Cara’s POV I moved backward, sitting down by the edge of the couch, my fingers twitching, my nerves flaring in a way I didn't quite understand, "What you said to him...the truth that-" I couldn't get myself to say it out loud, my eyes focused on my lap, fidgeting with my fingers, "Was it true?" His silence had me meet his gaze and he shook his head, bewildered and terrified, "Don't ask me about that," Something seemed to be fighting in his eyes, "I am not mentally prepared to deal with what I said back there." My jaw tightened, my lower lip quivering slightly and I pulled it under my teeth, stopping myself from reliving that past again. I was okay, really, I was moving on, I think maybe I did, I moved on from the incident as a whole but one thing for sure is...I didn't move on from him. Today, all of this, it's just one big reminder, pushing me down that memory lane, pushing me to face my attacker, my villain, once and for all. "You liked it, didn't you," My voice came out weak, t
Nikolas's POVGuilt could make a man like me do indescribable things. Anything, I was ready to do just anything, but didn't know what, or even how.The grief, the shame, and the sorrow tumbling down inside my chest, the chaos enveloping every part of my brain, it pulled me down, heavy, my mistakes are so heavy I could no longer carry them and move on with this life. Their weight had me dropping to my knees in front of her, hoping, wishing she could believe me for once, believe how sorry, how devastated I am, how even if she moved on, I'll never be able to.The man who did those horrible things to her, he wasn't totally me. He was the darkest most twisted part of my soul, the one like Isaac said, is still there, it will always be there, haunting me till the day I breathe my last.Guilt...it is the strongest feeling I've experienced, even more powerful than love itself. Isaac knew that, it's why he brought Cara here and not Natalie. He knew her mere presence was enough to break me down
Nikolas's POVMy eyes fell on that Peter person, leaning against the desk, talking with the receptionist girl. She smiled at something he said before she brought her hand forward, fixing his hat and tucking the loosened curls of his hair under it before she edged her head forward and pecked his lips quickly, both unaware of my presence.I rolled my eyes and ignored them, making my way outside the door. Some people just have it easy, don't they?I looked all around the station and the motel, I even gave the opposite side of the road a full scan. Fortounality enough, nothing looked suspicious or out of the ordinary. No one was around, just proving my instincts right. Isaac delivered his message loud and clear, and then he let me go. He saw it in my eyes that I gave up. He didn't need anything more.So, let him live with his precious heir for as long as he wants. Let him create another monster, it's not my problem anymore.I stayed outside, in case something happens, and just waited for
Natalie's POVI woke up like three hours ago, yet I still refused to leave my bed. It's the weekend and for some reason, I ended up wide awake at six a.m., not that I am able to sleep well lately anyway.I've been going through the first stages of heartbreak like a pro. I am not sleeping, I am not eating. I just lay down in my bed and think. I zone out at every passing second of the day, even during my sessions, people talk and I silence their words, my mind drifting, thinking and yearning for two specific green eyes. Always wondering what he is doing; if he is okay. Is he eating? Is he sleeping? Or is he as relentless as I am?Massie snuggled closer to my side, seeking some attention and I couldn't get myself to pet her. My gaze focused on the ceiling, lost in my own head. Day-dreaming. Thinking of what could've been, reminiscing every moment we shared, even the smallest of them.The sound of the bell ringing had me shooting up from my laying position in shock, my eyes slightly grew
Natalie's POVI got up to my feet and to the kitchen, getting a bowl and filling it with warm water. I went through the drawers, searching for a cloth and some rubbing alcohol. I could at least clean his wounds, decrease some of the risks as I wait for Malcolm to get here."You know that I could've just called for a doctor myself," Ronald said, annoyance flared in his voice as he stood by the door, arms crossed as he watched me move around and get what I need.I gathered the materials and walked back to the living room, "Well, why didn't you," I shot back, placing them on the ground as I settled by the couch's edge and started wetting the clothe with the warm water, "Because he isn't a big fan of doctors touching him, so I thought he wouldn't mind his...girlfriend doing so," Bitterness coiled his words and I turned my head around to look at him, "Well, I am not his girlfriend anymore, so you can gloat now."His eyebrow raised, a bit taken aback by the information and despite all, he d
Nikolas's POVI pried my eyes open, blinking them awake. A low groan left my throat as I moved, pulling myself up, my mind trying to grasp everything that happened. Another groan left me, it really felt like a truck had run me over, my muscle tired and aching but the weird thing, that immense pain ripping me apart from before was long gone.I rubbed at my eyes before my gaze drifted down, I pulled my t-shirt up, checking how all of my wounds were taken care of and covered. My head shot up, my eyes fell into Ronald, sitting over the opposite couch, his wary eyes on me, his throat bobbed before he spoke, "Are you okay? Because I am so done with babysitting you."He got up to his feet, planning his escape and I shot him a hard glare, I wanted to kill him, "Didn't I fucking tell don't bring a doctor-" I started to say, getting up to my feet, and searching for my gun."I didn't, I didn't," He said in a hurry, defending himself, "And I clearly hid your gun because I don't have a death wish.
