ALICE'S POV
“ Nothing... ” I lied nervously, before moving towards him and then past him to leave the study room.
He did not seem like he knew I was going through the album or I even saw the picture. Maybe, he got that picture when he was running the background check on me.The picture was from the time I went to Maldives five years ago. I was sitting at the shore all alone, while I watched the breath-taking sparkling water. It was at night that everyone decided to sneak away and go to the Vaadhoo Island. It's a beautiful and faded memory, as I think back to it now, but the night was not entirely pleasant as I recall it.It was lonely and scary.Sighing, I went to the dining room and sat down on one of the chairs still thinking about it.Damien knew everything about me. Everything.
He knew about things even I could not remember anymore. It was scary how past always stuck to us.ALICE'S POV His body tensed up and he froze altogether while I broke out of my trance, realizing what I had done. I pulled my hand back, my eyes going wide at my own actions. “ I will call you later Alder. ” Damien hung up on the call and sighed out, his shoulders moving up and down as he did it. I gulped my saliva and glanced at my hand, that was still hanging in the air close enough to be able to touch him, by crossing just the distance of a finger. I did not know what took over me, when I crossed that finger's distance and touched the scar again. This must have hurt. Badly. More than I could ever imagine. A lump started forming in my throat. I felt hurt not for myself, but for him. I was unable to understand this connection between me and Damien. My fingers slowly slid down his back, tracing the long scar with my eyes taking in the sight before me. “ Alice. ” There was a clear warning in his voice, a
ALICE'S POV “ Alice. ” Damien's soft voice woke me up. Blinking my eyes open, I stared at him confused at what he was doing sitting on his toes in front of me. “ What happened? ” I croaked out and glanced down to find myself dressed in one of his shirts again. I sure slept like a dead body when he was around. Lifting my gaze, I met his steely grey orbs and a bad feeling made my head hurt instantly. His eyes were cold just like his expressions, but there was just a feeling telling me that there was something wrong. “ Get dressed. Alder is here to take you back. ” He sighed, his eyes boring into mine. A wave of shock hit me hard. It was just last night that he was hellbound on not letting me go then what changed now? I thought we had some sort of moment right there. I could feel it. “ What happened Damien? ” I asked again, pushing myself in a sitting position. Damien was still on his toes, his eyes follow
ALICE'S POV“ You have to come with me Alice. ” Hayes grabbed my wrist, his eyes still staring at Jonas Lincoln warily. Before he could start pulling me along with him, Damien came and held my other hand. I snapped my head back at him to find him glaring at Hayes. For a moment, I was dumbfounded. I failed to understand what was even happening. Hayes wanted to take me somewhere and he was angry at Jonas Lincoln for some reason. Damien was furious at Hayes and he did not want me to go with him. Now, he finally decided to look my way. And Jonas Lincoln, he was just watching me trapped between these two idiots. “ You can't go with him. ” Damien ordered me again and my newly activated stubborn side decided, that I would not listen to him as long as he was so demanding and pushy. Damien needed to understand that I was not bound to him anymore. I could do what
ALICE'S POV “ Tell me Mom. ” I urged her to get it over with already. I was tired of all these secrets. Leaving my hands, she averted her eyes away from me and fixed them in front of us instead. I followed her line of sight and my eyes landed on our family photo hanged on the wall. A lump formed in my throat when my eyes stopped at my father's smiling face. Happy times. There were happy times too. “ Jonas Lincoln and I studied in the same college. He was not this rich then. ” Mom's voice caught my attention and I turned my head to look at her side profile. Was she going to tell me how she cheated on my father now? “ We were friends. ” She added and turned to look if I was paying attention to her. “ We were just friends. ” She repeated her words, detecting the anger in my eyes that was directed at her. I kept my mouth shut wanting for he
ALICE'S POV My head was hurting while Hayes observed me the whole drive back to Jonas Lincoln's house. “ You shouldn't be here Alice. ” He had spoken up when I was about to get down from the car. “ I shouldn't be anywhere. ” I had replied before I left him behind. My feet took me inside. Mom's words were like a nail getting hammered inside my head. If I was not so numb and dead inside, I might really be dead by now. When I made my way to the living room, I heard some sounds coming from inside. I stopped just across the wall to listen in. “ HOW COULD YOU BRING HER WITH YOU DAD?! ” It was Madison who was screaming at Jonas Lincoln. “ AND HOW COULD YOU GIVE HER HALF OF YOUR ASSETS?! ” She sounded like she was crying while she yelled at Jonas Lincoln on the top of her lungs. “ She is my daughter. ” Jonas Lincoln's answer came shortly and I felt like my legs were weak. How could he say it? I was not
ALICE'S POV Picking up the call, I placed the phone beside my right ear while my eyes were fixed at the small cabin in the distance. “ Why are you not in Lincoln Villa? ” His deep voice that resonated through the speaker, made me gulp. Always so straightforward. No greeting. No hi, hey, hello. Just why I was not where he left me. “ I have some things to do. ” I replied nonchalantly, noticing the movement in the distance. The cabin's lights were turned on and then Jonas Lincoln walked out of there to go to the forest. Why was he going there? I frowned, feeling confused. “ What things? ” His voice sounded in my ear, but I was too busy in keeping an eye on Jonas Lincoln. “ What things Alice?! ” He repeated the same question with an animalistic growl, making me shudder. He called me Alice whenever he was serious or angry.
