Cara's POV
I felt my throat burning as I muttered those words, knowing for sure there is no way back now.
I have to give up.
I have to oblige to his orders.
He won.
My dad won.
He is going to take from me the only good thing in my life. I have to go and leave the few people I care about behind.
"You took the right choice." The man whispered beside my ear before releasing me. I directly sank into my knees unable to hold myself.
"Leave him." He ordered the other men. They let go of Alex and walked away with him.
I struggled to my feet and directly ran toward Alex, my heart no longer under my control. I dropped beside him on the ground as he struggled to sit down.
He winced, his hand went to his stomach, a low groan emitted from the back of his throat.
I gasped as I took a look at his shirt, where blood is covering it all. A pile rose in my throat and more tears left my eyes.
He looked at me, his face bloodied and all making my heart constrict harder in my chest.
If I said yes from the beginning, he would've not got hurt.
It's me. It's my fault.
"Are-- you okay ?" He asked, barely even able to let the words out.
I nodded, my tears couldn't stop, he is asking about me when he is the one who got hurt.
He grimaced, his face twisted in pain, I directly looked around, "Where is my phone?" I said as I hysterically started searching for it. I should call 911 immediately.
My mind blocked out and I couldn't make sense of anything. I took a breath and found my phone laying on the ground few meters away.
I directly rushed toward it and dialed them. Telling them the address, I dropped beside Alex again.
I cupped his cheek, my heart aching more with every second ticking by.
"I am sorry." I said, my shoulders shook as I couldn't contain my sobs.
His eyebrows pulled together, he swallowed before talking, "F-for what?" He asked, oblivious that he is now hurt like this because of me.
"For everything." I said, my voice came so low.
He coughed and directly groaned after, oh my god, he is in so much pain.
My gaze traveled to where they stabbed him with the knife. Oh god, there is so much blood.
"You're losing a lot of blood." I said with a panicked tone. I directly inched closer and with my heart beating fast, I pressed my palms over the wound. I should apply pressure to stop the bleeding.
I ignored how my lungs contracted painfully as i heard him groan in pain, i kept my trembling hands over the wound.
I tried to stop my tears, but I couldn't.
How could I when I felt every ounce of pain he is feeling as if that knife penetrated my skin not his.
How could I when my life is literally falling apart and there is nothing, I can do to build it again.
The ambulance didn't take long and immediately came and to that I was grateful, I was afraid he may lose more blood. They took Alex, and we directly went to the hospital.
They entered him to the operation theatre, and I stayed outside waiting.
I convinced myself that he is okay.
That he is safe.
Now he is.
He won't come after him. Not after i gave him the answer he wants.
The ringing of my phone snapped me from my thoughts, i wiped the tears from over my cheek and answered.
"Where are you young woman ? I am waiting for you since like ages." Katherine said with an annoyed tone.
We were about to meet up for some baby-shopping earlier today.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to talk, but I couldn't, my voice failed me, the moment i opened my mouth to say something, the tears started falling again and I couldn't contain the low sob that escaped my lips.
"Cara !" Katherine said in alarm, "What's wrong ?"
I couldn't talk. I don't know what's wrong with me.
"Are you okay?" She asked again, i can sense that she is getting worried.
I sniffled and tried to get a grip over myself. I was never like this, i hate being like this.
"I am." I said, "But- he is not."
"Wha- who ?" Katherine asked bewildered.
"Alex." I said , my voice so low. It is good i am actually able to talk.
"What happened ? Where are you ?" She directly asked. I told her in which hospital we are, she directly said she is coming and hanged up.
I took in a deep breath and laid my head back on the bench.
What's going to happen now ?
Am I going to leave?
Where and why?
What will happen to Alex? What will happen to our child ?
At the thought, my hand involuntary went toward my baby bump. Will i be able to leave him or her ?
I can't. I sure can't.
I got attached to this baby even though I haven't seen him yet. Walking away from him is entirely impossible.
But that means one thing, i will be taking him or her away from Alex.
