I have difficulty editing all the S names in this book. If Salaar and Salah or Soniya and Sofia are mixed just ignore it.

///

Next morning Xander sat on the fluffy couch in front of the bed post, engrossed in his phone as he finalized the deals, closed the files of final reports and examined paper contracts in front of him as his wife still slept. He had decided and even talked to Sofia about moving back to their own mansion but she insisted that she liked here where there were people to talk to her. She said if his parents wouldn't mind, she would like to stay here for as long as they could. 

Xander didn't have a problem for staying over at his parents for vacations but he had to go back after New Year because everything was there - whatever he needed was there in the house and it would be difficult to accommodate here. He had told that to Sofia and though reluctantly, she complied to his wishes and agreed upon the compromise.

He closed his laptop when Sofia moaned and then blinked her eyes open. Xander flicked his gaze to her and then back to the papers in front of him.

"Good morning." He greeted, scribbling upon the papers. Sofia rubbed her eyes and pushed her wild hair away from her face as she gazed outside the window and groaned.

"Morning. It's still snowing!" She whined and covered her face with the warm blankets once again, "I hate it. Why won't it stop..." She wailed and turned around on the mattress, still cocooned within the blankets. Xander chuckled but didn't say anything. After a while of moaning and groaning, she finally removed the blankets and sat up on the bed. As soon as she did, a frown covered her features."Oh for God's sake Xander..." She groaned, eyeing the stupid papers in front of him.

"What?" He asked, smiling down at the paper he was currently writing on.

"Tell me you slept at least." She yawned.

"Of course I did. I just woke up."

"Must you work all the time? You will have white hair very soon." She stated. Xander lifted his face and shook his head, 

"It's the end of the year. I have to see every report is just the way it should be Sofia." He informed her.

"But still. You work more than your employees do. At least enjoy your vacations."

She got out of the bed and walked towards the bathroom, not waiting for his answer because she knew he didn't have one. After washing her face and brushing her teeth, she walked back inside the room and opened the closet, looking at the clothes as she examined them. She picked out a white sweater and leather jeans before walking back towards the bathroom. Sofia changed, brushed her hair back softly, trying to avoid the wound and walked back towards Xander who looked as if he had no care in the world. He was so engrossed in the pile of papers.

"Do you need a hand?" She offered as she sat besides him. She was pursuing business in university so obviously she knew what he was working on. Maybe she could help him. Xander on the other hand, gathered all the papers in to a neat bundle and placed them inside a file.

"Uh No. I will do it." He gave her a smile and closed all the files. Sofia scowled at him. Does he think I am stupid? 

"Come on. I can help you, I am a very bright student." She pressed. Xander looked at her and then gave her an apologetic smile.

"That you are. But I am sorry I can't let you try on my company." He chuckled.

"I know how to sort these things! Are you saying I am not capable of an internship even?" She narrowed her eyes at him accusingly. Xander shook his head and leaned back.

"You're twisting my words. But these are financial reports of my firm and they need to be accurate." He told her, softly.

"Why aren't your accountants doing that?" She frowned.

"They did. I am just over checking them. As a director, I have to recheck the reports."

"Oh. If you're just proofreading then I can help you surely." She peeked over to the papers. "I just want to help you Xandy." She stated. Xander stared at her for a few moments and then barked out a laugh.

"Oh my, Xandy? Seriously Sofia?" His eyes crinkled as he laughed at her. Sofia blushed and smacked his shoulder. "That was so corny and... hilarious." He chuckled.

"I was just teasing Xandy." She fluttered her lashes at him and jutted out her lower lip. "It is cute, isn't it? Xandy." She chuckled.

"It's cringe-worthy." He winced. "It's like I am not Xander - I feel like a Disney princess." He stated. Sofia laughed at that.

"Funny. I thought I should give you a nick name, everyone has that." She shrugged.

"That everyone includes teenagers Sofia."

"But I am barely past being teenager. You are the one who is old man." Sofia grinned at him. His glare was playful as well as fierce on her face.

"You're going to be twenty two soon."

"Still young." Sofia said smugly. "Energetic, spirited and zestful." She winked and then picked up his phone from the table, unlocking it - or trying to do so. Why did he have fingerprint lock?

"Ha ha you're funny." He deadpanned, "But..." Xander leaned closer when Sofia was still trying her fingerprint on his phone, he whispered in her ear, "I can prove you how much stamina I have." He whispered. Sofia stopped probing with the phone and slowly turned her head to him - phone still in hand. She looked in his eyes, which were a breath away and said,

"Prove it." She mumbled, feeling the heat on her neck due to her own bluntness. Xander smirked and lifted his fingers and grazed her jaw softly.

