ALEXANDER'S POV "Have you?" I asked again when I got no response.The detective exchanged glances with his colleague before moving his gaze back to me."Mr Wolfe, whoever is up against you has strong backup because we did try, but the signal bounced through multiple locations. We couldn't pinpoint the exact location." His shoulders dropped in defeat as he made the last statement. "But you need to stay put, Mr Wolfe, until we clear your name officially.""Listen to me!" I screamed through gritted teeth, suppressing the urge to slam my fist on that god-forsaken table of theirs."There is nothing to clear about me; I've told you countless times that I was in the office the day she died; the murderer had made a mistake.""Thank you for your time," the detective replied as though he hadn't heard my outburst.As soon as I stepped out of the police station, my phone buzzed again, it was another message from Rubby."Hey, I'm the one, where do we meet?"I stared at my phone for minutes, tight
ALEXANDER'S POV He didn't hit me back, neither did he dodge any of my blows; he was only concerned with making sure neither his mask nor cap left his face."Alex stop it!" Rubby screamed trying to pull me off, but anger got the better of me. I kept landing blows on him till the cafè manager shouted for someone to call security.I finally let go of the masked man, who didn't even flinch as though he had expected that reaction from me.I stared at my hands in both disgust and horror, wondering what pushed me to react in such a violent manner, since I was under probation for Mirabelle's death. Now the police wouldn't believe a thing I said.He smiled and straightened his clothes."What's wrong with you!" Rubby screamed. "What has come over you?""Me huh?" I scoffed. "I fucking love you Rubby!" I screamed. "That's what has come over me."I never planned to make that confession like that, but I was so overwhelmed with emotions that I didn't know when I let those words spill.Rubby stared
RUBBY'S POV To say I was embarrassed was an understatement; I had no idea Alex would confess his love for me in the way he did, and I felt awkward; having my face all over the media again would break me.When I ran out, I boarded a taxi and left immediately. I would go see my parents the next day, though I hadn't told them I was back; I wanted to see Dad's surprised face.That evening, I sat on my bed, with my knees drawn to my chest and my phone clutched tightly in my hands. My phone's screen kept dimming, and I kept tapping the screen to keep Alex's contact visible.I was fighting with my mind whether to call him or not.For minutes, my thumb hovered over the call button, but no matter how I tried, I just couldn't bring myself to press it, at least not yet.To be honest, I had made a mistake, I shouldn't have come to the cafè with Josh, but Josh insisted, saying how bad it is for me to go out alone, to worsen the matter, he had gotten me a bouquet of flower, which was part of what
RUBBY'S POV I stared at him with my mouth wide open. A gun? A freaking gun? What was he using it for?I wanted to ask, but I knew better than to do so; we needed to solve the problem before us first. The door knobed turned again and this time, the door opened.I breathed in suspense as I waited for the intruder to step in, but when the so-called intruder finally stepped in, I let out a dramatic his.Nolan! The last person I was expecting to see. He still had my key? "Fool," I muttered more to myself than to him."You changed your number? I've been calling you," he said casually as if he hadn't just broken into my house. "This was the only way to reach you, I heard you were back.""News do travel fast," I muttered, "especially around jobless people.""Don't tell me you are still angry, Rubby; what else...." I quickly interrupted him, I had no time to listen to the nonsense he had to say."Get out!""Rubby, relax," he sighed, "we need to talk."I clenched my fist, trying so hard to su
RUBBY'S POV "Oh Josh," I whispered, "please don't do this." I felt he could probably hear my heart hammering against my chest."I don't want to be late," he answered, staring at me so hard that I felt he could see my soul."I would ask again next month, I just want to make sure nobody steals you from me before then. Please be my Val."I suddenly felt a huge lump in my throat that refused to go down; I swallowed hard countless times, yet nothing. Josh still stared at me, waiting for a response; he was so patient with me that I felt I was doing the wrong thing.But what was the right thing? My heart longed for Alex even though I was scared to admit it, yet Josh had crawled his way into my heart as well. Never had I ever been this confused.What if, I thought, what if Alex asked me the same question? How would I feel if I said yes now to Josh?"Rubby, I'm waiting," he whispered, slowly licking his lips; I knew he was nervous; he was only trying to be the expressionless man I'd come to
RUBBY'S POV The loud sound of the explosion made my heart stop. It wasn't an explosion, but my body had interpreted it as one because I was already scared. I stood frozen in place as my heart pounded wildly, but before I could turn to probably run away a burst of laughter rang out from all corners of the house."Happy birthday Rubby!""What!" I exclaimed in shock. How had I forgotten about my birthday?My eyes widened in shock as familiar faces came out of their hiding spots, clapping and cheering at me.I couldn't believe it; I had been so caught up with the endless problems in my life that I had completely forgotten about the one person who mattered the most: Me.Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked around the decorated venue."You thought it was a bomb?" A familiar voice asked, I turned quickly to see my mom, grinning from ear to ear with my Dad."Mom!" I cried. She was already crying, her hands pressed over her mouth; I could imagine how hard it was to keep this a secret from