Taking my baby away from his father.
That doesn't make me any better than him- than my own father.
I shook these thoughts away when i saw the doctor coming out of the operation room.
I directly stood up and walked toward him.
"He is fine." He directly said assuring me, his words removed the large weight from over my chest.
"He is lucky, the knife didn't reach any important organs, and it is good he came here before losing more blood.
Now that we're sure there is no internal bleeding, he should just stay 24 hours under supervision to make sure there is no infection or whatsoever."
I nodded, his words got me more relieved.
"Can I see him ?" I asked, he nodded, "Once they transfer him to a private room you'll be allowed to see him."
I nodded and thanked him, with that he walked away.
After few minutes, the nurse came and informed me which room Alex is staying in. Without wasting a second, I directly went to him.
I opened the door and entered, Alex's head directly snapped toward me, when our eyes met, his lips gave me the most beautiful smile.
I directly walked toward him, feeling my tears threatening to fall.
"Hey." I said with a small smile, trying to not let my voice shake, "How are you feeling ?"
"Better." He said, "I love these hospital gowns." He said looking at himself, "They're so comfortable."
He looked back at me, "Believe me Alex junior down there have never been more comfortable."
I couldn't help my low chuckle due to his words. That's what i love the most about him, he can make me laugh even when my own tears are threatening to fall, even when my inside is about to explode, he knows how to calm it down.
I sat beside him on the bed's edge. My hand acted on its own and went toward the small bandage on his cheek, my heart ached as i traced my hand lightly over it.
They've hurt him really bad.
Why my father is such a monster ?
Probably that's why my mother asked him to leave, probably she realized how dangerous he is. She probably saw this monstrous side of him.
I didn't know my tears actually started falling until i felt Alex's thumb wiping them away.
His eyebrows pulled together, "Shush." He said. I directly inched closer and hugged him tight.
"Cupcakes, don't cry." He said as he ran his hand in my hair, "I am fine, everything is okay."
No, it is not.
I am crying because I know what's to come later. I know i have to leave.
That I may never see you again.
And it's killing me.
I tried to get a grip over my emotions and stop my tears, a knock on the door made me pull away from him.
The door opened and i saw Katherine peeking inside, once she saw us, she immediately entered, Ashton followed behind.
"What happened ?" She said with wide eyes as she looked at Alex then back at me.
"Alex, are you okay ?" She added as she inched closer toward the bed. I directly stood up so I can give them space to talk with him.
"Yup I am fine." Alex said with a smile, "But you know what would make me feel better-" He added, his smile changing into a smirk, "-If you would give me a kiss right here." He said pursing his lips.
I directly shook my head while Katherine shot him a glare. He is always like this, flirting with her, thanks god it is just Katherine, god knows what would've happened if it is some other girl.
Yeah, some tits would've been cut.Huh.
And one tiny dîck too. Huh.
Well if you think about it, it is not that tiny.
Sigh. Yeah, not tiny.
What the hell am I even thinking about ?
Back to reality Cara. Back to reality.
"He is definitely fine." Ashton said with a sigh while Alex just wiggled his eyebrows as he interwind his hands and placed them behind his head.
"You're just jealous that i can easily seduce your wife." Alex said with a shrug.
Ashton mumbled something under his breath while Katherine crossed her arms over her chest, "Seriously now !"
"Well, i think someone really doesn't want me to get pregnant." Alex said ever so-seriously. "First i got shot here then i get stabbed, like seriously what did i do wrong to you people. I can't carry babies now." He said while fake-frowning.
Katherine let out a frustrated sigh while I just shot him a glare. Can he take anything seriously for once ?!
"Did they hit your head or something over there?" Katherine asked raising an eyebrow.
Alex narrowed his eyes , "Ha ha funny."
"You should've seen how I kicked their asses." He said with a confident tone.
"Yeah that's why you ended up in the hospital and they didn't." Katherine said mockingly, Alex frowned at her words and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Really now , what happened ?" Katherine asked again.
