"I was dying to hear someone say that I didn't need to try so hard to be perfect, that I was enough and it was okay. "

**************

Nikolas's POV

Shock and anger swirled in my chest at the news and his insistence to hide it from me. Their voices faded away for a second or two as I tried to grasp this new fact, my mind going around in a loop, coming to terms with how this affects different aspects of my life.

Isaac...he is keeping the kid away from everyone. Why?

And Natalie, her baby brother is alive and she has no clue.

"How did you know?" Ronald's voice broke through my many thoughts, shaking me back to the present, my eyes drifting up to his face, to the confusion radiating off his eyes in waves, "How do you know his name?"

The shock faded away, leaving me with an immense rage, it pushed me forward, my mind blanking out, it short-circuited, failing to think logically. My hand landed on Alex's arm, pushing him out of my way as I reached for Ronald. My fingers wrapped over his collar, pulling him closer before my other hand collided with his face, the force of my punch pushing him, and he stumbled backward. I wasn't done yet. I pulled my gun out, my fingers reached for him again and I slammed his back against the wall as I pressed the gun's barrel under his chin, forcing his head up.

"You lied to me," I grated out, seething at the fact and I pressed the gun further up against his skin. I saw his throat bobbing, his gaze on mine, still not wavering, he had a nerve alright, "I can accept anything but not this," I grated out again, my jaw ticking, desperately wishing I can just end his life.

I wanted nothing more than to kill him at the spot for playing me the fool.

"Of course I lied, I don't trust you," He said back, not caring to hide the disgust in his tone.

The rage was slowly being depleted from my body, leaving me with a sadistic feeling I haven't had in so long. His careless words had one side of my lips pulling up, taunting him, "You shouldn't," I simply said, "You think I wouldn't just go to Joseph and tell him exactly who you are," I threatened, serious and his eyes grew wide, he fought my tight grip over him, his eyes firing up, "If you dare-"

"Then what?" I asked, interrupting him, my eyebrow raising, "What would you do?" I questioned, mocking him, "Go and ask help from Isaac?" I just wanted to trigger him, to have more reasons so I can shoot him without feeling guilty about it, "Just like mommy did before you?"

His eyes grew wider at my mocking tone, "You son of a bitch," He shot out, his voice bellowing all over the room as his hands came up, trying to push me away but I was done playing games. I pinned his shoulders down with my arm, my gun never leaving his skin, itching to just pull the damn trigger, "Go and do that," I urged, inching my face closer to him, making sure my words were just for him to hear, "Go to Isaac, Ronald," I warned, "And I promise, I will ruin everyone you know," I hissed out, my eyes on his, "Not just Nathan," I shook my head and he was buying it, "Not just your brother, but your father and twin sister too."

My words served their purpose and he groaned out, a scream as he lost all of his temper and he struggled out of my grip, pushing himself and he pulled his gun out. Without any hesitation, he pointed it at me, "You think I am scared of you," He shot out, the white of his eyes turning red, his blue eyes darkening to the point they were unrecognizable anymore, "Nothing scares me, Nikolas," He grated out through clenched teeth, and he shook his head, furious, "You are in no position to threaten me," He added.

Shoot him, Nikolas, come on, do it, Natalie is gonna leave you eventually anyway, whether you kill her brother or not.

My fingers tightened over the gun's grip, "Come near them," He added, thinking he can threaten me back, "And I swear, I will kill everyone you know, I don't care anymore."

My finger shook over the trigger, still hesitating.

Just fucking kill him. The voice in my head screamed.

"Okay you two, you are kind of scaring me now," Alex's voice broke through the moment, silencing that voice's sound down as he carefully stepped closer to us, "If Isaac wants anything is to turn us against each other, so lower the damn guns down," He said, frustration enveloping his tone as he added, "And for the love of god, someone explain to me why is Isaac adopting kids from the street!"

His eyes fell on me as he stood right in between us, his eyebrow raising at my pointed gun still. My jaw clenched tight and I lowered my arm. Alex turned to Ronald, "You too, come on," He said, waving his hand down, sounding impatient.

Ronald listened to him and lowered his arm down, his eyes still on me, glaring and I vowed that one day, sooner or later, I am gonna kill him.

"Come on, explain," He said, his gaze drifting from me to Ronald, "Why does Isaac have your brother?"

I tucked my gun back in its place, "There is a lot you don't know, Alex," I mumbled, sighing at the whole situation, "And I think that's better."