Alex's POVLilly was sitting in my lap, mumbling some words that felt incoherent to me at the moment. My mind oceans away, busy thinking and worrying way more than it should. You see, God sent stress into my life in the form of a person, and since then, he has been a monumental pain in my ass, a one I can't seem to get rid of.When I arrived there, I expected an unpleasant scene to welcome me, it is Isaac after all, he would've not let him go without a fight. But nothing would've prepared me to see him in that state. Broken, both inside out. On the ride back home, my eyes kept drifting to him upfront, even though he tried to act indifferent, fighting against the pain, he seemed to be teetering right on the edge, one step away from falling and crashing...that if he hadn't already.It wasn't just about the physical torture, but the immense darkness that reflected in his eyes was alone proof that Isaac didn't go easy at all. He played his famous mind games again, twisting the truths and
Alex's POVI covered Cara and Lilly well before I carefully took Max in my arms and placed him in his crib by the bed, dropping a kiss on his head before I pulled the blanket over his body. I moved toward the door, my eyes taking one look and making sure all is okay before I left the room.Grabbing my jacket and keys, I left the house, silently closing the door behind me while texting Katherine to drop by and stay by Cara's side while I am out. Emma already left two men by the house, guarding and assessing the whole situation, just in case something happens but still, I would rather not have Cara be left alone for the time being.I got into my car but didn't drive away yet. I rested my back against the seat and closed my eyes for a brief second, breathing in and out. The air very tight in my chest, anxiousness wrapping over every alive nerve in my being, my body and mind unable to relax for some reason, as if sensing that something is just not right, something waiting to happen and im
My ears registered the voice that I adore more than anything before my eyes found her among the crowd. I turned my head to the side, my gaze found her as she struggled out of Alex's hold and rushed forward toward our table, "Daddy!" She said in excitement, jumping up to reach me.I didn't waste a second as I pulled her small self up into my lap, my heart calming down as I wrapped her in my embrace, kissing her head and sinking into her sweet flowery scent. She kept her little arms wrapped around my neck as she edged her head backward, looking at me.She smiled, "Hi," She said.I chuckled, "Hey," I said, edging forward and leaving a kiss over the tip of her nose.She giggled, "Why do I keep missing you," I said and her smile widened, "Because you love me," She replied back, so confident and she couldn't be more right.I allowed her to settle down in my lap, "That I do," I said, dropping another kiss to the top of her head, unable to get enough.Alex sat across from us, he threw a wink
One day later...Nikolas's POVI pulled at the neck of my white dress shirt, trying to fix the collar as I knocked at my mother's room, wondering what was taking her so long."Just a sec," I heard her mutter from a distance before her footsteps got closer and she opened the door. My eyebrows pulled closer as I took into her appearance, my confusion faded almost immediately, exchanging it with a small smile.Her eyebrows furrowed before she looked down at herself, thinking something is wrong, "Why are you smiling?"I shrugged, "It's just I haven't seen you look like this in so long."She gaped at me, "Are you indirectly saying that I looked ugly over the past days?"I chuckled and shook my head, "You know what I mean."She returned my smile with a one of her own before she stepped forward, one of her hands clutched into her purse and the other ran over the material of her simple nude dress, smoothing it down."So, what's the occasion exactly for all of this?" I asked."We're celebratin
Alex's POVI was about to leave, go back home, and rid myself of all of the confusion and uncertainty wrapping around my chest. You know, pretend that nothing has changed, that I didn't hear what I heard or learn what I learned.That the moment I step out of here, everything will just go back to the way it was.But for some effed-up reason, as I was exiting the bathroom, my eyes fell on the room at the end of the hall, and I wanted nothing more than to go in there and just talk, ask and get a clear answer for once. My jaw ticked and I rushed a hand over the top of my head, gathering myself before I made up my mind and stepped closer to the room, aiming to find its current occupant.The door was ajar, so I pressed my palm over it and pushed it open, expecting her to be there. My eyebrows pulled closer when I was met with an empty room. I haven't seen her since she and Liam talked in private before he left, I just supposed she'd be here now. Deciding that this was a message from the uni
Nikolas's POVThere are days when I am beyond grateful that I didn't have to grow up with Alex in the same house. Like Today for example. I really would've thrown him off the stairs or something if we were to grow up together. He is unbearable at times. Most of the time. Always actually. He settled his eyes on me, trying to hide his smile and miserably failing, I envy his constant giddy state sometimes, "Why do you keep looking at me?" He asked, his eyebrow raising in utter tease, "Did the kiss make you love me more?" His head tilted, faking affection, "Is it changing your mind about leaving?"I kept glaring at him but a small voice in my head said that I will definitely miss his crazy weird antics when I go. He is beyond annoying, that's true, infuriating even but he has a way of making you get used to his presence and insane personality.Our mother placed a plate full of pancakes on the table ahead of us, her closeness shutting him up. She rested her hand over my shoulder, I looke
