*****************After Christian took his shower, we went to bed, and almost immediately he fell asleep. He's been working really hard all over the past week, he was pulling on late hours at night to finish working on his project, even tomorrow which is Sunday, he will go to the university, to finish up a few things before his big presentation on Monday comes.So, the moment he placed his head on the pillow, he was a gone case.Me, on the other hand, I couldn't sleep at all. I kept thinking back to today's little incident, something just felt off, but for the love of me, I can't figure it out.Minutes and minutes later and a low groan vibrated from my chest, annoyed at my tired body that won't just rest and sleep.My back was to Christian, pressed right up against his chest and his arm was under me. I smiled again when I stared at his tattoo and finally understood the word written, but still on the inside of his arm and around the word laid different patterns, intertwined together an
Monday"I should head out now," I said as I took the last sip of my martini and placed it down."Oh come on, it's your birthday, stay a bit late," Sally whined, and I only shook my head in return. I checked the time and calculated the time difference between us and LA, "I should head back home, I've got a pretty important call to make.""It's Mr. boyfriend, isn't it?" Sally asked, purposely not mentioning his name in front of our other friends, "I mean you were with him all over the past week," She scoffed, very annoyed, "You already celebrated together, today is supposed to be only ours!"Since I've already celebrated my birthday with Christian, tonight I agreed to Sally's proposition to go out and have some fun, with some of our other girl-friends from class, who also brought their boyfriends. I also asked Noah to join us, so we were not a very little group at the moment.I shook my head, gathering my things into my purse, "It's not Christian," I hissed at her, so no one else would
Lilly's POV"Dad, why did you do that!" I snapped as I rushed forward toward Christian, unable to comprehend what just happened.I expected his anger, but not his violence toward this.Christian whipped the blood from the side of his mouth before his eyes fell back on my dad, the muscles of his jaw worked, "I get how this looks like," He said, taking a step forward toward dad and I pulled at his sleeves as not to get close again, "But I am serious about everything that concerns your daughter."Dad's anger seemed to only multiply, "Serious you say?" He grated out in mockery and pointed at the door, "Get the fuck out of here and stay the hell away from her, or else your jaw isn't the only thing I will be breaking."I felt Christian is about to talk again and defend his intentions, but I pulled at his arm, stopping him, or else dad really won't stop, "Christian, just go," I urged and when his eye fell on me, I silently begged him to leave.I swallowed hard and nodded, silently telling hi
************Lilly' POVHis words had me snapping and I walked out of my hiding, unable to take it anymore.My words had him leaving Christian and turning around, his eyes wide as they fell on me, "Lilly, what the hell are you doing here?" He snapped.I ignored his question and walked forward, "You want to tell the department about him, okay do it, but be sure that I will go and say it's me," I said, "If you're gonna drag his reputation down, you will be dragging mine along with it."I shook my head, "I am not gonna let you do that," I said, "Because, it's my life, whether I am gonna be with him or not, it's my decision and you can't...you just can't keep controlling my life forever!""Lilly, you are driving me insane, what you are doing is wrong, so do-""No, it is not wrong!"Anger and hurt clouded my chest at the way he's dealing with this, "Christian loves me and I love him as well, there is nothing wrong with that!"Dad looked taken aback, so did Christian and that's when I realiz
****************One month later...Chase's POV"You think your dad will accept to be my reference?" Conner asked for the umpteenth time, "I mean I know that he loves me a lot," He added proudly, "You know that he once told me I am like the son he never had."I lowered my shades and turned around, giving him the most unimpressed look. He just rolled his eyes, "Anyways, I really need his reference, this company I am applying for is really big news, if I get accepted, I would do anything you want," The security pressed the card, allowing us to walk inside and I gave him a thank-you nod, "I might even kiss you from happiness."I winced at his words, "No, thank you."He narrowed his eyes at me before we walked into the elevator, "Uh, do you know that..." Conner cleared his throat, "That Lilly is here in LA for the summer?"I looked at him and nodded, "Yeah, my mother mentioned it the other day."His eyebrows pulled closer, as if expecting a bigger reaction, "Do you plan on seeing her?"I
One year later...Lilly's POVI am panicking.So very much panicking.I am in trouble. Big stupid trouble.Fuck.How could I be so damn stupid?My pulse took off a sprint as I stared down at the birth control pack, to see three pills are still left. I am supposed to have finished them all by today, twenty-eight days passed, twenty-eight pills, but no, three are left, which means...Fuck, how did I forget to take it three days in a row?Three freaking days!Jesus, Lilly, how could you be so stupid?I didn't even notice it when it happened.I pulled my phone and with my hand shaking, I checked the calendar, my mind calculating and trying to remember when this must've happened. It had to be about ten days ago, I had my exams and my graduation project presentation, I was so stressed. I usually take the pill first thing in the morning, considering I wasn't sleeping well during that time, I probably just forgot to take them.I am supposed to get my period in the following days, but what if I