Alex started back at me, dumbfounded and I just shook my head, not having the energy to explain how my father would rather protect the kids of the woman he loved over his own flesh and blood.

He doesn't need to know everything, it's my fight. And I can't keep getting their morals to interfere with my plan. The only way I know how to do things is the dirty way, and if everyone keeps interfering in my shit and pointing me toward the good right path, then I won't get anything done and Isaac will win yet again.

To kill a monster, you need to be one. I always believed in that, and my monster, he's been whispering things in my head again, seeking a release, begging me to let him free, so he can destroy and obliterate again, so he can taint his hands with blood.

"What do you mean?" He asked in disbelief and I started to back away, my energy getting depleted away, "I have things to do," I said, dismissing him before my gaze fell on Ronald one last time, "You better not show me your face again," I warned him, because next time even god won't stop me from killing him.

I backed away and left the house, slamming the door shut behind me before I headed toward my car. I stood there for a long minute, my brain unable to comprehend the thought yet.

Nathan.

Isaac went to great extents to hide the kid's existence.

My jaw ticked. We only hide things when we are...scared.

Could he be...could he be my father's only weakness?

The thought should've made me satisfied, that I finally found that missing puzzle piece, it should've relieved me, but no, it made me tick, triggering feelings in me I wasn't ready to come to terms with just yet. The hurt pushing at my chest had me slamming my fist over the car's hood, the chaos tumbling inside my head too dark for me to make sense of.

I got inside the car and drove away.

It's time for step two.

***************

Ronald's POV

Nikolas's few words were the only thing I needed to step into this place again. The fucker triggered me, played on my weak strings. He knows, fuck, he knows things about me, more than he should. Things I've hidden for years. Things that no one else was supposed to discover.

My footsteps paused by the door, my heart a mess as I tried to imagine what's waiting for me on the other side. I am not ready to face this yet. I never will be.

Not just Nathan, but your father and twin sister too.

My fingers tightened over the knob. That son of a bitch, I wish I can just kill him.

The lump lodging my throat expanded, clogging the pathway feeding oxygen to my lungs and I heaved out a loud tired breath before I twisted the knob, finally giving up the fight ripping my heart apart as I took the first step in.

My gaze fell onto his almost lifeless body, laying over the bed, motionless and my whole world crashed again. The memories taking me back to the accident day, where I stood and watched my mother get killed, where I shook her unconscious body and got no response, where I pulled him out of the ruined car and found his pulse, his heart was still beating but other than that, he was gone as well.

I reached the bed's side and all of the energy left my body. The grief's gravity pushing me down, my knees buckled and I dropped on the near chair, trying to pull air into my suffocating lungs. My fingers trembled as they reached for his. I rested my hand over his cold one, I wrapped it in my tight grip, warming it up, feeling him up close after so long.

The mere touch had my inside breaking all over again, his fingers twitched and he moved his head, blinking his eyes open and the air caught in my throat as he woke up but I knew I wasn't going to get any response from him.

Even when I didn't visit, I kept tabs on him and his health from far away. His hazy eyes aimlessly moved around, not even acknowledging my presence, "Hey, dad," I whispered, my hand tightening over his, but a part of me relieved that he won't remember me, that he won't look and see me as everything he didn't want me to become.

A low groan rumbled from his chest as he tried to move around, "Hold on," I mumbled, understanding his will to sit down. I looked around, checking and fixed the bed, lifting it up so he can comfortably sit. My gaze stayed focus on his face, while his eyes were just on the window, slowly blinking his eyes, all of his attention focused just on there for some reason.

I placed my hand over his shoulder and requested over a broken whisper, "Can you please look at me," I mumbled, "I missed you so much, dad."

He didn't move a muscle, I even doubted if he heard me or not, does he understand what I am saying or not, I didn't even know. Sometimes it feels like his subconscious mind did this on purpose, turning him off, locking his conscious thoughts behind a door, so he won't have to wake up and face the truth; the fact that my mother was gone, that I was a gone case too, that all of our lives were ruined in a single night.

I wish it's possible for me to do it as well. To turn it off, to push the memories away, forget each and every one of them.

The pain accumulating over my chest only intensified. As much as I would be scared of his blame, of his disappointment, I wished he would wake up from this haze, even for one minute only, that his recognizable hazel brown eyes would caress my face with the love and care I needed, that he would hug me, let me lean on him for a while, that he would tell me it's okay, that I am doing the right thing, that everything will be okay soon.

