Alex's POVI didn't know what I was feeling at the moment as I ran after Max. There was pain, there was anger, so much anger but the dominant feeling was fear.Fucking hell, I was terrified.So terrified of losing him. I did everything so I won't have to lose him, so I won't have to stand and have him look at me the way he did. Heartbroken, like I betrayed him, made him live in a lie his whole life.He looked at me, like I once looked at my own father, but I wasn't him, I am nothing like him. I was only trying to protect him, to protect them both from this truth and every fucked up thing it will bring along with it.I couldn't begin to understand Lilly and how she figured it all out. I was too angry to even fathom a single thought. My hand grasped his arm from the back, "Max, wait," I said and he snatched his arm back, "You can't go like this, you need to hear me out," I pleaded out and his bewildered eyes fell on me, eyes that looked so much like Nikolas's at the moment.The hurt in
Lilly's POVEverywhere ached. Everything. My brain, my heart, my anxious stomach, and even my face.I swallowed down my tears and gathered enough power and knocked on the door. A few seconds in and Chase opened it, "Hey," I said, my voice hoarse from how much I cried today, "I...uh...I asked your mother to give me your address, I just want to see if Max is here?"He nodded, "Yes, he's inside, come in," He said and gave me space to enter."Thank you," I mumbled lowly as I made my way into the house. The home she was probably talking about. I hoped with everything in me that she wouldn't be here now, I just want to see my brother, that's all. I don't have the energy to deal with anyone else.I stood in the hallway, confused about where to go. My eyes fell back on Chase as he came to a stop beside me, "It took a lot of convincing to drag him here with me," He said and pointed at one of the rooms, "He is in there, he said he wanted to be alone."I nodded and before I could go there, I poi
Alex's POVI couldn't wait any longer. I wanted to give Max space to think things through, to make sense of the new information but I couldn't hold it in any longer. Chase texted me that he took Max to his place and even though it's too late now, I found myself there. I just wanted to see him and just make sure he is okay."He fell asleep," Chase said when he let me into his apartment. I nodded, "I am just gonna see him, that's all," I mumbled and he nodded, before he led my way to the room.My fingers curled over the knob and with a deep breath, I carefully let the door open before I stepped inside. I silenced my footsteps as I walked toward the bed and my eyes fell on him. The comforter had fallen to the ground, probably from how much he tossed and turned, the truth hunting his subconsciousness.I pulled it and covered his body before I sat by the bed's edge, Max's back to me and I let my gaze take him in, "How did you grow up so fast?" I mumbled, and a small smile pulled at my lip
I couldn't wait for the sun to come up, so I can take Max and get the hell away from here. I couldn't sleep at all, not after everything going on. My body felt like it was slowly giving up on me with my disregard to what it needs, from food to at least some rest.I don't know what happened last night between them, whether she stayed here, or if she left, all I know is that I didn't see Chase's face after. On hesitant steps, I left his room, my eyes carefully drifting around, the last thing I want is to run into her.The moment I was about to knock on the room Max is sleeping in, the door opened and I almost bumped into him, "You're also awake?" I asked, keeping my voice low on purpose.He nodded, "I woke up hours ago," he said and I urgently added, "Let's get out of here."His eyebrows pulled closer, "To where?"I shrugged, "Anywhere, just not here," I don't want to stay where I am not welcomed and I am not leaving Max alone.He nodded, "But, I wanna go home," He said, "I want to talk
Lilly's POVMy whole life crashes right in front of my eyes as Max mutters that word out loud.My eyes only focused on my mother, my heart rapidly breaking in my chest in a way I've never experienced before and I know that this...this would leave a permanent scar forever.The woman who raised me, who scolded me when I was wrong, who stood by my side when I was right, who supported me when I needed her to, who held my hand and guided me through life, who was just so strong and happy and full of life...I never thought that woman could've gone through something like that.I couldn't think of her as someone who was once broken, abused, and hurt.It didn't make sense.Every explanation, every scenario went through my head when Christian showed me the truth about Max, but this...this could've never crossed my head in a million years. This was not an option.It can't be.It just can't be!Oh my god, what did I do?She shook her head, her teary devastated eyes on Max, and she stood in front o
Max's POV Everything changed.Every fucking thing. Cold slipped through my veins, the words I heard slammed me. One by one, they struck me, battered and beat my mind, like an everlasting penalty, to pay for a crime I didn't commit.I rode down the streets, searching. For what, I didn't know.My fingers tightened over the steering wheel. A shuddered breath burned as I drew it in, my lungs pressing against my ribs, and I replayed everything in my mind, from the very start. From my first memory, up till this day.I know my parents loved me, they never had me doubting otherwise. They didn't need to reassure me, but the thing is, my confidence is slowly being destroyed, my beliefs, in myself, and in those around me are rapidly fluttering due to this.I remember reading a psychology book that said deviant behavior was genetic, and now I worry whether that evil is embedded in my genes. Whether people could tell, somehow, that I'd been created from violence...that maybe one day, I'd be just
