the look says.
Then she turned to face Andreas when he said, "Just a silly title, nothing to it."
"I see," Reyona said cheerily. "It is fancy. I like it."
They all laughed just before Maxwell came in.
His gaze went straight to Andreas and his eyes held that instant possessive glint as he looked back at the remnant smile on Reyona's face, then back to Andreas.
Toria interrupted whatever he was going to say as she shook her finger at him and said "You!"
Maxwell didn't even try to move out of the way as she drew her fist back and punched him in the stomach.
He doubled over as Reyona shouted "Toria!"
Andreas had something of a smile on his face that he tried to mask well, but Reyona could see it as she said "Well, don't just stand there."
"I think she is done now, ma…. Reyona." he completed in a meek tone that Reyona did not believe for once.
He was right though, because even though Toria pulled back her fist again, she only held it suspended before she glared at Maxwell, who had straightened and waited calmly for another punch.
She growled under her breath and weakly punched the air. "How can you let her get hurt like this?!"
"I am sorry," Maxwell said simply.
"What is the use of sorry? Look at her! Where are the bastards who did this to her?!" she asked in a fierce tone.
"One of them is dead. One of them is in custody and one is about to get her arm amputated right before she ends up in jail."
"Oh," The last statement was certainly shocking to her, but after a brief pause, she said, "Good, maybe you are not so bad after all."
"Thanks for the thought," Maxwell said.
"Are you making fun of me, Rohan?" she asked with a narrowed gaze.
"I wouldn't dare," Maxwell answered instantly.
At this point, Reyona was very sure that fancy, chinos-wearing Lord Kanellis, was definitely finding it hard to hold his mirth in check.
She smiled with a sigh as Toria suddenly threw her arms around Maxwell in a hug.
"Thank you for not being such an asshole after all."
"Uhm, I am happy to help." Maxwell said as he hugged her back. Then he groaned "Euf, easy there. I think my rib is cracked from someone's assault."
"Don't be such a baby," Toria said with a misty laugh as she moved back from him. "You are lucky that Andreas talked me into keeping it to one."
"Oh?" Maxwell said as he looked at the man who was looking at Toria with a peculiar look that he was familiar with. "I suppose I owe my life to you, then," he said as he came forward. He offered his hand in a handshake as they got to each other. "Maxwell Rohan."
"Andreas Kanellis."
"Kanellis? Any relations to THE Kanellis of Cyprus?"
Andreas smiled.