Chapter 4

Kai walked away to his room, his eyes glancing at the portraits on the wall as he passed by. The stern faces of the Andreyev ancestors seemed to watch him, their eyes following him as he moved. He felt a shiver run down through him as he wondered what they would think if they knew the truth about the family's current situation.

As he entered his room, he closed the door behind him and leaned against it, letting out a deep breath.

He goes to his drawer, taking out a photo. "I thought I already threw this," he says, a hint of surprise in his voice. As he looks at the picture, a wave of nostalgia washes over him. It's a photo of Andrei and the other one, his twin Alexei, and him together in their teenage years. As much as he can remember, they were 14 years old or so.

The photo shows the three of them standing together, arms around each other's shoulders, smiling at the camera. They look carefree and happy. He remembers the day the photo was taken, the laughter and the excitement of being young and invincible.

As he gazes at the photo, he can't help but feel a pang of sadness. Things have changed so much since then. The twins have grown into powerful and complex individuals, each with their own secrets and agendas. And the... other one was missing.

He sighed, putting the photo back inside the drawer. The memories it held were bittersweet, reminding him of the past and the people they used to be.

His phone rings suddenly, shattering the silence of the night. He wonders at this hour who might be calling, and assumes it must be something important as he answers the call. "Hello," he says, his voice low and cautious.

"Kai, come to my cabinet at morning," a deep, authoritative voice says on the other end of the line.

He recognizes the voice immediately - it's Mr. Andreyev, the patriarch of the Andreyev family and the father of Andrei and Alexei, his brother. He feels a surge of curiosity and a hint of trepidation as he responds, "Yes, sir. I'll be there."

Mr. Andreyev's tone is brief and to the point, leaving no room for questions or hesitation. "I expect to see you at 9 am sharp. I need to inform you something."

Kai nods, even though Mr. Andreyev can't see him. "I'll be there, sir," he repeats.

As the line goes dead, Kai is left with more questions than answers. What does Mr. Andreyev want to tell him? Has there been any news about his missing son?

Despite the uncertainty, Kai knows one thing - he can't afford to be late. He sets his alarm for early morning.

With a sense of anticipation and unease, he drifts off to sleep, his alarm set to wake him up for the crucial meeting.

He wasn't able to sleep, despite the late hour. He thinks about the call from Mr. Andreyev, and the upcoming meeting. He didn't feel like sleeping, his body wired with anticipation and unease.

He set up and ran his fingers through his hair, trying to calm his thoughts. The flickering light of the City outside cast shadows on the walls, and the silence was oppressive. He felt like he was waiting for something, but he didn't know what.

As he sat there, he couldn't help but think about the Andreyev family and their complex dynamics. He thought about Andrei and Alexei, their differences and similarities.

The night stretched out before him, long and dark, and he knew he would have to face whatever he was tasked to do, head-on.

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