"I seriously don't know." Alex said, his tone taking a serious shade, "I got inside the house to get Cara's phone and when i got out, there were all these men, one of them holding Cara back, I directly ran toward her but all the others came into me and well- here i am."
I directly curled my hand into a fist to stop myself from saying anything.
"Who the f*ck are these people ?" Ashton asked, I can say he is getting angry.
Alex shrugged, "I don't know, never saw them before."
"It is obvious that they just wanted to hurt you but why ?" Katherine said with a worried tone. Her eyebrows pulled together as she looked between us.
Ashton's eyes flicked toward me, "Did you know any of them ?" He asked, at his words my body stiffened. I swallowed hard and shook my head , "Uh- no."
I can't tell them. That would put them in danger. I can't risk it.
Them discussing this issue was too much for me to handle, I was afraid I may slip and tell them something, so I directly excused myself to the washroom and went out of the room.
I stepped outside and tried to catch a breath. I ran my hand in my hair and lifted my head up and started walking away.
I stopped dead in my track when I saw him there- standing just few meters away from me.
His eyes met mine and all the pain inside me suddenly was converted into anger.
I gritted my teeth and walked closer to him, "What are you doing here ?" I snapped, my anger taking the best of me.
He ignored my loud and bitter tone, "How is he ?" He asked.
My eyes widened, "How dare you ask ?"
"He is in here because of you !" I said, my voice getting louder. The few people passing us gave me some weird looks.
Well, excuse me, but I can't find it in me to respect him.
"I told you, I didn't want to do this, but you obliged me." He said, his tone so calm. How can he always be so damn calm?
"If you accepted leaving from the beginning, none of this would've happened." He added, his words adding more fuel to my anger.
"Why you want me to leave anyway ?" I asked, "What do you want from me ?"
"Not now, we'll talk about everything in the right time." He simply said.
My suspicion and confusion grew more.
Why he wants me to leave with him ? And To where ?
I know nothing and that scares the hell out of me.
"How long ?" I asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"How long I would be away ? A year, two, three or I don't know maybe -twenty years ?" I asked bitterly.
At my question, he just smiled, he frigging smiled.
God, please give me some patience.
He shook his head, "You're leaving for good." He said, "You won't be able to come back after."
My heart skipped a beat, or maybe two, I don't know. I just felt a weird ache in my chest.
"What?" My voice came as a low whisper. I won't come back.
What's that supposed to mean ?
"I said we'll talk about these things later." He said, "I came to let you know we're leaving tomorrow."
I felt the tears in my eyes again, i shook my head.
"Cara !" He warned and i just shook my head again.
"You said yes, don't change your mind now !" He added, anger flashed in his eyes.
"I didn't change my mind." I said, my voice low, "I will leave on one condition."
He nodded ushering me to continue.
"Give me a week."
He gave me a questioning look in return.
"Just one week, and I’ll leave after." I clarified more as a single tear escaped past my eye.
I need few more days, to stay with them. Few more days before i have to say goodbye.
He didn't argue and nodded his head, "Okay, just one week."
"But-" he said, "-Don't try to be smart and work behind my back."
With a blank face, I said, "Don't worry, I won't."
To be honest, I am so scared to even think of other options.
"What will happen to my child ?" I suddenly asked. At my question his eyes traveled to my baby bump then he directly looked up, something flashed in his eyes, but I wasn't able to catch it.
"What do you mean ?" He asked.
"Will he be in danger ?" I asked what's on mind. I am ready for everything as long no one i love gets hurt, not Alex and not my baby.
He kept silent, he didn't answer making my stomach make weird flips, my anxiousness grew more when his jaw tightened and then looked away.
"You can leave -him with his father." He said not even answering my question.
But I got my answer, nevertheless.
"But I am leaving in a week, and I am still just six months pregnant." I said, the shakiness detectable in my voice.
"When you give birth, we can bring the child back to him." He said, having his answer ready as always.