DAMIEN'S POV Her voice made me sure that there was something wrong with her. I came to take her with me, to send her somewhere safe. I came to Lincoln Villa but she was not here. I wanted to tell her things - important things. It was all my fault. I should not have stopped keeping an eye on her, while I was busy dealing with everything after my father's death. Then there was Madison too. But in this moment, I only felt scared. For Alice. “ Trace the phone number's location. ” I had asked Alder right after she hanged up. Calling her would only waste my time, because I knew she was not going to pick up now. ' Find me in time Damien. ' Her words kept echoing in my ears and I was hellbound on finding her in time. I had to find her in time. Just as Alder got the address, we both set out to reach there. The drive was awfully long. We were in a forest now.
ALICE'S POV Just as I opened my eyes, I found Damien by my side. Once again, he was there when I was at my worst. This made me realize I was still alive. What a stupid realization. Ofcourse, I was alive. That was why I could feel his gentle touch on my hand. And like all the emotions decided that they wanted to turn this worse moment into the absolute worst, I started crying. I cried and thrashed and screamed and cried some more until Damien had to hold me down. I did not know why I was feeling so frustrated once again but I just wanted to cry so I could feel normal again. Or perhaps, I was just so sad because I tried to die and failed to do that too. But whatever it was, I was relieved that I could finally feel everything. From one thing to another, my thoughts kept jumping around making me cry harder. Dad. Mom. Ace. Damien. Jonas Lincoln. I cried
HAYESI stare at the peaceful face of the one woman I have loved dearly throughout my life. Her wounded wrists are wrapped in bandages. She had cut so deep that the doctor said it was a miracle she didn’t cut her veins and I am so fucking grateful for this miracle.She fell unconscious due to blood loss and she is still in my bed, unaware of what’s going around her. I cleaned up her body and dressed her in my clothes to make her smell like me. It’s giving me a sense of calm right now. I want her drenched in my scent so I know she is here and she is mine.Damien took care of Max’s body and that chapter has closed. I didn’t wait to see what was happening. I picked up Madison and left earlier. I brought her straight to my house. On the way, I called Ava to fire all the staff. There was no one I trusted around her anymore. I wanted to be alone with her and keep her safe from all dangers.She hisses softly, breaking my chain of thoughts. Instantly, I cup her face and wait for her to open h
MADISONI don’t know what happened. One moment we were on our way to the psychiatrist and the next moment we were driving away from the route. My suspicions rose and I warned the driver that it was not the right way but he turned around, sprayed something on my face and then everything went black.When I woke up, I was already tied to a chair in some shady place and there was this man before me. My father. Again.Before I could scream or consider it my hallucination, he scratched at his neck and pulled some kind of mask from his face.The face I saw under the mask had my breath hitching in my throat.“ Max? ” I was confused.My eyes lowered to his mask and then his face. It clicked in my head. I was never seeing a ghost. I was only seeing a person impersonating that ghost.“ Damien knows. There is no use in pretending. I caught one of his men spying on me. ” He sighs, sulking in the chair opposite me.All the fear subsides, and after three years, I find the old Madison returning. I ch
MADISONI tried everything I possibly could to make Hayes forgive me. I didn’t think I would fall so madly in love with this one man I avoided my whole life. My love towards Hayes was not about his power, his status, his stature…It was all about him—Hayes, the man who loved me unconditionally all my life.This time, I want to do things right. I wouldn’t have pushed him if I didn’t know he still felt the same way about me. He loves me, it’s enough to make me fight for him. I will be the one putting in all the effort while I expect nothing from him—Just him, nothing else.Things are getting better. He listens to me, lets me stay by his side, and allows me to express my love.But there is this one problem between us. I saw my father again last night. The guard at the door said there was no one he saw. I continue to see my father and it keeps reminding me that I found out who murdered him and did absolutely nothing to avenge his death. Not that I want to avenge a monster like him, but I d
