THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS

Steffan, who had just received a call from Shawn, looked up apologetically at the doctor who was seated across from him in his office.

"I’m afraid we have to reschedule this meeting. Something urgent that requires my immediate attention came up."

"That’s okay Doctor, whenever you are free you can give me a call and I will be back," smiled the junior doctor who had come to discuss some challenging surgical issues with Steffan.

"I will definitely give you a call, and thanks for your understanding," Steffan said, extending his hand for a handshake as the doctor rose up to leave.

After leaving the kindergarten, he had driven straight to the hospital to hand over his schedule to a colleague since he was not in the right frame of mind to work. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

By virtue of the delicate nature of his profession, he couldn’t afford to make mistakes because the tiniest of mistakes could be life threatening which he didn’t want to ever happen.

He knew very well the reason for Shawn’s call and also knew that their encounter today will determine the fate of their years of friendship.

After asking for leave from Dr Sullivan, the chief Surgeon, he left the hospital to the address Shawn had given. It was a well known address where he never expected that he would meet with his best friend.

At the same time Shawn was already headed to Demon Skull.

As he sat behind the wheel, and made several turns through the streets, his mind was filled with different emotions and each turn he took, led him closer to the encounter at the forebodingly named club, Demon Skull.

Even the air in the car was thick with tension, mirroring the weight of the situation. His thoughts swirled between disbelief and a sinking realization of what was at stake, their years of friendship.

He couldn’t bring himself to think of the impact this encounter might have on their lives.

Memories of the years he has spent side by side with Steffan, laughing, confiding, trusting were now clouded by what he had just discovered..

Of all the people to ever betray him, how could it be his best friend? How could he ignore their years of friendship and pursue his wife behind his back?

The very thought of it left a bitter taste in his mouth,

He clenched the steering wheel and the tension in his grip clearly reflected the force of the storm raging within.

At the same time, questions kept running through his mind, questions that needed answers he couldn’t come up with.

At the moment all that kept him sane was the thought of confronting Steffan to demand an explanation, and maybe try to understand if possible why he had crossed such a line.

But amidst the tumult of those emotions, a part of his heart still clung to the hope that there might be a misunderstanding.

Perhaps there was a reason, an explanation that could somehow salvage the bonds of their friendship.

As the enigmatic structure of Demon Skull loomed closer, Shawn took a deep breath, bracing himself for the confrontation that awaited him.

Whatever the outcome, he knew that this meeting would irrevocably alter the course of their relationship one way or another.

With a heavy heart and a mind muddled with a blend of anger, hurt, and apprehension, he parked his car and stepped out,

He knew best why he had chosen a place like Demon Skull for their meeting.

Demon Skull was not merely a club; it was an arena of resolution, a place where disputes were addressed head-on in a boxing ring.

It was a place for the therapeutic release of suppressed emotions.

Although its exterior bore no flashy signage, an eerie glow emitted from the windows hinted at the mysterious world within.

Upon entering, Shawn was immediately enveloped in the mysterious atmosphere surrounding the place.

The interior which exuded an aura of constant darkness, regardless of the hour outside, was dimly lit by a series of flickering crimson and violet lights.

Murals displaying menacing skulls woven with mysterious patterns created unsettling shadows across the walls.

Shawn approached the club’s main attraction, which was the boxing ring. It was strategically positioned at the centre of the hall and the ropes were bathed in a faint light.

The blend of haunting melodies and pulsating beats that resonated through the club added to make the entire space more mysterious.

After changing into a boxing outfit that was readily available for sale, Shawn settled himself on one of the stools .

One of the bartenders, dressed in dark attire like the rest and moving with a mysterious charm, offered him a glass of mixed cocktails that seemed to have an unearthly quality. Shawn drowned it in one go while staring at his watch.

Not long after, Steffan also pulled up at the parking lot of the club.

He didn’t have to search for long as he directly spotted Shawn already changed and waiting for his arrival on a stool at the bar stand.

Without waiting to be told what to do, he directly went straight to the dressing room to change from his work clothes.

A few minutes later he came out clad in a complete boxing outfit.

After having a glass of the same drink that was offered by the bartender, Steffan moved towards the ring, where Shawn was already waiting.

The tension between them was palpable, their faces set in grim determination.

As they ascended the steps leading to the boxing ring, their eyes were fixed on each other, their emotions a whirlwind of anger, hurt, and other inexplicable emotions.

They simultaneously entered the ring but from different directions.

On one end stood Steffan, his stance tight yet conflicted, his eyes a mirror of regret and resolve as it focused on Shawn.

The stark realization of the moment weighed heavily upon him as he prepared to face the consequences of his actions.

In another corner stood Shawn, his muscles taut, jaw clenched and there was a kind of fierce energy in the posture he took.