RUBBY'S POV "You can say no if you aren't comfortable with it," Alex whispered, but his eyes gave him away, they screamed and pleaded with me to say yes.I stared at him, wishing he hadn't just asked the question. It felt as though every other person in the room had vanished, leaving just the two of us. My mind scrambled to process his question, yet my heart knew the response, it wasn't just sure.I looked at Dad again; he still had that soft, reassuring smile, nodding so gently as though willing me to scream yes.I looked at Mom, whose lips were pressed in a thin line. She had made a mistake in choosing Nolan, and I knew she still felt guilty.I turned back to Alex, whose eyes held a mixture of hope and nervousness. He was waiting and expecting a positive response, but I wasn't so sure I wanted to be his valentine, at least not now; who knows, I might be certain as time goes on.I inhaled deeply, forcing my lips to part, then muttered, "No."Everywhere became dead silent. That sing
RUBBY'S POV For a moment, all that existed was him, his touch made me feel like I was something precious.After what felt like an eternity, we finally pulled apart both of us breathless. Alex licked his lips as though the remnant of my lips was still there.I rested my forehead against him, with my eyes still closed."Happy birthday," he murmured.I smiled and rested my fingers lightly against his chest. Maybe I wasn't ready to say yes to being his Valentine, but I also knew I wasn't ready to let him go either."I will wait till you are ready," he whispered as though he was reading my mind.His driver's loud laughter jolted us both to reality, only then did we realise we were outside and quickly disengaged.Alex leaned in, dropping his voice to a teasing whisper. "You taste good; you kiss good, too.""Stop it," I whispered, as I quickly scanned the crowd to be sure no one was staring."You are shy?" He asked I had never seen that naughty side of him.Suddenly his expression changed,
RUBBY'S POV "I'm ready to leave," I said while drawing imaginary images on the floor.I couldn't bring myself to look at his face, or else I might be tempted to stay."Already? I just got home.""I know, but I didn't plan on spending the night in the first place, mom might be worried now."Alex tucked his hands into his pockets, with a look of reluctance that carved deep into his expression."But your mom knows you are here; I mean, you told her, didn't you?"I shook my head. "You seem to have forgotten how I ended up in your house for the night," a wave of embarrassment washed over me as I remembered the events of the previous night."Rubby," Alex called out softly again. He just knew how to do it, how to make me change my mind even when I didn't want to. I shook my head, forcing a smile I didn't feel. "Alex please stop. Don't ask again, if I'm forced to stay, I won't be happy."He took a step closer, begging with his eyes more than his words. His lips looked redder than it was las
ALEXANDER'S POV I pulled into the driveway, letting the car engine idle for a few seconds before I stepped out. The house was quiet; I had expected all hell to be let loose since Annie was in the same house with Rubby.The lights were on, which was quite funny because there was no eclipse of the sun or the moon. But it wasn't even the lights that caught my attention, it was Annie. She was seated on the edge of the front steps like her world had come crumbling down. She Looked lost, bitter and even tired.Her shoulders were hunched, while her arms wrapped tightly around her body like a discarded soul waiting to be picked up.I stood still for some minutes watching her. She was so lost in thought that she didn't know that someone was standing there.She swiped her hand across her cheek, not once or twice, but three times. She was crying. She sniffed softly, her back rising and falling faster than it should. She looked behind her again, maybe to be sure Rubby wasn't coming, then swiped
ALEXANDER'S POV "Dad, I didn't wake up dry; I woke up normal," I answered and plastered a fake smile on my face.Dad smiled. "You are a grown boy now."One second, he was smiling, and the next minute, his eyes darkened."BANG!" He slammed his fist against the table so hard that the tea cup beside him rattled and toppled."You thieves!" He suddenly shouted, rage evident in his tone. "You snakes! Backstabbers! You want to take everything from me huh? Sign the documents already, sign them now!"The outburst sent shivers down my spine. I looked at Kevin who had a satisfied grin on his face. He must have found out that anger triggers this outburst and leveraged it to get himself entertained.Josh's mother sat still. Not even once did she blink like she had also waited for that outburst. My mother, on the other hand, looked somewhat confused, yet sat on her seat.Seeing that nobody made any attempt to move, I stood immediately and moved forward."Dad," I muttered. "It's okay. You are safe
