Hollywood Zenith

Samuel opened his eyes and felt perfectly fine; his mind was also clear, and the dizziness that day was completely gone.

He felt a little groggy after waking up. Apollo had informed him that he had been asleep for nearly a week. But something was strange; both his arms felt warm and heavy.

He looked to find Hannah sleeping while holding his arm on the other side, and he was surprised to see that it was Adele. When did she get here?

" They must have waited for a long time. They look exhausted." He thought. He didn't want to disturb them, but his little movement woke Adele up. They locked eyes together, which made her sit up in an instant.

" Hi, When did you get here?" Samuel didn't know what to say, so he started with a simple question.

" On the day of your surgery, A-are you f-feeling okay?" She asked.

" Wait, why am I getting flustered?" Adele thought.

" Yeah, sorry that I made you worry," Samuel said with a smile. Hannah also woke up, and she was surprised to see Samuel.

"I-"

" Brother! Are you okay? Does it still hurt? Brother-" Samuel simply brushed her hair to calm her down.

" I am sorry. You had to see that." As soon as he said that, Hannah's eyes began to swell up.

" Awaa, B-brother, I was so worried. I t-thought you will a-also leave like siste-er Elise." She jumped on the bed and held him tightly, refusing to let him go. She still remembers the day when she almost lost him in front of her eyes.

" I will not go anywhere, I promise. I will be here to protect you, always. Ok," Samuel began to console her, which seemed to work, but she still clung to him. It went on for a few minutes to calm her down.

" She never left your side. Even at night, she always slept by your side." Adele said. She was also worried, but it was embarrassing to say it out loud.

" I thought I heard a commotion inside, you finally woke up, and it looks like you are enjoying yourself." Iblis entered the room and looked toward Samuel.

" Is that something you should say to a bedridden person?" Samuel asked. He didn't understand why she was being hostile.

" All I can see is a boy and girl holding hands. Isn't it bold of you to do that in front of your fiancée?"

" Ah!" Adele didn't realize it but was still holding Samuel's hand.

" Big sister? Is it wrong to hold hands?" Hannah, who was still in Samuel's embrace, asked. She, too, was holding his hand a few moments ago.

" What? No, For our cute Hannah, it is fine. Just remember to stay away from strangers." All of a sudden, It turned into a children's lecture.

" Adele, please move over here." After dispelling Hannah's confusion, she again focused on Adele. Adele followed her orders like a meek cat; she was quite embarrassed because she felt she had done something wrong.

" Adele"

" Yes."

" Adele"

" Yes."

" Adele"

" Yes?"

Samuel noticed Iblis blushing; it was the same for Adele, but she held her head down, readying herself for Iblis's next words. Did she want to confess or something? He often saw a similar situation when he watched Korean dramas with Aunt Eun-ja.*

" Um, If it is something private. You could do that in that room. I am sure you will feel comfortable there." Samuel decided to break the cycle. Although he was in the same boat, he was confident because of his strong mentality.

" No, I also want you to hear this. Adele." Iblis paused and hugged Adele tightly; this way, she didn't have to face her directly.

" I never wanted to push you away or betray your trust. I am quite ashamed, but I don't want to repeat that mistake again, even for my family or that Idiot. I want you to be my friend again."

" Huh?"

" Huh?"

" We never stopped being friends; what are you talking about?" Adele asked.

" Eh? But I have tried to contact you, but you have yet to reply. I thought you were mad at me."

" I never heard about it. I thought you were abroad with your mother because of her treatment." Iblis was shocked to hear her reply.

" Ah!" Samuel exclaimed. It looked like he figured it out.

""What?""

" I might know the reason for it," Samuel explained what he told Adele's mother, Penny. Adele was surprised that her mother was the person who kept it from her.

" I don't know if I can believe you. My mother would not do such a thing."

" You would be surprised to know to what extent a parent will protect their children."

" It makes sense. She must think it was best for you. I am also sorry you had to find it out this way." Iblis said. Adele must have taken the engagement news pretty badly.

" Don't look at me that way, I was mad at that time, but I understand now. I was living in a delusion; how can someone like me-"

" Stop! You should never think like that; I already told you that countless times."

" But-"

" You are too good for that idiot. Besides, I have heard rumors that he has been charming other girls at the studio." Iblis whispered in Adele's ears.

" What? Is that true?" Adele exclaimed but quieted down to match Iblis's tone.

" Yes, I don't think I will be enough to keep him straight. . I am just afraid he will not stop if we don't work together. I will certainly need my 'partner.'" Adele smiled, and they shook hands. They made a secret pact.

Samuel heard everything; it alarmed him greatly because they were putting him in a strange light. He also didn't refute them; it was not normal for an average person to have his supernatural hearing.

" I don't like where this is going. Also, I am not the lecherous person they make me be." He thought.

" Oh, that's quite a good development. People really can never avoid their 'destiny.'" He heard a voice that he was not expected to attend.

" Master? You are saying weird stuff again, but I clearly remember you mentioning it." He said in his mind.

" But it is the truth, wasn't one of your titles 'Harem King'? You already have two in that category; if that's not destiny, then I don't know what is."

" Hah, I refuse to accept such a thing!"

" Oh, You will because I know you can't ignore such a thing."

" Master, If you are implying I am a pushover, I will tell you I am not!"

" It's not like that; the world is a strange place. I know you don't want to make anyone sad, but the straightforward solution is sometimes the best. Besides, if you want your decision to be respected, you have to respect others' choices too."

" I see."

" Also, a 'king' had to spread his seeds to leave behind a legacy before ascending to 'Godhood.'"

" Don't tell me-"

" Yes, that's how magic came to be before ascension; if I recall correctly, he had thousands of children? Now, after countless years, it has spread globally."

" Thousands? Isn't that an exaggeration? Besides, one can become a God?"

" It's not possible for your case. Those were different times; I am only telling you this to make you understand."

" Wait! That's not a conversation you should be having with a kid."

" Kid? I don't see it anywhere."

" Wah, I will not hear it. Please, stop putting weird thoughts in my brain." Samuel began to thrash around to get away from the conversation.