"How so?" He asked, mockingly. Sofia licked her lips - ignoring his eyes flickering there and straightened herself up.

"However you can." She smirked smugly. 

"Oh?" Xander asked staring at her intensely. She nodded as he leaned closer, touching his nose with hers and looked in her eyes. Sofia wanted to grab his neck and kiss him already but ―

"W-what are..." Sofia snorted with laughter as Xander lunged at her, his hands wiggling at her sides. She shrieked and kicked her legs, pushing the table in the process as he hovered above her and tickled her "― you d-doing. Stop!" She laughed and threw back her head, smacking him against his face and anywhere she could get her hands.

He chuckled in mirth and placed his knee between her legs to stop her brutal kicks. Sofia's ribs hurt due to immense laughter and she helplessly gripped his hair and tugged his head back, "Xander―" She wheezed, her hand tangling with the collar of his shirt and she yanked it backwards. "Stop!" Bending her knee against her chest Sofia pushed at his and slipped back, finally out of his hands. Xander chuckled, finally settling back and Sofia bent over as her ribs hurt and she breathed heavily.

"Stamina my ass." He taunted. She glared and him and jumped, landing on him as she gripped his hair and yanked his head back. Xander's hands gripped her wrists, trying to pull her hands away from his hair as he laughed all the while.

"Say that again you ogre!" He yelped as she pulled a strand of his hair, her knew digging in his ribs.

"Okay sorry ―ugh Sofia!" He grasped her arms and pushed her away, gasping for breath. Sofia huffed out a breath and pushed her hair away from her face - her ponytail long forgotten. Xander looked baffled as his chest rose and fell, he looked at himself and then Sofia before he burst in to laughter. Sofia frowned and looked at herself, her shirt was hanging off of her one side of shoulders, three buttons opened. Xander's buttons weren't even present on the shirt now. Sofia looked back up at him in amusement but the stretch in her wound made her hiss,

"Ouch!" She had totally forgotten about the stitches, her hand flew towards her head and she winced. Xander straightened and pulled her closer by arm.

"Shit. I am sorry, let me see. Does it hurt?" He inspected the back side of her head carefully.

"No. It's stretching." She complained. Xander inspected the injury and then settled back.

"It isn't bleeding thank God. I almost forgot about it. Sorry." He gave her an apologetic smile.

"If someone walked in, they would think we were doing something." She stated, frowning at her and Xander's torn shirt.

"Well, aren't we?" He chuckled. Sofia glared at him and pulled the collar of her sweater up to her shoulder. She smacked his shoulder and got off the couch.

"Look what we have done!" She exclaimed looking around at the scattered papers and his mobile phone on the carpet.

"It's nothing Sofia." Xander tugged her hand and pulled her on his lap, "Don't worry. Give yourself a break." He said. Sofia gave him a look,

"Look who's saying that." She leaned closer and looked in his eyes closely, "Even your eyes are changing color due to lack of sleep." She murmured. Xander blinked and placed his hand on her back,

"Yes? Tell me what color they are now." He smirked.

"They are... bluish?" She said. Xander chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"I am flattered Sofia. You noticed my eye color for the first time?" He raised his eyebrows. Sofia smiled and poked his cheek.

"I am kidding."

"Your sense of humor can pass for a five years old." He deadpanned. Sofia gave him a flat look.

"Well, aren't you going to change?" She looked down at his bare chest, blushing heatedly.

"Don't you like the view?" He smirked and leaned forward, his lips a breath away from hers. Sofia gave him a shy smile for she very much liked the view and he kissed her. Sofia sighed and pushed herself closer to him. Xander placed his hand on the back of her neck, avoiding her injury skillfully. Sofia was the first to hear footsteps outside the door and jumped back, almost falling on her butt in the process. There was a knock and then the door opened and Xander's mother stepped in,

"Oh. Did I disturb something?" She blushed, color invading her cheeks even though Sofia was a huge distance away from Xander but the torn shirt and his wild hair must have given it away.

"No!" Xander yelled and then cleared his throat, "I was just uh ― cleaning the room." He started picking up the papers from the floor, embarrassed to his roots due to his mother finding about it. Oh God!

"Okay." She smiled knowingly, "If that's what you kids call it these days. I'm sorry I opened the door so suddenly but Xander your fathers asking for you." With that she closed the door and walked away. Sofia was red to the tips of her roots,

"Oh my Gosh!" She squeaked and hid her face in her palms. 

