Chapter 288: Hope
There was a deep yearning in his heart and it grew even more desperate as if salvation was within this person.
This Malik Patel.
Anouk could not restrain himself. That was their relationship. He knew it too well.
They had met 10 years ago and for 10 years, he had shamelessly been the one clinging on to him, desperately holding on to that hand and begging.
"Mal..." He started and swallowed, "Malik, do you know how long I have been looking for you?" Like a crazy person, he had not been able to go home, just roaming around looking for him. No phone call, nothing.
"Six months and four days," Malik said calmly. His voice carried its usual gentle tilt.
Did you even miss me? Anouk wanted to ask but he held his tongue. He was afraid of the answer, afraid of the truth.
Malik cocked his head, the way he did whenever he was confused, "You destroyed Axum so I punished you." Malik had been building Axum since he was 14 years old, he knew that Anouk had been building a case against his organization for three years and even though he knew that it belonged to him, he had still ruthlessly destroyed it.
It was enchanting no doubt. Anouk was amazing when he was chasing down prey. But it was still annoying.
He was too rigid and could never truly accept the darker side of Malik. If all had gone according to his plan, then a year of absence should have...
Ah! That was what it was. A punishment. Because he had destroyed Axum. That was what it was.