The second I opened the door for her, she shot out, "What did he do?" She asked and anger reflected off her eyes, already expecting that he did something.I ushered her to get inside and we sat down as I explained what happened and what he said at the end before he stormed out."Okay, I am gonna tell you something, Lilly," Sally started, her tone very serious, "Something that shows how everything about the way he dealt with this is very wrong."I nodded and she swallowed down hard, preparing herself before she said, "Conner and I kind of had a thing going on," She confessed and I wasn't surprised, "I know, it was kind of obvious, you guys were talking every day."She shook her head, "It's not like that, the summer before he left to uni, one time we were alone and one thing led to another and well," She gave me a knowing look, "We slept together."My eyes grew wide a bit, "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked."Chase had just left and you were not okay, and also Conner and I decided to not
The hardness of his voice and his touch had my wide eyes drifting from my hand that I couldn't move then back to his face, "Christian, you are scaring me," I said, my voice low as I tried to break my arm free of his grip."You're scared?" He scoffed, "You have no idea what real fear feels like, Lilly," The look of pure disgust in his eyes had me gulping down, "Fear is opening the door to see your father's body there, killed in the most inhuman way," My stomach churned at the thought and he added, his voice and rage increasing with each word, "Fear is waking up after one hell of an explosion and not being able to move, for five hours, I couldn't move a muscle as I watched all of my friends there die because your fucking family thought that killing one man was worth burning up the whole damn asylum!"Asylum...explosion...the newspaper I just saw."My family?" I asked, weakly, nothing making sense, nothing.He nodded, "Yes, Lilly, your family," He said, "You see, it took everything in my
Alex's POVMax's shocked eyes stayed focused ahead, he didn't blink, he didn't move; a green storm raged in his gaze as he tried to think, to understand. He froze in the spot, and his chest heaved as he drank in the feedback of this new information.His fingers over my arm twitched, they shook under the impact of everything happening. My chest tightened and I could imagine how he must be feeling, so lost and uncertain. I hated this and everything about it. How wasn't I able to keep this part of our life tucked away from him?Nikolas left, he stayed far away, just so this won't happen. Just so no one would ever connect the dots and figure out which blood was surging through Max's veins. True, it wasn't my blood, but he was still mine. Mine to take care of, mine to protect, mine to help...help him get through this without it leaving a scar.I placed my other hand over his, it felt so cold now, shaking, and I squeezed, bringing him back to me as I called his name, "Max," I mumbled and his
Alex's POVI rubbed an anxious hand over my jaw as I watched him sleep. I know he is okay now, he is getting better but for some reason, I can't shake this worry still. I kept my eyes over his chest, watching it rise and fall, rhythmically.With every breath he took, I released one from my lungs.He went back to sleep right after, too exhausted to keep awake and I forced Cara to take Lilly and go home. I could stay with him tonight. I could watch over him as he sleeps, I can make sure he is fine.Also, I can't be the one left with Lilly all alone. I don't know what to say to her, how to react to all of this just yet. I need time to sort through that maze of thoughts.Max tossed around relentlessly, he moved his head from one side to another before I saw his eyes glide open. I straightened myself into my seat and when he tried to sit down, I got to my feet and immediately to his side, "Is there anything you need?" I asked, my tone urgent, scared he is in pain or something.His eyes fli
Next day...Cara's POVI tightened my hold over his hand, my eyes focused on his face, a small smile over my lips as I watched him sleep and waited for him to wake up. I could finally see him, I could feel him. He is finally okay.I brushed the few strands of his hair away from his forehead and inched closer, pressing a small kiss over his temple. I couldn't wait for him to wake up, for those beautiful eyes of his to look back at me. I couldn't wait for him to talk to me, tell me he is not mad at me anymore that I lied, that I hid the truth.I wanted my little boy back, the one they didn't hurt, the one not holding the weight of the truth over his shoulders. I didn't want that broken look clouding his eyes. I wanted to talk to him, to explain, to make him understand just what he meant to me.Lines creased his forehead and a low groan vibrated from his throat before his eyelids slowly glided open, he blinked tiredly before he closed them again. My heart knocked it up when he opened the