Alex's POV"Where are you going?" Cara asked when she saw me putting my jacket on."I don't know," I said, shaking my head, "I have to find him, I will search everywhere, I will go to the campus, I'll call his friends, anything, I need to find him."Something doesn't feel right. I have to see him, make sure he is okay, get him back home, and talk to him about everything else.She nodded, agreeing, "Okay, tell me if you find him, please." She said and my eyes fell on hers, on the redness under them, on the devastation that I haven't seen in so long.I inched closer, my hand rested over her cheek, "I will, cupcakes," I said, leaning closer, I left a kiss over her forehead.I grabbed my keys, my phone and hopped into the car. I started the engine and took off on the road. I had called him a million times since he left, but he didn't answer. As I wandered the streets, I called each and every friend he has, but none of them had seen him nor heard from him.Worry pressed harder and tighter
Three days later...Alex's POVNerve-racking. This wait has been the worst wait of my whole life. My nerves breaking down with every passing second and minute.Cara's state hasn't been any better. I've spent the past three days trying to get her to eat and rest but she was beyond thinking logically. I couldn't blame her. They have been keeping Max in intensive care, trying to stabilize his state and they wouldn't even let us see him, which only worsened the situation.I wanted to let the anger consume me like it once did, get out of here and search for whoever did this, but I wasn't going to repeat mistakes I made years ago. I stayed here, by my wife's side, and waited for my son to get better and I let that job...for those who can handle it better.I am going to find who did this and death wouldn't be a sentence I will give them. No, nothing I ever did before will measure up to what I will do for who dared lay a hand on my son and threaten his life and health this way.Ashton, Kathe
Three days later...Alex's POVNerve-racking. This wait has been the worst wait of my whole life. My nerves breaking down with every passing second and minute.Cara's state hasn't been any better. I've spent the past three days trying to get her to eat and rest but she was beyond thinking logically. I couldn't blame her. They have been keeping Max in intensive care, trying to stabilize his state and they wouldn't even let us see him, which only worsened the situation.I wanted to let the anger consume me like it once did, get out of here and search for whoever did this, but I wasn't going to repeat mistakes I made years ago. I stayed here, by my wife's side, and waited for my son to get better and I let that job...for those who can handle it better.I am going to find who did this and death wouldn't be a sentence I will give them. No, nothing I ever did before will measure up to what I will do for who dared lay a hand on my son and threaten his life and health this way.Ashton, Kathe
Alex's POV"Where are you going?" Cara asked when she saw me putting my jacket on."I don't know," I said, shaking my head, "I have to find him, I will search everywhere, I will go to the campus, I'll call his friends, anything, I need to find him."Something doesn't feel right. I have to see him, make sure he is okay, get him back home, and talk to him about everything else.She nodded, agreeing, "Okay, tell me if you find him, please." She said and my eyes fell on hers, on the redness under them, on the devastation that I haven't seen in so long.I inched closer, my hand rested over her cheek, "I will, cupcakes," I said, leaning closer, I left a kiss over her forehead.I grabbed my keys, my phone and hopped into the car. I started the engine and took off on the road. I had called him a million times since he left, but he didn't answer. As I wandered the streets, I called each and every friend he has, but none of them had seen him nor heard from him.Worry pressed harder and tighter
Max's POV Everything changed.Every fucking thing. Cold slipped through my veins, the words I heard slammed me. One by one, they struck me, battered and beat my mind, like an everlasting penalty, to pay for a crime I didn't commit.I rode down the streets, searching. For what, I didn't know.My fingers tightened over the steering wheel. A shuddered breath burned as I drew it in, my lungs pressing against my ribs, and I replayed everything in my mind, from the very start. From my first memory, up till this day.I know my parents loved me, they never had me doubting otherwise. They didn't need to reassure me, but the thing is, my confidence is slowly being destroyed, my beliefs, in myself, and in those around me are rapidly fluttering due to this.I remember reading a psychology book that said deviant behavior was genetic, and now I worry whether that evil is embedded in my genes. Whether people could tell, somehow, that I'd been created from violence...that maybe one day, I'd be just
