Chapter 3: I've Given Up

Words : 2990 Updated : Dec 20th, 2023

"Brisa, I'm back..." Fanix's voice trembled as he looked at Brisa with a mix of longing and affection. For six long years, he had dreamed of this moment—reuniting with her, seeing her face again. And now, here they were, standing face to face. Brisa had changed since he last saw her. She had become more mature, more composed, and even more beautiful than before. The woman who had once been known as the ice-cold beauty of Norston was now a graceful and elegant CEO. Back in the day, Brisa had been the object of many young men's affections. Wealthy and powerful suitors had lined up to win her heart, but she had remained distant, untouched by their advances. Fanix, on the other hand, had never imagined she would choose him. In terms of status and background, he was far from her league. Yet, out of nowhere, Brisa had declared her love for him, publicly announcing that she would marry no one else. It had shocked everyone, especially the many affluent young men who had vied for her attention. They couldn't understand what had driven this exceptional woman to make such a seemingly impulsive and foolish decision. But Brisa had been resolute. She married Fanix without hesitation, ignoring the whispers and judgment of those around her. If not for the disaster that struck on their wedding day, they might have become the couple everyone envied. Now, standing before her, Fanix found himself at a loss for words. He had rehearsed this moment in his mind countless times, but all the things he had wanted to say seemed to vanish now that she was in front of him. "How... how did you come back?" Brisa asked, her eyes scanning him up and down as if she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. Fanix hesitated. "I…" The man who had faced down armies and commanded legions of soldiers now found himself shy and unsure in front of the woman he loved. "Mommy, who is this man?" Serin's curious voice broke the silence, her head tilted as she studied Fanix. "Serin, be good. Go inside and play. Remember, don't talk to strangers," Brisa gently instructed her daughter. "But he doesn't look like a bad person. He looks really tired," Serin replied, smiling at Fanix and making a funny face before skipping into the office. Fanix watched her go, unable to contain his emotions. "Our daughter is so cute," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion as he looked at Serin's retreating figure. But Brisa's expression hardened. Anger flashed across her face. "Our daughter? She's my daughter and has nothing to do with you." "Brisa, I... I found out that Serin was born just a few months after I was taken away..." "You investigated me? What are you trying to do? Are you here to fight for custody of my daughter?" Brisa's voice rose as she stepped back, her posture tense, ready to defend herself. It was as if she saw him as a threat, a dangerous stranger. "That's not what I meant—" "Stop lying! Why are you dressed as a janitor? Were you trying to sneak in here and take her away? Thank goodness I caught you in time." "No, Brisa, I—" "Leave, right now, or I'll call security." Brisa's hand moved to her phone, her tone leaving no room for argument. Fanix had never expected their reunion to turn so hostile, so quickly. The years of dreaming about this moment had never prepared him for this. "Brisa, please listen to me. I came back because I want to be with you and Serin again. I want to fix what was broken, to make things right..." "That's enough, Fanix. Stop pretending to care. Do you really think we can just pick up where we left off? Our relationship is over. Do you honestly believe I could live with a criminal?" Her words cut deep, wounding Fanix in ways no battlefield ever could. He had faced countless enemies, but none had hurt him like this. He didn't care about the opinions of others, but Brisa's rejection pierced his soul. "I'm not a criminal, Brisa. I can explain everything. Just give me a chance. Can't we start over?" Fanix pleaded, stepping forward. He gently took her hand and pulled her into his arms, embracing her tightly. For a moment, he was lost in the familiar scent of her hair, the warmth of her body against his. It was everything he had longed for during those long, cold years. But Brisa struggled in his arms, her face flushed with a mix of anger and humiliation. "What are you doing? Let me go!" "Brisa, please, listen to me. I know these years have been hard on you, but now that I'm back, we can rebuild what we had. Everything can go back to how it was." Fanix's grip tightened, unwilling to let her go. Brisa's breath came in quick, shallow gasps, and tears welled up in her eyes. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "We can't go back, Fanix. My feelings for you died a long time ago." Her words hit him like a physical blow, and for a moment, he felt like he was reliving the day he was taken away. The pain, the heartbreak—it all came rushing back. They stared at each other in silence, the weight of the years between them pressing down like a heavy burden. But the tense moment was shattered by a sudden shout. "You bastard, let go of Brisa! Do you have a death wish?" Fanix turned to see Madsen Edwards, his younger brother, storming toward them. Madsen had always been the family's golden boy, and now he was the most prominent heir to the Edwards family fortune. Back in the day, Madsen had been one of Brisa's many suitors. When she chose Fanix, it had crushed him, sending him into a spiral of drunken despair. But after Fanix was taken away, Madsen saw an opportunity to pursue her once more. Today, as usual, he had come to Brisa's office to invite her to dinner, only to find a janitor—his brother—holding her in his arms. Not recognizing Fanix at first, Madsen grabbed a stool and hurled it at him with all his might. The force behind the throw was enough to seriously injure an ordinary person, but Fanix was far from ordinary. The stool shattered into pieces as it collided with Fanix's body, sending splinters flying in all directions. Before Madsen could react, Fanix's fist was inches from his face, the sheer