I didn't know what to think about now. How to act or what i am supposed to do. So I wiped the tears away and tried not to let my voice shake this time as i talked.
"Leave now before anyone sees you." I said with a blank tone.
He nodded and he was about to walk away, but my last words stopped him, "I just want you to know one thing-" I started, he stopped and turned to face me again.
"- You're destroying my life and I will never forgive you for this."
It took every power in me to sound confident as I talked, to keep the blank face and the cold tone.
"I never hated you for leaving, but I sure hate you now for coming back.
I really hate you dad ."
Hurt flashed in his eyes and he looked away, his jaw ticked but he said nothing.
Of course, he has nothing to say.
So, he just turned around and walked away. The only thing he is good at, walking away.
The way he deals with everything, is just like this- by turning his back and running away from it.
My inside broke a bit more, but I actually meant every word I said.
I do hate him.
For making me like him.
I took a deep breath and decided to go back to them, I shouldn't waste any second, I don't have much time.
I turned around ready to walk but directly stopped dead in my track.
A low gasp escaped my lips, my eyes widened a bit and my inside shook with fear.
Fear that what happened between me and my father was witnessed by someone else.
Her eyes told me that she heard something. She gave me that look.
You know, that look.
Oh my god, please tell me she didn't hear anything. She can't know.
My hands trembled at my side, i curled them into a fist as I lowly said, "Katherine."
Cara's POV"Katherine." I said, my voice came low.I was so afraid she heard what we said.Her eyes flicked from me to my Dad's retreating figure, "What was he doing here ?" She asked.Did she hear anything ?Oh god, I hope she didn't.I licked my dry lips; I didn't know what I should say.Should I lie ? Again ? At my silence, her eyebrows pulled together, she inched closer, "I heard you tell him that you hate him." She said, her hand traveled to my arm, "Is he bothering you again?" She added sympathetically.Oh, so she didn't hear everything.I hope so.I shook my head and forced a smile, "It's nothing." I simply said.She probably got that I don't want to talk about it, so instead of asking further she just inched closer and wrapped her arms around me.I hugged her back, my hold tighter than ever as another heartbreaking realization dawned on
Cara's POV We spent the rest of the day at my Mom's house, she even insisted that we should stay the night as well and leave tomorrow.So we did.We didn't talk much about my so called father after that.I wanted to ask more. I didn't get the answers i need yet.But my mom doesn't look like she have them anyway.She was about to prepare the guest room for us when i asked her if my room still the same, she said yes, so i asked her if we could stay there and for sure she accepted.I entered the room, a small smile curved my lips as i notice
Cara's POV "I couldn't sleep without you."It hurts.It shouldn't but it hurts so damn much.You have to get used to it. Alex, you have to get used to continue your whole life without me, not just sleeping.I turned myself in his arms so i can see his face, "Ale-"He raised an eyebrow and directly interrupted me, "We'll discuss it in the morning." He said, "Go back to sleep now."I didn't have the energy in me to argue, so i just nodded and turned around. His hand around me touching my baby bump, I placed mine over his and held it as i closed my eyes and
Cara's POV I laid my head over the bed's headboard, my eyes fixated on the white ceiling above me, my mind still trying to take into everything happening.One week has passed.One week with me away from home.One week but nothing major happened.One week, and no single tear was shed. I think i am doing good, i am holding myself. Good. Great.Once arrived to London, My so-called father took me to this hotel, he left me here and went away, and i hadn't seen him since then.Which is good.
Cara's POVMy wide eyes directly flicked from my father to Roman, I didn't understand anything.This guy is my brother.My real brother.What the-At the moment i finally understood the weird familiarity in his eyes. They're the same as my mothers eyes. His mother as well.Oh my god."But how ? ", My voice was low as i talked, i looked back at my father and shook my head, "This doesn't make sense.""It d
Cara's POVHis words kicked the sense back to my mind. My eyes snapped open, the blood rushed faster in my veins as I directly placed my hand over his chest and angrily pushed him away from me.