Lilly's POVMy whole life crashes right in front of my eyes as Max mutters that word out loud.My eyes only focused on my mother, my heart rapidly breaking in my chest in a way I've never experienced before and I know that this...this would leave a permanent scar forever.The woman who raised me, who scolded me when I was wrong, who stood by my side when I was right, who supported me when I needed her to, who held my hand and guided me through life, who was just so strong and happy and full of life...I never thought that woman could've gone through something like that.I couldn't think of her as someone who was once broken, abused, and hurt.It didn't make sense.Every explanation, every scenario went through my head when Christian showed me the truth about Max, but this...this could've never crossed my head in a million years. This was not an option.It can't be.It just can't be!Oh my god, what did I do?She shook her head, her teary devastated eyes on Max, and she stood in front o
I couldn't wait for the sun to come up, so I can take Max and get the hell away from here. I couldn't sleep at all, not after everything going on. My body felt like it was slowly giving up on me with my disregard to what it needs, from food to at least some rest.I don't know what happened last night between them, whether she stayed here, or if she left, all I know is that I didn't see Chase's face after. On hesitant steps, I left his room, my eyes carefully drifting around, the last thing I want is to run into her.The moment I was about to knock on the room Max is sleeping in, the door opened and I almost bumped into him, "You're also awake?" I asked, keeping my voice low on purpose.He nodded, "I woke up hours ago," he said and I urgently added, "Let's get out of here."His eyebrows pulled closer, "To where?"I shrugged, "Anywhere, just not here," I don't want to stay where I am not welcomed and I am not leaving Max alone.He nodded, "But, I wanna go home," He said, "I want to talk
Alex's POVI couldn't wait any longer. I wanted to give Max space to think things through, to make sense of the new information but I couldn't hold it in any longer. Chase texted me that he took Max to his place and even though it's too late now, I found myself there. I just wanted to see him and just make sure he is okay."He fell asleep," Chase said when he let me into his apartment. I nodded, "I am just gonna see him, that's all," I mumbled and he nodded, before he led my way to the room.My fingers curled over the knob and with a deep breath, I carefully let the door open before I stepped inside. I silenced my footsteps as I walked toward the bed and my eyes fell on him. The comforter had fallen to the ground, probably from how much he tossed and turned, the truth hunting his subconsciousness.I pulled it and covered his body before I sat by the bed's edge, Max's back to me and I let my gaze take him in, "How did you grow up so fast?" I mumbled, and a small smile pulled at my lip
Lilly's POVEverywhere ached. Everything. My brain, my heart, my anxious stomach, and even my face.I swallowed down my tears and gathered enough power and knocked on the door. A few seconds in and Chase opened it, "Hey," I said, my voice hoarse from how much I cried today, "I...uh...I asked your mother to give me your address, I just want to see if Max is here?"He nodded, "Yes, he's inside, come in," He said and gave me space to enter."Thank you," I mumbled lowly as I made my way into the house. The home she was probably talking about. I hoped with everything in me that she wouldn't be here now, I just want to see my brother, that's all. I don't have the energy to deal with anyone else.I stood in the hallway, confused about where to go. My eyes fell back on Chase as he came to a stop beside me, "It took a lot of convincing to drag him here with me," He said and pointed at one of the rooms, "He is in there, he said he wanted to be alone."I nodded and before I could go there, I poi
Alex's POVI didn't know what I was feeling at the moment as I ran after Max. There was pain, there was anger, so much anger but the dominant feeling was fear.Fucking hell, I was terrified.So terrified of losing him. I did everything so I won't have to lose him, so I won't have to stand and have him look at me the way he did. Heartbroken, like I betrayed him, made him live in a lie his whole life.He looked at me, like I once looked at my own father, but I wasn't him, I am nothing like him. I was only trying to protect him, to protect them both from this truth and every fucked up thing it will bring along with it.I couldn't begin to understand Lilly and how she figured it all out. I was too angry to even fathom a single thought. My hand grasped his arm from the back, "Max, wait," I said and he snatched his arm back, "You can't go like this, you need to hear me out," I pleaded out and his bewildered eyes fell on me, eyes that looked so much like Nikolas's at the moment.The hurt in
Lilly's POVBetrayed. Hurt. Tired.So very tired.Real physical pain pressed over my chest as I stared at the man and the woman who gave me life, the ones I loved more than anything, the ones I trusted with everything in me.I trusted them enough to not break my heart.But, they did.Christian's betrayal, his whole lies for the past two years weighted nothing in front of this.Because it hurts ten times more when it comes from those you never thought would hurt you.My heart broke once again as the videos I watched over and over, played behind my eyes, "You're a liar," An anger so big clouded my senses, and that anger made me hate him at the moment, "And you're...you're a killer, dad!"The look that flashed in his eyes only proved that I was telling the truth, that after all those years, he got caught. Anger, shock, and a flicker of fear intertwined within the brown of his eyes, the ones that are just like mine, the ones that once were my home, my safe place, and my comfort.He took a