Alex's POVDaylight blazed through the edges of the window blind, shaking me out of my somewhat peaceful sleep. Groaning, I tried to roll over to my back, opening my eyes in an attempt to blink away the heavy sleep.I winced as the brightness of the day welcomed me and immediately covered my face with the blanket. The pain throbbing against my skull reminded me exactly why I shouldn't drink as much again. All because of stupid Nikolas...Speaking of the devil, where is he? I lowered the blanket and rubbed at my eyes, finally adjusting my eyesight, my hazy gaze studying my surroundings and slowly recalling back the events of last night.Something felt odd though. I moved my head over what I thought was a pillow and my gaze slowly flickered up. My eyes widened and I instantly shot up from my laying position. My sudden movement shook her awake as well, her head that was uncomfortably pressed to the couch's cushion moved and she blinked her eyes open, meeting my shocked horrified ones.Th
By lunchtime, Tanya came back, she asked for the kid's attention, and the responsible attendee tried to calm them all down, ushering them to leave the toys, sit and listen. Alex let go of his legos and scooted backward, accidentally laying his back against me as he intently listened. I looked down at him, unable to have enough as Tanya announced that one of the kids was leaving, that he got adopted and she urged the rest to bid him goodbye. I think it's just one of the things they do around here. My eyes were on Alex still, so I noticed the way his shoulders slumped down at the news, a low breath leaving him as he pressed his chin over his pulled up legs, staring at the kid as he hugged the others, happy and giddy that he has his own family now. "What's wrong?" I asked, inching my head closer to his face, so he could hear me through the loud shatter around us. He turned his head to look at me, his brows pinched in sadness, "I want to go too," He said, his voice the softest sweetest
Leya's POV"Do you know a story?" He asked, out of the blue, his eyes closed still, I even thought he had drifted off minutes ago, but apparently not."Uh...a story?" I asked, confused."Hmm," He hummed, "I didn't have anyone to tell me bed-time stories before Frank took me," He explained, "After that, Linda used to tell me a story every night, it used to help me sleep," He was speaking but his tone proved that he was half here, half on the way toward unconsiousness."Oh, I don't know any story, I am sorry," I mumbled."I knew you wouldn't know," He said, his tone wasn't accusing or anything, just low and tired, stating a fact he believed in; that I lack any characteristic a mother should have, which isn't a lie anyway.A couple of minutes passed till he was finally fast asleep. My eyes never left his face all through, for the very first time in so long he was right beside me, his head resting over my lap. He wasn't shouting nor pushing me away. I didn't know what to do or even say.
Nikolas's POVAlex grumbled something as I pushed him inside the car. He immediately fell into the seat, his head tilting backward and pressing against the headrest, eyes closed, more than ready to fall back asleep. He was a gone case after all that we drank but for some reason, I still felt sober and aware. No amount of alcohol served its purpose to make me forget or at least lessen the pain pulsing through my head and body.It was near impossible to let loose or relax after all that happened.A loud sigh parted my lips at my failed attempts before I joined Alex in the backseat, exhausted and de-energized as I fell down beside him. Ronald looked at us through the rearview mirror, "Where to?"Alex opened his eyes, "I am way too drunk," He slurred out, "Do not take me home," He added, moving to the side and leaving the wide space of the car to press himself into me. His head fell into my shoulder, using it as his pillow, moving his head around and picking up a comfortable spot as he cl
"We are not driving," I pointed out when I saw his eyes flicker to his car. He groaned and I pushed him with me down the road, "Where the hell are we going?" He said, being a whiney bitch per usual.I kept ignoring him as my drunk mind navigated the way, we were so close anyway, so no way we'd get lost, my drunk brain assured me as I walked us to the targeted destination. We reached the Huntington beach pier shortly after. I internally praised myself for being able to reach here even in my intoxicated state. We walked along the bridge, the air chilly and brisk as we descended down the stairs. Nik kept mumbling some words and whining, disturbed that I pulled him out of his little comfort zone in the bar.I reached the bridge's pillars, right beside the sea, and picked a clean spot before I dropped down, placing the liquor bottle beside me and opening up the cap. Nik hovered over, glaring down at me and I patted the space by my side, "Sit and stop being so unpleasant."He rolled his eye