I felt the single tear scroll down my cheek before I could even stop it and I lowered my head down, unable to take it anymore as my forehead pressed over his leg, my hand still tightly grabbing his and my eyes pressed shut, trying to keep the traitor tears away but failed, "I am so tired, dad," I whispered because it's been long since I talked to anyone, since I had anyone I can talk to, "I need you, more than you can imagine."

The pain left me through the stupid liquid seeping from my closed eyelids. By his side, I was a kid again, one who is stuck at the age of eighteen, a one who died the day she did and got replaced by whoever I am now, "I am so close dad, so close to finally end him," I mumbled, my jaw clenching, "I am so close," I whispered, "But in the process of doing so, I became someone you wouldn't recognize even if your memories came back."

A long moment of silence took us in. My heart stopped beating for a second when I felt a hand rest over my head, it gently smoothed out my hair and I slowly lifted my head from his lap, my shocked eyes on his as they stared back at me, they were still the same but different, warm but less alive, "Dad?" I whispered, taken aback by the gesture, I asked the doctor and he said there hasn't been any improvement in his case lately but this...this is definitely an improvement. He is looking at me, acknowledging my presence.

"Do you know who I am?" I asked, my head tilted and his hand moved and rested over my cheek, he blinked his eyes, focusing them on where his hand is, "It's Ronald," I added and my name had his gaze drifting back to my eyes, his lips parted slightly, and lines etched between his eyebrows as he let out, a mere whisper, "Ronald..."

His voice was barely audible, my heart knocked it up a notch as I inched closer, a smile lifting my lips and I nodded, "Yeah, yeah, it's Ronald," I said in disbelief. He said my name, he talked, after all this time, he said something. That must be a good sign.

He retreated his hand back and away from me, lines tightened over his forehead and he brought his hand to his temple, wincing as he rubbed at it, the mere action taking a toll on him, "Hey, it's okay," I said, placing my hand over his arm and squeezed soothingly, "It's okay, just relax," I mumbled, not wanting to push him harder.

God, I need to tell this to his doctor immediately.

The pain got replaced by a flicker of hope at that very small gesture, my heart went back to beating normally, one at a time as I looked at him and I kept talking, "Nathan survived, dad," I said, "It's unbelievable," I shook my head, the thought so strange, it's all I can think about. I need to go back to London and see him again, I need to fully understand Isaac's motives before I make a move, "He is a grown-up kid, now," I added, a small smile pulling at my lips and dad's eyes met mine again and I wondered, is he understanding me? "He looks like me at that age," I added, my voice so low, "But he has your eyes."

"I promise...I will get him out of there and bring him to you," I added, shaking my head, "He can't stay with Isaac, he would ruin him," Like he ruined Nikolas, and maybe even worse.

"It's gonna be over soon, I promise," I added, inching closer and pressed a kiss over his head, vowing, "Joseph will die for what he took from us," My jaw tightened, I had one motive before but they're two now; Joseph dead and Nathan saved from Isaac's claws.

I got up to my feet, ready to leave, but his eyes were still on me, making it harder to walk away. I smiled, "I will be back soon, okay?"

Before I could finish that sentence, a voice so familiar rang in my ears and I whirled around, my eyes widening at the sound of her talking with the nurse, right outside the door leading to this exact room.

I froze for a second before my brain pushed at my muscles and I went to the bathroom, the only place I can hide in and not get caught now. It's the last thing I needed at the moment, to see her after so long.

The second I closed the bathroom door, I saw her stepping in through the space left open, "Yeah, I had the rest of the day free and just wanted to see him," I heard her say with her sweet angelic voice, "I won't stay for long, thank you," She added before she closed the door behind her and walked further inside.

Her position now gave me a full view and a small smile lifted my lips, every time I check up on her from far away, she seems to have grown, every day becoming the great young woman I knew she was destined to be. That beautiful ray of sunshine that could light up any room.

I had to stay away from her, to keep her away from this fucked up world of mine so she can never lose that.

"Hey, dad," She said with a cheerful voice as she walked closer to the bed, "I am so glad you are awake this time," She added and sat down by his side on the bed, inching closer and kissing his cheek, "I keep missing you a lot these days," She added, and his gaze was again distorted and back on the window, unaware of her, but I think she is used to him in this state by now.