force of it making his skin tingle. Madsen instinctively covered his head, bracing for impact. But the blow never came. "Madsen, is that you?" Fanix asked, his voice calm as he withdrew his fist. The murderous intent that had flared up within him dissipated, and he reached out to help his brother up. Madsen, now realizing who he was dealing with, looked up in shock. "Fanix? How are you back?" Brisa ran over, her anger boiling over. "Fanix, are you insane? I thought you'd changed, but you're still the same violent, reckless man you were before. Did prison teach you nothing?" Madsen, clutching his side, leaned against the wall, playing up his injuries. "Oh, my back... Brisa, can you help me?" "Where are you hurt? Let me see. Is it serious? I'll call someone to take you to the infirmary," Brisa said, her concern for Madsen clear as she supported him. Madsen grinned, satisfied with the attention. "Don't blame Fanix, Brisa. It was all a misunderstanding. I thought he was a thug trying to take advantage of you. Oh, the pain is killing me." Brisa shot a look of pure disappointment at Fanix. "Look at what you've done. I'm really disappointed in you, Fanix." She immediately called for some of her subordinates to help Madsen. As they escorted him to the elevator, Madsen glanced back at Fanix with a smug smile. "Fanix, don't go anywhere. I'll arrange a proper welcome party for you later. We can have a few drinks, just the two of us," Madsen said with a sneer before disappearing behind the closing elevator doors. As the elevator descended, Madsen pushed away the subordinates helping him. "Huh? Mr. Madsen, you're okay?" one of them asked, confused. Madsen slapped the man across the face. "Of course, I'm fine, you idiot. What could possibly happen to me? You lot are working undercover for me here, so be sharp, got it?" "Understood, Mr. Madsen. But that man just now... was he really Fanix? Why is he back?" "I want to know that myself, but whatever his plan is, it can't be good. I didn't expect him to pull a stunt like that right after returning. He's trying to send me a message," Madsen muttered, seething with anger. Fanix had always been the shining star of the Edwards family, far surpassing the achievements of those who came before him. Even before his arrest, he had doubled the family's business profits in just six months, earning the admiration of their grandfather, Jason Edwards, and the rest of the family. No matter how hard Madsen tried, he could never escape Fanix's shadow, and his jealousy had long since turned to hatred. Since Fanix's departure, Madsen had thrived, building a reputation for himself and becoming a force to be reckoned with in Norston. He had pursued Brisa relentlessly, confident that Fanix would never return. But now, Fanix's sudden reappearance had thrown everything into chaos. "Mr. Madsen, Fanix is just a disgraced ex-convict now. Even if he's back, he's nothing. He has no status in the Edwards family anymore. He's just like a stray dog," one of Madsen's subordinates sneered. "Yeah, why worry about him? You should have taught him a lesson right there in front of Brisa. Show her your strength and make her fall for you," another added. "You fools know nothing. If I had attacked him, Brisa would have thought I had no tolerance for Fanix. No, that was all part of the plan," Madsen replied, shaking his head. "So, are you just going to let this go? What will people think of you if word gets out?" "Of course not. Whatever Fanix is planning, I'll make sure he knows it's too late. I'll hit him hard and show him that his time is over. I'm the one in control now." "That's the spirit, Mr. Madsen. Don't worry, leave it to us. We'll make sure Fanix regrets ever coming back. Who knows? He might even get so scared that he'll run back to prison, where he belongs." Fanix was fully aware of the situation. If Madsen hadn't been his brother, he would have already been dead. Though they weren't related by blood, Fanix had watched Madsen grow up and had always considered him a brother. But Fanix had no interest in playing these petty games. His focus was elsewhere. "Has Madsen been coming here often lately?" Fanix asked, turning to Brisa. "What does that have to do with you? You just got back and already hit your brother. Don't you think you're being too cruel and frightening? If it wasn't for Madsen helping me all these years, do you think I could have built the company to what it is today?" Brisa shot back. Whatever lingering hope Brisa had for Fanix shattered completely the moment he lashed out. Madsen had been relentless in his pursuit over the years, and while she hadn't returned his affections, she couldn't deny that she owed much of her success to his presence in her life. With Brisa's extraordinary beauty, countless men had tried to take advantage of her. the Edwards family's influence and the fear they had for Madsen had kept those predators at bay. Without that protection, the consequences could have been disastrous. "So, I should be thanking Madsen, then?" Fanix chuckled, though there was a dangerous edge to his voice. His eyes, darkened with the hint of murderous intent, betrayed the calm in his tone. Fanix had had Aila look into the events that led to his sudden imprisonment all those years ago. It was becoming increasingly clear that someone from within the Edwards family had played a role in setting him up. Madsen was right at the top of his list of suspects. But it wasn't just the Edwards family. The Dysons, the Chases, the Knapps, and the Doyles—every prominent family in Norston that had wronged him—would soon face his wrath. Fanix had vowed to personally see to their downfall. The shift in Fanix's demeanor sent a shiver down Brisa's spine. His once-familiar presence now filled her with unease and fear. "What do you mean by that? What are you planning?" Brisa's voice wavered as she took a step back, trying to maintain her composure. "Fanix, I'm warning you. If you do anything to Madsen, I won't forgive you. Why are you still here? I don't want to see you. Leave now, do you hear me?"

Chapter 3: I've Given Up

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