Chase's POVI slammed the door shut behind me with a loud thud, the type of anger surging through my veins felt so pointless and misplaced.Why would I be angry, anyway?I rushed a hand over my face and tried to get my rage back in check. God, I am such a fool, yesterday, just yesterday I told her, assured her that we don't stand any chance and I meant it. I think I did, but here I am, feeling the urgent need to break something, to break someone due to the news I just heard.Miscarriage.Pregnant, she was pregnant. With his child."Chase?" Aylin's voice had me looking up, her eyes clashed with mine and she smiled almost instantly, "Hey," She said, coming up to my side, before she tiptoed, her arms went around my neck and she sweetly pecked my lips, "God, I missed you so much," She said with a pout.Pregnant.She was pregnant."How is Max?" She asked, fidgeting with the collar of my shirt."He is fine," I mumbled.Was she that serious with him?Was it a mistake?What the hell was it?I
Lilly's POVI blinked my eyes open and winced, the bright white light from above hit my eyes and I pressed them shut again. I lifted my hand and rubbed over my temples; my head, and every nerve in my body aching with tiredness and exhaustion.I felt a hand tighten over mine and I snapped my eyes open again, my head turned to the side and my eyes fell on mom, sitting beside me, on the bed's edge.A small somber smile lifted her lips and her other hand came to my face and tucked my hair behind my ear, "Hey," She said, her voice low.Lines etched between my eyebrows and I looked around, where am I? What happe-Oh no.No.I pulled my upper body up and my gaze flickered back to her, "Mom," I mumbled, my voice breaking almost immediately.She brushed her fingers over my cheek, "How are you feeling?" She asked, looking at me with so much tenderness my heart broke. Her soft voice triggered the tears back, I tried to suppress them in, trying to grasp for control but my emotions betrayed me and
Alex's POVRelief mellowed part of the concern that had clouded my senses all over the past week.I was suffocating under the waves of everything that happened since Lilly stepped into the house and called me a killer; since Max looked at me and told me I am not his dad; since that dreadful incident that almost took him away from me. But now, as the doctor talked, explained how Max is finally okay, how the surgery was successful and the danger on his health is gone; I allowed myself to breathe.But, it didn't last for too long.The second I took the first breath in, one second only and urgent fingers grabbed into my arm, so very tight, as if clinging to life itself.The air I sucked caught into my throat and I whipped my head to the owner of those little soft fingers. My eyes widened when Lilly's balance faltered, her eyes rolled to the back of her head and my arms shot forward, "Lilly!" Her name flew out of my lips in pure terror, it scratched over my throat and fisted over my heart,
Next day...I promised myself that yesterday was the last day I will ever shed a tear. Last day to be weak and vulnerable. Exposed and bare.Last day to let it all out.But as I laid down now, after the operation, waiting for my recovery, with my cheek pressed up against the pillow, my eyes looking through the window, at the blue sky, at the free birds, and at what's alive.I couldn't hold back the one lone tear the silently escaped my eye.That's all. One single tear.I felt a tender hand reach for mine, I turned around, my eyes falling on the nurse, who smiled at me so warmly, "You can leave now, if you want."I nodded, and pulled myself up."Do you feel any pain?" She asked, concerned.I do. But, it's all on the inside.She helped me get up, she even helped me change the gown and wear my clothes. She took pity on me the moment I said I came alone. No one waiting me outside that door, just me, facing and correcting my mistakes on my own.And I took her help, seeking comfort from a s
There is something seriously wrong with my health. So very wrong. Especially in the last two days. It's no longer just signs of being pregnant. I have a feeling it's more.The cramps tightening my stomach can't be normal. They're so painful, ever so slowly ripping at my insides. I couldn't sleep all night, not just worried about Max, like every day, but this immense pain couldn't let me close my eyes for even a mere second.This morning, I found a few blood droplets, and the sight of them had my panic rising to a whole new level. I was so scared, terrified even of what I read when I searched the internet for the signs, so the first thing I did when I got to the hospital was take a blood test and book an appointment with a gynecologist, just right before dad talked to me and got to know almost everything about Christian.Almost everything...He doesn't know about this child that's probably inside of me. I can only imagine his reaction. If he wanted to kill Christian with such a passion
Lilly's POV"What do you mean you didn't find him?"The words and the furiousness that followed them had me snapping my head toward dad's direction as he talked through the phone. My heart seized and panic rushed through my chest as I understood who he must be talking about."Roman, don't make me lose my mind now," He snapped and got to his feet, he rushed a hand over his face, "I don't care...I told you...Roman, I am so gonna kill you," He threatened frustrated as he listened to whatever uncle Roman must've said. He cursed something under his breath, "He is just a fucking professor, where would he hide, huh?"Oh my god...what did I do again?He listened to whatever Roman was saying and his gaze drifted and fell on me, his gaze cautious and calculating, and I couldn't miss the flicker of blame in them, like he knows it's all my fault. I did this again. I gave him the chance to escape; I could swear dad felt it.He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, and his gaze flickered away fr