HAYESAs I spend time with her, I notice the obvious changes. She clings to me whenever I get home and we end up having sex. She even tries to cook for me but gets kicked out of the kitchen by Ava.She is trying so fucking hard. It’s impossible for me to not feel it deep in my bones.And as I spend more time with her, the old feelings hit me right in the face multiple times. I can’t ignore her. I can never get over her.If she does prove that she wants to be with me, I won’t be letting her leave from here.Alice was delighted to know this when she called me to ask about Madison’s recovery. That girl is dying to play cupid and glue Madison with me at all costs.‘ Your happiness lies with her. Her happiness lies with you. You two shouldn’t hold back. ’ She chirped and hung up on me three days ago.Her words rang in my ears many times because it was not a lie. I like to believe I got over her and lived happily without her, but it’s a big ass lie.I was yearning to see her every day. I wa
MADISONI wake up to find Hayes lying beside me on the bed, his arm draped over my naked stomach and his face pressed into the pillow.My heart beat quickens when the events of yesterday night start playing before my eyes like a movie.He took me wildly. Against the wall. On the bed. It was almost morning when, after multiple orgasms, he let me go and fell asleep beside me.I never knew he had it in him to go on for so long. The only downside of it was that, we exchanged no words. Just the touch and the burn of the intimacy was all we had between us the whole night.I breathe in and realise I stink of his cum by now. It’s oddly satisfying when it’s supposed to be gross.He still loves me. He doesn’t hate me. The thought is overwhelming.I turn to him and stare at his side profile. His hair are all disheveled. My hand reaches out to the messy puddle of hair. I run my fingers along them and comb them back.“ What are you doing? ” His hoarse voice makes me stop and pull my hand back.H
HAYESWhen I get home, I go straight to her room.“ Please. Can you check again? I am sure he was there. ” Her agitated voice falls on my ears.I sigh, stepping inside and taking in the scene before me. Madison is pacing back and forth while Ava is standing in the corner shooting her weirded out looks.“ What’s wrong? ” I question, announcing my arrival.“ Hayes. ” Madison stops pacing and runs to me.Her hand wraps around my wrist, pulling me in forcefully.“ I — I saw him again. He was outside the main gate. He waved at me. ” She stutters.I peer into her wide eyes. I know who she must be talking about even before having her tell me.I glance at Ava, signalling her to leave the room silently.“ Why is she leaving? Send her to check once more. ” Madison leaps forth, trying to stop Ava.I grip her wrist and tug her back. Ava goes out of the room and doesn’t forget to close the door on her way.“ I went to the garden. I — I was standing close to the door and I suddenly heard the same w
HAYESHow am I going to convince her to stay at my house for a few days? Honestly, I know a lot of ways to do that, but I don’t feel generous enough to be polite.“ You are staying with me until you get your head straight. ” I tell her, barging inside her hospital room.She has been here for a few days already and now, it’s time for her to get discharged. I haven’t really cared for her much in the last few days, in fear that she might figure out that I still love her to moon and back — something like that.“ No way. I am not going anywhere with you. ” She barks back, not even sparing me a glance.I take a deep breath and look her over. She is smoothening out the wrinkles on the white dress she is wearing.Against my better judgment, my heart is drawn towards her and it wants me to march right to her and kiss her until the rest of her rational mind dies as well. After having a taste of her and knowing what it feels like to kiss her, to be above her, under her, inside her…I can’t think
HAYES’ POVSomething is not right. My gut are screaming this at me for quite some time.Doctors came and checked up on Madison. Everything is alright with her and she will be discharged in a week or so.She fell asleep right after the doctors left and I have been watching her closely from that time.First of all, she hit herself in the face and then she ended up in the middle of the road, almost killing herself in the way.She has been repeating somethings lately. Someone broke in, I saw my father, something is not right…Things like that.I do agree with her on this. Something is not right, but it’s not what Madison thinks. I think she needs help and she needs a psychologist. But, it will be a real headache to convince her to see one.I breath in and out, my eyes fixed on her swollen eye. I never thought I would ever see Madison like this. She was str
MADISON’S POVEverything is dark around me and it’s like I can still hear the whistle in this darkness.The sound haunts me and it makes me twist in the invisible restraints bounding me to the darkness.I gasp for air and blink my eyes open. Light blinds me and makes me close my eyes again.Everything hurts, even breathing hurts at this point.Forcing myself, I open my eyes once again. The burn in my eyes is sharp, but I am too scared to close my eyes.“ You are awake. ” The familiar voice and the familiar words give me a sense of deja vu.Inhaling deeply, I turn my head a little at him and find Hayes sitting on the chair placed beside the bed.I blink my eyes at him, unable to understand what’s happening for a moment.‘ Dad…’ I hear the whisper of a memory in my mind and my eyes turn wide.He was the