She inched closer to his side and fixed his hair, "Do they not brush your hair here," She grumbled as he ran her hand through it, fixing it on each side and just making up the simplest of conversations.

My chest tightened and I just watched her, because I missed her so much. She had her blonde hair pulled up in a high ponytail, it made me smile, she still dyes it blonde, even when the light brown suited her more, it used to make her look like a younger version of mom. Her eyes were so blue, like my own, but hers were much lighter, full of innocence and life.

"It's better now," She said, addressing his hair, her grin so big, "Your grey hairs are increasing in number by the way, but don't worry, you are still the most handsome man I know," I resisted the urge to smile again, she was always like this, making the best of the worst situations, "Actually, you kind of take the second position now," Her eyebrow raised, "I mean come on, you saw him, he is something else entirely."

She smiled at her own words, "But still, you are my number one man, don't worry, nothing will ever change that."

He turned his head, his eyes drifting from the window and falling on her. He is becoming more responsive, am I right or just imagining it, but Nate's expression said it all, her smile slowly dropped as he stared back at her, "Dad," She heaved out a low breath, "You are looking at me, you don't...you don't usually do that."

I rubbed a hand over my chest, wanting nothing more than to come back to the family I walked away from years ago. She rested her hand over his cheek, "You gonna get better, right," She whispered, a bit brokenly, "And you gonna come back to me, right?"

He just stared back at her, his lips parted a bit and he whispered something out. My eyes pressed shut as I made out the name he just said, "Maria," His whispered voice hit me with another heartache and Natalie froze in her spot, blinking in shock at what just happened.

"Dad, did you just...did you say-" She couldn't speak and I saw the tears filling her eyes. I fisted my hand, stopping myself from getting out and revealing myself to her. She sniffled and wiped at her cheeks, she gave him a somber smile, "Do you miss mom?" She asked, sniffling again and she nodded, "Because I miss her too, I miss our little family," She added before she leaned closer toward him, resting the side of her head against his chest, "Except that stupid son of yours, of course we don't miss him, okay?"

Her words lifted the corner of my lips, she will never change, and that comforted me.

I saw how he looked down at her, confused but also as if he recognized her, his memories a mess between the past and the present, which only meant it's a matter of time before he gets back to himself. I saw how he moved his hand, hesitant at first before he let it rest over her arm. Natalie's gaze immediately went there, taken aback by the simple gesture like me.

She tried to hold herself back but failed, her eyes pressed shut and uncontrollable tears flowed, ripping at her heart and mine. Her hand went above his and she cried, pressed herself further into his embrace, and lowly sobbed.

I moved away from the door, my back pressed against the wall and I closed my eyes shut, rubbing at my aching chest, keeping myself intact or I would break down all over the place again. I wanted nothing more than to have my family back but I knew that wouldn't ever happen.

I closed that door the second I joined this.

But it's okay. I am not done yet anyway. I still need Joseph dead and I need to take Nathan far away from there. My jaw ticked, and I need to make sure Nikolas isn't going to fuck up all of my plans.

***************

Emma's POV

I felt a gentle touch over my skin, almost feather-like as it moved over the length of my arm. I hummed and reveled in the sensation of his lips over my neck, warm as they trailed up, kissing and nibbling on the sensitive spot under my ear. A low moan parted my lips and my eyes slowly glided open, moving my head around to meet his eyes, "Wake up, you lazy," He said, his fingers leaving my arm and going around my waist, his palm resting over my stomach as he pulled me closer to his side.

"Since when you wake me up like this?" I asked, my eyebrow raising.

A small smirk lifted one side of his lips before he dipped his head down, leaving a trail of kisses from my cheek to the corner of my mouth, "Since I don't want more scars over my neck," He mumbled and I smiled, accomplished. See, I know how to deal with him.

His lips didn't leave my skin before his hand moved down my stomach, hovering over the hem of my shorts and making its way further down. I slapped his hand away, "You know we can't," I grumbled, shooting him a glare because hell, did I want all of that and more, "The doctor said to wait at least two weeks after..." I didn't need to continue the sentence and he nodded, understanding.

I shook the thought away, "But at least, we can do this," I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulled him closer, pressing my lips up against the heavens of his, for the very first time ever, letting someone take my own pain away.

He matched my action and kissed me deeper and deeper, pressing the length of his hard body against mine, his bare chest crushing my breasts and I wanted nothing but to have his skin over mine all through out the day.