"Oh my Gosh indeed." Xander muttered. 

 🐦

Salaar could sense the confusion of Sofia as she sat besides him. She had asked him where he was taking her but he had remained silent throughout the car ride. Now he knew her patience was running out. Hearing her sigh, he readied himself to answer the questions.

"Salaar where are we going?" She asked. In the evening he had fetched her from her house and taken her on a drive. He needed his sister with him when he took this step for he knew she would stop him if he did something rash.

"To the woman who calls herself our mother. I want answers Sofia. Why did she do it? What did we do to deserve this from her?" He felt himself losing his temper. Sofia stiffened. She was not ready to face her mother now, not now at least. She swallowed and looked at Salaar.

"I - I...Salaar I can't do this." She muttered, staring at her shaking hands. Salaar looked at her and then back at the road.

"It doesn't matter if we face her now or tomorrow, I want answers Sofia and so do you. It's her who needs to be nervous not you." He told her. Sofia nodded and remained silent. She wasn't ready to face her mother but she guessed Salaar was right in a sense. One day or another she would have to face her.

When the mansion came in to view, she felt anxiety building up inside her. Her stomach churned, her heart beat faster in her chest as she got out of the car on her shaky legs. She had told Xander that she was going out with Salaar but she had not told him where because she didn't know it herself.

Salaar was the first one to ring the bell of the humongous house and she felt the sadness gripping her. She had spent her whole life in this house, with the man she loved so dearly - thinking that he was her father. But now she couldn't help but tear up at the thought, she never had her father.

The door opened and surprisingly it was Yamina who opened the door. She gasped, her eyes filled with tears and then she cried. Yamina looked from Salaar to Sofia and back to Salaar before hugging him. She cried and cried but Salaar remained stiff. Sofia stared at him, wanting to see some sort of reaction from him but except for the tightness of his jaw and clenching of his fists, he said nothing. He remained still.

"You're back oh thank God." She pulled back and cupped Salaar's cheek who remained still. Yamina's eyes moved towards Sofia and she gave her a teary smile before embracing her too. Unlike Salaar Sofia wrapped her arms around her mother― clung to her and cried in her shoulder. She had missed her no matter what she did, Sofia could never hate her mother. 

But she still needed her answers thus she pulled back and wiped her tears.

"We're not back for you." Salaar said curtly. Sofia sniffed and moved to her brother's side, "I want answers. Why? Why did you do it?!" He hissed, stepped forward. Sofia grasped his sleeve and stopped him. He stopped but didn't remove his fierce glare from her face. 

"We should go inside." Sofia suggested, they couldn't have a talk at the threshold of the house. Salaar gave her a cold eye and clenched his teeth.

"I am not stepping a foot in this place." He stated firmly, "We don't know either she has any answer or she just did it out of fun!" He snapped. Yamina flinched and looked at her son with hurt.

"Salaar we can't keep standing out. It's not appropriate." She softly said. Salaar seethed in anger and stormed inside the house. 

"Now we're inside." He said, clenching his teeth. Sofia looked at her mother and then swallowed.

"Why did you do it mother?" Sofia questioned, seeing that only hurtful things would come out of Salaar's mouth. Yamina scrunched up her face in hurt and ran a hand over her feature. Her hands were trembling, Sofia noticed.

"I — I was trying to keep you safe Sof-"

"No! Why did you run away from him mom? Why? Why did you make us believe that our father was another man. Did you not think about me for a second? Why did you do it to dad?!" Sofia was exasperated. She wanted answers and she wanted them now. Salaar glared at his mother and Sofia knew that eventually she would forgive her mother but Salaar would never forget it.

"He is dangerous Sofia but I - I know that's no excuse..." She sniffed and wiped the silent tears from her cheeks. "It was me who was terrified of him. You — you didn't deserve what we did."

"Damn straight we didn't!" Salaar snapped. Yamina pressed her lips together and sat down on the couch, her children following reluctantly.

"Did he hurt us? My actual dad — did he hurt you or us?" Sofia asked. Yamina cupped her face in both of her hands as her elbows rested on her knees. She shook her head,

"No he—"

"Then WHY?!" It was Salaar who screamed. He was running out of patience. Even Sofia's hand on his arm didn't calm him, he yanked himself out of her touch and seethed, "You left him it was your life, your choice I understand that. But why us?!" He yelled. "You took everything from us, not just our father but our identity — everything! We are not Salaar and Sofia! What were our names before you stole us?!" Sofia gulped the lump in her throat.

