Kiss Me Not

Everyone in the room watched as the military officers took Duncan away. Lucas walked towards his son and hugged him tightly as soon as Gavin was out of the room. 

"I am so sorry son that you have to experience this," Lucas said, sobbing. His son must be suffering so hard at that moment. Brione told him how good Gavin's relationship with Damiel was and how Damiel was a good father to Gavin all those years. The two shared good and bad times together genuinely having a father and son relationship.

Damiel could have been doing things to hurt him and make him experience hell but Damiel was not like that to Gavin who Damiel truly treated as his own son.

Gavin composed himself and then gently pushed his father. With an assuring smile, he whispered, "I am fine Father. Please don't worry. It's all finished now. Mother will be at peace and no one will try to harm you anymore. We only have to wait not for Cedric's return now."

Lucas nodded and wiped the remaining tears on his son's cheek. He looked at Olivia and said, "My men will escort you back home Olivia. This is a tiring day. Go back to your family and rest. Tomorrow, Duncan will be under your mercy. Do what you need to do for Oliver and your father. I know I can no longer bring back Oliver but I hope to at least bring justice for the life lost… I am really sorry again that this had to happen to Oliver and your family…"

Olivia was speechless. She stood up from her chair. She was still out of herself after Duncan's word sunk into her system and ate her wholly. She had a blank expression as she slightly bowed, respectfully taking her to leave outside the room.

When she was outside, her knees weakened and she had to hold on to the wall for support… 

She felt a hand on her arm and she turned to see Will with his concerned look as he whispered, "Let's go. I will drive you home. It's over now Olivia. Duncan will be punished and Oliver will be finally at peace.

Was it really over now? But why does her heart still feel stuffy? She could not help but get affected by Duncan's words that everything was her fault. That she lost her brother because of her… his precious life and future with Paula and their unborn child.

She was too weak to struggle so she let Will guide her out of the palace.

Inside the room, Gavin and the rest went out as well. Gavin looked at Luo and said, "What will we do without you sister-in-law… Thank you so much for making things easy for me like this. You solved everything and I'm so much in debt."

Lucas interrupted and said, "we are all indebted to you dear."

Luo's face reddened as she whispered, "stop flattering me, uncle and Gavin. We are a family so this is nothing… I'm sure if we will be in need you will also do the same thing for us. But I guess the royal family is indeed lucky to have a smart lawyer like me as an addition in the family."

Noah laughed out hard, hearing how shameless his wife could be in boasting herself like this but he couldn't disagree since his wife was the best!

Luo elbowed her, giving Noah a death glare who immediately stopped laughing.

"We are indeed lucky…" Gavin and his father seconded with a warm smile.

Gavin had to leave with Noah and check on Zach and his team to wrap up everything. Brione and Luo stayed in the palace with Lucas.

"You and Gavin are now facing great responsibility," Luo commented to Brione as they walked in the hallway to answer some questions from reporters.

"Yeah, I just hope that I can assist Gavin well in this. I've been in training for days and things were really not easy since I am not a fan of politics and yet I need to be aware and study it to have enough knowledge. I may bug you often sis if I need help with you know…" Brione said timidly, unable to finish her words.

Luo chuckled and said, "of course you can bug me anytime. I will be your free counselor in all aspects."

"That's encouraging… Sis, what will happen now to uncle Damiel… I mean Duncan," Brione asked. She still could not use the fact that Damiel and Duncan were just one person. She had mixed feelings but Duncan should expect what would come to him because he committed a crime.

"Death penalty, Brione. That's the law in this country. He killed that doctor with his own hands and he is responsible for your mother-in-law's and Oliver's death. He had committed a lot more crimes apart from that…" Luo explained. 

Brione could only sigh. Things had come to this because of Duncan's hatred for Lucas. 

"Ah, I can't believe that a man's hatred will last that long. I mean Damiel's life with Gavin is doing good so why keeps torturing uncle Lucas. He was so hell-bent on bringing him down and stripping him off his power that he had to use the previous Prime Minister," Luo mumbled.

"He wants to emotionally torture father. He lost Cecilia before so he wanted his father to lose everything. Gavin, Cedric, and his power being King. He was supportive to Gavin and I believe he wanted to use his connection with Gavin to stay here in the palace and torture father more in every way. Good thing you discover his true identity in time…" Brione commented.

"Yeah, he's so sneaky. Imagine… If I happened not to have these suspicions during my investigation then we are set to think that we caught Duncan in his headquarters while the real Duncan will stay with us as Gavin's father Damiel," Luo murmured, feeling the goosebumps crawling her skin.

"I guess that's what he was planning all along. I hope Gavin overcomes this soon. And I'm also worried about Olivia. I noticed how her face paled, hearing what Duncan said. I just hope his words won't affect her much."

"Oh, the new Prime Minister? I'm getting a negative vibe from that woman during the coronation ceremony," Luo voiced out. 

"Yeah, I know. But I'm hoping she will return to her old self now that we caught the man really responsible for her brother's death.

"She has dead eyes, Brione. Her aura is the epitome of a person punishing oneself. She has this cold-hearted aura so I don't get why the people are rooting for her.. Anyway, I hope you're right and that Olivia won't bully Gavin much and instead cooperate so they could both serve the country smoothly."