I didn't understand yet what I wanted or needed. I didn't decide what I am going to do, how will I be me again, but after last night, I realized, despite how big of a bitch this husband of mine is, I am so used to him, to his presence in my life. I am getting used to sharing my life with someone and I am not usually big on sharing.

He bit my lower lip before he released it from his beautiful assault, "I got you breakfast," He mumbled, leaning back to catch my lips in another quick kiss.

My gaze flickered to the nightstand, to the tray that had all kinds of my favorite pastries on it, croissants, bagels, orange juice, and whatnot. My jaw tightened and my whole mood flipped a hundred eighty degrees, my hand went under the pillow, reaching for my knife, "Why are you doing this?" I asked, my eyes going back to his, my fingers tightening over the knife's grip.

He stared back at me, a bit confused and I clarified, "Last night," I said, addressing the whole Ferris wheel ride, the whole bringing up our past memories, "And now this, waking me up with kisses and all of this, why?"

Lines etched between his eyebrows and he brought his hand to my face, her rested it over my cheek, "Last night we agreed to open a new page," He said, so innocent, god, what is he doing to me, "I am just opening a new page, Emma."

I let go of the knife and pulled my hand from under the pillow, "So, you're not doing this just because you feel bad for me?" I asked, my hand going to his face, then to his hair and he shook his head, "No, I am not," He sounded sincere and I know when he lies, he wasn't lying now.

"What happened had happened, Emma, we can do nothing to change it," He said, his words pressing over a wound I don't plan to uncover anytime soon, "We can just try and move on from that as we start this differently this time," He added, addressing our marriage.

I nodded, relieved he wasn't doing this out of pity, "We can make our own rules this time," I said, my fingers grabbing his hair and pulling him back for another kiss.

"Rule one," I mumbled into his lips, breathing him, tasting him, "After this whole thing is over, we can fuck each other's brains all the damn time," I said and his chest vibrated with a chuckle of his own, "Aren't I the luckiest man alive or what?" His sarcastic tone had me punch his chest and he groaned because I don't punch lightly.

"Rule two," He started, his eyes gazing down at mine, the same colors clashing together, and I said the rule on his behalf, my tone more serious now, "No kids till Isaac is dead," I said and he nodded, agreeing with me.

He pecked my lips, "He will be, very soon," He said, "Don't worry."

"Rule three," He added, "You trust me and I trust you."

I nodded my head, "It's us against the world," I said and he seemed satisfied as he repeated my words again, "Us against the world."

****************

Natalie's POV

Today took its toll on me, draining me emotionally as I crashed over the couch, exhausted. Seeing dad, hearing him speak, even if it was just a single word, it gave me so much hope, so much to look forward to, but at the same time, it took me back to the past, reminding me of everything we lost.

I rubbed at my aching chest, this uncomfortable feeling pressing and pushing since the second I visited dad, as if I can sense a shift in the atmosphere, something waiting, leering, something bad and horrible waiting to rein all over us.

Massie snuggled closer to me and I rubbed at her sleepy head before I looked around my empty apartment and let out a very sad sigh, I used to like being alone, it was enough for me. I was so used to do this life on my own, to let the night pass simply with a movie, my cat, and a glass of wine. On weekends, I'd usually drop by Sarah's house, play with the kids and that's it.

My life was simple. Work, visiting dad, occasionally hanging out with Sarah, and then again back home with Massie. So simple.

In nature, I am a friendly person, I make friends everywhere I go, but I never get too close. Sarah is the only friend that I see often. Even with that, I don't share with her everything. I don't talk about what bothers me, my fears, insecurities; I just don't feel comfortable doing so.

In the past, I used to share everything with one person only, he was my brother, my twin, and my best friend.

After him, I just deal with my problems on the inside, fixing them all by myself.

I guess Nikolas was right once, I always hear people's problems that I don't get the chance to talk about my own.

I rubbed at my chest again. My life before him was so simple. My heart clenched and I felt so lonely in my own house. I pulled my phone, checking, rereading the message I sent him earlier today, asking him if he would drop by, or if I can go to his place. He still didn't reply and my shoulders slumped down in sadness. Alone didn't work anymore, I want him with me, every day, every moment and I am so scared to admit that out loud.

Too much for thinking he is the one he needs me. I am beginning to think I need him to.

My simple crush is rapidly manifesting into so much more and I can't stop it. I want to stop it...but I can't. It's far beyond my control now.