ALEXANDER'S POV I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Dad sat at the end of the table, Josh sat with his mother directly opposite me, and Kevin sat two chairs away from me, and my mother was missing still.The room was so quiet, too quiet for a meeting filled with power-hungry men and women.I adjusted my tie for the fourth time, feigning a calmness I didn't feel.My eyes moved to Josh who sat stiff as though he was holding his breath. He hasn't spoken to his mother since I came, and neither has Kevin."Where is your mother?" Dad asked.I shrugged my shoulders, "I have no idea." In his sober state, he was mean to me, in fact, mean to everyone."You have no idea?" He repeated.I nodded and said no extra word."Can't we start without her? Does she hold such an important position in the family that we have to wait for her first?" Kevin suddenly asked.I kissed my teeth, I had no response to his question, and even if I did, Mom was the least person to defend."Kevin, you seem pressured,
RUBBY'S POV "Shit! Not now." I muttered.Annie stepped out, with Alex's mother. They discussed in hush tones, and Alex's mom handed her a door card, Alex's own, I presume.Annie looked scared; I couldn't tell if she was being threatened or if she was scared of Alex's reaction when he met her home.After a few minutes, Alex's mother climbed into the car and drove off, while Annie walked towards the house. I held my breath, ready for any type of confrontation."Click, click," her heels sounded on the tiled floor; soon, I stopped hearing it and assumed she had stopped in the sitting room. I was wrong. Before I could get to the door to Alex's bedroom to lock it, she walked in.She shivered at first as though she had seen a ghost, then her chest fell in relief when she realised it was me."What are you doing here?" She asked and crossed her arms."I should be asking you," I shot back."You are crossing the line, Rubby, or whatever it is you are called.""Yeah, you are right. It's Rubby."
RUBBY'S POV "I honestly do not know," Alex replied rubbing his temples."It's been years now, yet I've not been able to prove that I am innocent. That is why, I am so scared whenever you are around him."I reached out for his hand. "You don't have to be. I know what I want.""Thank you," he muttered and blinked continuously."It's okay. You should learn to cry in my presence."He nodded, biting his teeth hard, and still forcing back the tears."How is your Dad? I should come to see him soon."I curled up against him. "Yeah, Dad is fine. He would be happy to see you. I've been lying to them that everything is fine. Act like it whenever you see them okay?""Okay, understood." We lay in that position for a very long time. He stroked my hair gently, till I felt sleepy again."I will go to my family house tomorrow; I need Dad's saliva. I want to check by myself if Mom is saying the truth now."I raised my face. "Are you sure about that?"He nodded."I think since you doubt Annie, you sho
RUBBY'S POV I knew I should have walked away; I should have picked up my pride and left while I still had a sense of control, but how could I with the way he looked at me, like he had been waiting for me the whole time to be able to break down? Still, I could have asked him to stop after the first kiss, but the way he touched me shattered every wall I had built around my heart. He was so fragile, as though I had his heart in my hands, what would you have had me do?"Alex...." I whispered breathlessly.His hands glided to my waist but began trembling when he held me. It was like he was scared that I might disappear or get mad if he held me tightly. But that was the exact reason I had brought that gift in person. I was needy, desperate to be held by him, desperate to be handled right.He kissed me like he was starving, like he had been dying of thirst and I was the only drop of water left in the desert. "Easy," I muttered when I meant the opposite. I wanted so much for the whole dra
KEVIN'S POV I hissed and stormed away through the hallway with my fists clenched so tight that my nails dug into my palms.They both followed me till we were far away from the study and then Josh ran forward and blocked my path."Why would you say such things to him," Josh shot at me."Do you care?" I fired back. "How did you even find your way back into this house?""It's my father's house still," Josh answered."No, I wasn't talking to you," I turned to face his mom, whose face held no expression. "I was talking to you, how did you find your way back here? You must have leveraged his Dementia to sneak your way in.""I won't sit here and watch you talk to Mom like that," Josh fumed."I think the right phrase is "your mom," not the way you said it."My mom flinched at the statement I made but didn't move from the spot still; she folded her arms and stared at me as though she regretted my very existence."You want the seat so desperately that you openly let him know you plan on killin
KEVIN'S POV My knuckles turned white as I drove violently home. I had never been this embarrassed and disgraced all my life.How dare he? How dare that old man who is suffering from Dementia?I slammed my fists on the steering wheel continuously as I drove. "Mom," I muttered. How does it feel to have a favourite child, huh?All of a sudden she shows up, and the chairman talks such nonsense."Mr Wolfe!" I shouted as soon as I entered the house I bumped into Alex's mom who sat totally unbothered by the whole situation."Oh, it's a pity; some people can't even relate to what a mother's love means," she muttered.I knew she was referring to me. Though it hurt, I couldn't show how deeply those words wounded me.I turned to leave, but she blurted another disgusting word."I would rather be a devil than choose which child to love."I stopped abruptly and turned to her. "If you are talking to me, come say to my face, you coward. You should be ashamed of how much your son hates you. Look,