Cara's POV"What ?" I asked bewildered, his words took me way off the guard.He averted his gaze away, as if it hurts to look at me, i saw how his hand curled into a fist; he looked different, from the moment he came to my roo
Cara's POV"We're getting married."It is like he knows how much it hurts me, it is like hewantsto hurt me, so he said it with his sadistic smile, just so he can torture me.
Katherine's POV"Here is number one," Alex said as he handed me Lilly.I gave her to Ashton before I turned around and received the second package, "And here is number two," He added as he handed me Max and his bag. The little boy settled between my arms without making any noise. He rested his cheek over my chest as he played with the piece of bread in his tiny hands, chewing on it and making a mess over my clothes and his."Is that all?" I asked, my eyebrow raising and Alex nodded, "As far as I know, I have only two kids," He said, his eyebrows pulling closer in utter terror, "I hope there isn't more of them out there.""We all have our doubts about that," I said and he shot me a glare.His eyes flickered to Max in my arms and they softened right away before he inched closer and kissed his cheek. He ran his hand over the boy's soft hair and Max looked back at him, smiling as he let out that happy baby noise that makes my ovaries explode.I pouted at his cuteness and tightened my arms
Five months later...Cara's POVI pressed my palm over my bump when I felt my belly tightening and my muscles stiffening. I walked forward shaking that uncomfortable feeling away.My stomach and back muscles contracted painfully and I slammed my eyes shut.Breathe in. Breathe out.Phew.If you think that I am gonna have the baby right now, well I hate to burst your bubble, but you're wrong. I've been having these amazing false alarms all over the past week.I lost count over how many times I dragged Alex to the hospital. Poor thing, I gave him way too many unnecessary heart attacks.Five days has passed since my due date and my baby is not planning on coming out. WHY? Just why?I've never felt more uncomfortable.I walked into the kitchen and my eyes fell on Katherine preparing the meal with Ashton assisting her. She's so lucky, Alex never helps me. Sigh.Ashton's gaze went to me and he smiled, "You're still pregnant?" He asked amused.Is he making fun of me?He is, isn't he?That son
Cara's POVLove is a pretty powerful drug. When you feel it, you really feel it.It can suspend time, making the whole world seem still except for you two.My mother once told me that there's a vast difference between love and true love. I never understood it, not until now.True love knows no depth. It's an endless tunnel that sweeps you up in the whirlwind and you're never quite free from it. It stays with you and it gets you addicted like nothing else. There is no breaking free after, no moving on.True love isn't ordinary. It doesn't come around often and that's how you'll know it's genuine.I thought I knew what love is when I first met Alex, when he took my hand in his and I fell into his arms, like I was always waiting for it. It felt like a fairy tale at the moment, it was magical..in a way.We had our ups and downs back then, but it was simple. We were just two lost people, learning how to fall in love. It was new for us, to open up and let our guard down, we weren't used to
Alex's POVI never believed in fate or destiny.All the soulmates and meant to be crap, they never made sense to me. The concept that no matter what we do, the outcome is sealed, that we are just puppets in the grand scheme of things...That concept is ill.But what is scarier is that people actually believe in it.They say what's meant to be, will be.That in the end, everything unfolds the way it's supposed to. As if destiny is not the choices we make.I just don't believe in that.Yeah, I believe that I fell in love, but I believe that I chose her, I believe that it was my choice...not something written in the stars all those years ago.It was my choice.Like I chose to be with her; now, I am choosing to leave her behind.I am choosing to move on.For the very first time, I am choosing to be selfish.On a heavy exhale, I stood up, for a moment I gazed at her. I couldn't help but think that what we had was so beautiful, it was everything I ever wanted. She was my everything. But all