The knock on my door had me jumping in my seat, a bit startled. Massie lifted her head up, looking around carelessly before she went back into her deep sleep. I got up to my feet, for some reason anxious. Seriously, today there is something wrong with me.

Looking through the peephole, I let out a relieved sigh and opened the door right away. His handsome face had me smiling immediately, "Hey," I said, my previous thoughts disappearing into thin air now that he is here.

He returned my smile, but something about it was different, "Hey," He mumbled, taking an unbalanced step forward. My eyebrows pulled closer and I inched closer to him, letting him lean into me. He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer before he tipped his head down and sweetly kissed my cheek, "You are so beautiful," He murmured against my cheek and I chuckled, this wasn't the Nikolas I knew, "And you are so drunk," I noticed, looking at his hazy green eyes, "Aren't you?"

He closed his eyes and nodded his head multiple times before he lifted his hand and pressed his forefinger to his thumb, "Just a little bit," He said, showing me how little.

I chuckled, oh god, he is just so cute, "Come here," I said, wrapping my arm around his waist after I closed the door, I let him use me as his anchor as we walked inside, just in case he loses his balance or anything. Although if that were to happen, small tiny me would be crushed under his weight.

"I don't think I've ever seen you drunk before," I said, recalling his low consumption of any alcoholic drink.

He nodded, "Hmm, yeah, I don't like to drink," He said and my eyebrows pulled closer, "Why?"

He lowered his head, his lips beside my ear and he whispered, "Shush, it's a secret."

Okay, I think I like drunk Nikolas. He is more fun to have around.

I looked at his face, "What secret?" I asked, smiling at how light the green of his eyes seemed to be, a bit free, like he wasn't holding the whole world's weight over his shoulder, "Tell me."

He shrugged, "I used to drink...a lot before I," He rubbed at the side of his neck, his nails scratching where the scar is, "Before I would...do it, so I wouldn't," He shook his head, ever so sadly, "So I wouldn't feel guilty."

His words got me so confused, "Before doing what?"

He inched his finger to my lip, "Shush," He mumbled, "I can't tell you."

I kissed his finger and he smiled, "Okay," I nodded, not wanting to take advantage of his vulnerable state now, and ushered him toward the couch so he can sit down, he almost sat over Massie but she shrieked and ran away. He shot her a glare, "I don't like her," He grumbled and looked up at me, "Would you be too mad if I killed her?"

I nodded, "Yes, very very mad," I warned him and he groaned, totally not satisfied.

"I want to kill a lot of people but I can't because of you," He said with that same annoyed tone, like a little kid who wanted to play outside and I wasn't letting him.

I shook my head with a smile before I sat over the couch's armrest, right by his side, "If you don't like to get drunk, then why did you?" I asked, running my hand through his hair and smoothing it back, "Did something happen?"

He pressed the back of his head against the couch and turned his head to look at me, his gaze so sad now and it pulled at my heart, "Did your father do something?" I asked again.

He kept gazing at me, and finally answered my question with another, "Why didn't he love me?"

My head tilted and I rested my hand over his cheek, "Because he is not normal," I shook my head, my chest tightening at that look in his beautiful eyes.

He nodded, "That's the problem, he is normal," He said, "He is, because I think...I think he loves him, he is keeping him safe but," Lines etched between his eyebrows, "He didn't even try to keep me safe," He added and my heart clenched so hard, I didn't understand but I didn't need to, "He was able to but...he didn't save me when Frank did all he did to me."

I brushed my finger over his cheek, "See, that's not normal, he is a terrible person," I said, "It wasn't your fault," I knew what he thought, that he was the abnormality.

He nodded, "I think it is," He said, "I think it's my fault because," His eyebrows pulled closer, "Because everyone hates me in the end."

I shook my head, "No, Nikolas, I saw it...I saw how you still have people who love you," He shook his head, "No, no, even her...she always loved Alex more," Something in my gut told me he meant his mother.

"Because she is a bad mother," My jaw tightened, because my mother never for once differentiated between Ronald and me.

"What about Alex?" I urged him to see some light, "He is your brother, he cares about you a lot, he loves you."

He shook his head, "He only feels guilty," He mumbled, "It's the only thing keeping him around."

"There is also Lilly, right?" I added, remembering how he told me about that little girl.

He shook his head, "When she grows up, she'll hate me too."

My heart ached so bad, "Well, there is me, Nikolas," My vulnerable words had his eyes drifting up to me, his lips lifting up in a lazy smile, "You will hate me too."