"All my life I have looked up to single person — the person who was supposed to be my father! I followed his steps when I should have followed someone else's. You wrecked Alexie Ivanshov! He was deprived of his children for twenty years! What did he ever do to you?!" He yelled, all the pain and hurt was visible in his voice. Sofia wiped her tear and walked towards him.

"Salaar please..."

"Please what Sofia? Am I supposed to go back to the person who is my actual father or should I thank Suleman Yamani for taking care of me even though I do not have his blood in my veins!" He breathed heavily. His body shuddered as he blinked repeatedly. That is what Sofia thought! She didn't know what to do.

"I was scared—"

"We all are scared at some point in our lives. Sofia was an infant - I saw it! He loved her! His own daughter and he never hurt her. I don't see the reason for why you did what you did." He shook his head. 

"Salaar!" She sobbed, staring at her son helplessly, "Please forgive me. You can be angry with me, don't look at me, you can even go see Alexie but please for —"

"Oh I will see him. I will go and give him the rights of being a father that you stole from him and put them in the hands of another person!" Sofia sucked in a sharp breath at his confession. He was willing to go and talk with Alexie. Oh God! "My whole life has been a lie! You bound us to Ayla and Xander, based on lies! You told them we were the children of Suleman Yamani. It's you who is responsible for everything!" He snapped.

"I know." Yamina cried, "I was scared and a new revert! I was frightened of him Salaar please do understand me son!" She cried, "You think this all has no effect on Suleman? He is devastated Salaar! He has treated you both like his own children and now you're both just gone." She cried.

"I am not angry at dad. He has nothing to be devastated about because he is still a father figure to me if not my father!" Salaar's voice trembled and his eyes glistened. Sofia blinked her tears back and nodded, she felt the same way. Sometimes she wished she didn't know about the truth! That way nobody would have been hurt.

"Please forgive me Salaar..."

"Okay I will forgive you." He stated. Yamina's eyes lit up as she stared at him hopefully.

"I a —"

"Only if you give me my real identity back! The father I was supposed to look up to!" He hissed. Yamina gaped at him and shook her head, tears falling out of her eyes. Sofia swallowed and stopped Salaar by placing her hand on his arm and pulled him back.

"Yamina what is this —" She felt his body stiffening at the voice and Sofia sucked in a breath too. Shivers ran down her spine as she looked at her father, standing at the top of the staircase. She swallowed and looked at Salaar who had a torn look on his face. He grabbed Sofia's hand, turned around and started walking out of the house. Yamina didn't call him back because she knew she didn't deserve them and it was karma having its revenge. What she did to Alexie was happening to her now.

*

Salah slipped his hands inside his pockets, an empty feeling settled in his stomach as he gazed at the woman giving instructions to her servant. Her long black hair cascaded down her back like raven wings and he was tempted to run his hands through them. As soon as the thought came, he cursed himself and stepped back in to the shadows.

Soniya was leaving today and in no time they would forget each other. Well, he wouldn't. He didn't know why the heck he was so obsessed over seeing her to the airport even if he had to follow her like a creep. Maybe it was because she knew his secret and he didn't trust her? Yeah it must be that.

The tyre of her car had flattened on the highway and Salah barely had any time to pull up his car at the edge of the forest out of her sight. She would throw a fit if she knew he was following and currently he was tempted to go and take her back to the estate. Fuck me! This witch has some kind of magic - that must be the reason for my craziness. Maybe that's why Xander had never been rude to her even when she was the reason of his anger all the time.

Soniya slid off her shades and rested them on top of her head. Surprisingly she was wearing a long maxi dress instead of her skinny jeans and tight ass top. He clenched his teeth at the thought and cursed himself once again. Screw her! She can go to Mars for all I care! 

He glared at the wench and turned around to go back to his car. Why should he care where she was going. Remember that one time when she pasted the ads of your naked baby pictures all around the campus in last year of college? And if you have forgotten then you must remember that one time when she keyed your car? Or maybe that one time when ― okay...

He had hated her the very moment her father struck the deal with his father and she got in to same college as him. Bloody witch!

Why should he care? Pshh! He didn't.

He was lost in his thoughts about to go back but out of nowhere, he noticed the sharp turn that a van took before it abruptly stopped in front of Soniya. Salah, placed his hand on his gun that was tucked in his waistband, his eyes wide as he stared at the men that got out of the car. Salah was still panicking, not knowing whether he should approach or not when one of them grabbed her arm and pushed her against the car door, another one grabbing hold of her driver. Soniya screamed and that's when Salah knew that he needed to load his gun.

*