At the day of the incident...PART TWO05:30 amEmma's POVFear.Fear is shackles, it is a knife in the gut slowly twisted, it is a constant hammer on the head.Yet fear is also just an illusion, but not an amusing one brought about by a conjuring trick. It's like the ghosts of a child's nightmare - a fragment of our own imagination. A lie.Whenever fear and I crossed paths, I walked with confidence right past it.For years and years, I didn't feel it because I believed that there is nothing to fear but fear itself.But all of that changed now.All my defenses evaporated as my eyes locked down with his. They were a deep, earthy brown - the color of the earth after torrential rains.He smiles at me. It is soft, so soft, a contradiction with the cruelty in his eyes."Emma," He whispers, my name parts his lips ever so gently. He was never gentle.The fear sits quietly, eroding the person I was born to be. What starts as a contortion of my stomach becomes a feeling of being smothered by a
ONE YEAR LATER...NEW YORKCara's POVLoving someone is one of the biggest chances we ever take.I consider it unfair, because it's rarely a conscious decision we make. It's something beyond our control.That love, it either blossoms slowly and gradually grows, or it hits us hard, shocking us with its sudden intensity.Sometimes it's a cure.And other times it's a curse.In my case, it was both.It was the one thing missing from my life, the thing I needed the most but when I finally had it, like a drug, I couldn't live without it.Falling in love, it was inevitable.This...all of this was inevitable.It was bound to happen. I couldn't avoid it, no matter what, I couldn't run from it.It's weird, but I always had a feeling that something this bad would happen one day. I always sensed a storm brewing at a distance, waiting for the best moment to strike and ruin us in its wake...and the sad thing, it actually did.The storm wrecked us. Took parts of us. Changed us.That storm, it broke
Alex's POV"Can I ask something?"Oh, it speaks.I didn't answer right away, I can feel her eyes on me as I drove us to our destination. Without turning, I nodded my head, ushering her to carry on, although, I would've preferred this drive to be silent."Would you...Would you really do what you said on the phone?" The amount of fear in her voice almost made my chest tighten, "Would you hand me over to your father like that?"I turned to look at her, my brow arched as I asked, "Do you want the truth?" She immediately nodded her head, eager to hear the answer.I looked back at the road ahead of us, "Yeah, I would." I honestly said, "If it wasn't for Nikolas, who I am pretty sure will literally kill me if I did it, but if it wasn't for him, I would've just handed you to him in exchange for my daughter."I felt her shift in her seat uncomfortably, her voice shook a little, "Are you going to do that now?"I turned to her, to see the lone tear streaming down her cheek and I shook my head, "
Alex's POV"Hel...Help?" She stuttered, conflict reigned in her gaze, questions, worry, and blatant confusion. Her eyes drifted between us, trying to take it in, her hand plastered against her chest as she asked again, "You...you want my help?"See, even she is surprised."It's Frank," Nikolas said, her wide eyes went to him, "This is gonna include him knowing that you're still alive, but don't worry, it's safe, I wouldn't do anything that would put you in danger."Her legs moved her backward, the force of the news hit her a little bit. She seemed to regain control when she looked at me and lightly shook her head, "I still don't understand."I found my voice again and said, "He has my daughter," I swallowed hard, "And we can't find him, we think...well, Nikolas thinks that if he knew you're alive, he'll show up and that will take us one step closer into finding her." I explained, emotions pushed at my chest and I carried on, "If you don't wanna do this, no one is gonna force you, we-"
Alex's POVFlames of fear licked through my body, kindling the madness the thought of losing her created in me, and my gut twisted into the tightest knot.What does he want from my little girl?If he wants the baby dead, then what does Lilly have to do in the middle of all of this?"Who did this?" Liam asked the guy, but the young man was already slipping away, the liquid oozing down his shirt took a darker color. Liam shook him, "I said, who did this?" His voice bellowed in the hallway, slamming against the walls and returning back as an echo."Who else do you think?" My voice didn't sound familiar to my own ears; Liam turned to me, his gaze drifting from the dead guy, "It's my dear father, who else would do something like this?"His brow raised before he got to his feet, "Well, I can think of one other person who would do something exactly like this." The words harshly tumbled out, his hand curling into a fist, anger taking over his eyes. It's weird, seconds ago he was the one tryin