I shook my head, "No, never," I was so sure, "Even when I know whatever it is that I am not supposed to know," I shook my head, "Even then, I would never hate you."

"Come here," I whispered as I inched closer, sitting over his leg and wrapped my arm around his neck, pulling his upper body closer to me. He rested his head over my chest, leaning into me and I ran my hand over his hair, "I can...I can feel your pain, Nikolas, and I just wish, I wish I was with you since the beginning, I wish I was able to take it away," I mumbled into his hair, "So, whatever happens, I would never hate you, okay?"

"You promise?" He asked and I kissed the top of his head, "I promise."

I looked down at him, he closed his eyes as he let me hold him, a hint of a smile over his lips as he said, "You make my life better."

I smiled, loving drunk him because he was so honest, "And you make my life better."

I rested my head against his, holding him up close, wanting to shield him away from this world and how cruel it can be to some people. And for the first time ever since I met him, I started to imagine a possible future with this man, I know it was just yesterday that we agreed we won't look at the future but I couldn't help it, I couldn't hold myself back from drawing that image.

It was a beautiful image. A one I don't plan to show anyone yet.

As I held him up close, I started to make sense of that feeling pushing and pulling at my chest. It was a curse, an absolute curse to understand your feelings right away.

"Nikolas," I whispered, my voice so low I doubt he even heard me, "I think I am fa-"

"Natalie," He called my name in a tone I've never heard from him before, like he was asking for my help. He lifted his head up, looking at me, and his arm tightened around my waist, in his eyes a look I haven't seen on him yet, more like fear, and terror as he added, "I think I did something really bad today."

My eyebrows pulled closer, my heart dropping in my chest, "What did you do?"

**************

Nikolas's POV

Earlier today...

I stood in my place as they brought her forward. She struggled between their holds, trying to escape, screaming but the cloth stuffed to her mouth was muffling it all. They paused to a stop by my side and when her brown eyes fell on me, she froze, trying to drink in the feedback of what's happening.

One second, she is in my house, peacefully living her life, thinking she escaped the hell hole and was finally free, and the next, she is being dragged by my men and delivered to me. Her eyes grew wide in utter fear, like she was staring at the eye of the storm and I tried to not let it affect me, her fear, her trembling body, and her tears. They shouldn't affect me.

I have a plan, and I need to move the pieces, one at a time, careful, or else I lose the game.

"I am sorry," I said, my tone neutral as I pinned her down with my gaze, hoping she could read behind the hard look in my eyes, "But you trusted the wrong guy," I added, recalling our conversation from before.

I thought you were just like them.

I stepped closer, lowering my head down, right beside her ear as I said, "I am as bad as they come."

A whimper came from her side, she looked at me, shaking her head, trying to say something when the door behind us got burst open. I turned around and Matteo stumbled inside, his wild eyes drifting around till they fell on her, they grew wider and he marched forward to me, "What the hell are you doing?" He shot out, bewildered and furious.

As if I needed this now.

He reached my side, asking for a fight as he pulled his gun, carelessly aiming at me. He pulled the trigger but I moved out of the bullet's path, fast enough to reach for his wrist and knock the gun out of his grip and into mine. I twisted his arm to his back and pulled him closer, aiming that same gun against his temple, "I don't like it when people interrupt my work," I grated out and he struggled out of my hold, so desperate, "What do you want from her?" He bellowed.

My gaze drifted to Mia, her terrified eyes on me, and she just shook her head, helpless, her eyes begging me to not do it. I moved the gun away and slammed it against his head, temporarily knocking him down before he ruins it.

I looked at the other men and ushered them to do it, "Take him as well."

They did as ordered and the others were ready to take Mia away, she only stared at Matteo in pure horror, trying to shout out his name through the muffled cloth. I stepped forward, my hand inching to remove the cloth but she flinched away, thinking I am going to hurt her.

Her eyes met mine again, blaming but I kept myself intact, I was in no position to hinder this, not now at least, "I am sorry but-" I said, "There are those who I can sacrifice and those who I can't."

***********************************

Raise your hand if you want to punch Nikolas! xD

So, what's your thoughts? xD

The chapter is a bit shorter than usual, it was meant to be longer but I got tired and in case I don't get time tomorrow to write, I didn't want you to wait another week for an update, so here you go!

Don't forget to leave your thoughts and curses on Nik xD

Anyways, love y'all!